CHAPTER 5

A deep sigh escaped my lips the moment I sat on the bed as though I had been forcing myself to stay composed for a long time. My mind was clouded with thoughts of Martin's betrayal and Adrian's proposal.

A sharp vibration against the nightstand startled me. My phone… I had left it here last night before going to the pub. Selena's name flashing on the screen.

“Selena?” I hesitated before answering

“Oh my God Isabella, Where have you been? I've been trying to reach you all night.” Her voice was mixed with worry and relief

“I'm sorry I was caught up with…uhh.. something.” I answered hesitantly. “But when did you arrive?”

“ I got back last night. And you won't believe who I met !”

“Who?”

“Your husband, Martin and guess who I saw him with…”

“Sophia…” I didn’t need to guess that

“Exactly. But do you know what's worse? I thought Martin said he couldn't stand her. But what I saw last night said something else. They looked cozy. Martin had thrown her an extravagant surprise party, and don't get me started on the cake.

A sharp pain twisted in my chest, but I swallowed it immediately. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply.

Martin had never celebrated my birthday. “What's the deal about getting older”.He always asked me. He made it clear to me that it never made sense to him why people celebrated their birthday to a point where I started to think he was right. I stopped caring. I stopped expecting more. But here he was doing it for someone else — For Sophia

“Hey… Isabella, are you there? Why aren't you responding?”

“I’m sorry.”

“You need to tell me what is actually going on. But that isn't why I called. I need to see you urgently. Can you meet me at Roody Cafe?”

“Yes. I'll be there”.

“Perfect”

I ended the call and dropped the phone onto the bed. Had I ever known Martin at all?

Everything about Martin had been a lie. I don't even know if I can truly say I know him. I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out his parents were alive and kicking, sipping margaritas on a beach somewhere.

In the end, he’s nothing but a monster.

I stood up and yanked open my suitcase rummaging through my dresses until I pulled out a blue dress.

A knock at the door pulled me back from my thoughts.

“Room service”. A voice announced

I dropped the dress onto the bed before walking to the door. I opened it cautiously and the staff handed me a tray with a covered dish

“Compliments from Mr. Blackwood.” She said politely with a nod before walking away.

“Mr. Blackwood?”

I quickly locked the door and placed the tray on the table. I tilted my head, trying to remember if I have heard that name before. Then an envelope on the side of the tray caught my eye. Without hesitation I picked it up, carefully peeling it open.

“This will not last forever. You better take advantage of it while it lasts”.

“Adrian.”

I dropped the letter and slipped into my dress.

How did he even know which room I was in? Now, I had every reason to doubt him. I didn’t know what his true intentions were but now, it seemed whatever they were, they weren't good.

I grabbed my phone and stuffed it into my purse, as I hurried towards the elevator. It wasn't long before it came to a halt. I stepped into my car and drove off.

When I arrived Selena was already seated at the corner booth with a cup of coffee in front of her. Selena and I attended the same college where I met Martin. She cautioned me several times about him but I wouldn't listen.

Immediately she saw me, she nodded, signalling me to come over.

I slid into the seat across hers. “Alright Selen, what is it now?”

“There's something you need to know.” She said before pulling her phone out of her purse and swiping through some images before laying it in front of me

“Here, look at this”.

I took the phone, my eyes scanning the images carefully. My breath caught in my throat.

There it was—my last painting. My most treasured piece.

Gyptian Dream.

All of my artworks –My designs–were displayed in an art gallery. But this time they weren't in my name.

But Martin's.

My blood boiled in me, my heart racing.

“What, what is this?”

“Martin has been selling all of your art work under his name, Isabella. He has been making money off you”.

I began scanning the images much quicker than I had earlier, gripping the phone tightly. This has also been going on and I had no idea. Martin……My stomach twisted with fury

“When did you find out?” I asked

“I just found out last night someone sent me all of these images anonymously and I knew immediately that something was wrong. But from the images and the information backing them, this has been going on for at least two years.

What? Two years? I felt sick.

Two whole years.

My arts were being sold and Martin was taking all the credit

What else did Martin want from me?

After convincing me to put aside my talent and passion for my artwork telling me how it was pointless and wasn't a real career.

Manipulating me to give it up – Only for him to turn around and sell them in his name.

I clenched my fists.

Betraying me emotionally wasn't enough for him, he had to strip me of my life, my art.

I slammed the phone onto the table. “That manipulative, useless man”

“You need to calm down Bella.”

“Calm? Martin had been lying to me all this while Selen, my marriage, everything I thought I was building for these past years had all been a lie — A sick game for Martin. Our marriage was a– I swallowed, my throat burning. “ A bet, can you imagine that? And you expect me to calm down”.

Selena's eyes widened with shock

“What do you mean?”

“Everything was a lie. Our wedding, our relationship”.

“I should have just listened to you”. I whispered my voice breaking

Tears streamed down my face.

Selena reached for my hand, gripping It firmly.

“You don't need to beat yourself up. He took advantage of you. But now that you know, you have to take charge and get back everything to took from you”

I swallowed hard, wiping the tears off my face.

Selena was right.

Martin thought he had succeeded but I had to show him whom he had been messing with.

The old me was no more. I had gone through too much to still believe Martin would ever change.