Chapter 2 broke up

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"Oh My God! Bella, you've hit Platinum! I'm so fucking happy for you!"

Yara screamed into the Facetime call, her excitement making me laugh out loud as the girls squealed with happiness. My best friends were always so supportive, showing their love and happiness through the most over-the-top displays. I loved them so much for all they had done for me, supporting me through the hardest time of my life.

Losing my Father had been rough and their presence and support had been comforting as I transitioned into life without him being a constant. Although he had hurt me, I loved him all the same and respected him, all for the woman who had raised me right. Having Dante with me as a constant support system helped resolve part of my anguish.

Losing my brother would have broken me and knowing that, he had fought for me and our relationship, rebelling against Father's wishes to completely break all ties with me.

To him, I was a disgrace to the family, a daughter he refused to acknowledge despite all my achievements in the past six months. I had thrived away from the family business and made a name for myself other than being Mathew Griffin's daughter.

I was Harpie now, a rising pop star who had become a sensation in the last couple of months. Bale Records had propelled me to amazing heights and so had Jonah, my ever-faithful and supportive manager who had pushed me beyond all my limits and proven why he had the best talent-searching skills in the entertainment industry.

I had been close with Yara since my college days, the two of us instantly clicking and becoming best friends on day one. We were inseparable roommates, bonding over everything and anything. She was my twin flame, my best friend, and the two of us had grown our little family by bringing Aniyah and Calliope into the fold. The four of us had begun a friendship in college that had grown into a sisterhood. We all loved each other to death and would do literally anything to keep each other happy and safe.

Their support currently meant the world to me as I watched Aniyah do a happy dance on the camera that had the rest of us laughing out loud. She was always so bubbly and crazy, attributes that melded seamlessly with her physical beauty and made her outstanding in all she did as an insanely talented Photographer.

There was no shortage of men who were obsessed with the dark-skinned beauty whose curly hair was loose and wet around her, brushing her shoulders as she danced around her room. Her Ethiopian heritage shone through her chocolate brown eyes and her perfectly curvy body that all of us longed to possess. She stunned all those who gazed upon her.

"You've done an incredible job, Bella. Congratulations."

Calliope complimented, granting me her ever-radiant smile. Her words made me smile wide as I took in her own delicate features.

"I knew you could do it!"

Yara declared loud and proud, a smug grin on her lips as she brandished a tight fist of approval. She had always been my biggest fan, supporting me through my music writing journey well before I ever considered it as a serious career option.

"Thank you, all of you. Honestly, I never thought Break Free would have become such a girl power anthem. My fans truly are incredible."

My very first single had broken records, granting me a high honor in the music industry for my achievement. I wanted to celebrate how far I'd come, to show my Father my success, and ask him to acknowledge me, to allow me to spread light and happiness in our home once more. Dante had been prouder than words could express and had promised to celebrate with me whence he returned from his business trip.

"So, where are we going to celebrate tonight?!"

Yara seemed to read my thoughts, voicing them as she flashed her ever-mischievous grin. I chucked at the sight, watching as the girls planned a hangout to celebrate my achievements.

"I would love to celebrate with you guys but I have to meet up with Chase. I wanted to surprise him with the news and my early return home. I'll link up with you guys a little later for drinks. Everything is on me tonight so enjoy, girls! And I love you."

I declared, earning excited grins from each of them despite their disappointment at my detour. Neither of them were Chase's biggest fans but tolerated the famous actor for me. With fame and attention had come love as I caught the attention of one of the most famous and well-sought out actors in the industry. Chase Powell and I had fallen for each other hard, our love blossoming in the wake of our incredibly busy schedules.

I cherished every moment we spent together and looked forward to seeing him whence we were away from each other. He knew my secrets and my desires, my disappointments, and my achievements. He was loving and kind, the best boyfriend I could ever ask for. My best friends had felt differently, though, as they discovered his love for the nightlife that he had integrated me into in some ways. The girls were, of course, always up for a good time but the countless moments I had spent with his chosen company of friends who almost always spent their evenings exploring the New York club scene and went extreme in all things worried them.

I understood their concern, knowing well enough that I had become more distant as I drank more and explored party scene drugs but I had promised moderation. I had promised that I would be careful with my actions as I tried to integrate more with my boyfriend's chosen friends and their ideas of a good time.

Thoughts of Chase filled me with incredible warmth even now as the car came to a stop, my bodyguards William and Luke exiting with the latter coming to open the door for me. I said goodbye to my friends, promising them to be safe as we looked forward to seeing each other soon. Alighting the SUV, I gazed up longingly at the penthouse that had become more like a pseudo-home for me. Although Chase and I had been taking things slow for the past year, we had spent multiple moments together in his lavish apartment that I now stared at, excitement coursing through me once again.

We had been separated for a week for work and yet it had felt like forever staying away from him. I was glad for the chance to come back home early to not only surprise him with my return but also the exciting news of my big break. The elevators didn't seem to ascend as quickly as I hoped with Luke standing beside me, a neutral expression on his face always.

Satisfied that I was presentable enough, I entered the apartment code, the assuring click of acceptance as the doors slid open to reveal the penthouse filling me with excitement.

"I'll be waiting at the Lobby once you're ready to leave, Miss Romano."

I nodded, granting Luke a thankful smile before I exited the elevator, waiting for it to descend once more before I ventured into the apartment.

I released a small, content sigh as I placed my white bag on the kitchen's brown marble countertop, venturing deeper into the house where I knew Chase would be for the night. We had talked after my arrival and I had been sneaky enough to inquire about his whereabouts without giving mine away, wishing him goodnight before we ended the call once my mission was complete.I wanted to surprise him.

I ventured silently into the hallway leading towards his bedroom, the sight of the light underneath his bedroom door making me grin as I prepared myself for the grandest of surprises. He would be happy, and excited by my return home and the achievement of one of my lifetime goals. He would hold me tight, kiss me and tell me how proud he was of me.

I stopped outside his door, fantasizing about all that would come. Taking a deep, calming breath to settle my heartbeat, I reached towards the door.

I frowned, I heard something different. A moan... ran out of the door.

my heartbeat quickening once more but the butterflies seemed to transform into dread that hung heavy within me. My body was suddenly sluggish as time seemed to slow, a voice in the back of my mind begging me not to look through the small opening, begging me not to acknowledge what I already knew deep down.

Before me was the man I loved, wrapped in an intimate embrace with a woman I had considered a friend. They were in the throes of passion, Chase's arms that had once wrapped around mine holding her close to his heart as he guided her body to please him- just as he had always done for me.

She turned around and sat on top of Chase, moving her hips back and forth vigorously.

"...Ah, ah, ah, chase, I really love you. Can I satisfy you? Do you like it?"

Chase's hands, supporting Aliya's plump buttocks, kept pushing.

I could hear his contented voice like when he fucked me.

"...Ah, I didn't expect you to be so delicious, I can't help but start to fantasize about the next time... Ah, push hard, I'm almost there..."

Rosalia was in ecstasy, whispering her devotion with breathless sighs and moans that would imprint in my mind forever.

I was numb, speechless, and silently crying, my body refusing to turn away from the betrayal being enacted right before me. I refused to spare myself the pain and anguish, the sting of betrayal and anger at myself for not seeing his fascination with her, his devotion to her that was certainly more than friendship. He had lied to me, used me, and made a fool out of me. He had found me at my most vulnerable, right after losing my Father, and 'filled' the void by making empty promises.

"You're so beautiful, Alia."

I laughed hard, my actions shocking the two people before me who watched me carefully. They seemed sure that I had lost my mind. I was sure I had lost my mind as I continued to wheeze through the crazed laugh, tears streaking down my cheeks as I did so. Chase seemed to regain himself momentarily, choosing to approach as he scrambled off the bed with one of the sheets and began to approach me.

"Harpie...baby, it's not..."

I didn't wait for him to finish the sentence, my hand moving of its own accord to slap him right across the face. The sound of it reverberated across the room, eliciting a gasp from the venomous snake still on his bed. I ignored her, focusing instead on the man before me who seemed genuinely shocked by my actions. He had not expected it, of course. The man had never been hit a day in his life. He was a spoilt brat, an entitled asshole who thought he could get away with breaking my heart and lying to me right to my face.

"Harper, what the fuck?!"

He shouted as he stepped towards me once again, his words displeasing me once more as I landed yet another slap that seemed harder than the first one judging by how hard his head whipped to the side. I embraced the sting of the impact, reveling in it as it grounded me, and reminded me that kicking his ass would be too much trouble, more than it was worth.

I have achieved and gotten through too much to lose it on account of this asshole...I won't let him destroy everything I have built...

"Try and touch me one more time and I'll break your fucking teeth. We are done, Chase. Don't call me, text me, or look for me. I will burn all your fucking things in my house. I will erase you from my life and when I am done, you will be nothing but a stupid mistake and a mediocre lover. Good luck with faking the orgasms. I know I did, every single one of them."

I directed the last part at the woman on the bed whose smug smile at my despair had shifted to shock and irritation but it did not compare to the anger and surprise on my ex-boyfriend's face. I gave him no time to recover, storming out of the room as I begged my body to cooperate, to keep me from falling completely into despair.

My legs gave out from within the elevator, the tears coming hard and fast as I shattered within the confines of the ride down to the lobby. I thanked my lucky stars for holding me together, for allowing me to say my peace. I refused to be broken in front of him. I refused to give him so much power.

But Christ, it hurts so damn much...

I didn't realize I was hysterically crying and back in the lobby until Luke's coat wrapped around me, his voice a distant whisper as I broke into a million pieces. I knew he was alarmed judging by the urgency in his voice but he was quick to act, carrying me in his arms easily before making his way to the SUV. Everything else was a haze, the panic attack already sinking its claws into me as I hyperventilate in the back seat of the car.

William tried to guide me through deep breaths, his actions soothing me somewhat as I finally focused on him but the tears couldn't stop, no matter how much I tried. And so he held me as I cried, tightening his arms around me as I let out all my anger and frustration. Pain had always been a constant in my life. From losing my mother, father, and now the man I had loved. I was broken beyond repair, unworthy of love or companionship.

I am destined to be alone because I chase all the people in my life away...I am nothing but a broken doll, right Father?...