Chapter 1: How It Feels To Be Betrayed

Annabel’s POV

What would you do when the world you thought was perfect begins to crumble?

When the life you dreamed of living forever with someone you thought loved you back just as much as you loved them starts to fall apart?

Do you fight for that love?

Or do you gather the little pieces left of yourself and walk away?

Our final exams just ended, and our long awaited results are here.

I came out as the best graduating student in software engineering. At least something to compensate me for the stress I’ve been through.

Not being able to meet up with my father’s wedding because of my final exams was enough torture, but seeing this result made it worthwhile.

My father had informed me about his marriage plan, but I still don’t understand the reason for the rush.

I mean, I’m so happy for him.

At least he will finally have a woman by his side after years of my mother leaving us when I was twelve.

I can’t wait to meet my new mom.

But the most exciting part of going back to New York is that I will finally reunite with my lover, James.

Our plane finally landed at the airport, but there was no sign of James.

He promised to come pick me up. Or did he forget?

I was running out of patience and decided to call him. Dialed his number, but the damn robotic voice sent me to voicemail.

I decided to try again. But he hung up on me.

A flash of disappointment pierced my soul. James never kept me hanging, or could he be in any trouble?

Just when I was trying to figure out what to do next. My phone beeped. It was a message from James.

James: babe I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the airport. I was caught up with something. But I will make it up to you, I promise.

I read the message over and over again. What is with the sudden change of plan?

Irritated by his silly excuses. I gripped my phone too tight that one could think that I was going to smash it with just my bare hands.

My fingers hovered over my screen as I replied to him. I exhaled for a second before clicking send.

Annabel: And you are just informing me?

He took time before replying.

James: Fine, babe, I will send you a location. Meet me at the club tonight.

Club?

James knows too well that I don’t club. But if this is all it takes to see him again, Then I’ll go.

I did not reply to him after he sent the location. I just took a cab and went home.

I got to the club. Loud music, people chatting happily, women dancing half naked while the men sprayed them with cash, disco lights flashing in every corner.

It felt like a different world.

Totally not my type of world.

I have tried to call James but he never picked. I searched the room, recognizing one of his men.

Thank goodness, at least this was a sign that I was not at the wrong location.

I walked up to him and demanded to see James. He just gave me a slight nod and requested that I follow him. Which I did.

Passing the hallway. I saw men smoking and drinking themselves to stupor. The moan from different angles only made me wonder how James could be so comfortable with this type of environment.

We reached a room and his guard stopped. “This is the boss’s room”.

Surprised by the funny voices that were coming out from the room. I gave him a doubtful glare with a slight nod. “Thanks, you may leave now”.

He just bowed and left.

After he had left. I turned to the door, my hands hovering around the door handle as I exhaled deeply, tensed about what I was going to see inside the room.

Could James be inside this room?

What was that sound? Of course, I knew it was someone moaning. But what will James be doing in a room where a woman was moaning out this loud?

I shoved off the questions.

No, it cannot be my James. I trust him so well. He can not break my heart just like that.

I finally opened the door—Peeped in, but it was not clear. Then I pushed the door wide open.

And there it was.

My greatest fear. James was completely naked on top of another woman that is not me.

“James!” I screamed out with a trembling voice.

The two of them jerked up, panting like they had just run a marathon.

That was when it hit me harder.

Not only was James making out with another lady, the woman he was cheating on me with was my best friend—Stephanie.

I ran out of breath. My body froze.

Short of words to use, and that was when my asthma attacked me again.

I managed to pull out my inhaler, sprayed a generous portion, and ran out of the room.

To make everything worse none of them went after me. They never felt remorseful. They sat like I was not supposed to react, like everything I saw in that room was nothing.

My sight became blurry. With my glassy eyes, I kept walking fast, not knowing where my legs were taking me. Until I bumped into someone.

My face was still pressed on his strong chest. Too weak to raise my head. He did not move either.

That was when it occurred to me to look up. Pulling away, my gaze met a handsome looking man with piercing dark brown eyes. He had sexy broad shoulders, a clean shave and fine skin tone.

He stood in a well tailored jet-black suit. The jacket was cut sharp and close to his body, accentuating the broad set of his shoulders and the subtle tension of muscle underneath. His presence spoke of authority, luxury and a well reserved personality.

I was still mouth parted, too stunned to speak. When Stephanie’s voice cut in. “Daniel,” he called out to the man.

Wait, she knows the man too?

Not caught up with any other drama. I fully distanced myself from him. “I…uhm…I mean….I’m sorry”. I stammered.

He just stood, his eyes not leaving mine, but not a word came out from his lips.

I turned and saw Stephanie who was already pleading with him. “Dan…Daniel, it's not what you think. I can explain”. She kept pleading as she moved forward. I shook my head in a disgusting way and left the scene.

When I got home, I finally threw myself on the bed. At this point, I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore as I finally let them stream down my face.

So this is how it feels to be betrayed?

Betrayal not only from my lover, but from my best friend too. I couldn’t stop wondering how long their nasty affairs had been going on.

Fuck, I feel so dumb. How could I have been blind all this while?

So this is why they both left school the same day exams ended, without waiting for results or clearing any stuff.

I had even picked my best dress to go see James. Applied subtle makeup, looking lavish, just to go watch him screw my best friend.

And why on earth will he send me to come meet him at the club, knowing I would find him in another woman’s arms?

Or was it part of his plans?

To humiliate me and watch me break.