Book five

Bella’s Pov 

I went to our favourite spot, the place where we always stayed together in the evening, with a bottle of whiskey in my hand. The sky was slowly darkening, and the air felt heavy, as if it knew how broken I was inside. This was the place where we shared laughs, dreams, and promises. We had made a vow to each other that we wouldn’t leave one another, no matter what happened. Standing there alone now felt like a cruel joke fate was playing on me.

I could remember vividly that evening when he said all those beautiful things to me, words that wrapped around my heart and made me feel like I had already found the perfect one. His voice had been calm and sure, his eyes full of sincerity. Back then, I believed every word he said. But now, I was heartbroken beyond repair. My heart couldn’t understand how everything ended up like this, how something that once felt so real could fall apart so suddenly.

“Let the sky and moon be witnesses that my love for you will last from everlasting to forever,” he had promised.

I was holding the tiny stone in my hand, the same stone we had place on our promise never to leave each other, I smiled sadly. That promise echoed painfully in my mind as I remembered what Ciara had said to me that day.

“Leo is a billionaire.”

The words still didn’t feel real. How come I didn’t know any of this? How could someone I loved so deeply be such a stranger to me? He always told me that if he had something, he would spoil me with everything I ever needed. He said he just needed a little patience from me, that things would get better with time. I believed him. I trusted him completely. But now I knew—he lied to me.

I cried silently as I sipped from the bottle. The whiskey burned my throat, but the pain in my chest burned even more. It’s been one year since we started dating, yet I felt like I never truly knew him. I didn’t know where he came from, what he owned, or who he really was. And still, despite everything, I missed him so much. His absence hurt in a way I couldn’t explain. Being far from him felt like losing a part of myself.

“Cheers to a cheating fiancé,” I laughed abruptly, raising the bottle of whiskey into the air as if he were standing in front of me.

I was so determined to drink until I was sober, even though I knew I had zero tolerance for alcohol. Normally, I wouldn’t even take a sip, but tonight, I didn’t care anymore. I wanted the pain to disappear, even if only for a moment. I would drink until I killed off my sorrow. A sly smile appeared on my face, but just then, tears gathered in my eyes again. I held the bottle tightly, as though it was the only thing keeping me together.

“He promised that he will love me forever, but that was all a lie,” I sighed heavily.

I lifted the bottle again, ready to take another drink, when suddenly, a hand grabbed it. I froze. That familiar scent filled my senses immediately. My heart skipped a beat.

Leo. Was I dreaming? I was already tipsy, so maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. I tried to force the drink down anyway, but the hand still held it firmly. My eyes remained closed as tears streamed down my face.

“That’s enough, Bella,” he said softly. “I didn’t cheat on you. You’ve got to believe me.”

His voice sounded real—too real. Still, I kept my eyes shut, afraid that if I opened them, he would disappear. Maybe this was just another cruel illusion. But curiosity won over fear.

When I finally opened my eyes, I locked onto his handsome face. He was really there. He was a sight to behold, just as he always had been. Of course, he was every woman’s dream. Our lips were inches apart, and my heart throbbed faster. For a brief second, I felt like kissing him, like everything could go back to how it was. I blamed the alcohol for the way my body reacted to him.

“How did you know I was here?” the question lingered in my mind, even in my drunken state.

“What are you doing?” I asked in a low, dry tone, my voice slurred. Tears slipped slowly from my eyes.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” he replied. “I couldn’t find you, but I figured you’d be here.”

His voice sounded deeper, pulling me back into his world. I took another sip from the bottle, refusing to let my guard down.

“Cheers to a cheating boyfriend,” I laughed abruptly again.

The tears wouldn’t stop, no matter how hard I tried to control them.

“You’ve had enough, Bella. It’s getting dark. Let me take you home,” he said firmly.

I stared at him, still holding onto his shirt as if letting go would break me completely. There was electricity between us, something familiar and painful. Even though I was angry, even though I felt betrayed, I still loved him with everything I had.

He held my waist, and before I could react, he lifted me into his arms. I was so intoxicated that I couldn’t fully explain how everything felt—my heart, my body, my mind. He placed me gently inside a car. I thought he would leave after that, but instead, he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s seat.

“Please don’t leave me,” I laughed softly, the words slipping out before I could stop myself.

He started the engine, and the car began to move.

Was I seeing things? This was my first time seeing him drive. My heart pounded. It was exactly as Ciara had said. He wasn’t the poor Leo I thought I knew. His clothes looked incredibly expensive, his movements confident. Reality crashed down on me all at once.

“You betrayed me,” I cried, covering my face with my hands.

He glanced at me through the rear-view mirror, shock written all over his face. I could barely process it—Leo had a car, a life I knew nothing about. Maybe I had drunk too much. Everything felt unreal, like a dream I couldn’t wake up from.

“She was right about you,” I said between broken laughs. “You had a huge secret you couldn’t tell me. Maybe I’m just a stranger to you.”

A tear slipped from my eye as memories flooded my mind—the hotel room, the sight of him with my best friend. My chest tightened painfully. I jabbed his chest weakly, sobbing uncontrollably.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I should have told you everything. I’ve been pretending to be someone I’m not. I’ll explain everything when you fully get yourself because right now, you’re truly drunk.”

Ciara was right. He lied to me all this time. Maybe he never loved me at all.

“I won’t forgive you,” I said through tears. “You’re a cheating fiancé, and you lied to me.”

The words repeated in my head—cheating fiancé. The cold air brushed against my skin as the car moved forward. I didn’t know if the tears in my eyes were because of the alcohol or the betrayal. All I knew was that my heart was shattered.

I had dreamed of a future with him, hoped for a day when I could finally be his completely. But now, I realized it was all just wishful thinking. Everything I believed in was falling apart, and I was left alone with nothing but my broken heart.