The Truth

As Isabella pushed open the door, her worst fears materialized before her eyes. The sight that unfolded was a devastating blow to her heart. There, on the bed, lay a naked Caleb entwined with Scarlett, their bodies pressed together in a passionate embrace. The room seemed to spin, and Isabella's vision blurred as she struggled to comprehend the betrayal unfolding before her.

She felt a wave of dizziness hit her, threatening to make her collapse right then and there. But with sheer willpower, she steadied herself, gripping the door handle tightly to support her trembling body. At that moment, a flash of realization struck Isabella, connecting the dots that had been scattered throughout their relationship. The extravagant gifts, the lavish vacations, and the countless indulgences Scarlett had showered upon her just to be with her Husband. it all became painfully clear. Isabella's heart sank as she understood the depth of what had been happening right under her nose.

Caleb and Scarlett, lost in their moment of pleasure, remained unaware of Isabella's presence. Scarlett, confident that Isabella was still blissfully unaware and enjoying her spa treatment, continued to moan with abandon, while Caleb eagerly reciprocated. The sound of their passion echoed through the room, mocking Isabella's shattered trust.

The floodgates of emotion burst open within Isabella. The pain and anger welled up, transforming into a raw, heartbreaking scream. Tears fell down her cheeks as she unleashed her anguish into the air.

"How could you?" she cried out, her voice strained with betrayal, disbelief, and heartbreak. Her words came as a piercing question that demanded an answer.

Caleb and Scarlett, startled by Isabella's outburst, turned their attention towards the door. Their eyes met Isabella's teary face, but instead of remorse or guilt, their expressions were filled with indifference. Scarlett rolled her eyes dismissively, a cruel display of apathy.

Caleb stood up from on top of Scarlett, he reached for his boxer shorts, which lay discarded on the floor next to the bed. Scarlett slowly covered herself with the duvet, her eyes and face filled with anger.

"Why the scream, Isabella? You almost shocked me to death," Caleb replied with no remorse.

"Shock you to death? How could you do this to me, Caleb... why?" Isabella's voice trembled with hurt and betrayal. "I have always loved you and have given you my all. Everything!!. Why cheat on me like this, Caleb? And you, Scarlett... I have always treated you like I would treat my sister. There are several men out there. Why my man, Scarlett? Why?"

Scarlett, her voice laced with bitterness, looked at Isabella with resentment. "Your man?" she scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "Baby Isabella, listen up. We fell in love first before you came into the picture with your billionaire daddy's money, wanting to ruin our relationship. But since we love each other, we needed to take you out of the picture, little by little. We didn't plan for you to find out this way, but since you did... no problem. How does it feel, finding out the truth?"

Isabella turned her gaze to Caleb, her eyes filled with sadness and disbelief. "Is that true? You both fell in love first?" she asked, her voice quivering with hope and desperation.

Caleb hesitated for a moment, his eyes avoiding Isabella's gaze before finally meeting her pleading eyes. With a heavy sigh, he nodded. "Yes," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "Scarlett and I had always been in love, but then you came into the picture with your dad's wealth. I couldn't refuse you since refusing you meant refusing riches."

Isabella's heart sank, her world crumbling around her as the harsh reality began to sink in. More tears welled up in her eyes as she turned her attention to Scarlett, her former best friend, her voice trembling with hurt and anger.

"Don't tell me you think Caleb really loves you, Isabella?" Scarlett sneered, her tone dripping with venom. "According to my man Caleb, he said you are an ugly vulture. If not for your dad's wealth, you are of no use, sweetie. Like, how would you expect a manly man like Caleb to fall in love with an ugly, unsexy bitch like you? I was never your best friend, Isabella. I had to put up with you because of Caleb. I have always felt like choking you to death. And besides, I had to hold myself back since all we needed was just the wealth. Now that we have both your shares, wealth, and control over the company, it's best to quit the game."

Isabella's chest tightened with pain and rage. She couldn't believe the words that were being spoken, the betrayal that was unfolding before her. Turning back to Caleb, her voice trembled as she sought confirmation amidst the chaos.

"She is lying, right?" Isabella pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation. "Tell me it's not true, Caleb. Tell me she's just trying to hurt me."

"She isn't lying," Caleb replied, his voice cold and unapologetic. "Scarlett is the one I have always loved. You were just my money bag. And besides, you're not my type of lady, Isabella. No sexy curves and a very beautiful face... what a waste to mankind," Caleb sneered, his words dripping with disdain.

Isabella's heart shattered into a million pieces as she tried to find her voice amidst the pain. "I will take everything back, you bastard!" she shouted, her voice trembling with anger and anguish.

Caleb's expression remained callous, devoid of any remorse. "You must be joking. Everything was mine immediately we killed your dad and mom," he stated.

The realization hit Isabella like a physical blow. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "You killed my dad and mom!" she screamed, her voice filled with horror and disbelief.

Caleb's smirk widened, a sick satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Yes, sweetie. Your dad was stubborn, and we could see through that he never wanted me for you nor wanted me to be the CEO of Sinclair Stock Investment. Thank goodness my godfather James Harrison was a quick thinker," he gloated, reveling in his cruel revelation.

The name James Harrison echoed in Isabella's mind, her voice barely a whisper. "James Harrison? My dad's best friend was among...?" Isabella's voice trailed off, her mind unable to comprehend the depth of betrayal that surrounded her.

Isabella's father, Aaron, shared a special bond with James Harrison, his best friend who was Isabella's godfather. The two were inseparable, often referred to as the "swan brothers" due to their close friendship.

*******FLASHBACK******

On Isabella's 24th birthday, the family gathered at home to celebrate the occasion. Excitement filled the air as Isabella and her sister, Emily, eagerly awaited their father's return after a phone call with James Harrison about an important business deal that couldn't wait. Aaron and Isabella's mother, Evelyn, assured them they would be back soon, leaving the girls with hopeful hearts.

With a swift departure, Aaron and Evelyn entered the car, accompanied by their driver. The engine roared to life, and the car disappeared into the night, leaving behind nothing but wait and a sense of security.

However, mere minutes after their departure, tragedy struck with a force that shattered the family's world. The screeching sound of tires and a deafening collision pierced the silence of the night. A reckless truck driver, fueled by alcohol, crashed into Aaron and Evelyn's car, leaving devastation in his wake.

The investigation that followed painted a grim picture. The truck driver, his senses dulled by Alcohol, was held accountable for the accident. The authorities swiftly arrested him, finding evidence of alcohol in his truck. The case closed, leaving Isabella and Emily to grapple with the unbearable weight of loss.

From that moment on, Isabella's birthdays became a bittersweet reminder of the tragedy that had befallen her family. The once joyous occasions now held a somber undertone which made Isabella hate her birthdays, etched with the absence of her beloved parents.

******END OF FLASHBACK*****

Isabella's world shattered as the devastating truth sank in, her parents had been murdered by James Harrison, Caleb, and Scarlett. A suffocating wave of grief hit her, causing tears of pain to stream down her anguished face. In a daze, Isabella approached Caleb, her heart heavy and her voice trembling as she held Caleb's hand.

"Why, Caleb? Why did James Harrison kill my parents? they were best friends, they treated him like a family why?? Isabella's voice quivered with anguish and desperate longing for answers. The weight of her emotions made it difficult for her to find the right words.

Caleb met Isabella's tear filled gaze with a disdainful expression, his eyes cold and unyielding. Silence hung heavily as Isabella clung to the hope that Caleb would offer some solace, some explanation.

But instead of words of comfort, Caleb withdrew his hand abruptly from Isabella's grasp, a gesture that sent her stumbling backward. With a sickening thud, she collided with a nearby cabinet, her back head making painful contact before she crumpled to the floor. The room spun around her, her vision blurring as tears continued to fall down her cheeks, mingling with the blood trickling from the injury on the back of her head.

As Isabella's consciousness wavered on the edge of darkness, she could hear Scarlett's devilish laughter, a cruel soundtrack to her fading awareness. And then, with one final teardrop glistening on her cheek, Isabella succumbed to unconsciousness.