When betrayal shatters the bond between brothers Jude and Jobe Bellingham, the consequences spiral beyond anything they could have imagined. A fateful night leads to a fractured relationship, a heartbreaking loss, and a devastating struggle with gri...
Jobe stood in front of his bedroom mirror, staring at his reflection. His eyes were tired, a dull ache settled in his chest, and his mind was swirling with guilt. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to piece together the events of the evening.
It started like any other party. The usual group of friends, music pumping through the house, drinks flowing like a river. Jude had stayed home that night, opting for a quiet evening in. Jobe was sure he made the right choice. He'd told his brother he'd be good, stay responsible, and not get too carried away.
But then there was her—Lily. Jude's girlfriend. They had known each other for a while, always friendly but nothing more. But tonight, something had been different. Her laughter, her touch on his arm, the way her eyes lingered when she caught his gaze—it all felt charged. She wasn't Jude's Lily, she was... just Lily. And somewhere in the blur of alcohol and the heat of the moment, it had happened.
Jobe didn't remember exactly when it had started, just that one second they were talking, laughing, and the next, they were in the spare room, the door locked, the weight of his own decisions pressing on him like an unbearable burden.
They'd both been drunk, but it didn't matter. It was wrong. It was his brother's girlfriend. Jude trusted him, looked up to him, and he had broken that trust in the worst way. The shame gnawed at him, tearing at his resolve to keep it a secret. He hadn't meant for any of it to happen, but it had, and now he had to live with the consequences.
Jobe had tried to leave the party early, hoping the quiet of his room would offer some solace. But as the silence stretched on, the guilt only grew. He had to tell Jude. He had to own up to what he had done. But every time he opened his mouth to speak, the words seemed to choke in his throat. What could he possibly say?
"I slept with your girlfriend." No, that sounded too brutal. Too final.
Finally, after hours of pacing, he picked up his phone, but hesitated. Jude had always been there for him, had always had his back. How could he destroy that trust with one stupid mistake?
Then, the worst possible thing happened. Jude had found out.
It was the morning after, and Jobe was barely awake when he received a message. Jude had arrived at the house early, and it was clear from his tone that something was off. Jobe's stomach dropped when he saw the words: "Lily just told me everything."
Panic shot through him. His heart raced, and his hands shook as he replied. "Jude, I can explain. I'm so sorry."
There was no response. No follow-up message. Just silence. It felt like a thousand pounds pressing down on his chest.
It was only a few minutes later that the door to Jobe's room swung open, and there he was. Jude, his expression a mixture of confusion, hurt, and anger.
Jobe tried to speak, but his brother didn't give him the chance.
"How could you, Jobe?" Jude's voice was low, trembling with emotion. "How could you do that to me? To us?"
Jobe opened his mouth, but the words failed him again. The shame was overwhelming. His brother stood there, his usual confident, self-assured presence now shattered, his eyes filled with the kind of betrayal Jobe could never have imagined.
"I trusted you," Jude continued, his voice breaking. "I thought you were my brother. But you—" He cut himself off, shaking his head as if trying to make sense of it all.
"I didn't mean for it to happen," Jobe stammered. "I swear, it was a mistake. A stupid, stupid mistake. I was drunk, I wasn't thinking. But it was me, Jude. I was the one who made that choice. Not her."
Jude looked away, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "That doesn't matter, Jobe! You still did it. You still slept with her."
Jobe took a step forward, desperation rising in his chest. "I know. I know, and I hate myself for it. I'm sorry, Jude. I'm so, so sorry."
Jude's gaze softened for a fraction of a second before hardening again. "I don't know if I can ever forgive you for this." His voice was barely above a whisper. "You've crossed a line, and I don't know how we come back from this."
Jobe felt like the ground beneath him was crumbling. His heart broke for his brother, for the pain he had caused, but he knew it was his own fault. He couldn't undo what had been done.
"I'll do anything," Jobe pleaded, his voice cracking. "I'll make it right. I'll never do something like this again. I swear."
Jude stood there, looking at him, his face unreadable. The silence stretched on, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, Jude spoke, his words coming out in a whisper. "I don't know if I can trust you anymore."
Jobe's heart shattered at the admission. He knew it wasn't just about what had happened with Lily—it was about the betrayal of his brother, the one person who had always been there for him. He had broken something irreplaceable, and no matter how hard he tried, he wasn't sure if it could ever be fixed.
"I understand," Jobe said softly, stepping back, giving Jude the space he needed.
With one last look, Jude turned and walked out, leaving Jobe alone in the silence that felt like an eternity.
LILY
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