Chapter One

Lenora

‘Unbelievable.’

“What the hell is going on here?!” I cried out, watching the two naked bodies separate. Fury ran through me as I met their stares, forcing the burning tears back.

The two culprits simply looked at me, faces ridden with shock. Liam, my fiancée and my best friend and maid of honor, Amy.

I couldn't bring myself to believe my eyes. Only moments ago my body was aching with exhaustion from planning the wedding and working. Getting off early from work thanks to my coming wedding, I was eager to crash into sleep.

Yet all of that went away because of seeing them together. 

I watched everything.  The way he eagerly thrusted into her and her moans were branded in my mind. It was clear that this wasn't the first time either.

How long had they this been going on?

A sob choked my throat. My fiancée and my best friend, my freaking maid of honor, had been cheating on me behind my back. They were having sex on our bed. 

My stomach tightened.

‘Days towards our wedding.’

Clenching my hands, I forced myself to remain strong as they scrambled away from each other. Liam  had left the bed, scrambling to dress up as if it would change anything.

“Do you have anything to say, well!?” I demanded, glaring at both of them.

“L-Lenora,” Amy shifted on the bed but didn’t make a single move to leave.

I’d expected her to feel at least a little ashamed and make some attempt to leave, but instead she remained exactly where she was. It was almost as though I was the one who had barged into her space.

I clenched my fists in anger. 

That was my bed. She was supposed to be my best friend.

Yet as I looked at her, I couldn't see any ounce of guilt or regret on her face. It wouldn't have changed anything but it hurt.

“Baby, listen to me,” footsteps shuffled to me, until Liam 's frame came into sight. His shirt was half buttoned, his clothes rumpled but there was a small smile on his face.

“Come on. What you saw was just a little fumble. You can't blame me for that-” he said, that damn smirk.

My throat grew tighter at his words. Was he freaking serious?

Without thinking my hand swept across his face, slapping him. I stepped back once I was done, 

“I’m done,” I spat out the words like venom. “The wedding is off. And so is this freaking relationship.”

For a moment there was only silence and my ragged breaths and suddenly laughter pierced the air. I looked up in disbelief to find him laughing as if I'd said something funny.

A mix of disbelief and shock ran through me. I didn’t know what to expect from saying those words, but I wasn’t …this.

As I turned to Amy, shock filled me. The shock had worn off from her face and in its place was a small smile on her face that looked mocking, nothing like the woman I knew.

What the hell?

“Oh poor Lenora,” Liam 's voice made me turn back to him as he looked up. He was smirking, no ounce of remorse on his face.

“Well then, go on.” he leaned in, “It's not like I really planned on marrying you anyways.”

His words lashed at me like a whip, making me flinch and gape in shock.

What?

“Don’t tell me that you've suddenly turned deaf, babe,” he sneered, his voice mocking.

 “Let’s be honest, have you looked at yourself? From the clothes you wear to your job, Not a single ounce of you is worthy of marrying me. You're working a basic wage job and me? I'm Liam  freaking Hampton. You don't even look pretty. What makes you think that I'll actually marry you?” 

Turning back, he moved towards Amy, holding her hand while Amy leaned against him.

“Now this is a woman of my caliber,” he grinned, “Always classy and maintains herself. Nobody could tell that you two were even friends cause you look worlds apart.”

“If it wasn't out of pity, I would have broken the engagement months ago. Turns out sneaking around is more fun.” He said the last line while stroking her bare arm, making her giggle.

“I was planning on letting you down easy on the wedding day, but it seems I didn't have to do anything.

You said it yourself, our relationship is over, so you might as well leave this place and collect your belongings later. This is MY home after all. And as for the wedding, well…Go on. You're nothing without me anyways.”

His words felt like a punch.

How dare he? After everything I'd…

No words could describe how I felt. He remained there, smirking beside her while she did the same.

“Bye Lenora, good riddance.” She said airily, wiggling her fingers

Sobs choked me from within. I couldn’t say any more words, looking at their unrepentant, mocking faces. I couldn’t take this.

Without a word, I turned away, leaving the room and the apartment. The moment I slammed the door I heard loud laughter and giggles.

The mocking laughter followed me as I fled. I didn't stop until I reached my car, my heart racing and tears stinging in my eyes.

‘You're nothing without me anyways.’ His last words echoed in my mind.

 Nothing without him? I gripped the steering wheel tightly.

I'd given up everything to be with him.

My family name. My reputation. My legacy. I had left and broken all the bonds with my family, even going as far as to change my name to move into this new city with him years ago. I had worked hard to impress his parents, taking on jobs. 

Five years of my life, my youth, my sacrifices and he treated me like it was nothing, like I was worthless.

I wanted to scream so badly but  it wouldn't help anything. With shaky hands, all I could do was drive away, to the one person I had left.