Unexpected encounter.

Isabella froze, her breath hitching as her gaze locked onto the scene before her.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, tangled in an intimate embrace, were Jackson and a woman—her fingers grazing his cheek as their lips moved in sync.

A sickening weight settled in Isabella’s stomach as the woman shifted slightly, revealing just enough of her face for recognition to slam into her like a punch.

It was Hannah—her best friend.

Hannah sat there, a white skirt barely covering her legs, her bra still exposed as if she had hurried to put herself together.

Beside her, Jackson lounged in a white singlet and black shorts, looking far too comfortable—too familiar with the scene Isabella had just walked in on.

A cold numbness crept over Isabella, rooting her to the spot.

Her breath hitched, her heart pounded, but no words came.

She had imagined today to be so differently—envisioned Jackson’s surprise, his happiness.

Instead, she stood there, speechless, watching the two people she trusted most shatter her world in an instant.

Their eyes were shut and they were so invested in the moment, unable to realise that Isabella had just stepped inside the room.

“Ha- Hannah?”

Isabella's voice faltered, her voice cracking as tears welled in her eyes, slowly cascading down her cheeks like raindrops.

“Wh… what the hell!” Isabella exclaimed while stuttering, her eyes widening in shock as she stared at the intimate scene before her.

Isabellla's hands went numb, the cake and box of chocolate fell onto the floor with a resounding crash, mirroring the shattering of her heart.

The world around her seemed to freeze in time as she took in the sight before her.

It was horrific.

“Isa… Isabella!” Jackson exclaimed as he quickly opened his eyes, pushing Hannah away from him.

Jackson swallowed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he faced Isabella, a surprised look on his face which almost looks like if he was simply surprised that Isabella caught him in the act.

‘Or was he surprised because of something else?’

“Jacks… Jackson what…”

“Isabella! It’s not what you think, okay.”

Quickly, Jackson decided to cut Isabella off from completing her phrase.

He stepped down from the bed, extending his hand toward Isabella. "I... I wasn't expecting you to be here this early."

Isabella scoffed, fluttering her eyelashes as more tears flowed down from her eyes.

She immediately felt her knees weaken, as though a string had been threaded through her heart, pulling her down to the ground.

“Hanna…”

Isabella's trembling lips struggled to form Hannah's name as she stared, stunned and betrayed, at the girl she once considered as a friend.

“I am your fiance, Jackson. Why on earth would you betray me like this?”

Hannah smiled in delight, watching the horror on her best friend face.

Slowly, she strode towards Isabella before halting right in front of her. "As your best friend, Isabella, I advise that you get the hell out of here," Hannah coldly spat in disgust. "Jackson and I have been seeing each other for some time now, and since you have now found out about our secret relationship, it's best if you quietly walk away.”

Isabella sniffled, fluttering her eyelashes a few times as more tears streamed down her face. ”I… I and Jackson have been engaged for over a year now so wh-“

‘Bang!’

Before Isabella could complete her sentence, a heavy slap landed above her cheeks and in an instant, she felt her life disintegrating right before her eyes, but she couldn't do anything.

For a split second, Isabella was completely motionless while holding her breath.

She hadn't anticipated this. She never anticipated that her best friend and fiance would do such a thing to her.

It felt like being burnt alive.

The ground felt as if it was about to rip open and consume Isabella because all of a sudden, the room began to spin.

The more she glared at her friend who stood before her, the more she felt broken.

And suddenly…

Before Isabella could comprehend what was happening to her, her eyelids immediately felt heavy and within the next second, a void of darkness filled her.

***

‘Splash!’

The sound of a bucket of water being splashed on the face of Isabella could be heard which was followed by the devious laughter of Hannah that erupted through the entire room.

Isabella fluttered her eyelashes a few times, gradually opening her eyes to find Hannah's icy gaze piercing into her

Currently, Hannah was squatting beside Isabella, crossing her arms over her chest and wearing a sneering grin.

“Hello, bestie,” Hannah muttered with a mockery tune, rising from her squatting position as she made her way towards the bedside table.

Isabella swallowed, her hands pressing against the floor as she forced herself to rise up from the floor.

She used the back of her hand to wipe her face while smiling warmly. “Hannah. I had a very weird dream that you and my boyfriend were both having a romantic moment…”

“Babe, here’s your cup of coffee.”

Before Isabella could complete her sentence, Jackson's voice suddenly cut her off.

Quickly, she shifted her gaze towards the door where Jackson's voice had come from.

He wore a black suit while his trousers matched the suit and his hair was neatly styled.

Isabella smiled, her cheeks turning crimson red as she watched as Jackson strode towards her.

Isabella had expected Jackson to hand over the cup of coffee to her because she assumed that Jackson had just spoken to her.

To her greatest surprise, Jackson walked past her as he made his way towards Hannah who he handed over the cup of coffee to. “Here you go, babe.” Jackson purred, leaning his face closer to Hannah as he planted a kiss on her lips.

‘Gasp!’

Isabella gasped in surprise as she instantly began immobile. ‘Wh… what the hell is happening?’ Isabella questioned herself while taking a step back in fright.

‘Am… am I still dreaming?’ Isabella questioned no one in particular, scared to accept the harsh reality that was right before her.

“Isabella, now that you are awake, I want you out of my house this instant.” Jackson spat coldly, leaning away from Hannah's face.

‘Gasp!’

Once more, Isabella couldn’t help herself but gasp in surprise, stunned by Jackson's words.

She fluttered her long lashes, before staring at the floor and instantly… reality hit her harshly.

Isabella's gaze fell upon the crumpled cake, the scattered box of chocolates, and the pool of water on the floor, evidence of the chaos that had just unfolded in the room.

“This… this is not a dream.” Isabella sputtered as her mouth quivered while her heart began to beat rapidly.

Tears streamed down from her eyes, colliding with her already wet cheek and a string felt as if it was launched into her heart. “This… this is not a dream.” She stuttered once more, trying to wrap up the reality that was placed before her.

“Isabella!” Hannah yelled out the name of her best friend n disgust. “I and Jackson have been in love for two years now, so get your ass out of his house because obviously, what you are currently seeing is not a dream.” Hannah brimmed.

She sounded so delighted that her words were intentionally hurting Isabella.

“You heard her right. Get the hell out of here,” Jackson coldly uttered.

“How… How could…. How could you do this to me? How could you betray our love, our trust, our future? We… We've been together for five years, engaged for one. How could you throw all that away?”

“Shut up your filthy mouth Isabella! Did you possibly think I am in love with you?” Jackson scoffed, in disgust. “I can never be with you, Isabella. You are poor, foolish and naive.”

He stepped away from Hannah as he walked up towards Isabella, gazing deep into her eyes.

“You promised to… you promised to start up a family with me.” Isabella stammered, her lips quivering as she was so scared to hear the hurtful words of Jackson.

“Did you really think I would want to start a family with you? I mean, you want me to start a wretched family with you? How pathetic!” Jackson mocked, throwing a mouthful of saliva on Isabella’s face.

“You…”

‘Why did his personality change all of a sudden?’

Isabella's voice rose in anguish as she clutched his suit jacket, desperation coloring her words, “You said you loved me, Jackson! You promised… you promised to never hurt me so why are you doing this…”

Quickly, Hannah hastened her steps to save Jackson from the firm grips of Isabella. “Get that filthy hands of yours away from my man!” She yelled, yanking Isabella’s hands away from Jackson's suit.

“Isabella, you have been dating Jackson since you were nineteen and you are always talking about starting a family, but did you ever stop to think about the fact that you're broke? Do you think a man like Jackson wants a family with a woman like you?” Hannah purred mockingly.

“Why did… what did I do… we are best friends…”

All Isabella could think of was ‘Why?’

She wanted to ask Hannah the reason why she was dating Jackson. She wanted to remind Hannah that they have been best friend from the age of four, and most importantly, Isabella wanted to ask Hannah ‘What she did do to deserve such betrayal’

Two years ago, when Jackson started his new job in New York, Hannah had excitedly told Isabella that she also she had a job offer there too.

Isabella had been thrilled for her best friend, never suspecting that Hannah had ulterior motives.

Presently, as Isabella stare at her best friend, more tears streamed down her eyes—Hannah hadn’t just moved for work.

“I wasn’t given any chance to leave work, so I won’t be coming to your uncle’s funeral.”

Hannah’s message from two weeks ago resurfaced in Isabella’s mind, replaying like a cruel joke.

Back then, she had understood—hadn’t even been hurt. She believed her friend was genuinely busy.

But now, standing in front of this betrayal, the truth was clear.

Hannah hadn’t been too occupied with work. She had been here, with Jackson.

‘What else do I have left?’ Isabella mused within herself.

Currently, she tried to speak, but no words were able to roll out of her mouth because the shock and heartbreak had rendered her speechless,

“Why are you still standing there like an hurt puppy? Either leave or I'll throw you out myself. You're pathetic, and you have no place here anymore.”

Before Isabella could summon up the courage to respond to Jackson's words, Hannah scoffed and without warning she poured the entire cup of hot coffee on Isabella body.

“Arrrrrrghhh!” Isabella screamed in pain, more beads of tears streaming down her eyes.

“Get the hell out of here, you worthless wretch!” Hannah snarl as she grabbed a fistful of Isabella's hair and dragged her outside the house.