Amber's heart pounded as the photos loaded one by one. Brie was leisurely walking around the living room, humming while her phone loaded with pictures of Jeff and a random woman—Shirtless, and smiling, and Ashley— curled up in his bed, wearing his shirt like it belonged to her.
There was another photo of them at a restaurant, with his hand resting on her fingers and a hunger in his eyes.
Amber's stomach twisted at the realization of the truth before her.
It was clear to the blind that Jeff was cheating, and Brie, she looked happy in her space. Walking leisurely without a care in the world. There was a light in her steps—the kind she always had when everything was going well for her, when she wasn't under pressure emotionally or stressed.
Amber was torn. On one hand were pictures that would unravel every web of lies Jeff had systematically woven to protect Brie from the truth, and on the other hand was her sister, of many years. They weren't blood related, but the bond they had formed over the years had formed stronger ties—they were a family. A family that had grown together, stuck together, cried and worked hard together.
Brie was so close to the pinnacle of success, and this sudden information would ruin everything.
"Brie," she said quickly, voice tight. "Can you get me a glass of water?"
Brie, halfway to her room, paused. "Sure."
This was her moment—the time was now.
As soon as Brie's figure disappeared into the kitchen, Amber's fingers flew. She screenshotted everything Ashley sent, including the message thread, and forwarded the images to her own phone, then deleted the pictures from Brie's phone, then cleared it from trash. Her hand paused slightly—it was a moment of doubt creeping in.
Was she doing the right thing?
However, as soon as she heard Brie's steps, she deleted the entire chat thread, blocked Ashley, archived the messages, and then dropped Brie's phone back on the couch like it burned her.
Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths.
What had she just done?
She looked up as Brie returned, glass in hand, her face glowing from the night's high.
Amber forced a smile and took the water. "Thanks."
Brie flopped onto the couch beside her, stretching like a cat, then smiled. "Jeff just messaged me," she giggled. "He said he's still thinking about the way I looked in that dress."
Amber's throat tightened. "Oh?"
Brie nodded, cheeks flushed. "Yeah, he said I looked like fire," She laughed again. He's being so sweet."
Amber hummed, sipping the water to keep from blurting the truth.
Brie leaned back, typing in another message to Jeff, and she giggled again. Then a video call from Jeff came through, and she picked it up excitedly.
Missing me already, Brie crooned.
You know I'll always miss you, babe. Couldn't help but want to see your face again.
She giggled again and blushed. But you saw me tonight.
And I didn't get enough. I miss your lips. He smiled and blew her a wet kiss on the screen.
Brie laughed, and her hand flew to her mouth as her shoulders shook with laughter from Jeff's playfulness. On the other hand, Amber was seething with anger.
The audacity of this guy to play with her friend's emotions when he had been cheating. Amber's heart thuddered as she glanced at Brie. She was glowing in the light and looked so happy.
How would she break this news to her? Wasn't this betrayal on her part?
Then another voice whispered in Amber's mind. Not today—you're protecting her today. You can always tell her tomorrow after you've made more findings.
The video call with Jeff ended, and Brie went online and scrolled casually through her phone, then giggled again.
"Gosh, he's been flirting all evening. I think we're finally in a good place. I mean, I know I overreacted before, but tonight… it felt like us again."
Amber didn't respond. Her mind was racing.
She looked at Brie — her best friend, her sister in every way that mattered — and saw the girl she'd grown up with. The one who used to cry herself to sleep in the orphanage bunk beside her. The one who'd held her hand when no one else would.
They'd survived too much to let a man ruin everything now.
Amber clenched her jaw.
Jeff was cheating, or was he not? Could it have been photoshopped?
Brie's final project defense was around the corner. The school was already shortlisting top students for interviews with the biggest firms in the city, and she was certain Brie was on that list.
Amber couldn't let her spiral now. Not when she was this close to everything they'd worked for.
She'd tell her.
Just… not yet.
While Amber was still lost in her battle of will with her thoughts, Brie stood, stretching again. "I've got a midnight call with my group. We're finalizing the slides."
Amber nodded. "Okay. Don't stay up too late."
Brie smiled. "I won't. Love you."
"Love you too," Amber whispered.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Amber sat in the silence, the weight of her decision pressing down like a storm cloud.
She picked up her own phone and opened the screenshots. Her hands moved shakily as she scrolled through each picture.
Jeff's infidelity stared back at her.
She exhaled shakily and whispered to herself, "You'd better pray she never finds out from someone else."
Because if she did… there'd be no saving you or me.