Chapter one.

The Fall

Bella's POV

“Isabella… we need to talk this minute,” Damian’s voice came off sounding so strange, more like he was hesitant, almost foreign from what I know it to be. But little did I know that I'm yet to discover more foreign side of that his voice.

I froze in the foyer of our penthouse, the scent I was receiving was very strange, very expensive kind of cologne. It was supposed to be comforting, but for no reason, I felt it suffocating, "Talk?" I asked, slowly drawing the word, as my instincts screamed danger by the corner. Something was definitely wrong. "Does this has anything to do with my father's funeral?"

Damian hesitated before answering. He rubbed the back of his neck, and I could tell he was very nervous from the way he was acting. It wasn't the man I know, the one I fell in love with. He was acting strange, completely avoiding my gaze like I was a plague. "It's totally...complicated," he finally said, moving closer to me.

I narrowed my eyes as I tried to understand him. “Complicated, how? Damian, everything is supposed to be simple since we love each other. You… you swore never to keep secrets from each other.”

He flinched, and I knew whatever it was must be very serious to keep him this nervous. It was a warning to brace up for whatever that was coming. Why does he have this guilty look on his face? Like he just betrayed me or did something I wouldn't be proud of him?"

Before I could consider taking another step, I heard Selene’s laughter all over the hallway. I didn't know what I felt the moment I heard her voice.

“What exactly are you doing...” I began, but was unable to finish what I have in my mind, as Damian cut me off.

“She’s already leaving,” Selene said sweetly like the sweet sister she has always claimed to be from the doorway, like one who had come only to greet an old friend. "I mean, the old haggard wife is leaving. Isn't it so Damian?"

I didn't know when my knees became very weak. "Selene..., what the hell are you talking about?"

Damian opened his mouth, but closed it the same way he opened without saying anything. That's when my eyes darted towards the bedroom, and behold...

They have been there. My half-sister, and my husband had been intimate not long ago in our bedroom, and tried to cover it up with the heavy cologne so that I wouldn't know, though they later told me everything themselves shamelessly.

I gasped at the sight before me, as I clutched my chest with my hands. “No… no… this isn’t real. This can't be happening to me." I whispered to myself, trying to convince myself that I was probably hallucinating.

Selene stepped forward, taking the moment to show off her cruel side as she had always wanted. "Oh darling Bella. You are always very dramatic in everything. I guess you're not that familiar with the word betrayal, and this moment is just unexpected to you."

Damian looked away, clearly ashamed, but didn't say anything to stop her. “Isabella… I can explain if you give me...”

“Explain what exactly?” I laughed bitterly, and to my shock, the voice was nothing like mine. "To explain how you ruined me? How you promised me forever, to protect me, but here you are..." My voice broke and I was unable to complete my sentence. "You chose her over me, over what we shared."

Selene let out a poisonous laugh, like she had finally won after all these years to trying to pull me down. " He didn't choose me darling contrary to your thoughts. You simply completed each other. And ever since I know you, you've always been the weak one, very naive and useless. That's why Mama love me. I have the spotlight wrapped around my fingers."

Damian’s eyes met mine in a brief moment. “Bella… I...”

“You what?” I snapped, not letting him make a complete sentence. “You signed the divorce papers too?”

His silence was the answer I needed.

"I trusted you with my all." I whispered amidst tears. "I loved everything about you."

Selene’s smirk widened in victory. “And right now, it time to let the world know the fool you have been. It's already everywhere, all over the internet. The Billionaire's Discarded Wife. Do this make you to feel more small, Bella?"

I swallowed hard, doing my best not to cry before her again. I have cried enough because of her, starting from when we were kids.  “You… you think all of these makes you any powerful?” I spat, my rage boiling up. “This… betrayal… from the both of you, this humiliation… it will definitely come back to you in the cruelest way you never imagined.”

Selene dramatically shook her head, feigning innocence. “Oh, Bella, don’t try to make this about me right now. You have no idea about anything that has to do with power. You lost your chance of ever rising to power the very second you were careless to believe Damian ever loved you pass your naivety.”

I turned to face Damian this time. “And you,” I said, as I could barely contain my anger. “what exactly were you thinking while coming up with this betrayal? Did any of the moment we had together ever matter to you? Did my life, my trust, my love to you ever mean anything at all?”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

Hours later, when the both of them had left like two teenagers in love, I sat all alone in the apartment, as I was already tired of crying of spilled milk. I still can't believe that I would be experiencing such in my life, with the way Damian promised me forever, to protect me, even to worship the ground that I walk on.

But here I am, all alone, betrayed and humiliated, and broken beyond repairs.

Damian actually turned his back on me? It still struck me that he could such a thing to me as I watched the news flying all over the internet in just few hours. I know that was definitely the hand work of Selene. She wasn't going to take the win silently, but would want the world to share in her victory.

But I was done crying.

No for anyone anymore.

Not for Damian that don't value me, not for my half-sister, Selene.

I would become who they never expected me to be. I would come back stronger than they would ever imagine. Ruthless. Unstoppable, and they would pay dearly.