The Night My Savior Became My Betrayer

Jillian's POV

The night of my birthday party, I was assaulted, humiliated, and filmed in a private video I never consented to.

Just when I thought my life was ruined, Ethan Graves appeared like a hero descending from the heavens and saved me that night. He even gave up on pursuing graduate school, choosing instead to stay by my side and help me survive those darkest days.

His devotion touched me, so I gave him my heart and loved him for eight long years.

And when I held a pregnancy test in my hand, I thought I was about to give him the happiest surprise of his life. But instead, I overheard a conversation that shattered me.

“Jillian’s completely devoted to me, and she’s perfect wife material. But every time I think about what those guys did to her, it makes me sick. If it wasn’t for me, who knows whose bastard she’d be carrying right now.”

“I don’t touch her because I still think she’s dirty.”

——

I froze in the doorway, staring at the pregnancy results in my hand, unable to breathe.

Was this really the man I had loved for eight years?

I gripped the doorknob so tightly my knuckles went white, forcing myself to calm down.

No, this couldn’t be true. Ethan loved me.

Just yesterday, he had held me in his arms, playfully talking about marriage, even teasing me to give him enough kids to form a soccer team.

But the disdain I heard in his voice now, the disgust twisting his expression through the crack in the door, was nothing like the tender man who had whispered promises to me.

“Ethan, you’ve really put up with a lot all these years! But damn, Jillian’s body is smoking hot. I still kept that old video, you know exactly what I mean.”

That voice was Howard Nicholson, Ethan’s closest friend.

For a second, I couldn’t even process why he had the video from back then. But the room filled with crude laughter, and the shame burned so deep in me I thought I would suffocate.

I was just about to shove the door open when Ethan blew out a smoke ring and said, almost casually, “That’s the thing. I can’t even imagine how many men have seen her body.”

“Come on, Ethan, don’t get mad, but Jillian really isn’t good enough for you. Marrying her is basically asking to be cheated on.”

But as soon as Ethan heard that comment, his expression hardened, and he shot his friend a sharp glare. “Watch your mouth.”

Irritated, he ground his cigarette into the ashtray.

“The problem is, Jillian’s love for me is flawless. If it weren’t for that damn video, I’d have no reason to break up with her. But marry her? Then what? The rest of my life would be flat, boring, predictable. What’s the point? Can you imagine preferring your own hand over touching her? Because that’s where I’m at.”

He then lit another cigarette, drawing in a long drag, the smoke curling around him like a shroud of misery. His friends raised their glasses, nodding with sympathy, as if he were the victim.

He even brushed at the corner of his eyes, pretending to hold back tears, and downed his drink like a man betrayed by a cruel woman.

I had never seen him look so defeated before. And the fact that I was the reason he wore that look cut me to the bone.

So, to him, loving me and marrying me was agony. No wonder he always pushed me away in bed, claiming he was tired from work. But in truth, it wasn’t exhaustion. It was disgust.

And I had been such a fool. Running around to find doctors, cooking him special meals, trying every recipe to “restore his strength,” when all along, he just couldn’t stomach me.

The pregnancy test crumpled in my fist as my nails dug into my palm. Thin streaks of blood stained the white paper, blurring the black printed words. The red and black bled together like some cruel piece of art.

“Ethan, life’s too short. If you can’t bring yourself to dump her, then marry her. One woman for the bills, the rest for the thrills. What’s the harm?”

“Yeah, just let her stay home, raise kids, and serve your parents. It's just like you've got a first-class free maid!”

“Also, I heard Jillian’s so desperate to marry you that she doesn’t even want a dowry. That’s a bargain, man!”

“And as for those videos? I’ll delete them for you, no problem.”

I stared through the crack at Ethan, praying for even the slightest flash of anger, some shred of defense for me.

But he didn’t get angry. Instead, he nodded calmly. “You’re right. Women like Jillian don’t just walk through the door every day.”

My heart stopped. He wasn’t just tolerating their words, but he also agreed.

While I was still reeling from his cold calculation, Howard shoved his phone toward him with a grin and said, “Ethan, here are a few girls I know. Take a look, see if any catch your eye.”

I held my breath, eyes wide, waiting desperately to see Ethan refuse.