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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, I pinched myself, in order 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 breath, my heart aches 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, starts buttoning up his shirt and trouser.

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 pains yet I couldn't.

The memory kept repeating itself.

How did this happen?

How long have 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 curls up on the couch, tears streaming down my face, waiting for the one person I know that won't betray me.

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Chapters
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1

Chapter 1 Sheltered Illusion.

13/07/2025

2

Chapter 2 I Quit, Celeste.

13/07/2025

3

Chapter 3 The Unexpected Contact.

13/07/2025

4

Chapter 4 Heat Of The Unknown.

13/07/2025

5

Chapter 5 Michael, Stunned And Intrigued.

13/07/2025

6

Chapter 6 Smoke and Shadows.

13/07/2025

7

Chapter 7 The Eviction.

13/07/2025

8

Chapter 8 The Offer.

13/07/2025

9

Chapter 9 Unwanted Past, Relentless Future.

13/07/2025

10

Chapter 10 The Walls Start Closing In.

13/07/2025

11

Chapter 11 The First Step Into His World.

13/07/2025

12

Chapter 12 A New Beginning.

13/07/2025

13

Chapter 13 A Billionaire's Distraction.

13/07/2025

14

Chapter 14 First Impressions.

13/07/2025

15

Chapter 15 Whispers And Shadows.

13/07/2025

16

Chapter 16 Eyes On Her.

13/07/2025

17

Chapter 17 The Scandal.

13/07/2025

18

Chapter 18 The Hunt Begins.

13/07/2025

19

Chapter 19 What The Headlines Don't Show.

13/07/2025

20

Chapter 20 And Then, She Roared.

13/07/2025

21

Chapter 21 The Silent Move.

13/07/2025

22

Chapter 22 One Drop Of Fire.

19/07/2025

23

Chapter 23 The First To Strike.

19/07/2025

24

Chapter 24 The Scorching Move.

19/07/2025

25

Chapter 25 The Final Strike.

19/07/2025

26

Chapter 26 The End They Never Planned.

20/07/2025

27

Chapter 27 The Dinner Invitation

20/07/2025

28

Chapter 28 The Threat Creeps In Quietly.

20/07/2025

29

Chapter 29 Smoke in the Glass

20/07/2025

30

Chapter 30 The Fall.

20/07/2025

31

Chapter 31 This Isn't Pretending.

22/07/2025

32

Chapter 32 Safe With Him.

22/07/2025

33

Chapter 33 That Girl's Dangerous.

23/07/2025

34

Chapter 34 Dressed Like A Dare.

24/07/2025

35

Chapter 35 The Kiss That Changed Everything.

25/07/2025

36

Chapter 36 Touched Without Hands.

26/07/2025

37

Chapter 37 The Weight Of Wanting Him.

26/07/2025

38

Chapter 38 Quiet Heat.

27/07/2025

39

Chapter 39 The Night We Let Go.

28/07/2025

40

Chapter 40 Echoes of Him.

28/07/2025