Chapter 5-Framed

Katelyn's POV “Leave her alone, Ethan. She wants to leave? Then let her leave. Let’s see how well she does separated from you.” Derek’s voice carried a mocking lilt, like he’d been waiting years to say it. I pressed my lips together, fighting off the sting of his words, but the tears welled up anyway, hot and unwelcome. My own brother. The betrayal cut deep, but I promised myself this would be the last time they ever saw me feel cornered or wounded. I walked up the stairs, each step heavier than the last, determined to pack as much of my things as I could so I could leave this place and never return. When I was done, I slipped the wedding ring off my finger and stared at it for a long moment. The tiny band of gold felt heavier than it should, like a shackle disguised as jewelry. I opened the dresser drawer and dropped it inside. The sound of the ring hitting wood was sharper than it should’ve been. The front door creaked open below. I stiffened. Footsteps. A familiar scent of expensive perfume wafted in before I even saw her. Scarlett. “Hello, Katelyn,” she said, her lips curved into a smile so smug it made my skin crawl. “What do you want, Scarlett?” My voice was low, frayed at the edges. She stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, her heels clicking like a countdown against the hardwood. “I came to see how you’re doing,” she said sweetly. I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe for support. “Get to the point, Scarlett.” Her smile widened. “Fine. I’m here to take back what’s mine. Don’t think for a second that he’s yours, Katelyn. You were just a stand-in. A placeholder until I came back.” Her words sliced through me, but I refused to show it. “As long as I’m his wife, he’s mine,” I said calmly, even though my voice trembled under the weight of the lie. Scarlett let out a bitter laugh. “Do you really believe that? He only married you because I wasn’t here. He’s never loved you, Katelyn. Not for a single moment.” I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. “Say whatever you want, Scarlett. But I’ve been his wife for ten years. You’re the one who left.” Her smirk faded, replaced by a sneer. “Don’t get cocky, Katelyn. You’re nothing to him. Nothing. And soon, everyone will see that.” She stepped closer, her voice lowering to a whisper that burned worse than a scream. “You can’t hold on to something that was never yours.” I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, Scarlett turned sharply and started walking toward the stairs. Her heel caught on the edge of the rug. Time slowed. Her eyes flicked up to mine, wide and almost gleeful, just before she tumbled down the staircase with a strangled cry. The sound was sickening. I froze, my mind struggling to process what had just happened. The door opened downstairs. Footsteps. “Scarlett!” Ethan’s voice cut through the silence, raw with panic. I gripped the bannister, my body trembling, fever making everything feel unreal, like I was trapped behind a pane of glass. Ethan was at her side in an instant, kneeling, his hands cradling her face with a gentleness he hadn’t shown me in years. “What happened?” His voice cracked. Scarlett’s voice trembled, but her words were sharp enough to slice me open. “Katelyn… she pushed me.” The lie hung in the air like smoke. Ethan’s gaze snapped to me, sharp and accusing. “What did you do?” His question hit me like a punch to the gut. My lips parted, but no sound came out. My truth sat lodged in my throat, choking me. The room tilted. My knuckles whitened around the bannister. Ethan didn’t wait. He scooped Scarlett into his arms as if she were the only thing worth saving. “Let’s get you to a doctor,” he murmured to her, soft, reassuring, the voice he used to use on me. I stood there, helpless, watching the two of them, the man I’d given ten years to and the woman who’d taken everything from me move as one. He carried her out the door, never looking back. My chest tightened until it hurt to breathe. The pain wasn’t sharp anymore, it was a slow crush, a suffocating weight that spread through my bones. When I needed him most, he picked her instead. The thought cracked something inside me I didn’t know was still whole. He didn’t even close the door gently. It slammed shut, the sound echoing through the empty house like a verdict. My legs gave out. I slid down the bannister to the floor, my hands trembling. The ring-shaped indentation still on my finger burned like a brand. Darkness crept in from the edges of my vision, swallowing the room piece by piece. I reached for support, but my hand met only cold air. For a moment, I didn’t know if I was standing or falling I collapsed, the last thing I saw was the door swinging in its frame, half closed just like my life, before everything went black.