Chapter 14

Bella's POV

I sat in the opulent study, my heart heavy with worry and uncertainty. The room, usually a sanctuary of calm and strategic planning, now felt suffocating, as if the weight of the world had settled upon my shoulders. The betrayal that had unfolded before my eyes had shaken me to the core, leaving me questioning everything I thought I knew.

Xander, my husband and the love of my life, stood by the window, staring out into the distance. His usually commanding presence seemed diminished, his shoulders slumped, and the lines of worry etched deep into his face. It was as if the air in the room had been sucked out, leaving us in a vacuum of disbelief.

We had trusted Sebastian, Xander's closest confidant and advisor, with our deepest secrets and entrusted him with the inner workings of our lives. He had been the one who stood by Xander's side through thick and thin, offering guidance and unwavering loyalty. Or so we had believed.

The revelation of Sebastian's betrayal had been a sh