CHAPTER 1: THE BREAKUP

Mirabelle

I looked in the mirror one last time and smoothed the red sequin short dress on my body. Tania bought it for me on my last birthday. She couldn’t stop talking about how it cost more than my entire body was worth. I’d been saving it for a special day, and tonight felt like that day.

My life was finally coming together. I just graduated college. Tomorrow I’d start my internship at Wilders Corporation. The biggest construction company in the city. Tania talked to her dad. She got me in. And today was my one year anniversary with Sam.

My heart beat faster just thinking about him. Gosh, I was head over heels in love with him. Sam kept telling me we were soulmates. He said we were going to get married anyway so there was no reason to wait. I was finally going to give in to his pressure and let him have my virginity. I felt ready. I wanted to show him how much I loved him.

Nothing could ruin our perfect night.

I held the anniversary cake I’d picked up on the way as I stepped out of the cab. My hands trembled a little with excitement. I called Sam so many times on the way to his house I lost count. Every call went straight to voicemail. I tried again. Nothing. Maybe he was in the shower, preparing for our big night.

Now I was standing right in front of his house. I looked down at the Happy Anniversary written on the cake in my hands, admiring the white frosting dotted with red hearts, a little sign of our love. I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he saw it.

The front door was open. That was strange. Sam always locked his door. A wave of nerves ran through me, making me uneasy, but I dismissed it. I pushed the door with my fingertips and stepped inside. My eyes took a quick scan of the living room, and Sam wasn’t there.

I walked towards the stairs. My heart was pounding but not from excitement anymore. I couldn’t help but feel that something was wrong. As I climbed up the stairs, I could swear I heard a high pitch female sound coming from upstairs.

Then another sound. Lower. That was certainly Sam’s voice but it was hoarse and groaning. He was saying something I couldn’t make out.

“Sam?” I called out.

My heart raced faster as I neared the door to his room.

The sounds stopped. Then started again. Louder. A woman moaning. Sam groaning.

I paused.

Was Sam with another woman?

My heart thudded so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest.

No. It couldn’t be true. Sam wouldn’t betray me.

I reached his bedroom door. I felt tense as my fingers gripped the doorknob and opened it.

There he was.

Sam, under the sheets, blonde hair all over him, his hands around her waist as she moved on top of him, a woman who wasn’t me.

It was Tania.

Sam was in bed with Tania.

My Tania. My best friend who I’d told every secret to since sophomore year.

My heart broke right there. I couldn’t breathe.

“Tania,” Sam groaned. “You feel so good. I can’t believe I was wasting my time on that clueless Belle.”

“Do I make you happy?” Tania moaned as she moved faster on him. “Better than that naive Belle ever could?”

“God, yes,” Sam answered, his voice rough. “I only wanted to manage her. But you’re the real deal, Tania.”

They were both moaning, lost in each other. They hadn’t even noticed me standing there.

I had seen enough. I didn’t want to hear this anymore.

“Sam? Tania?” I finally called out.

They both turned to me, frozen in shock.

My fingers trembled, and the cake dropped from my hands, hitting the floor.

Sam shoved Tania off and grabbed the sheets. He looked at me, guilt and annoyance on his face, like I’d just spoiled his fun.

"Belle. What are you doing here?"

"We’re supposed to be on our way to our double date with Jenna and her boyfriend. It's our one year anniversary, remember?" I was so hurt, I could barely stand.

"Oh. Shit."

He didn't remember. The night I’d been planning for meant nothing to him. I felt betrayed.

“You should have called.”

“I did. A hundred times.” I watched him check his phone, confirming it.

The fact that he even asked me that pained me to my bones.

“You didn’t have to ruin the cake.” Tania looked at me like I was chewing gum stuck under her shoe. “Hey, Mira.”

"Ruin the cake?" I choked out the words. Tears were already filling my eyes. "That's what you're worried about right now?"

Sam scrambled out of bed and pulled on his boxers. "Belle, just calm down."

"Calm down? I walk in and find you in bed with my best friend and you want me to calm down?" My hands were shaking so bad now.

Tania rolled her eyes. "God, don't be so dramatic. It's not like we meant for you to find out this way."

"Find out?"

I felt my heart clench, like they’d just driven a knife into me.

Christ! This wasn’t their first time together.

"How long has this been going on?" I needed to know even though I was scared of the answer.

“I don’t know.” Tania swung her legs over the side of the bed and wore Sam’s shirt. “Few months. Does it really matter?”

“Few months.” My hand flew to my chest. My breath was catching in my throat. I couldn’t get enough air.

While I had felt guilty for making Sam wait. While I had thought about giving in tonight to show him how much I loved him. They had been sleeping together behind my back. For months.

I was hurt beyond words. The pain in my chest was getting worse.

"How could you both do this to me?" Tears slid down my face now.

Sam wouldn't meet my eyes. "Belle, it's complicated."

"You’ve been cheating on me with my best friend. That seems pretty clear to me."

Tania walked toward me. She had no shame on her face. "You can't really be upset, right?"

How could she have no remorse after betraying my trust? I was so hurt I wanted to scream.

"He's my boyfriend, Tania."

"And I'm your best friend." She tilted her head. "That's why I've been helping you. You should say thank you."

"Helping me?" I stared at her. What was she even saying?

"Come on. Don't give me that look." She waved her hand. "A man has needs, Mirabelle. You wouldn't sleep with him so someone had to. Who better than your best friend?"

My throat closed. Her words made me feel sick.

"You were excited for me that I was waiting till marriage to have sex with Sam. You told me I was making the right choice.."

"Don't blame me for your decision."

“You’ve been lying to me the whole time.” I couldn’t believe it. I never thought my best friend would betray me in the cruellest way.

Sam stepped closer to Tania. Not to me. "It's time for you to leave, Belle."

"What?" I stared at him. My Sam. The man I loved. His eyes were cold. He looked at me like I was nothing.

"You're out of your league, Belle." Tania crossed her arms. "What does a poor orphan like you have to offer the son of a multimillion dollar company?" Tania smirked.

I wanted to wake up from this nightmare. Her words pained me to my core.

"Sam made a mistake dating you. But he sees that now. I'm a billionaire heiress and you are worthless." She giggled.

I turned to Sam, hoping he’d defend me. That a part of him still loved me.

"She's right, Belle. Your scholarship is the only reason you were in the same college as us. You wouldn't be in the same room with us without it.”

I felt so heartbroken, I wanted to fall to my knees.

“Stop. You’re hurting me.” Tears ran faster down my face.

But he wasn’t done. “I don't know what I ever saw in a pathetic low class like you."

"I thought you loved me, Sam,” my voice broke completely.

"I was trying to score a good time with you. But now there's no need to pretend anymore."

I felt my heart break all over again. God, I’d been so foolish for believing every word he ever told me.

Tania put her hand on his bare chest. "Let me spell it out for you, Belle. Sam and I are together. So get over it, best friend."

“Don’t call me that anymore.” I cried harder, unable to stop my tears.

“It’s over between us, Belle. I’m done with you.” He said it so easily, like our one year together meant nothing.

They’d shattered whatever was left of my heart. I could barely stay on my feet.

"You're both awful. I never want to see either of you again."

I turned, my shoe crushing the fallen cake as I ran. I slipped and almost fell as the stairs blurred beneath me. Somehow I reached the bottom and touched the front door.

"Not so fast." Tania came down the stairs, blocking me. “I’m the only one who decides when we stop being friends. We’ll always be best friends for as long as I say so. Unless you no longer want the internship at my dad’s company.”

I shook my head. “I can’t believe I was blinded all these years thinking you were just privileged. You’re pure evil, Tania.”

She let out a cold laugh. "I'm so evil that you're wearing the dress I bought for you." She crossed her arms. "Take it off, Mirabelle."

"What?"

"You heard me. Take off my dress."

I couldn’t move. I was shocked out of my mind.

How low could she go? After everything she’s done to me tonight.

"Tania…please. I don't have anything else to wear."

“Sam, tell her.” I looked at him, begging him to speak. But he stayed quiet, like a puppet.

"If you want to leave our friendship, then you leave behind everything that belongs to me. Including that dress."

My fingers pressed against the strap of the red sequin gown. I was shaking. Crying. Hurt beyond anything I’d ever felt.

Her cold, cruel eyes stayed on mine . "I said take it off."