He Tied Her Bikini, I Dumped Him

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My boyfriend Ethan brought me home to meet his family.

His adopted sister Leah had just gotten out of the pool, and her bikini strap had snapped.

She let out a little cry, hands flying to her chest, and ran straight toward Ethan. Ethan, the strap broke! Help me tie it back on!

The butler and servants all lowered their heads.

Ethan seemed completely used to this.

He took her hand, turned her around, and expertly tied a knot.

His hand even slid across Leah's bare back as he said flippantly, "What kind of cheap stuff did you buy? Next time I'll get you something better."

I was so angry I nearly blacked out. "Ethan!" I snapped. "Are my words just going in one ear and out the other?"

Leah turned back to look at me with timid eyes.

"Claire, don't read too much into it. We're just siblings. If something was really going on between us, I'd already be the lady of this house, wouldn't I?"

After saying that, she turned back around, her voice taking on a coquettish tone.

"Ethan, I've told you so many timesafter you tie the bikini straps, you need to adjust things properly so the shape looks good!"

"You're like a block of wood. You totally ruined the shape."

Leah actually reached into her bikini right then and there, adjusting herself in front of Ethan like no one else was watching.

And Ethan didn't look away at all. His eyes dropped to her chest and stayed there for two full seconds.

Then he sighed helplessly and actually reached out like he was about to help her.

"Leah, don't you have hands?"

I finally snapped. I strode forward and planted myself between them.

"Ethan, am I dead to you? Is this something you can just 'help' with? Even if you grew up together, there's a line between men and women. Don't you two have any sense of boundaries?"

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I'd always known Ethan had an adopted sister.

But I had no idea they were this closecompletely crossing the line between siblings.

In front of all these people, and in front of me, they could do something like this.

I didn't dare imagine what went on when they were alone!

The moment I finished speaking, the air went still for a beat.

Then Ethan suddenly burst out laughing and wrapped his arm around me. "Jealous?"

He nuzzled my neck with his nose. "You're right. I'll be more careful from now on, okay? Don't be mad. Besides, I completely see Leah as a kid. Looking at her is like looking at my own daughter."

That only added fuel to the fire. He still didn't think he'd done anything wrong.

Daughter? What kind of father ties his twenty-year-old daughter's bikini and runs his hand down her back while he's at it?

I shoved his hand away irritably.

Before Ethan could say anything, Leah clicked her tongue impatiently.

"Come on, Claire. Ethan coaxing you once is cute. If you keep this up, you're just being unreasonable."

Ethan's mothermy future mother-in-lawwalked over carrying a fruit platter, a polite smile plastered on her face.

"Claire, it's your first time visiting our home. Let's not make a fuss over something so small. Ethan and Leah are just close. You'll get used to it."

She handed me a piece of watermelon. "Leah grew up without parents. We all love her like she's our own. Ethan especially treasures her. Please be understanding."

I was trembling with rage. Everyone around me was looking at me like I was overreacting.

Including Ethan, who clearly didn't think his behavioror his family's wordswas problematic in the slightest.

I took a deep breath, about to speak, when Leah suddenly started complaining loudly.

She stamped her foot at Ethan. "Ethan, I'm hungry! Didn't you say the chef was making sushi today? I can't wait anymore!"

Ethan's brow immediately furrowed. He looked at me, his tone cooling.

"Are you done making a scene? Can we go eat now? Leah has a sensitive stomach. If she goes too long without eating, it'll hurt."

In that instant, my heart went cold.

Was I the one making a scene?

All he talked about was Leah. Because Leah wanted to eat, I had to swallow my grievances.

With such a wonderful sister around, why did he even need a girlfriend?

I closed my eyes, forcing back the sting of tears.

"I'm done. Done making a scene, and done with you. Ethan, let's break up."

The moment I turned to leave, I paused and looked back at Leah.

"By the way, I heard siblings who are close sleep in the same bed to deepen their bond. I wish you and your brother a happy life together."

I strode toward the door. Ethan suddenly grabbed me, yanking me back so hard I stumbled.

He gripped my wrist so tightly my bones ached.

"Can you please give me some face in front of my family? Stop being so unreasonable!"

"Tell me what you want to eat. After dinner, I'll have the driver take us shopping. I'll spend time with you properly, okay?"

His tone softened, as if this were some enormous compromise.

I laughed. Everything came after his precious sister. What was I to him?

I wrenched my arm free and looked at my wrist, now red from his grip.

I sneered. "No need, Mr. Brooks."

With that, I turned and walked away without hesitation. This time, Ethan didn't follow.

Behind me, I heard Leah's gleeful voice.

"Ethan, what's wrong with her? We already said we're siblings, but she insists on imagining there's something between us. Total paranoia!"

Ethan's mother was sighing too. "Ethan, is this really the type of girl you like? She has such a temper. She's going to cause trouble if you take her out."

Ethan rubbed his temples irritably and casually slung his arm over Leah's shoulder as they walked toward the dining room.

"Mom, drop it. I'm annoyed. Forget about her. If she wants to leave, let her leave."

"Come on, Leah. Let's get you that coffee you love."

Tears streamed down my face instantly. I held them back as hard as I could, but the moment I got into the cab, I broke down completely.

For this man, I'd turned down the stable job my parents had arranged and moved to his city all by myself.

We'd been together for three years. I thought our love was unshakable.

What an idiot I'd been!

The moment I got back to the apartment we shared, I started packing my things.

For two whole days, Ethan didn't call or text me once.

I forced myself not to be pathetic and started planning my new life.

I messaged the HR department of a company I'd previously turned down, asking if the Director's Assistant position they'd offered me was still available.

They replied quickly, saying the position was still open and asking when I could start.

I told them next Monday.

Just when I thought this chapter of my life was closing and I was ready to start fresh, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door. Ethan stood there holding a huge bouquet of blue roses, though his expression showed little remorse.

"Surprise!" He forced out a stiff smile and thrust the flowers forward like he was checking off a task.

"Babe, I'm here to apologize. Forgive me, okay?" Even as he spoke, his eyes drifted over my shoulder into the apartment, as if checking for something.

Before I could respond, Leah suddenly appeared from behind him.

She shoved an elegant gift box into my arms with a bright smile. "Claire, don't be mad. Getting angry all the time is bad for your skin."

With that, she breezed past me like she owned the place, slipping on house slippers and walking right in.

Those were the fuzzy slippers Ethan had bought memy favorite pair.

Ethan immediately followed her in, not even glancing at me. All his attention was on Leah. "Careful. Don't trip."

He pulled me onto the couch. "Baby, lookLeah even came all this way to apologize to you."

He opened the gift box. Inside was a necklace with a huge diamond that was almost blinding.

"Remember that 'Heart of the Ocean' you glanced at during the auction? I bought it for you. Do you like it?"

My heart skipped a beat. Before I could process it, he moved behind me and personally fastened the cold necklace around my neck.

"It's beautiful," he murmured, his breath tickling my ear. "It suits you."

Leah, who'd been standing silently to the side, suddenly spoke up. Her tone carried just the right hint of envy. "You're so lucky, Claire. Ethan treats you so well. I'm honestly jealous."

She stepped closer, staring directly at the necklace around my neck. Her lips formed a little pout and her eyes began to redden. "Ethan, I've never gotten such an expensive gift from you my whole life. At the auction, I told you how much I loved this 'Heart of the Ocean,' and you just pretended not to hear me..."

The warmth on Ethan's face instantly froze, replaced by guilt and indulgence toward his sister.

He coaxed her, "Leah, be good. Next time I'll buy you something nice first."

"I don't want next time. I like this one," Leah started whining, reaching out to tug on my arm. "Claire, you're the sweetest. Can you just let me try on the necklace? Just for a second. Let me see how it looks. Just to satisfy my little wish..."

"I"

Before I could finish, Ethan was already frowning impatiently. "Just let her try it on. It's just a necklace. Leah likes it so muchwhy are you being petty with her?"

Without even waiting for my consent, he personally unclasped the necklace he'd just put on me and turned to fasten it around Leah's pale neck.

"Ethan, this necklace looks way better on me. Look how beautiful it is!" Leah's tears vanished instantly as she twirled around, beaming.

Ethan smiled indulgently, his eyes full of doting affection. "Our Leah looks good in anything. You're a natural."

Watching the two of them laughing and playing around in front of me, I felt nothing but nausea.

The necklace that should have been mine had spent less than a minute on my neck before becoming a tool to please another woman.

I forced a bitter smile. "Is this why you came today? Just to disgust me?"

Leah shook her head innocently. "Claire, how can you say that!"

"My brother gave you the 'Heart of the Ocean' just to make you happy. He's never bought me a necklace this expensive!"

"Before he came, he even called to ask me for advice. I was catching up on sleep after jet lag, and he woke me up with that phone call!"

"Honestly, he's so clueless about how to make a girlfriend happy. Claire, you really need to teach him."

Ethan smiled and patted her head. "Come on now. What kind of sister talks about her brother like this in front of other people?"

"I'm not 'other people'! I'm your closest sister!"

In the blink of an eye, they were laughing and playfully shoving each other again.

The "Heart of the Ocean" diamond swung back and forth in front of my eyes, stabbing painfully at my vision.

I reflected on what kind of temporary insanity had made me open the door for them.

Nearby, Leah was being tickled by Ethan, laughing so hard she could barely stand.

"You're so mean! I'm telling Claire all your dirty secrets!"

She squirmed free and nimbly ran over to sit next to me, pulling out her phone and opening her photo album.

I kept my face cold. I wanted to see just how much lower they could sink.

She tapped on a video. The scene showed the Brooks family study.

Ethan was handling some documents. Leah, wearing a silk camisole nightgown, walked in carrying a glass of milk.

She set the milk on the desk but didn't leave. Instead, she climbed directly onto Ethan's lap.

"Ethan, you haven't told me a bedtime story in forever."

Ethan put down his pen and looked at her helplessly. "How old are you? You still want bedtime stories?"

Leah wrapped her arms around his neck and whined, "I don't care. I want one."

Then she suddenly leaned down and kissed Ethan on the lips.

"That's a down payment."

The Ethan in the video froze. Then his Adam's apple bobbed and his eyes darkened.

He didn't push her away. Instead, he lifted his hand to her back, his voice turning husky.

"You little vixen."

The video cut off abruptly, the image shaking violently.

Outside the video, Leah was doubled over laughing. She wiped tears from the corners of her eyes.

"I'm telling you, Ethan is so innocent. I was just teasing him and his face turned red as a tomato."

"But of course, he didn't disappoint me. He carried me back to my room and told me stories all night long."

"No offense, Claire, but is your sex life a little... lacking? Ethan's physical reaction was way too strong."

The video had just finished playing, freezing on Ethan's face, written all over with desire.

Ethan next to her reached out and flicked her forehead hard.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Claire and I have a perfectly fine sex life. Mind your own business."

Leah refused to back down, and the two of them started roughhousing again like I wasn't even there.

The phone was tossed carelessly onto the couch by its owner. I calmly picked it up and sent that videoalong with several other disgustingly intimate clips from her photo albumto my own phone.

Then I deleted the sending history.

When they'd finally tired themselves out, Ethan finally remembered I existed.

He was still slightly out of breath as he looked down at me, his tone carrying a trace of commanding generosity.

"Alright, you saw it. Even in that situation, all I did was tell her stories. I love you. That should be enough."

"So stop throwing tantrums, okay? Let's just live our lives."

My chest felt stuffed with rage. So now he was the victim?

But I forced that rage down and smiled, nodding.

"Okay. I know I was wrong. I won't do it again."

I was wrong, alrightwrong to think I could just walk away cleanly after breaking up.

With scum like him and a homewrecker like her, if I didn't ruin them both, how could I live up to the three years I'd wasted on him?