They Chose Her. We Chose Revenge

My best friend and I married brothers from the same family, and we ended up pregnant around the same time.

I married Julian, the brother whos a doctor, and she married Leo, his good-looking police officer brother.

On our first wedding anniversary, my best friend and I were on our way to pick up our prenatal checkup reports when we got into a car crash.

My best friend escaped injury because shed gotten out of the car earlier to buy me some milk, but I suffered severe bleeding.

Shaking, I called my husband, the doctor.

Julian sounded annoyed and said, "Youre lying again, just trying to get my attention! Medical resources arent something you can waste like this! Serena cut her hand, and Im busy bandaging it. Stop bothering me!"

My best friend quickly called her husband, the police officer.

But Leo snapped, "Do you know what happens if you file a false police report? Ive got to fix Serenas leaky water pipe. Dont waste my time!"

My best friend, eight months pregnant, dragged me to the hospital.

We both miscarried.

When I woke up, I looked at Mias pale face, and we exchanged bitter smiles.

"Chloe, Im getting a divorce," she said.

"Me too," I replied.

Once I made up my mind, I texted Julian right away about the divorce.

He called me back, shouting:

"Chloe, Serena slit her wristit couldve been life-threatening! You want a divorce just because I helped her?! Im not agreeing to this!"

With that, he hung up before I could even say anything.

Three years of dating, one year of marriage, and a baby that was almost here.

I never thought it would all fall apart because of Serenathe girl hed always had a thing for!

This morning, I ran into Serena at the hospital.

She insisted on helping me get a cab, and I didnt turn down her offer.

Then the driver suddenly swerved and crashed into a truck.

The driver had minor scrapes and took off, leaving me lying in a pool of blood in the middle of the road.

Looking back now, maybe the crash wasnt an accident at allmaybe Serena planned it.

Just then, Mia woke up beside me, tears filling her eyes.

I was about to comfort her when her husband Leo, the police officer, called, yelling:

"What the hell is your problem? Youve always been perfectly healthyhow could you miscarry? You want a divorce? Fine, then lets divorce!"

The call ended abruptly.

My best friend stared at her phone, lost in thought.

Seeing how fragile she looked, I said, "Dont be upset. These two guys arent worth crying over."

Thinking about it, maybe this outcome was inevitable from the moment we decided to marry them.

Julian had intentionally picked Serenas birthday for our weddinghis resentment was obvious.

Even our marriages were just leverage for the brothers to win Serena back. There was never any real love there.

Its ridiculous how Mia and I let ourselves be played for fools.

Hours had passed since the accident, and we were in Julians hospital, but he still wouldnt come see us.

Maybe in his eyes, I was never worth his time.

I realized that too late.

And the price I paid was way too high.

I lay in my hospital bed scrolling through Instagram.

Sure enough, Serena had posted another victory photo, showing off like always.

There was a group shot of the three of them, a photo of a supposedly "fixed" pipe, and a carefully bandaged wrist with a little bow on it.

Grateful for good friendssometimes friendship outlasts love!

Serenas post quickly got tons of likes.

Ones a doctor, ones a copyouve got two hot guys!

So jealous!

I took a deep breath and showed Mia the Instagram post.

She pulled out her phone, and two minutes later, a bitter laugh escaped her.

"A love triangle? Dont they think thats a little crowded? Once we divorce, theyll probably need a custom bed for their little threesome, huh?"

I snorted.

"Im calling a lawyer right now to draft the divorce papers. And while Im at it, Ill send them a king-size bed as a congrats on your new relationship gift!"

After we sent the papers, Mia and I waited all day, but neither brother replied.

I ran out of patience and called Julian.

Before I could say a word, he snapped:

"Why did you send divorce papers to my office? Trying to humiliate me in front of everyone because youre jealous?"

His words made me sighfor myself, for ever thinking he cared.

Id asked a nurse to deliver the papers. If hed bothered to ask even one question, he wouldve found out about the accident and that I was in the hospital.

But obviously, he hadnt.

I was about to bring up the divorce when Serenas sickly sweet voice came through the phone.

"Julian, that lipstick you got me last time was so pretty! I loved itcan you pick up another one?"

He quickly covered the phone, and I let out a bitter laugh.

"No wonder youre too busy to sign the divorce papers. Dont let me interrupt your plans. Ill leave you alone."

I was about to hang up when he lost his temper completely.

"Are you serious right now? I was just trying to keep you from overreacting! Im with my brother! He was fixing Serenas pipe, remember? She wanted to thank us with dinner. Why are you always so paranoid? Cant you just trust me for once?"

"Shes a single woman who cant even fix a pipe by herselfwhy do you have to call me for every little problem? Im exhausted from work! Cant you act like an adult? Now youre throwing a fit, demanding a divorce, and dragging Mia into this too. What did my brother ever do to you?"

Julians voice rose, sharp with frustration.

Then Serena piped up, her voice sickly sweet: "Dont be upset, Julian. Pregnant women get extra emotional with all those hormones, right?"

I was so angry my stitches throbbed, and I slammed down the phone.

Mia saw how upset I was and squeezed my hand. "Dont let them get to you! I already texted Leowere getting those divorces as soon as were out of here."

Mia and I were in the hospital for two whole weeks, and neither of them called once.

Not one text asking where two pregnant women had disappeared to.

Or why we hadnt been home.

Their silence made our already broken hearts sink even lower.

Then I saw Serenas new Instagram post, and it all made sense.

Dozens of photos of the three of them on vacationlaughing, hugging, looking like one big happy family.

Their grins were like salt in our wounds.

The caption read: Family isnt always bloodgrateful for my chosen family!

I stared at Julians carefree smile in the photos, feeling absolutely numb inside.

I texted him calmly.

Im being discharged. Court tomorrowbring Leo.

He called right away, but I declined and blocked his number.

Mia and I finished the discharge paperwork, then finally had time to report the hit-and-run driver to the police.

After we described what happened, the officer frowned:

"Its been two weekswhy wait until now to report this? Tracking them down might be tough."

I just nodded awkwardly, forcing a smile as I asked for their help.

When we explained that my husband had bailed to be with his mistress, and Mia had miscarried trying to save meso wed had no one to help us until nowthe officer looked sympathetic.

"Dont worry, well do everything we can to find that driver."

After leaving the station, Mia and I moved into a new apartment.

We were both still pretty weak, so we hired a cleaning service.

But Julian somehow got through using Leos phone, even though Id blocked him.

He was yelling: "Where the hell are you? The house is a disaster! Why arent you home resting like a pregnant woman should be? Havent two weeks been enough for you to get over this? How long are you gonna keep acting like this?"

"Even if you want a divorce, stop brainwashing Mia! Are you jealous she had a good marriage?"

Mia heard every word and snatched the phone from me, livid.

She screamed into the phone, "You two assholes! Mia and I never shouldve married you! Tell Leo if he doesnt show up tomorrow, hes a coward! This divorce is happeningwith or without you!"

With that, she hung up.

We blocked both brothers numbers right after.

The next morning, Mia and I got to the courthouse early to wait for them.

But Serena showed up insteadand we shouldve known better.

Her eyes were red like shed been crying.

She clicked over in her heels, sniffling and putting on that innocent act:

"Im so sorryI came to apologize for them. I know theres been a misunderstanding. Its not what it looks like, I promise."

"That trip? We planned it five years ago! I was out of town for a while, so were just now getting around to it. I told them to say goodbye before they left, but they mustve forgotten to text"

This wasnt an apologyit was a flex.

I let out a dry laugh. "Oh really? So their divorce todaydid you sign off on that too? Are they even man enough to show up, or did you volunteer to handle their dirty work?"

Serenas phone buzzed quietly in her purse.

Her expression flickered, and then she suddenly lunged at us.

I flinched and pushed her away on instinct.

Serena fell hard on her butt, scraping her palm open.

I froze, confused, and was about to help her up when Julians voice roared from across the lobby:

"Chloe, what the fuck are you doing?! Get away from her!"

Before I could process what was happening, he was in my face.

He shoved me hard in the chest.

I stumbled backward, crashing into Mia.

Julians eyes dropped to my flat stomach, and his face went white as a sheet.

He stammered, "The baby?"

Leo wandered over, glued to his phone, not even glancing our way. He was talking urgently:

"No, I cant today. The station just got a report about a hit-and-run from two weeks agotheyre calling it attempted murder! I gotta head back to investigate."

Then he finally noticed our empty bellies and froze.

His phone slipped from his hand, screen shattering when it hit the floor.

"What happened? Chloe your stomach"

I stared at their panicked, crumbling faces and said flatly, "As you can see, thanks to the three of you, the babys gone. Lets sign the divorce papers. Theres nothing left to say."

Julians eyes bulged, like he couldnt process it.

Then it hit him, and he exploded.

"Chloe! That was my kid! How could you do this behind my back? Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"Are you insane?! Youre a murderer! You killed my child!"

I shot a cold look at the woman hiding in his arms, sneering.

"I lost my baby in a car accident, and youre calling me a murderer? Should I have died too to make you happy?"

"Julian, do you even care about that baby? Or are you just mad you lost your trophy? Maybe you should ask who caused that accident."

"When the truth comes out, I hope youll still be so quick to judge."

My words made Serena panicjust for a second. She opened her mouth to speak, but Leo cut her off.

"Car accident? What are you talking about? Was that real? And my sonMia was fine that day, right?"

His ignorance made Mias eyes well up.

Then she snapped, "Shut up! Are you really that dense?! Do you think a woman would joke about losing her baby? Leo, youre pathetic."

"You dont deserve to be a dad! Im glad that baby never had to call you father. After today, I never want to see you again."

Mia had never yelled at him like thatnot in their four years together.

Leo froze, his face red with shame and rage.

"What are you saying? What actually happened? Were you in an accident too? Did they find the driver?"

His voice cracked with panic, finally realizing how bad things were.

But it was way too late.

Mia smiled bitterly, her voice dead calm.

"You didnt care when I called for help. You dont get to care now."

Thats when Julian finally rememberedthe four desperate calls Id made the day of the accident.

His face went pale, like it was cracking.

He turned to me, hesitant. "Those calls were you really hurt? Did the baby die because of the accident?"

When I just stared at him, he pushed Serena away like she was burning him.

Serena looked shockedlike no one had ever brushed her off before.

I shot her a look. "Funny you should askwho do you think reported the accident as attempted murder?"

The brothers didnt seem to get it, but Serena did.

Her shock melted into panic, and she forced a guilty smile.

Serena jumped in, defending the driver: "Maybe he was drunk? Probably didnt even realize he hit someone! Truck drivers are so reckless these daysIve almost been hit myself"

Normally, the brothers wouldve rushed to comfort her, warning her to be careful crossing streets.

But this time, crickets.

The two men just stared at her, expressions unreadable.

Guilt and regret flickered in their eyes.

I laughed coldly at her panic.

Was she covering for the driver or herself?

I kept my voice icy. "I never said it was a truck. Howd you know that?"

That sent Serena into a full-blown panic.