After My Fiance Cheated With My Best Friend

Carmen's delicate features suddenly tightened as she frowned. "What are you implying?" she asked sharply.

He couldn't possibly think she was the type of woman who would sleep around indiscriminately, right? Yet the memory of her bold actions from the previous night, how she had brazenly flirted with Jayden Montgomery, made her question her own motives. Could she blame him for underestimating her?

Jayden watched the rollercoaster of emotions flicker across her face, barely parting his lips to speak. "Is it really that hard to understand? Let me demonstrate."

With that, he leaned in, his lips brushing against her neck before trailing down to her collarbone…

Carmen felt a wave of anxiety. But as Bo's words echoed in her mind, insisting she'd never find a man better than him, a fierce determination took over. She wrapped her arms around Jayden with newfound resolve, mirroring his movements by kissing his enticing throat and whispering in his ear, "Jayden, I've never been with Bo. You're my first."

Jayden's eyes sparked with intrigue. Was this her first kiss too?

In the next instant, he lifted Carmen, carrying her towards the bedroom. Though he wasn't often involved with women, he was far from celibate. He liked her, and she had come to him willingly. He wasn't about to let her slip away.

Inside the bedroom, clothes began to drop away one by one as the intimate mood intensified. Carmen found herself nervously licking her lips, captivated by the sight of Jayden standing before her—his tall frame, toned legs, and chiseled chest.

Suddenly, a ringtone broke the romantic ambiance, coming from the phone Carmen had casually discarded on the nightstand. Jayden's dark eyes flickered with annoyance.

Seeing her sister Sarah's name flashing on the screen, Carmen instinctively reached for it, but Jayden's firm hand intercepted hers and tossed the phone aside.

His voice was low and sultry against her ear, "I don't like interruptions when I'm busy."

"Jayden, I…" Carmen began, but her words were silenced by his irresistible kiss.

With each soft, lingering kiss, Carmen slowly surrendered to the moment…

An hour later, Jayden slipped into the bathroom, leaving Carmen sprawled on the bed, legs still trembling. Despite her exhaustion, the memory of their time together brought a blush to her cheeks. It hadn't been the rough experience she had feared—rather, it was tender, attuned to her emotions, guiding her to new heights of pleasure. She felt a sense of joy she'd never known before.

"Riiiiing!"

The phone on the floor rang again, insistently. Carmen pulled herself from beneath the covers, stumbled, but ignored the pain in her legs as she reached for it. Over forty missed calls—each from her sister, Sarah. Lost in the world with Jayden, she hadn't heard them earlier.

Taking a deep breath, Carmen dialed her sister back. "Sarah, why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?"

Her voice came out ragged and strained, catching her off guard.

"Carmen, where are you right now?" Sarah's voice on the other end quivered. "Did you… did you really go to a hotel with someone?"

Carmen hesitated but quickly realized that Lilly Hicks must have tattled to her sister, trying to sabotage her chance with Jayden. Had she answered her sister's calls earlier, she wouldn't have had her moment with Jayden, giving Lilly what she wanted.

Oddly, Carmen felt thankful that Jayden had tossed the phone aside. The experience had been a joyful revelation. She didn't feel like she had lost anything.

Sleeping with Jayden Montgomery was the aspiration of many in their social circle, and she had achieved it effortlessly.

"Sister," Carmen decided not to conceal the truth any longer. "I'm at a hotel with my boyfriend. No need to worry."

Jayden emerged from the bathroom just in time to hear her words. From his vantage point, he could see the graceful curve of her back and the elegance of her form, stirring something deep within him.

Her allure made him want more.

But he didn't want her first time to be marred by a negative aftermath. He tamped down his urges, returning to the bathroom again to cool off.

On the call, Sarah's voice cracked with emotion, "Carmen, since you split from Bo, there haven't been any other men. Why did you lie to me? Don't you know how important a woman's honor is? You might regret this forever!"

"Sarah, I'm sorry." Carmen's eyes teared up as she struggled to keep her voice steady. "I know lying was wrong, but I had my reasons. And I don't regret tonight. I'll take responsibility for my choices."

After hanging up, Carmen realized her whole body was trembling. Her family was everything, something she couldn't disregard. She knew her sister couldn't understand her decisions and was disappointed, but there were paths she had to walk, decisions she had to own.

"This card has five million dollars. You might need it," Jayden spoke in his deep, alluring voice from behind her.

Carmen turned to face him, stunned by the view—Jayden standing there with just a towel around his waist, his fit body gleaming in the light.

But her eyes quickly locked onto the credit card he held out, and her face drained of color. Her heart felt pierced by a painful thorn.

She had thought his gentleness in bed meant she was special to him, but now he seemed to see her as just another woman he'd bought.

They were all the same, she realized. Jayden's practiced moves indicated he did this often.

Yet, remembering her original reason for seeking him out, Carmen forced a thin smile. "Mr. Montgomery, I'm not here for money."

If Jayden could help her uncover the evidence of Winfrey International's plan against her family's company, it would bring justice for her father.

"Then why are you here?" Jayden's gaze chilled.

So she did have an agenda.

Carmen noticed the sarcasm lurking in his eyes but boldly held his gaze. "Jayden, I heard you work with Winfrey International. Could you possibly…”

“No,” Jayden cut her off sharply, "Five million—not enough?"

Did she intend to involve another man?

Carmen felt her heart constrict slightly. Perhaps she had overestimated herself. After a moment, she answered evenly, "If Mr. Montgomery won't assist, I won't press. As for the five million, keep it for yourself."

Momentarily forgetting her vulnerable state, Carmen dressed nonchalantly, radiating self-assurance.

Before leaving, she dug into her purse for some hundred-dollar bills and tossed them onto the bed. "But you were great. Consider this a tip."

With those words, she walked out without a backward glance.