My Boyfriend And Best Friend Thought They Could Mock Me Behind My Back. So, I Decided To Become My Best Friend’s Stepmom. Was This Too Far?
The Seduction
Week three, I suggested we grab dinner after he fixed my perfectly functioning garbage disposal. We went to a steakhouse, and Bruce insisted on paying since I’d been feeding him lunch for weeks.
We had wine and talked until the restaurant closed. Bruce walked me to my door and said I was special and any man would be lucky to have me. I kissed him on the cheek and said he made me feel appreciated.
The actual relationship started the next week. Bruce would take me to nice restaurants on the nights Ethan was supposedly working late but actually with Khloe. We’d go to concerts and museums and all the places Ethan said were boring.
Bruce bought me flowers every week and little gifts just because he thought of me. He treated me like I was precious, while Ethan treated me like I was convenient.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Khloe got sloppier. They’d forget their lies and mix up stories. Ethan would smell like Khloe’s perfume. Khloe would accidentally mention movies she’d seen that she’d supposedly watched alone.
They thought they were so clever sneaking around, but really, they were just cruel. After two months with Bruce, I invited everyone for Thanksgiving dinner.
The Thanksgiving Reveal
My parents, Ethan’s parents, Khloe, and surprise guest Bruce. When Bruce walked in, Khloe dropped her wine glass. She stammered, asking why her dad was there.
I smiled at everyone in the room and took Bruce’s hand. Bruce is here because I invited him as my date. Khloe’s face went white like someone drained all the blood out of it. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.
Ethan looked confused, his eyebrows scrunched together. He asked why Khloe’s dad would be my date. I squeezed Bruce’s hand and smiled even bigger. Bruce squeezed back, his warm hand wrapped around mine. He had no idea what was about to happen.
I told everyone that Bruce and I have been dating for two months now. My voice sounded calm and clear.
Khloe’s legs gave out and she dropped onto the couch. Her hands were shaking so bad she couldn’t hold anything. The wine from her broken glass spread across my carpet in a dark red stain. My mom gasped. Ethan’s dad leaned forward in his chair.
Bruce kept holding my hand, still not understanding why everyone looked so shocked. Ethan’s face changed. I watched it happen in slow motion: first confused, then thinking, then his eyes got wide.
He knew. He knew that I knew. His mouth opened and words started tumbling out. He said it wasn’t what I thought. He said he could explain. He said we should talk privately.
Khloe stared at her father with pure horror on her face. Her eyes were huge and filled with tears. My parents sat frozen on the love seat. Ethan’s parents looked at each other, then at their son, trying to figure out what was happening.
The turkey sat on the table getting cold. Nobody moved to eat. I let go of Bruce’s hand and stood up straighter.
I told everyone that Ethan and Khloe have been having an affair for 8 months. My voice didn’t shake.
I said, “I have proof.”
I came home early from a work trip and heard everything they said about me.
Khloe started crying big ugly sobs that made her whole body shake. She begged me not to do this. She said we could talk about it later.
She said, “Please don’t do this in front of everyone.”
