Chapter 2: Rain, Revelations, and Ruin

The day I found out I was pregnant, I braved a downpour to go to the club Ethan always hung out at.

The storm was relentless, battering the windshield as I pulled into the parking lot. My sneakers squished with every hurried step across puddles, rain plastering my hair to my face as I hustled up the neon-lit sidewalk, hugging my thrift store jacket tight around me. It was the kind of Southern spring rain that seemed to pour straight from the sky with no warning, soaking everything in its path.

By the time I got there, my hair was damp and sticking to my neck.

I swiped the water from my cheeks, took a shaky breath, and hovered outside the heavy oak door, eavesdropping as muffled laughter and the pulse of bass thumped through the walls.

Just as I was about to push open the door, I heard Ethan’s cold voice from inside.

"Had your fun? When are we switching back?"

His twin brother, Ryan Grant, replied, "No, I’m not done yet."

Ethan frowned. "You didn’t sleep with her, did you? You know the rules."

Ryan paused for a split second—barely noticeable—then smirked. "What are you so worried about? No."

He lifted his whiskey glass. "But even if I did, you probably wouldn’t care, right?"

Ethan hesitated, his expression a little off. "Of course, it’s just nasty."

A burst of jeering came from the VIP booth:

"Second Grant, you even mess with your brother’s girl?"

"Dude, she’s got curves for days. Total snack."

Their voices dripped with the lazy arrogance of kids who’d grown up knowing nothing but privilege, the kind who'd never worked a day job or worried about the price of groceries.

"Too bad Ethan’s not into women. He won’t touch her."

The woman sitting next to Ethan laughed, "Why does Harper feel like a public bathroom? Anyone can have a go."

The laughter hit like a slap, echoing off the polished walls. My hands curled into fists inside my wet sleeves, fighting the urge to barge in.

I recognized her.

Natalie Prescott, the little princess of Savannah’s elite, Ethan’s childhood friend—practically raised together.

Natalie always had this magnetic way of holding court. Her honey-blonde hair and ice-blue eyes drew people in, but the venom in her words kept them guessing.

Someone asked, "Whose idea was this anyway?"

Natalie arched her brows. "They’re so dumb—of course it was mine."

"Harper would never guess Ethan has a twin brother."

"Come on, thank me. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have such a fun game."

Ethan smiled indulgently. "Yeah, yeah, you’re the genius."

Someone else chimed in, "I heard Ethan’s marrying Harper in a week. Is that true?"

Ethan smirked. "Of course not. The girl wants a ring, so I’m just stringing her along."

Natalie suddenly straightened, her eyes glittering with mischief:

"After you get married in seven days, you all tell her you’ve been swapping for a whole year. I want to see her face right then."

"Pushing her off a cliff right when she’s closest to happiness—isn’t that fun?"

Ethan shook his head with a half-smile. "How old are you? Still so childish."

Natalie pouted. "No matter how childish, you always get what you want."

"But all of you better be careful—not to accidentally get her pregnant."

"Women from the wrong side of town are hard to get rid of if they get pregnant."

Ethan frowned. "Don’t joke about that. We’ve never touched her."

Natalie tilted her head, pressing, "But what if she really does get pregnant?"

Ethan shrugged. "Then let her go, right, Ryan?"

Ryan seemed distracted, but when Ethan called his name, he finally replied, "Yeah."

Comment barrage:

[LMAO, she’s so clueless it hurts. Imagine thinking you’re the main girl when you’re just a side quest.]

[This is some Jerry Springer level mess. I’m hooked.]

I looked down at the pregnancy test in my hand—two lines.

I’d run through the rain to tell Ethan the news.

I really was pregnant.

Now, it seemed, there was no point.

The stick felt heavier than it should in my palm. My heart hammered against my ribs, not just from the sprint through the rain, but from the sudden realization that I was standing at the edge of a life I never asked for. The laughter inside echoed in my ears as I turned away, shoving the test deep into my purse, swallowing the lump in my throat. The world outside was washed clean, but inside, I felt stained.