Chapter 1

While waiting in the hospital lounge for my vasectomy, I stumbled across a trending thread on an anonymous forum.

"What is the ultimate revenge against another man?"

The top upvoted response instantly caught my eye.

"Simple. You act as his absolute best friend while quietly taking away everything he holds dear."

"To be completely honest, that is exactly what I am doing to my childhood buddy right now."

"Before he even realized it, his wealthy parents began treating me like their own son, giving me an executive title higher than his. His sweet, pure-hearted wife gave her virginity to me in the custom master bedroom he spent months remodeling. And both of his children are biologically mine, so clingy they secretly call me daddy."

"Just because I suggested it, his wife forced him to get a permanent vasectomy today, and the idiot actually agreed."

"Now, the poor bastard will never have a real heir of his own for the rest of his life."

The comment section exploded with shock, insults, and genuine curiosity.

"What did this guy ever do to you for you to ruin him like this?" one commenter asked.

The original poster responded with chilling honesty.

"Nothing deep. He was just better than me at everything growing up, always carrying that calm, untouchable pride. It pissed me off, so I dismantled his life piece by piece."

"Right now, he is sitting alone in a clinic waiting to get snipped, while I am in bed with his wife, planning to burn through an entire box of protection tonight."

Attached to the reply was a photo of an extra-large, thirteen-count box of condoms.

In the background sat the distinctive walnut nightstand of my own master bedroom.

1

My blood turned to ice the moment I saw that photo.

A suffocating realization washed over me.

The pathetic, cuckolded fool getting pitied by hundreds of thousands of strangers online was me.

And the anonymous poster was none other than my lifelong best friend, Hudson Briggs.

"Keep crying in the comments," Hudson sneered in a follow-up reply. "You losers can only talk trash behind keyboards while I drive a Bentley, live in a mansion, and sleep with another man's gorgeous wife."

He was completely drunk on his own arrogance.

"Since this account is untraceable, here is a little bonus for the fans."

He posted another photo.

A woman in a seductive black bunny outfit sat in front of a vanity with her back turned to the camera.

On her left shoulder blade was a distinct, blossom-shaped birthmark.

The comments below instantly turned vile.

"Damn, your buddy's wife is smoking hot! Give us her socials, bro!"

"Why keep her to yourself? One more guy won't hurt!"

My hands shook violently as I scrolled through the vulgar comments.

I had kissed that exact birthmark on Shiloh's shoulder during countless passionate nights, believing her love belonged exclusively to me.

Now, she was exposed like a cheap prize for degenerate strangers on the internet to drool over.

A suffocating fury surged into my chest, threatening to tear me apart.

Just then, a nurse stepped into the waiting area with a clipboard.

"Mr. Lucas Crawford? We are ready for your vasectomy. Please follow me to the operating room."

Without a word, I snatched the medical chart from her hand and ripped it to shreds.

"Cancel it. Call the next person."

I turned on my heel and marched straight out of the clinic.

Once in my car, I dialed Shiloh's number.

She had claimed her mother was sick tonight and needed overnight care, which was why she couldn't accompany me to the surgery.

After three ignored FaceTime requests, she finally answered with her camera turned off.

"Babe? Why are you calling so late? Is the procedure done?"

Her voice sounded breathless and slightly raspy.

"You better not have backed out on me," she murmured with a forced pout. "I already gave you a son and a daughter, and my body can't take another pregnancy. If you truly love me, make sure the doctor signs a certificate of permanent sterility."