Chapter 1 Sheltered Illusion.

Riley's POV

I wasn't supposed to be there.

I was not supposed to walk into the conference room so early, but I did.

And I wasn't supposed to see my boyfriend of three years, Eric, tangled between my boss's legs on her desk, but I did.

I stood in the doorway, frozen, watching the scene play out like a sick nightmare I could not wake up from.

Her moans echoed in my ears, burning into my brain, branding me with betrayal.

My heart didn't just break, it splintered, slowly, painfully. I felt like I was outside my body, watching my entire world collapse in slow motion.

Tears gushed out rapidly from my eyes. And I pinched myself to confirm that what I'm seeing is an illusion.

But trust me, some truths are very hard to swallow.

I was struggling so hard to breathe, my heart ached so painfully, as if it was about to burst from my chest.

They didn't even notice me at first.

They were so lost in their ecstasy.

He was too deep in the moment, in her.

I dropped the reports I was holding.

The papers fluttered to the floor, and that sound, light, almost delicate, shattered the illusion and pulled them both back to reality.

Eric turned, and the moment his eyes met mine, his face crumbled.

He was shocked to see me.

Immediately, he sprang off from her, started buttoning up his shirt and trousers.

He couldn't even find where he dropped his belt.

He turned fully to face me with shame and guilt written all over his face.

"Riley,,"

"Don't," I cut him off, my voice sharp and ice cold. I couldn't afford to hear his excuses, right here, in front of her.

My boss, Celeste, looked completely unfazed. She stood up, buttoning her silk blouse slowly, with practiced ease, like she had planned every second of this, and already knew she had won.

Maybe she has.

"You were not supposed to be in until ten," she smugly said.

I did not respond.

I turned, heels clicking against the tile as I walked away, blinking hard to hold back the tears, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break. Silence was the only power I had left.

.

But my soul felt like it was bleeding.

****

I had no idea how I made it home.

My legs carried me, but my mind was somewhere else. In the silence of my apartment, the reality set in. Three years.

Three whole years, gone and wasted. Thrown away for a woman who signed my paycheck.

I wanted to scream so loud, tried so hard to stop the pain, yet I couldn't.

The memory kept repeating itself.

How did this happen?

How long has this been going on?

Why would Eric betray me like this, with my boss?

I kept questioning myself without getting any response.

I opened a bottle of wine. Then another.

Trying to drown my sorrow with alcohol.

Aria called just before I drowned completely.

"Hey girl, what's up?" Aria said, her voice as bubbly as ever.

"Aria..." I responded, my voice barely composed.

There was a pause. "Riley? Are you okay? You sound, wait, are you crying?"

"I saw them," I whispered, feeling my throat tighten. " I walked right in on them, Aria. Eric and Celeste."

There was dead silence on the other end. Then came Aria's voice, low and furious. "Wait. What?! Eric... and Celeste? Your boss, Celeste?!"

"They didn't even see me at first," I said, a broken sob escaping my lips. I simply stood there as if I were unimportant.

Three years, Aria. Three years gone just like that.

"Oh my God," Aria breathed. "Where are you right now?"

"At home," I sniffled. "I just ran. I couldn't think... I just needed to get out."

"I'm coming over," Aria said without hesitation. "Don't move. I'm grabbing my keys right now. Keep talking to me, okay? Just breathe."

I let my body slide to the floor, the phone still pressed to my ear. "It hurts so much, I feel like I'm breaking into pieces."

"I know, babe. I know. But you are not alone. I've got you. "We will get through this together."

With the tears streaming down my face, I whispered, "I gave him everything."

"And he threw it away like garbage," Aria said bitterly. "He's not worth your pain, Riley. And that witch Celeste? I hope karma eats her alive."

A weak laugh bubbled up through my tears. "I sound pathetic, don't I?"

"No," Aria said softly. "You sound like someone who loved with her whole heart. There's nothing pathetic about that."

"I don't feel strong right now."

"Then lean on me," Aria replied gently. "I'm your best friend, remember? Ride-or-die. Go wrap yourself in that soft pink blanket you love and wait for me. I'm ten minutes away."

"Okay," I breathed, my voice cracking. "Thank you, Aria."

"Always," Aria said, and hung up.

The call ended, and I curled up on the couch, tears streaming down my face, waiting for the one person I know who won't betray me.