003.

A R I A N A

My body was still frozen, tears burning my cheeks as I replayed his words, and everytime it hurt more than the other.

Angelo stood there, his face twisted in irritation not guilt, not shame, just irritation, like I was the one who had done something wrong.

"Ariana!" he snapped.

I wiped my face, my hands trembling. “Aren’t you ashamed!" My voice was raw, broken. "You were fucking my best friend, Angelo"

He crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "It’s not that simple."

I let out a hollow laugh. "Oh, really? Then explain it to me. Make me understand how you could do this to me. Today of all days."

He didn’t even flinch. "I didn’t plan for you to find out like this."

"Find out like this?" My voice cracked. "You weren’t going to tell me at all, were you?"

He didn’t answer.

That hurt more than anything.

I forced myself to stand, my legs weak. "How long, Angelo?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "A few months."

Months.

My stomach twisted, all those late nights at work, all those times he barely looked at me, all those times I thought it was just stress.

It was her.

It was my fucking best friend Bella.

She’s been my best friend since college, the same girl who stood next to me at my wedding, the one who hugged me and told me how lucky I was to have Angelo.

And the whole time

She was sleeping with him, my husband.

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. "Do you love her?"

Angelo didn’t hesitate. "Yes."

The word hit me like a knife to the chest.

I stumbled back, gripping the sink for support. "And me?" My voice was barely a whisper. "Do you still love me?"

He looked away. "Ariana, I—"

"Just say it."

He met my eyes, his expression cold. "No. I don’t… I realize that now."

I felt like the floor had been ripped out from under me.

"No?" I choked out. "After everything? After four years? This is what I get in return. You’ve been my college sweetheart all those years we’ve fraught to be together this it were it ends?"

He shook his head. "We’ve only been married for teo."

I stared at him, my heart shattering all over again. "Only two?" My voice trembled. "Angelo, we’ve been together for four. I thought, I thought this was forever."

He let out a bitter laugh. "Well, you thought wrong."

I flinched like he had slapped me.

"I stopped loving you a long time ago," he said, his voice flat. "I stayed because I thought maybe things would change but they didn’t. You couldn’t give me what I wanted.”

"What you wanted?" I whispered.

"A family, Ariana!" He threw his hands up. "You couldn’t even give me that! And I’m sorry I was harsh with my words but you know your womb is lost cause, it can’t fucking give me a family!."

I pressed a hand to my stomach, my heart breaking all over again.

But I can now.

The words burned in my throat, but I didn’t say them. Because suddenly

I didn’t want him to know.

I didn’t want him anywhere near my baby.

He didn’t deserve us.

"It’s over, Ariana," he said, his voice final. "I want a divorce."

I should have fought, I should have screamed and should have told him about the baby.

But I didn’t.

I just stood there, numb, as the man I loved the man I thought loved me.

“Ariana you don’t belong in my world. We’re not of the same level… I can’t continue this, I will give you as much money as you want, just go without causing any drama… this isn’t Bella’s fault none of it so don’t blame her… She’s the one I want to be with now, please don’t ruin that for me” he said.

I stared at him as though I’ve seen a ghost his words hurting each and every time. This was the man I fell in love with, the one I gave up everything for just to be with him.

I broke the rules for him and this is what I get in return?

Angelo is everything he is today because of me, I had made sure to secretly pick him back up when he fell and in return he cheated on me and not with anyone but with Bella?

My heart was burning with so much pain it felt like it was going to pop out of its rib cage.

“Angelo” I called out reaching out for him but he stepped back.

I winced.

He gave me one last look, “I’ll send the divorce papers tomorrow” he says before turning on his shoe and walking away.

I watched as his figure disappeared, I fell to the ground letting out a whail, his words coming back to me like a wave of nostalgia.

He left me, for her.

The door clicked shut behind him.

And for the first time in four years

I was alone.

Truly, completely alone.

Except for one thing.

The tiny life growing inside me.

The only good thing left in this nightmare.

And I would never let Angelo take that away from me too.

How do I face my parents after this? Mum had warned him, she tried to talk me out of it but never listen, Dad threatened to disown me if I don’t cut ties with Angelo but I still didn’t listen I went against him.

I fought to be with Angelo, even when the world was against us I still stood firmly for our love and in retun I got nothing but heartbreak.

I hated myself more than I hate Angelo.

I was stupid to think I’d ever find true love.

It was something that didn’t exist, and now I’ve learnt that the hard way.