His Love Trap, My Escape

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The very night Ethan proposed to me, my company sent me on a business trip. Halfway there, I got a call saying it had been canceled.

I dragged my suitcase home and pushed open the front door.

Ethan's hand rested on my best friend Chloe's bare back as he gently slipped the strap off her shoulder.

My fingers instinctively brushed the diamond ring on my left hand. I stared at the two people I trusted most, unable to believe what I was seeing.

Sensing my presence, Ethan didn't look guilty at all.

"Maya," he said calmly, "I don't want to hurt either of you. Let's just have an open relationship."

Chloe stepped in front of him as if to protect him.

"Maya, if you need to hit someone, hit me. Ethan didn't do anything wrong."

I laughed.

Ten years ago, when she stood between me and my school bullies, she had said those exact same words.

Now, she was using them againafter destroying everything I had.

Maya's POV

The very night Ethan successfully proposed to me, my company sent me on an urgent out-of-town business trip.

But halfway there, I got a text saying the trip was canceled.

When I dragged my suitcase back home and pushed the door open, Ethan's hand was on my best friend Chloe's back, gently sliding her dress strap down her shoulder.

I touched the diamond ring on my ring finger, staring in utter disbelief at the two people I trusted most in the world. They had betrayed me.

Sensing my presence, Ethan turned around. His face was shockingly calm. "Maya, I don't want to hurt either of you. Why don't we just try an open relationship?"

The moment those words left his mouth, my mind went completely blank. The blood in my veins ran ice-cold.

Ethan stepped in front of Chloe, shielding her. "Maya, let me explain. We didn't mean to lie to you. Honestly, so many people are in open relationships these days. Chloe is totally fine with it."

I let out a cold laugh. Chloe was the home-wrecker here. What right did she have to be "fine" or "not fine" with anything?

I raised my hand, pointing the diamond ring right at his face. "Then what the hell are we? If you're in love with Chloe, why did you propose to me today?"

Why give me the happiest moment of my life just to crush me with the ultimate nightmare?

"Maya..."

Biting back my tears, I raised my hand to slap his face. But Chloe suddenly lunged forward, throwing herself between us and taking the blow for him.

I stared at Chloe's face in shock. A bright red mark bloomed on her pale skin. Her eyes welled with tears. "Maya, if you want to hit someone, hit me. Ethan did nothing wrong."

My lips trembled. Suddenly, my mind flashed back to six years ago, when Chloe had stood in front of me to block the bullies at school.

That was my freshman year at our elite private prep school. My mom worked as a housekeeper for Chloe's family, which was the only reason I got in on a tuition waiver. I was the only girl in the entire school who couldn't afford designer clothes.

Many kids called me Chloe's pet dog.

Some girls even ripped up my homework, looking at me with pure disgust. "Everyone in this school is just passing time until we inherit our family businesses. You're the only one studying like crazy. Don't you feel out of place?"

"What's the point of getting good grades? When you apply for a job at my dad's company, you'll still have to beg me."

"Shut up! If you mess with Maya, you mess with me!"

Back then, Chloe had stood in front of me, glaring at them until they all backed down.

She had turned to me with a warm smile. "We're best friends, Maya. If anyone bothers you in the future, just come to me."

After that, Chloe always stood up for me, even getting into fights for my sake. I finally let my guard down and took her as my sister...

I never imagined that one day, Chloe would be standing on the opposite side, defending the man who broke my heart.

I watched as Ethan pulled Chloe into his arms, his eyes filled with tender worry.

He glared at me, his voice sharp. "That's enough, Maya! Chloe has been spoiled her whole life. She's never faced this kind of abuse. Now that she took a slap for you, are you finally satisfied?"

Staring at his angry face, a sharp, stabbing pain pierced my chest.

He was the second person at that prep school who had ever protected me.

Our first meeting was in an alleyway near the school. Ethan, sitting in his family's luxury car, had spotted me being followed by a group of sketchy guys.

He had immediately jumped out of the car, calling his driver and bodyguards to chase the guys away. I still remembered the look in his eyes back then.

It wasn't condescending. He looked at me with the same equality that Chloe did.

"If you're ever in danger again, just call me."

After that, everyone at school knew I had two powerful protectors. We ate lunch together, took classes together, and I even tutored them.

On graduation day, Ethan confessed his love to me. He promised he would never let me feel hurt or abandoned.

Now, he had broken every single promise.

I squeezed my fingers tight, the diamond ring cutting into my skin until it went numb. "How long have you two been seeing each other behind my back?"

"Six months ago, our parents set us up on a blind date. We started talking more after that."

"Our families want us to get married. It's for the family business merger."

My grip on the ring tightened, and my confidence crumbled bit by bit.

There was a massive wealth gap between Ethan and me. After graduation, I worked myself to the bone, hoping to close that gap. But some gaps can never be bridged. Just like my self-esteem, there was always a piece missing.

For the past six months, I had been working overtime and traveling constantly just to get a promotion. I didn't want anyone to say I wasn't good enough for Ethan. But I never realized my dedication to work would give them the perfect opportunity to hook up.

"But you don't have to worry. Chloe and I won't get married. We would never hurt you like that," Ethan added quickly.

"Maya, if you just agree to this, we can keep the open relationship going. Just the three of us. I promise I'll treat you exactly the same as before."

"I don't agree." I turned around, trying to leave.

Ethan grabbed my arm. "Don't be stupid, Maya. Staying with us gives you endless perks. It's been years. How are you even going to survive without us?"

I found myself unable to say a single word of rebuttal. Because my current job was recommended by Chloe, and many of my high-paying clients were introduced to me by Ethan.

Just like he said, it seemed I really couldn't survive without them.

But was I really going to endure this humiliation forever just for a career?

No. I do not tolerate betrayal.

Maya's POV

My phone suddenly buzzed with a notification from work.

I walked straight past Ethan into my room to grab my laptop, refusing to give him an answer.

After quickly resolving the work issue, I opened my email and dragged a message out of my trash folder. It was a job offer from a top firm in Seattle.

In the past, for the sake of stability and to stay by Ethan's side, I had rejected countless offers from amazing companies.

But now, I decided it was time to leave this city.

Suddenly, Chloe pushed the door open. She grabbed my hand, her voice soft. "Maya, we're still friends, right?"

Her tone was exactly the same as it was ten years ago when she first asked me to be her friend.

That was the day my mother and I first moved into Chloe's family mansion. It was the first time I saw Chloe's bedroom, which was literally larger than my mom's entire apartment.

My self-esteem had shattered into a million pieces at that moment. After that, I tried my best to avoid her and never spoke to her.

But one rainy night, my mom asked me to wait at the gate with an umbrella to welcome Chloe home. I went out reluctantly.

Chloe had just returned from a high school gala, wearing a designer dress that cost more than my mother's yearly salary. I held the umbrella over her, letting the cold rain soak half of my own shoulder.

Suddenly, Chloe wrapped her arm around my shoulder. "Maya, can I call you that? I hear your mom call you that all the time. I heard you're a genius at school. Can we do our homework together? I really want to be your friend."

Her eyes had been so bright and genuine. I had nodded.

But just five minutes ago, that ten-year friendship had completely shattered.

Seeing my silence, Chloe began to cry.

"Maya, I'm so sorry. I never planned to steal Ethan from you. But when our parents forced us to go on dates six months ago, I suddenly developed feelings for him. You know how love is... it's just so unpredictable."

"Chloe, we can't be friends anymore."

Suddenly, the bedroom door was pushed open. Ethan stood there, looking panicked. "Quick, hide! Our parents are here!"

He was speaking to me.

Our relationship had always been a secret. Whenever Ethan's wealthy parents visited, I had to hide. I was already used to it.

Ethan looked at me apologetically. "Both of our parents are pushing us to move in together to fast-track the engagement. I told them Chloe was moving in tonight, and they wanted to drop by and see the place."

Without a word, I headed toward the door to leave.

But a sudden knock at the front door stopped me in my tracks.

Ethan quickly grabbed my arm and dragged me back into the bedroom, shutting the door. In the rush, my leg slammed hard against the sharp corner of the bed frame, slicing a deep gash into my calf.

I struggled to stand up. The wound throbbed with pain. I looked around for some disinfectant or a bandage, but there was nothing in the room. I could only sit there and watch the blood flow down my leg.

As the physical pain peaked, the sound of laughter from the living room felt like a slap in the face.

"I've wanted to bring these two together for ages! Our families are a perfect match!"

"We should definitely move up the wedding date. I can't wait to hold my grandbabies!"

Sitting behind the closed door, I let out a mocking laugh at myself. I felt like a clown, hiding in the dark, watching other people celebrate their perfect life.

The pain from my leg spread throughout my entire body, but the place that hurt the most was my heart.

Living around them for so long, I had almost forgotten the gap between us. But now, the pride that had been crushed ten years ago was being ground into dust once again.

We were never from the same world.

Once the voices outside finally faded, I slowly stood up. Looking at the dried blood on my leg, I pushed the door open to find some medicine.

But the moment the door swung open, the scene in the living room froze me in my tracks.

Chloe was completely naked, and Ethan was holding her legs, pressing her against the couch.

Their clothes were scattered all over the hardwood floor, and on the coffee table sat a violently ripped-open box of condoms...

They gasped in shock, turning their heads to look at me.

"Oh... I'm so sorry, Maya. I forgot you were still in the bedroom," Chloe squeaked, barely trying to cover herself.

My chest felt incredibly tight, as if a thick rope was wrapping around my heart and squeezing the life out of me.

I dragged my injured leg and walked straight toward the front door.

The moment I pushed the door open, tears finally streamed down my face.

I had tried to rationalize their betrayal. I had told myself to just let go of this relationship and move on. But seeing them intimately wrapped around each other with my own eyes still ripped my heart to shreds.

Ethan rushed out after me, grabbing my arm in the hallway.

"Maya, it was just a heat-of-the-moment thing. We couldn't control ourselves. I promise it won't happen again!"

I slid the diamond ring off my ring finger and dropped it into his palm. "We're done."

He violently pulled me into his arms, wrapping his hands tight around my back. I felt nothing but intense disgust.

"Maya, I can't lose you! I just happen to love two people at the same time. What did I do that was so wrong?"

I shoved him away with all my strength. "There's an emergency at the office. I have to go."

Ethan tried to say something else, but his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and let go of me. "Fine, if you have work, go. But I don't accept this breakup."

Watching his retreating figure, I couldn't help but recall an incident from two years ago. I had found out that a gorgeous, incredibly wealthy socialite had confessed her feelings to Ethan.

That night, I had lied about working overtime and went to the park by the lake to cry my eyes out. Ethan had actually walked along my usual commute route for hours until he found me.

"Maya, in my eyes, there is no one in this world better than you. You are the only one for me."

Now, even the flimsiest excuse was enough for him to let go of my hand.

Everything between us had changed.

I stayed at a hotel near my office that night. The next morning, I received a text from Ethan.

"Chloe and I are getting married. Will you be her maid of honor?"

Maya's POV

My mind was completely clear now. Before I could even process the disgust, another text popped up.

"Where are you? Let's talk in person."

I didn't reply. But an hour later, I saw Ethan's luxury sports car parked right outside my office building.

Before I could walk past, I was dragged into the back seat. Chloe sat there, handing me a piece of paper. It was an ultrasound photo.

"Maya, Ethan and I are having a baby. You're my best friend. Surely you don't want my baby to grow up without a father, right?"

I stared at the medical report, calculating the dates. Conception had happened exactly one month ago, the night of my car accident.

That night, the rain was pouring. Ethan had told me he had an incredibly important business dinner and asked me to drive across town to deliver a file to his office.

On the highway, my car was T-boned by a drunk driver. I was thrown ten yards and lost consciousness immediately.

When the ambulance brought me to the ER, the doctors called my two emergency contacts, Ethan and Chloe, over twenty times. Not a single call was answered.

So, while I was fighting for my life in a pool of blood, they were busy celebrating their passion in bed.

"Maya, will you please be my maid of honor?" Chloe asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

"I will not be your maid of honor, and I never agreed to join your sick open relationship!"

I reached for the door handle, but Ethan grabbed me back roughly.

"What right do you have to throw a tantrum at us? Have you forgotten how much you've benefited from being with us all these years? Chloe is pregnant. You shouldn't speak to her like that."

Chloe's eyes welled with tears. "It's okay, Ethan. I won't force Maya. But... we promised each other in high school that we'd be each other's maid of honor."

Her crying made my ears ring with annoyance. "You ruined my relationship, and now you're trying to guilt-trip me?"

Ethan shoved me hard. My back slammed violently against the car door, and a sharp pain shot up my spine.

"Maya! Are you really trying to cut ties with us?" Ethan sneered, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper. "Have you forgotten about the photos and videos we took in bed? Do you really want those leaked online?"

"Do you want the whole world to see your face and hear your voice on those tapes?"

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. I looked at Ethan, utterly unable to recognize the sweet boy I had loved for years. He had turned into an absolute monster.

"So, Maya, do we have a deal?" Ethan asked with a smirk.

I bit my lip, forcing a single word out of my throat. "Fine."

I got out of the car, a chilling breeze washing over me.

That night, I submitted my resignation letter. The next day, I spent the entire afternoon handing over my projects at work. I was exhausted.

When I finally walked out of the office lobby, Ethan was standing by his car, waiting.

"Get in. The wedding rehearsal is starting."

"A wedding rehearsal in the middle of the night?" I asked coldly.

"Isn't this to accommodate your precious schedule? You should really thank Chloe. She's pregnant, yet she's staying up late just to make sure you can make it. And look at you. You do nothing but snap at us."

"I didn't ask her to get knocked up."

The moment the words left my mouth, a loud, stinging slap landed across my face.

It was Chloe. She had rushed out of the passenger seat, her eyes flashing with rage and tears.

"Maya, I've had enough of your attitude! Who do you think you are? Do you honestly think that being my friend and dating Ethan for a few years makes you one of us? You're just trash! Dirt under our feet!"

I clenched my fists, biting my lower lip to keep from crying.

Her words hurt far more than the slap. They pierced straight into my most fragile insecurity.

I raised my hand and slapped Chloe back, hard.

"Chloe, what makes you so proud? Both of you are disgusting cheaters. The child you're carrying is nothing but a product of betrayal!"

Ethan rushed over, shoving me aside to hold Chloe. He glared at me, his eyes spitting fire.

"Maya! My child with Chloe will be born with a silver spoon. He will never suffer a day in his life, and he sure as hell will never have to live in the maid's quarters of a mansion like you did. His future is bright, unlike yours!"

Breathing heavily, I turned to walk away. But Ethan grabbed my arm. "The rehearsal is still happening. Chloe is pregnant, and you're her best friend. Even if you're mad, you've thrown your tantrum. Now, get in the car and do your job."

"Why? Why should I always accommodate her? She's the one who..."

Before I could finish, he dragged me forcefully into the back seat.

Maya's POV

The car pulled up to a luxury hotel in downtown Manhattan. The interior was lavishly decorated in the over-the-top, extravagant style Chloe loved.

Chloe threw a bridesmaid dress at me. "Go put it on."

In the fitting room, I looked at my swollen cheek in the mirror. A raging fire burned in my chest.

My tears touched the raw skin, stinging like crazy.

I lowered my head, feeling utterly suffocated. When would I finally be free of this nightmare?

Suddenly, a knock rattled the door. "Maya! How long does it take to change a dress? Everyone is waiting for you!"

I quickly threw the dress on and walked out.

Chloe was standing right outside. The wedding gown she wore looked incredibly familiar.

She looked down her nose at me. "Do you remember this dress? Three years ago, you pointed at this exact gown in the boutique window and said you wanted to wear it when you married Ethan. I bought it just to remind you. From the moment you started dating him, you were never destined to be his bride."

Staring into Chloe's smug eyes, my heart broke into a million pieces.

Chloe reached out, her fingers brushing against the red mark on my cheek. Her laugh was chilling.

"I think I've been too nice to you for too long, Maya. You've forgotten who is the master and who is the servant. I'll let your words slip tonight, but don't ever raise your voice at me again."

Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a confirmation email. The flight tickets for my mother and me were booked for tomorrow afternoon.

Suddenly, a bridesmaid coordinator shoved a velvet box into my hand. "Carry this. Hand them to the bride and groom during the ring exchange."

I popped the box open. Inside were custom-designed diamond rings. The rock on Chloe's ring was several times larger than the one Ethan had used to propose to me.

The wedding march began to play. I stood there, watching Ethan hold Chloe's hand at the altar. Their smiles were radiant.

This was the scene I had dreamed of for years.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. How did I end up so pathetic? Why was I standing here witnessing the union of the two people who ruined my life?

I threw the ring box onto a nearby table and turned to walk out.

But as I reached the corridor, several familiar faces blocked my path. My blood ran cold instantly, and my heart hammered against my ribs.

Standing before me were Ethan's groomsmen. They were the very same guys who had bullied and harassed me in the dark alleys during high school.

Terror threatened to swallow me whole. Suddenly, a hand clapped onto my shoulder.

"The ring exchange is about to start. Where do you think you're going?"

It was Ethan.

My whole body trembled as I pointed at the men in front of me. "You know who they are. Why the hell are they here?"

Ethan shrugged indifferently. "Chloe was worried you'd make a scene at the wedding, so she invited them to keep an eye on you."

My chest felt suffocated, and my legs went completely numb.

"Stop standing there like an idiot. Get up on stage and hand us the rings."

I bypassed the groomsmen and walked toward the stage, trying to stay as far away from them as possible. But after only a few steps, my long dress caught under my shoe, and I tripped, crashing hard onto the floor.

The sound of laughter echoed from all corners of the room. My legs refused to move. Ethan walked over, pulling me up roughly by my arm. "What is wrong with you? What are you doing?"

When I didn't answer, he dragged me into the VIP bridal suite.

Before I could even catch my breath, his phone rang. Chloe was calling him, and he left immediately.

I sat alone in the quiet room, shivering from the cold.

Five minutes later, the door clicked open, and Chloe's voice echoed through the room.

"Maya, do you really think playing the victim is going to work? Ethan and I are getting married. This fake-limping drama is so outdated."

I stared at her. "Did you invite those bullies on purpose?"

"Those guys are my friends. What's wrong with inviting them to my wedding?"

My jaw dropped. "Your... friends?"

Chloe giggled, a malicious glint in her eyes. "I was the one who paid them to bully you in high school, Maya. I just wanted to see what it felt like to play savior to a charity case like you."

I snapped. The ten-year friendship I had nurtured and protected was a lie from the very beginning.

I lunged forward and shoved Chloe with all my strength. "You monster! How could you do that to me?!"

"From the moment I was born, everyone kissed my feet. You were the only one who tried to act all proud and independent. I just wanted to break you."

"Chloe!"

For ten years, she was my only friend.

Blind with rage, I shoved her again as she tried to get up. Chloe fell backward, crashing heavily against the corner of a heavy wooden cabinet. She let out a sharp scream and collapsed, clutching her stomach.

Within seconds, a pool of crimson blood began to seep through her white gown.

Panic seized me. I quickly dialed 911 as I ran out of the room. "Chloe... she's bleeding. I think she's having a miscarriage!"

The moment the words left my mouth, Ethan came rushing down the hall. He pushed past me into the room, lifting Chloe into his arms. His voice was shaking.

"It was Maya! She pushed me, Ethan! She killed our baby! She wants us dead!" Chloe wailed.

The paramedics rushed in, pushing me aside. I stood frozen by the door, feeling like I had been plunged into an arctic abyss.

Ethan glared at me, his eyes filled with pure hatred. "If anything happens to Chloe or the baby, I will make you pay."

My mind was a chaotic mess. I tried to ask about Chloe's condition, but Ethan completely ignored me.

Half an hour later, I tried to leave the hotel. But as I reached the exit of the lower lobby, those same groomsmen blocked my path.

Seeing them close in on me, panic set in. "What do you want?"

The leader smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Ethan told us to teach you a lesson. You know what we do to girls who cause trouble, right?"

Bang.

They grabbed me, throwing me hard against the floor of a secluded holding room.

"He told us to 'entertain' you so you wouldn't have the energy to ruin their wedding."

I curled into a ball, my entire body shaking violently.

"So, is it true that this trash was actually dating Ethan for years?"

"Please, a charity case like her? She probably made it all up in her head. If Ethan actually cared about her, would he have handed her over to us?"

One of them slapped me across the face. "Tell us the truth. Was Ethan really your boyfriend? If you confess, maybe we'll go easy on you."

My voice was raw and broken. "Yes... he was..."

Their laughter grew louder. "Well, we're about to rip your pretty dress off, and where is your prince charming to save you?"

The sound of fabric tearing filled the room. I fought with everything I had, but I couldn't stop them.

"Please! I beg you, stop! Please!"

The struggle was loud, but the heavy doors were locked from the outside.

An hour later, the ordeal was cut short by a phone call.

I heard Ethan's voice coming through the speaker of one of the men's phones.

"Chloe is awake. Stop whatever you're doing. You didn't go too far, did you?"

One of the guys kicked a used condom wrapper under the couch and smirked. "Don't worry, man. Just gave her a little warning."

"Good."

I closed my eyes, completely numb. Once the men finally walked out, I lay on the cold floor for another half hour before I found the strength to stand up.

By the time I dragged myself back to my apartment, it was past midnight. I showered ten times, scrubbing my skin until it bled, but I couldn't wash away the feeling of filth.

I curled up on the bathroom floor, sobbing hysterically. The soap stung the raw cuts on my body, but the pain in my heart was far worse.

I didn't sleep a wink. The next morning, I grabbed my packed suitcases and headed straight for the airport.

My mom was waiting for me at the gate. I wore a heavy coat and a scarf to hide every single bruise on my body.

"We're going to Seattle, Mom. We're starting over."

We held hands tightly.

Three hours later, the plane touched down in Seattle.