Chapter 3: The Betrayal
The words hung in the air, a toxic cloud Sarah couldn't escape. "Beth?" she croaked, the name a strangled whisper. John just stared, his expression unreadable.
Swallowing hard, Sarah fumbled for her phone, her fingers clumsy and unresponsive. The screen felt slick with sweat as she navigated to Beth's contact. Each ring was a hammer blow against her sanity.
"Hey, sis! What's up?" Beth's voice chirped through the speaker, bright and oblivious. Sarah's stomach twisted. How could she possibly explain this?
"Beth, I… I need to talk to you about something," Sarah began, her voice wavering. "It's… it's about John."
"John? What's he done now?" Beth's tone shifted, a hint of concern lacing her words. "Is everything okay?"
Sarah took a shaky breath. "No, Beth, nothing is okay. He… he wants me to ask you something. Something awful." She paused, the words catching in her throat.
"Spit it out, Sarah. You're freaking me out," Beth urged, her voice sharper now. "What does John want?"
Sarah closed her eyes, picturing Beth's face, her kind, trusting eyes. "He wants… he wants you to sleep with him, Beth." The words were finally out, a venomous expulsion.
Silence. A long, deafening silence that stretched on and on. Sarah held her breath, waiting for the explosion, the outrage, the disbelief.
Instead, a soft giggle. "He does, huh?" Beth's voice was different now, a strange, almost playful quality to it. "Well, that's… interesting."
Sarah's eyes snapped open. "Interesting? Beth, what the hell? He's my husband! He's asking me to pimp you out!"
"I know, I know, it's messed up," Beth said, her tone surprisingly calm. "But… I've always thought John was hot, you know? That whole strong, silent type thing."
Sarah felt a wave of nausea wash over her. "You're serious? You're actually considering this?"
"I'm not saying I'm jumping at the chance, but… tell me more," Beth said, a hint of excitement creeping into her voice. "What's in it for me?" Beth, this isn't some kind of game!" Sarah screamed into the phone, tears streaming down her face. "This is my life, my marriage, my sanity! And you're just… titillated?"
Beth laughed again, a low, throaty sound that made Sarah's skin crawl. "Okay, okay, calm down," she said. "Just tell me what he's offering. I mean, if I'm gonna fuck my sister's husband, I deserve somethi
"He's not offering anything, Beth! He's forcing me to do this! He's threatening to leave me if I don't!" Sarah sobbed, her voice raw and broken. The phone trembled in her hand as she paced the cold, sterile living room. "Please, Beth, just say no. Please don't do this to me." Her pleas were met with silence, and for a moment, Sarah thought the line had gone dead.There was a pause, and Sarah thought she heard Beth sigh. "Look, Sarah, I know this is fucked up, okay? But let's be real, your marriage has been circling the drain for years." Her tone softened, almost sympathetic, but then it shifted, turning low and seductive. "And honestly, the thought of John… I've always wondered what he was like in bed." Sarah's stomach churned at the casual way Beth spoke about her husband."Beth, no! Please, I'm begging you!" Sarah cried, her voice cracking with desperation. She sank to the floor, her back against the wall, clutching the phone like a lifeline. "Don't do this to me. I can't handle it." Tears streamed down her face as she imagined Beth and John together, their bodies tangled in the sheets she’d shared with him for years."Alright, alright, chill. I'll do it," Beth said, her voice infuriatingly casual. "But on my terms." She paused, and Sarah could hear the smirk in her voice. "You tell John I'm not just some piece of meat he can use and discard. He's gonna treat me right, understand?"What? What are you talking about?" Sarah asked, bewildered. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what Beth was saying. "What terms?"First, I want a date. A real date. Dinner, drinks, the whole shebang," Beth said, a hint of mischief in her voice. "And second, no funny business. I'm not on birth control, so he's wearing a condom. Got it?"Sarah, feeling like she was losing control of the situation, agreed numbly. "Okay, Beth, okay. I'll tell him." Her voice was hollow, her spirit crushed. "But please, just promise me you'll be careful."Don't worry, sis. I always am," Beth said, a strange glint in her voice. "Now, tell lover-boy I'll be expecting his call." With that, she hung up, leaving Sarah staring at the phone in disbelief.Sarah relayed Beth's conditions to John, who surprisingly agreed without much argument. He seemed almost… relieved. That night, a date was set for the following evening.The next night, Sarah watched, a knot of dread forming in her stomach, as John got ready for his date with Beth. He showered, shaved, and dressed in his best suit, a stark contrast to the casual indifference he usually showed her. She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clenched in her lap, as he adjusted his tie in the mirror.Hours later, John returned, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Well," Sarah asked, her voice barely a whisper. "How was it?" She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, her gaze fixed on the floor. "It was… interesting," John said, echoing Beth's earlier words. "Beth is… enthusiastic."Later that night, in the sterile expanse of their bedroom, Sarah confronted John. "Did you use a condom?" she asked, her voice trembling. John hesitated, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. "Of course, I did," he said, but Sarah didn't believe him.The next morning, Beth called Sarah, her voice giddy with excitement. "Oh my god, Sarah, that was amazing!" she exclaimed. "John is incredible in bed!" Her words were like daggers in Sarah's heart. Then, her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "And guess what? I took the condom off when he was about to cum. I want his baby, Sarah!"Sarah felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. "You did what?" she gasped, her voice barely audible. Her knees buckled, and she leaned against the wall for support. "Beth, you can't be serious! You could get pregnant!"That's the whole point, silly!" Beth laughed, a wild, reckless sound that echoed in Sarah's ears. "I want to give John what you couldn't. A baby. His baby." The line went dead, leaving Sarah alone with the horrifying realization that her life was about to get a whole lot