Chapter 1 The Night It All Fell Apart

Bella stood outside Jason's mansion, her heart pounding so hard she could hear its echo in her ears. The night was cool, the breeze gentle as it played with her hair, but the unease inside her felt like a storm. The stars blinked down from above, distant and cold, as if warning her to turn around. But she didn't. She couldn't.

Jason had told her not to visit - that he was busy, that work had him tied up. He'd said he needed space tonight, just for a little while. But something deep inside Bella wouldn't let her rest. His words hadn't felt right. His voice on the phone had lacked warmth, his laughter too forced. She'd tried to ignore the gnawing dread that had followed her all day, but it had only grown stronger as night fell.

And now here she was - standing at his door, clutching her handbag, determined to prove herself wrong. Determined to find nothing.

Her fingers trembled as she turned the handle. The door wasn't even locked.

She stepped inside, the familiar scent of Jason's cologne mixed with the faint aroma of fresh flowers from the vase in the hallway. The house was dimly lit, shadows stretching across the marble floor. It should have felt like home - but tonight, it felt like a stranger's place.

Bella's heels clicked softly as she entered, her legs unsteady beneath her. She set her bag down on the couch, took a deep breath, and walked into the kitchen. The hum of the refrigerator filled the silence. She grabbed a bottle of water, the cold glass sweating in her palm, and took a long sip, hoping the chill would calm her nerves. But it didn't.

The house was too quiet. No sound of Jason's music playing softly in the background. No television. No footsteps. Just silence.

Maybe he's asleep, she thought, forcing herself to cling to the hope. Maybe I'm being paranoid.

She walked slowly toward the stairs, each step heavier than the last. Her fingers trailed the banister, steadying herself as her heart raced faster. The second floor felt even more still, the kind of stillness that made your skin crawl.

She reached Jason's bedroom door. Paused. Listened.

There - soft whispers. A low, feminine laugh.

Bella's stomach dropped. Her breath caught in her throat.

"No," she whispered to herself. "No, it can't be."

Her hand shook as she pushed open the door.

The scene before her made her blood run cold.

Jason lay in bed, his bare chest rising and falling, his arm draped possessively around a woman whose face Bella recognized instantly - Elizabeth. Elizabeth, her so-called friend. Elizabeth, the one who always hovered a little too close to Jason, whose smiles were always just a little too sweet.

Their bodies glistened with sweat. The sheets tangled around their legs. The unmistakable evidence of betrayal filled the room like poison.

Bella froze. The world tilted. The air seemed to leave her lungs.

"Jason... Jason?" Her voice cracked, a fragile plea.

Jason's eyes flew open, shock flashing across his face. Elizabeth gasped, but then, almost immediately, a cruel smirk played on her lips.

Jason's surprise turned to irritation, as if she were the one who had done something wrong.

"What are you doing here, Bella?" he snapped, his voice cold, as if she were an intruder.

Bella took a shaky step forward, tears already stinging her eyes.

"What did you just say?" she whispered. "What am I doing here?"

Her lips quivered. The room spun. She clapped her hands slowly, bitterly.

"Wow. Just... wow. Is this why you said you weren't around tonight? Is this what you were hiding?"

Her voice broke as the tears spilled down her cheeks. "I could never have imagined this, Jason. Never."

Each word felt like it tore a piece of her heart apart.

Elizabeth shifted closer to Jason, as if marking her territory. And then, deliberately, she leaned in and kissed him - slow, taunting, her eyes never leaving Bella's.

"Now that you've seen for yourself," Elizabeth said, her voice dripping with malice, "what's next? Because Jason is mine. He was never really yours."

Bella stared, stunned, as Elizabeth kissed him again, running her fingers through his hair, acting as though Bella were invisible.

Jason said nothing at first. He just sat there, letting it happen.

"Bella, just leave," he finally muttered, his tone dismissive, uncaring.

Bella shook her head, her body trembling. "No! Not until you tell me why. Why would you do this to me? After everything we've shared, after everything I've done for you - why?"

Jason's face darkened. Without warning, he flung off the sheets and stormed toward her. Before she could react, he shoved her hard.

Bella stumbled backward, falling to the floor with a painful thud. The cold marble bit into her skin, but the ache in her chest was far worse.

"Get out of my house!" Jason roared, his voice thundering through the room.

Bella gasped, struggling for breath between sobs. The man she had loved with all her heart now glared at her like she was nothing.

"Jason..." she whimpered, her voice barely audible.

"Out!" he barked, his eyes wild with fury. "Or I swear, I'll make you regret it."

Elizabeth laughed, leaning back against the pillows, savoring Bella's humiliation.

"Pathetic," she spat, rolling her eyes.

Bella wiped at her tears with shaking hands. She rose slowly, refusing to let them see her fall apart any more than she already had.

"Fine," she said, her voice quiet but steady. "I'll leave. But remember this, Jason. You started this. And I promise you - I won't be the one to lose."

She turned to go, but Elizabeth couldn't resist one last jab.

"Don't forget to shut the door on your way out. Bitch."

Jason smirked. "It's better this way."

Bella froze at the door. Slowly, she turned back. She took one last long look at Jason - the man who had shattered her trust, crushed her heart. She stepped closer, leaned in, and kissed his cheek. A farewell. A promise. A curse.

"You'll regret this," she whispered.

And then she left.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Jason climbed back into bed without a second thought.

"Come here, baby," Elizabeth purred, stretching out her arms.

He pulled her close, burying his face in her neck.

Outside, Bella stood on the front steps, staring up at the night sky, tears falling silently. But inside, something hardened. This wasn't the end.

It was only the beginning.