Betrayal

Isabella's POV

I held onto the small gift box a little tighter, as I walked towards the study. “Simon?” I called as I opened the door, but I felt unease creeping up my spine. 

The party downstairs was in full swing, one I had spent weeks preparing for. It was both my birthday and my wedding anniversary. The hall was filled with guests, but my focus was on one person—Simon, my husband. Where the hell could he be when he was supposed to be by my side today.

The world around me stopped the moment I pushed open the door. What I saw made my stomach drop, my husband of three years, shirt half-open, hands tangled in Lilith ’s hair as she kissed him.

It felt like something out of a movie. My eyes widened, shock tearing through me. "C-Simon?" I choked out. I hear my own voice cracking, while my breath refuses to steady.

“Isabella,” Simon said, his eyes holding no remorse. Neither of them flinched as they turned to face me. “You’re early.” 

This had to be a nightmare.

I forced myself to step inside, but my knees threatened to buckle. “What… what is this?” My heart was pounding, while dread filled my veins.

"What does it look like?" Lilith tilted her head, her lips curling in amusement.

Of all people... Lilith? "Get out," I snapped, my voice rising as a lump formed in my throat. “Get out before I—”

“Before you what?” Simon interrupted me. His voice was calm and unbothered, like he had done nothing wrong. “Throw a tantrum? Call the press? Please, Isabella, spare us the drama.”

"Spare you the drama?" My voice cracked as I stared at both of them. “You’re cheating on me! With… with her! Your assistant!” I trusted him. He wasn’t perfect, but I loved him with everything I had.

“You had to find out sooner or later.” He said, his brows furrowing and the look in his eyes suddenly turning into satisfaction. 

“Find out what?” I screamed, tears rolling down my face. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. “That you’re a liar? A cheat?”

Lilith laughed, clearly relishing my misery. 

"Oh, sweetie, he's so much more than that," she said, her tone dripping with condescension.

“Shut up!” I snapped at her, then turned to Simon. “Explain. Now!” Simon’s gaze looked onto mine, his dark green eyes cold. “This,” he gestured to Lilith, “is Lilith . My wife.”

The words hit me like a punch, and I stumbled back, gripping the door for support. “Your… wife? What are you talking about? I’m your wife!” 

He shrugged. “Legally? Sure. But Lilith has been my real wife for eight years.”

His words were unbelievable, and it felt like my head was spinning. “You’re lying,” I said, convincing myself that the sight in front of me was a lie. “Tell me you’re lying.”

He didn’t even blink. This wasn’t the man I knew. It wasn’t the Simon I had spent three years beside. This was a monster. “Every word is true. You were nothing more than a pawn, Isabella. A means to an end.”

“A pawn?!” My voice cracked.

“For your father’s company,” Lilith said, walking towards me. “For his money. For power. And you handed it all over so willingly. Like the goody two-shoes you are.”

“No,” I whispered, my vision blurry from the tears. “Simon… You loved me. You—”

“Stop being so naive,” Simon snapped, his voice like ice. “Did you really think I married you for love?”

“You monster,” I hissed. Simon smirked. “Call me what you want. It won’t change the fact that you’ve already lost.” I wasn’t just betrayed, I was furious. Furious at myself for ever loving Simon. “I trusted you. I loved you!”

“And that’s why this was so easy,” Lilith said with a smirk. “You’re so predictable. So desperate to be loved.” I turned to Simon, searching his face for any sign of regret, but there was none, absolutely nothing. “You’ll regret this. Both of you.”

He laughed, the sound cold void of any kind of remorse. “I don’t think so.” He grabbed a black folder from the desk and tossed it at my feet.

The folder stopped right in front of my feet. “Sign these.”

“What is this?” I asked, my voice trembling.

“Ownership transfer,” he said. “The company is mine now.” I stared at Simon like he had grown horns. “I’m not signing anything,” I said, stepping back. “What do you take me for?!”

“Oh, I think you will,” Lilith said, walking to Simon’s side and placing her hand on his shoulder. She then handed him a folder with a smug smile on her lips. Simon flipped open the folder, revealing photos, and flung them at me. I looked down at the floor. My heart stopped. My knees failed me, and I slid down, picking up the pictures.

The images were grainy but clear enough. It was me standing over a body, blood pooling around my feet. My hands began to shake as I reached for the rest of the pictures.

“No…” I whispered.

“Oh, yes,” Lilith said. “Your little secret. The body you’ve been hiding? We know everything.” I stared at the photos, my mind flashing back to that night—the blood, the panic, the desperate decision to keep it buried.

“How… how did you—”

“We have our ways,” Simon interrupted, his voice sharp. “Sign the papers, Isabella, or these go public.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” I said, but my voice held fear.

“Try me,” Simon said. A cold wave of panic hit me, tightening around my chest. If this got out… if people found out the truth about that night... About Maggie… Lilith stepped closer, her voice harsh. “You think your perfect little world will survive this? The press will rip you apart. You’ll lose everything.”

“And the best part… you’ll be behind bars while we enjoy your fortune.” Her smirk deepened. “Don’t,” I begged, my voice breaking.

“Sign,” Simon said coldly. My hands shook as I picked up the pen. My mind screamed at me to stop, to fight, but the photos… the secret… I couldn’t risk it.

“You’ll regret this,” I said, my voice trembling with rage. “No, Isabella,” Simon said with a smirk. “You will.”

With tears streaming down my face, I signed my name. Each stroke of the pen felt like a betrayal to my father. To the legacy my father had left for me. When I finished, Simon didn’t waste another second before snatching the folder from me.

He inspected the signature before a triumphant smirk appeared on his lips. “Smart girl,” he said.

Lilith clapped her hands. “See? That wasn’t so hard.” As I stood up, rage overtook panic, burning hotter than ever. Lilith walked closer, her smirk infuriating. “You know, for someone who’s supposed to be so smart, you really are pathetic,” she sneered. “No wonder Simon got bored of you.”

My fists clenched at my sides. “Smile for the crowd, darling,” Lilith added, her voice mockingly sweet. “Wouldn’t want them to know you’ve already lost everything.”

The room blurred, my chest filled with rage and humiliation. My nails dug into my palms as I whispered, “Get out of my way.”

Lilith’s smirk deepened. “Make me.”