001 The Betrayal

POV JEANNE

"Jeanne ... hey Jeanne ...?"

I flinched when I felt a pat on my arm. I turned and saw my best friend staring sullenly at me.

She is Lily Hayes, my best friend since middle school and now we are 25 years old. We chatted casually in my bedroom — a penthouse located in a luxury apartment building in downtown New York.

"What are you thinking, huh? You're ignoring me."

I laughed at her words and said, "I'm just having a lot on my mind."

"About Adam?"

I nodded and said, "Well, I suspect he has another woman."

"Again? Oh come on Jeanne ... you're just overthinking, you know?"

Hearing Lily's words, I was silent for a moment and then sighed. Maybe what Lily said is true, I'm just overthinking.

"And oh ... don't you have to go today to buy an anniversary gift for him?"

Her words immediately made me remember the important thing. I got up from my seat and went to the walking closet to change clothes quickly.

"Well ... I thought you forgot about that," Lily said again.

"Gosh! Why are you just reminding me about that now, Lily Hayes?!" I said while looking at my friend with a frown.

Lily seemed to just shrug her shoulders. "It's your anniversary with Adam, why should I — ouch! Hey!"

I threw a pillow at her and then immediately ran towards the door to avoid Lily who was about to counter me earlier.

"Then, I've to go ... bye!" I said and closed my room's door quickly.

"Wait, I want to go home too. I don't want to be an extra on your anniversary date," said Lily.

I took the car key in the drawer and said loudly, "Sorry, I'm in a hurry. Can you just order a taxi?"

"Okay."

I could hear Lily's voice kind of disappointed. Then I walked out from my penthouse.

…

It turns out I spent too much time choosing an anniversary gift for Adam. I thought that I could be back in time before dinner and prepare something romantic, but because of the heavy traffic tonight I was a little late.

To celebrate our anniversary, I bought two portions of food from a well-known restaurant and didn't forget a bottle of the best quality red wine. I also bought shoes from a well-known brand that my fiancé dreamed of.

I know he will like it.

"I'm sure, he must have prepared something for me too," I muttered and smiled as I parked my sports car in the basement.

With a little haste, I walked towards the elevator that connected directly to my penthouse's floor. I opened the door after using the access key to my house.

"Sorry the traffic was busy, so I was ..."

"..."

"... a little late."

I frowned when I saw my living room seemed dark and I heard faintly a sound coming from the bedroom. I thought that my fiancé might have prepared something romantic there.

When I was about to open the door to my room, my smile disappeared and was replaced with mixed feelings.

I heard the voices of my fiancé and someone inside. It wasn't just their conversation that made me speechless, but also their moaning voice and the sound of skin slapping.

"Hey ... hey, lower your voice, babe. What if Jeanne comes and hears you from outside?"

My breath seemed to stop and my heart seemed to fall into my stomach. It was the voice of Adam Moss, my fiancé. So, is my guess correct? That he was having an affair.

If only Lily was here, we could catch them out. Because it turns out I'm right and I'm not just overthinking.

However, when I was about to open the door, I heard another voice answering. Suddenly, I stopped and this time shocked me.

"Ahh babe, I don't care, hnghh ..."

"..."

"Are you sure all of Jeanne's wealth is already in your hands? Unghh ... that's why you are not afraid if she finds out about our affair, hnggh."

"Ahhn, of course babe. Now, can we stop talking about her, I'm about to come."

"Anghh please harder, I'm gonna come hnghh ...!"

I couldn't be wrong. It was definitely the voice of Lily Hayes, my best friend.

Without waiting any longer, I opened the door. I thought I was ready for what I was going to see, but I couldn't help but cry seeing the betrayal of the two people who were closest to me.

Both of them seemed surprised. I walked over to the two of them.

Lily seemed to wrap her naked body in a blanket, while Adam immediately approached me.

“J-Jeanne, w-wait, listen …”

I ignored Adam and quickly opened the food package I brought and dumped it on Lily Hayes' head.

"What the ...."

I smiled and said, "Get out of my house, now!"

"Jeanne ... Jeanne, wait, hey —"

"You too, Adam Moss." I said while looking at Adam's face with a smile.

"You —"

"I said, get out of here, damn it!" I said, no longer able to control my voice.

"This bitch, still doesn't know her place."

Her voice made me turn at her. A second later, she laughed which seemed to mock me.

"You are now nothing, my beloved friend. Jeanne Hart, I hate you ..."

I felt throbbing pain in my chest. I never thought that all this time my best friend hated me.

"You talk to me as if you feel sorry for my life. But you always look down on me and it makes me sick!"

I clenched my hands and looked down in silence. I didn't expect that what I had done for her all this time was interpreted wrongly by her.

So, her kindness, her laugh, her smile, her worries, her feelings, those all just fake? That's what I thought sadly.

"The warmth of family, abundant wealth, love from many people. I thought the death of your parents would bring you down like me, but I was wrong ..."

I strengthened my fists even more when I heard Lily's words. Oh God, what kind of person have I trusted all this time? My mind screamed.

"But you ... you just got higher and looked down at me even more and more! And even Adam Moss! The man I wanted, you took him too, bitch! You —"

SLAP

I can't hold it anymore. I slapped Lily so hard that it left a red mark on her cheek.

"This damn bitch ..."

SLAP

I was shocked when I got a slap from Adam. I really didn't think that he would defend Lily.

Then I looked at him cynicly and said, "Let's settle this in court. Now, you two, get out!"

I looked at Lily flatly. I knew the woman in front of me looked very annoyed and was about to talk back to me. However, Adam immediately stopped her and then took her with him.

Honestly, it makes me quite annoyed to see how my ex fiancé treats Lily so well, something he rarely does to me.

"Fine! We'll settle this in court. Let's see, who will take everything, Jeanne Hart!"

BLAM

Those were Adam's last words, before left with the sound of a door slamming. A moment later, I fell to the floor weakly while staring at the door of my room with empty eyes.

"I can't believe two people I trust the most stab me behind my back."