CHAPTER ONE

~NELLA~

It was finally Sam's birthday, and I was determined to surprise him with the money he'd been asking for, along with a few other gifts. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. I wasn’t even in New York—I had been called to Chicago for an emergency meeting with my boss and a potential partner company. The thought of missing Sam's special day filled me with disappointment, especially since I had so badly wanted to be there, to hand him the money myself and witness the joy on his face. But, as much as I longed to be with him, I had to push through the meeting.

Earlier that day, I had sent Sam the money, and his excitement over the phone was contagious. He was over the moon, and I could hear the happiness in his voice as he thanked me repeatedly. We talked for hours, unable to hang up, savoring every moment. I couldn’t wait to be back in New York.

In just a week, I would finally see him again.

I was still determined to make it up to him with thoughtful gifts when I returned. I loved him so much, even with all his flaws—he was perfect to me.

After the meeting ended, my boss confirmed we were heading back to New York the following day. A rush of excitement flooded me. I couldn’t wait to be home, to surprise Sam, and make everything right. I returned to my hotel room, threw myself onto the bed with a sigh of relief, and immediately grabbed my phone to call him.

I dialed his number, the phone ringing on the other end, but he didn’t pick up. "Maybe I should just surprise him," I whispered to myself, my heart racing with anticipation. I was about to dial Ashley’s number when, just as if on cue, my phone rang—it was her.

Ashley. My childhood best friend.

The next day, I was up four hours before our scheduled departure time, eager to make the most of every moment. I decided to shoot some content for my social media feed—after all, it was Sam’s first birthday since we’d started dating. As I posed for a few photos, I couldn't help but reflect on how far I’d come. My heart still ached from the end of my last relationship, a broken bond caused by something as uncontrollable as our different genotypes. But with Sam, everything felt different. I could finally breathe easy again.

We arrived at the airport an hour ahead of scheduled . Our flight was delayed by two hours. No big deal. I continued shooting content, keeping my mind occupied while the minutes dragged by. By the time we finally took off, it had been more than fourteen hours before we touched down in New York. My excitement to see Sam had only grown in that time, and within the hour, I was already in Brooklyn.

I had planned to head straight to his place with his gifts, but something inside me shifted. I wanted to make this moment unforgettable. I wanted to look stunning for him. We hadn’t chatted since this morning when I told him I’d have a packed day and might not be able to call. He had said he’d be at home, working on a digital project his friend had connected him with, and would likely be alone.

As I stepped into my house, everyone’s surprise was palpable, but the joy was even more so. I’d been gone for two weeks, and the warmth of their welcome felt like a homecoming I didn’t even realize I needed. Without much of a pause, I hurried to my room to freshen up.

I rarely wore makeup, but today was different. I went for a bold yet subtle look—just enough to enhance my features. A swipe of red gloss gave my lips a shiny, irresistible touch. I donned my silver jewelry set and let Lauren work on my hair, strengthening the curls before letting them fall loosely to my shoulders.

I stood before the mirror, admiring myself for a moment. I was glowing—confident and excited. My heart fluttered as I thought about Sam’s reaction. “You look stunning,” I whispered to myself, a satisfied smile on my lips.

“Your ride is here,” I heard Payson call from downstairs.

I grabbed my phone and, with Lauren helping me with the flowers and gift box, made my way downstairs.

“You must be really ready for tonight,” my mom teased, her voice light but full of affection. “The daughter I know would never leave the house without that signature bun of hers.”

I turned to smile at her and my dad as I reached the door. “Tonight’s different, Mom. I must have called from heaven,” I said with a blush, stepping outside.

As my ride pulled up to Sam’s building, a rush of excitement overwhelmed me. I tried calling him again, but he didn’t pick up. "He's probably asleep," I whispered to myself, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

I paid the driver and asked, “Would you mind helping me with this gift box upstairs?”

With a charming smile, he looked me up and down and replied, “How could I not help a princess like you?” His chuckle made me feel lighter as he assisted with the heavy box.

I had Sam’s key, so I didn’t feel the need to knock. The door swung open easily, and I stepped inside. A wave of familiarity hit me, but then I noticed something strange—an unfamiliar scent lingered in the air. It was a perfume, and not one I recognized from Sam’s collection. I’d bought him nearly every scent he wore, so I knew his fragrances well.

It was floral, almost too feminine, with a hint of vanilla. I hesitated for a moment, trying to brush off the strange feeling. Maybe he’d bought a new scent while I was away, I thought. But something about the fragrance felt wrong, out of place.

The living room was quiet, and as I walked deeper inside, I noticed the scattered clutter. I couldn’t help but laugh. Adam—Sam’s least tidy friend—must’ve been around. I wasn’t exactly expecting a pristine apartment, but the mess was comforting in its own way. It felt like home.

I placed the gift box on the table and turned to the full-length mirror that stood in the living room. I needed to check myself one last time. As I adjusted the neckline of my dress, the scent of the perfume hit me again—this time stronger. It was unmistakable. Too floral. Too feminine. I paused, confused, but quickly shook it off. Maybe I was overthinking. Sam didn’t know much about perfumes anyway. He probably wouldn’t even notice the difference.

But I couldn’t ignore the feeling gnawing at me, the unease creeping up my spine. Something felt... off.

The moment I opened the door, moving quietly in the hopes of not waking Sam, I was met with a sight that knocked the breath from my lungs. What I saw felt like a cruel nightmare, a scene I could hardly process. My heart plummeted to my stomach, and my chest tightened painfully as it thudded in my ears, beating so fast I thought I might suffocate. It couldn’t be real. No, I had to be dreaming—still lying in my hotel bed in Chicago, lost in some twisted dream. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. I had come here to surprise Sam, not to find this.

I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze of disbelief clouding my vision. But there it was, in front of me, undeniable and suffocating. The rush of betrayal cut deep, like a knife to my chest. My hands trembled as I gripped the door frame, my breath shallow. I could feel my pulse pounding in my neck, my body frozen, caught between anger and disbelief.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice, but it came out colder than I intended—frustrated, yet eerily calm. “Sam…”

His name hung in the air, thick with the weight of everything I was feeling, as the reality of the situation started to settle around me like a suffocating fog.

I had planned everything carefully. I thought the surprise would be perfect—I’d dressed so sexy, a beautiful flower for the night, a box of gifts that I knew he’d love and I was ready for the best sex which made me dressed sexy and even wore a g-string. I wanted to remind him how much he meant to me, how much we meant to each other. It was supposed to be our night.

Sam, the man I had been with for a year now, was on his bed, but he wasn’t alone. Maya, the new intern at his office—the one I’d met a few weeks ago, the one I had praised for her work ethic, the one who had always been so eager and so polite—was straddling him. Her fingers were tangled in his hair as they kissed with a familiarity that felt like a gut punch.

Time seemed to freeze. My breath caught in my throat, my body went rigid, and for a moment, I couldn’t process what was happening. My mind screamed that it couldn’t be true, but my eyes told me otherwise. I had walked in on something I never thought I would see.

I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog of disbelief that clouded my vision, but it didn’t change. The sight before me was undeniable, suffocating.

I barely recognized the sound of my own voice as I whispered, “Sam...”

His name came out as a question, a cry for understanding. But he didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled away from Maya, his face flushing with panic. He opened his mouth to say something—anything—but no words came out at first.

And then Maya pulled back too, quickly, almost as if she had been expecting me. She didn’t look ashamed. In fact, she looked almost... relieved. The realization hit me in waves, the horror sinking deeper with each passing second. Maya knew I was coming. Maybe she knew I would find them like this. She didn’t even try to hide her confidence, even as her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and satisfaction.