Chapter 3

ARIELLA’S POV.

I feel my blood thrumming in my ears, and my head ringing as my feet slide back from the scene in front of me.

Anna is…Anna, and David?

My best friend is having sex with my fiancé.

The noise around me fades as I feel lightheaded. My knees go weak, and I’m on the floor in seconds. It took me a few minutes to wrap my head around what was going on.

I ran out of the room, back, to the living room, and I let out a scream. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed the first knife I saw. I had no idea what I planned to do with it, but David is my fiancé. Why him?

“Start talking before I start swinging” I expressed, as I walked back into the room, I saw red, crimson red.

“Hey.. hey, Ari, baby, calm down, please baby. We can all talk about it. No need to get violent.” David expressed while hurriedly putting on his clothes.

“Start talking!” I commanded, stretching the knife towards them. I have zero intentions of hurting anyone, but the remorseless look on Anna’s face tells me this wasn't the first time.

“Babe.. Elle, please listen to” David tries to talk.

“Don't call me that! You lost the chance to call me that when you got in bed with my best friend.” I grit, “I don’t want to hear your voice! Anastasia!” I screamed her name, it tasted so bitter in my mouth.

Her body shook in fear as I shouted out her name. Her eyes frantically looked everywhere but at me. “Look at me you bitch!” I croaked, and her eyes flew to mine. I could see the fear in her eyes and I almost recoiled, but no! I deserve.. an explanation.

“Start talking, I won’t repeat myself.” Cherry and Isabel were still behind me. I could see them both from my peripheral vision. This would be traumatizing for Isabel. I should stop now, but I need answers.. how? Why?.

I need to know “Ari, am-” She begins, but I cut her off.

“No! How long?” I asked as tears filled my eyes, my grip on the knife losing its strength, but I kept it up.

“A few months,” Anna replied, whilst staring at the sheets.

My hands grow weaker at the confession, but I still keep my hand up, pointing the knife towards them.

“Why?” My voice cracks as a sob racks through my body. “What did I do wrong? David, I have given you everything! And Anna, I literally just spent half of my savings today, in an attempt to cheer you up!??” I cried.

“I am sorry, Ari, but you were never home,” Anna starts. “You were always so busy with work that David was having blue balls,” She explains.

“Yeah, you never had time for me, Ari, you were always busy, you never visited-“ David started to talk some bullshit, but I wasn’t having it.

“Really, Anna, that's your excuse? I was never home, and he was having blue balls... That doesn’t give you the fucking right to sleep with him. I yelled, running my free hand in my hair, and I turned to David. “I spend every weekend in your house and visit you twice during the week, David! I told you the company was going through a rough patch, and I would be too busy with work, and you said you didn’t have a problem with that! S..so why?” I cried;

“It’s been 5 months, Ariella. Your company's rough patch has been going on for five months.” He argues.

“So that’s enough reason for you to fuck my pregnant best friend?” I seethe. And David looked at Anna shocked…

Wait…no…no.

“Who is the father of the child Anna?” My voice broke.

“It's mine,” David replied. “It’s my child, but Ari, you have to believe me, I love you. She doesn't matter to me. it was just a meaningless fling.”

“Love?” I was about to let out another word when I was hit from the back, and I toppled to the ground. The action makes the knife in my hand drop to the floor and slide under the bed.

“Cherry.” Isabel gasps as she runs to my side.

Cherry rolls her eyes at the both of us. “Ohh, enough with the pity party Ari. You weren’t available, so your man got pussy from your best friend. If you asked me, I think she did you a favor, except for the part where she got knocked up.” She says blankly. “Ouf! That’s foul Anna,”

“You knew?” Isabel faced Cherry.

“I ain't known, he was the one who knocked her up.”

“Get out,” I scream, but my voice comes out hoarse. “All of you, get out!!!” I yell and thrash around.

“It's my house too, Ari-” Anna started, but Isabel cut her short. “Enough, Anna, you've done enough damage, and last time I checked, this is Ariella's room. You're are such a horrible person that, you couldn’t even find the decency to not fuck her man in her room. The least you can do is give her privacy..” Isabell deadpanned. When I heard them walk out of the room, I felt Isabel’s arm around me. I let the sobs out. I cried in her arms.

We stayed in that spot for what felt like hours. It hurt more than it should. They had no remorse, they didn’t know I was going to find out, but they didn’t care. It was like they wanted me to find out, so they could rub it in my face.

“Come on Ari, it’s time to get up, you should get some sleep. You have a long day tomorrow,” She soothes.

“I don’t want to go anywhere tomorrow or ever.” My voice seized every word.

“It's not the end of the world, Ari. You’ll be fine. Do you want me to stay with you?” She asked, and I shook my head. No.

“I just want to be alone tonight,” I told her. I’m surprised I could even find my voice after all the screaming.

“Alright, let’s get you to bed. You should change into something comfy. I’ll leave once I see you’re settled.” She tells me as she helps me get up.

“Here, change into this” I find myself nodding at her words.

I slowly stepped out of my clothes and changed into the sweat Isabel gave me. I don’t think I deserve this. Maybe I have been happy for too long, maybe I have been smiling for too long. First work now, this? The universe is definitely against me.

I coil under my duvet letting the sheets of the material sleep on me. I shouldn’t let this get to me.

“Are you ok?” Isabel asked me.

“No!” I croaked.

“I am sorry Ari, I can’t believe Anna did this to you. But look on the bright side a-”

“There is no bright side.”

“Yes there is Ariella… you aren’t married to the jerk, so you'd be fine, you've just gotta put yourself out there and let yourself heal,” Isabella replied and I smiled.

Isabela gave the worst pep talks. But she was right about one thing: I've got to put myself out there.

“It’s getting late and the party is definitely not happening, so I have to go now.” Isabel stands to leave.

“Wait,” I stopped her. If David can move on, then I can too. I’m not going to give them that leverage over me. Do they think they have won? Well, not quite.

“We can still party. Let's go out or no… do you wanna go to a club?” I inquired, and she perked an eyebrow.

“A club? Why?”

“If they can fuck without caring about my feelings, then I can do the same.”

Two hours later, I am standing in front of one of the most expensive clubs in town. Isabel couldn’t come with me and for some reason, I’m happy about that.

Lyons’ Club.

My red dress clings to my body like it’s the last thing on earth. It's a strapless dress, ending just a little above my thighs. I hate clubs, but I am in desperate need of any form of adrenaline.

I had a plan-I would go against my morals tonight and then, by morning, I would start my life afresh. Full-proof plan.

I strut into the club, and the music hits my ears like a bomb. The music wasn’t so loud, and I liked it.

I walked to the bar and ordered a drink. I plan to drink the night away, and if fate lets me, I’ll fuck the first dude I see. I was on my fifth shot when a deep, rich voice caught my attention.

“You might want to slow down, Peach,” He remarks as he steps closer.

“Why do you care? And who the freak is Peach ?” I snap, and I almost apologize, but fuck that! I am tired of being innocent, sad, naive Ariella. Tonight was my night of bad decisions.

He chuckles before he takes a seat.

“I don’t remember inviting you to sit, Sherlock.” I bite.

“You… are a feisty one, and it's an open bar.” He replied while signaling the bartender to get him a drink.

“Same as the pretty lady please.” He keeps his eyes on me, his green globes shining through the neon lights in the club.

“What do you want?” My words are starting to slur, and I want nothing to do with this guy.

“Just want to talk, peach.” He remarks.

“Stop calling me that.” I shot at him.

“Okay fine… I won’t call you Peach if you tell me why you’d want to get stupid drunk on a Wednesday night.” He inched closer as he spoke.

“First off, I don't even know your name… dude and it's none of your business. So get out of my face, stranger.” I lean back away from his tempting face, I’m drunk as hell, but even in this state, I am well aware this man is crazy hot.

“Ouf! Talk about feminine rage, and it's Dax, I'm Dax,” He stretches his hand to shake me, but I ignore him.

“Ella,” I replied.

“Cute name,” He mumbles. “But Peach sounds better.” He says, and I shoot daggers at him.

He chuckles and raises his hand in surrender.

The silence stretches between us for a while till I decide to break it.

“Got cheated on. He slept with my best friend. Found out a few hours ago, and here I am.” I mock, I didn't want to go into details, but it felt good to tell someone about it.

“Who would cheat on you?” Disgust laced his voice.

“My fiancé apparently, well Ex-fiancé. What about you? Do you normally spend your Wednesdays in a club bothering heartbroken women?” I retorted.

He laughed, “I deserve that but, no, I had a fucking day, family issues. But why are you here and not coped up in a room?”

“Hmm, I hate having breakdowns, I want to forget. I really want to forget.” I stood on my feet and walked in between his legs. I said I was going to fuck the first dude I saw, even though Dax certainly wasn’t my type. A night of bad decisions wouldn't hurt.

“And I think you can help me with that.” I ran my finger down his lips.

He grabs my hip in a possessive hold.

“Well, I am not one to refuse a pretty lady, especially one in dire need of my help,” He remarked.

“So what do you say? Can I be your Peach for the night?” Our lips brush slightly as I close the distance between us.

“Let me help you forget.” He said as his lips came crashing down on mine.