The Price of Her Betrayal

NovelMaster · English · Theater: NovelMaster, Lang: English, Genre: Realistic, Genre: School · 2026-09-30

Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English | NEW

Synopsis

On the day of our engagement party, my fiancée ditched me after taking a single phone call from a male client.
She sent me a fifty-two-dollar transfer on PayPal, telling me I was the only one in her heart and begging me not to be mad.
That night, I saw the client’s SnapChat story.
It was a screenshot of Bella sending him fifty-two thousand dollars, along with a sickeningly sweet love confession.
This time, I didn't bother arguing or asking questions. I quietly called off the wedding.
"If that client is so important to you, you can spend the rest of your life taking care of him."
Yet, the moment I chose to let go, she was the one who regretted it.
Later on, I heard that my fiancée, who had always catered to this client's every whim, actually sued him.
The charge? Fraud.
Bella didn’t come home all night. I didn’t see her until she showed up at work the next morning.
Before I could push her office door open, I heard her coworkers teasing her.
"Bella, you're incredible! You actually landed Julian? He's known as the toughest client our firm has ever dealt with."
"Come on, when Bella turns on the charm, what man could resist? A multi-million-dollar contract is basically a walk in the park for her."
A wave of suggestive laughter rippled through the room.
My fiancée didn't bother denying it. Instead, she just waved them off with a coy smile.
"Stop it, guys. Keep it between us. If word gets out, people might get the wrong idea."
"It’s just a shame our time was so limited last night. I only got Julian to sign this one deal. I completely forgot to push for a five-year extension."
The office was practically buzzing with gossip.
The girl beside Bella nudged her shoulder, her voice dripping with jealousy.
"Oh, give me a break! You didn't leave a single scrap for the rest of us! Besides, you two already got so up close and personal last night. Five years? Ten years? You'll have plenty of chances to lock that down later, right?"
Through the cracked door, I saw Bella’s cheeks flush crimson.
The smile playing at the corners of her lips stabbed straight into my eyes.
Yesterday was supposed to be our engagement party. The moment our family and friends arrived, she took off.
She claimed an important client had just flown into town and that she had to seize this golden opportunity to close the deal.
I felt bad that she was working so hard. I even packed dinner from the party to bring home, wanting to make sure she had a warm meal when she returned.
Instead, I sat in that empty apartment, waiting for her all night long.
This morning, despite my dark circles, I had gotten up early to cook her a hot breakfast and bring it to her office.
Now, standing outside her door, it felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head.
I was nothing more than a joke.
The lunchbox slipped from my hands, hitting the floor with a loud thud.
"Who's out there?"
Everyone turned toward the door.
I didn't bother running. I simply pushed the door open and walked in.
Surprise flickered across Bella’s face before she walked over to me. "Ethan, what are you doing here?"
A female colleague chuckled. "Aw, Bella, your brother brought you breakfast again!"
I didn't say a word, my gaze locked on Bella.
The first time I came here with breakfast, Bella had introduced me to everyone as her "brother."
When I confronted her about it later, she answered with total indifference.
"Don't you take care of me like an older brother anyway? What those people think doesn't change our relationship. Don't take it to heart."
Yet that single word—"brother"—felt like it had severed any real connection between us.
Bella grabbed my arm, pulling me out into the hallway while whispering under her breath.
"Didn't I tell you? You really didn't need to make the trip."
Once we were out of the office, she pulled a small, elegant box from her purse and held it out.
"I know yesterday was my fault. But you know I'm at an age where competition at work is brutal. If I don't hustle, those younger girls will walk all over me."
"I bought this gift especially for you. Please don't be mad anymore, okay?"
She tugged at my hand, batting her big, watery eyes at me.
My face remained cold. The words I had just overheard kept replaying in my mind like a broken record.
Silently, I opened the box.
It was completely empty.
Pressed against the bottom of the box was a slightly crumpled, heart-shaped sticky note.
It read: *To the most handsome man in the world.*
Signed: *From Bella, who quietly adores you. Here's to a wonderful partnership!*
Since when did she and I need a "partnership"?
It hit me almost instantly—this had been intended for Julian.
As for where the gift inside went, the answer was obvious.
Bella caught sight of the note, and her expression froze. She snatched it out of my hands.
"I must have grabbed the wrong box. Ethan, don't overthink it. I'll go buy you another one later."
"Save it."I had zero interest in a half-assed apology gift.
I turned to leave, but Bella frowned, clearly annoyed by my cold reaction.
She hurried after me, but before we could take more than a couple of steps, Julian appeared down the hall.
Dressed in a sharp black suit with a navy-blue designer tie clip, he smiled and walked over to us.
"Bella, thanks for the gift. It fits perfectly. I really love it."
As he spoke, he affectionately reached out and patted the top of her head.
Bella blushed, lowering her head shyly. "I'm just glad you like it. I spent ages picking it out, worried you wouldn't."
They stood there in the corridor, exchanging flirtatious glances like a couple in the honeymoon phase.
Watching them made my stomach turn.
Right then, Julian noticed the empty box in my hand, a look of confusion crossing his face.
"Wait, isn't that the exact box my tie clip came in? Did you get two?"
Panic flashed across Bella's face.
Just as she scrambled for an excuse, I offered a thin smile. "I didn't realize that tie clip was custom-made for you. Is it a crime to have the same taste?"
Sensing the hostility in my voice, Bella’s frown deepened.
"Ethan, what's with the attitude?"
"This is just who I am. If you don't like looking at me, look away."
With that, I tossed the empty box straight into the nearest trash can, dusted off my hands, and walked away.
Trash belongs in the garbage.
Ignoring Bella’s stormy expression, I walked right out of the building.
Looking up at the clear blue sky outside, a wave of relief washed over me.
Letting go of this relationship was probably the best decision I'd ever made.
I drove out to an extreme sports park on the outskirts of the city and tried the bungee jump I had always been too terrified to attempt.
The moment I plunged from the platform into the open air, I knew I was ready for a fresh start.
By the time I was done, dusk had settled over the city.
I checked my phone and saw several missed calls from Bella.
I didn't care. I got into my car, ready to head home.
That was when I stumbled across her colleague's SnapChat story.
They were partying at a club. In the dimly lit corner of a VIP booth, Bella had her arms draped over Julian's shoulders, the two of them locked in a passionate kiss.
A wave of nausea hit me so hard I nearly threw up right there in my car.
All those nights I thought Bella was pulling grueling overtime, she was probably doing this—tangled up with Julian.
Or worse, already in his bed.
And here I was, playing the devoted fiancé, keeping her food warm and trying to be her biggest supporter.
Looking back, I was nothing more than a pathetic clown.
I opened my contacts and called my parents.
"Mom, Dad, I'm calling off the wedding."
"No particular reason. I just fell out of love."
I sat outside in the cold wind for a long time until my face went numb. Only then did I drive back to the apartment.
To my surprise, Bella was already home.
She was sitting on the couch. The moment I flipped the light switch, she looked up at me.
Her dark, doe-like eyes seemed filled with unspoken grievances.I paused for a second, then calmly bent down to take off my shoes.
Bella walked over holding a warm cup of honey water, her tone laced with complaint.
"Why are you back so late? I've been waiting for hours."
"I made this honey water for you. Drink some."
I didn't take it. My arm brushed past, and the glass crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. Bella gasped.
She looked up, her patience finally snapping.
"What is your problem? You stay out running around until midnight, and I haven't even said anything yet!"
Running around?
Ever since we decided to get married, I made sure I was home before eight every single night. Tonight was the only exception.
Compared to Bella, my late night was nothing.
The number of times she came home late or didn't come home at all was too high to count on both hands. What right did she have to lecture me?
Seeing that I wasn't responding, Bella followed behind me, nagging.
"What's that supposed to mean? Do you even want to get married anymore?"
"No."
The living room fell dead silent. I turned around to face Bella's utterly stunned expression.
Since she brought it up herself, I saw no reason to hold back.
Bella kicked a glass shard on the floor, her voice dripping with disdain. "Quit joking. You really think threatening me like this works?"
"Take tonight to think about your behavior."
She slammed the door and stormed out.
I didn't think I had anything to reflect on. After five years of pouring myself into this relationship, I wasn't the one who needed to do any soul-searching.
I pulled the covers over my head and fell asleep.
When I woke up, Bella hadn't returned.
I didn't care anymore.
Without her here, the place was peaceful.
I gathered my things and headed to my office. But the moment I stepped inside, I saw Julian.
I heard from a coworker that he had a business partnership with our company.
Seeing me, he smiled and walked over.
"Ethan, right? Bella talks about you all the time. We met briefly the other day, remember?"
Looking at his outstretched hand, I didn't move.
My colleague behind me quietly hissed my name, urging me not to offend our high-value client.
But I couldn't swallow this insult.
I even suspected Julian had shown up at my office on purpose.
He took my woman, and now he wanted me to bow and scrape to him?
Not a chance in hell.
The smirk on Julian's face widened. "By the way, Bella had a bit too much to drink last night and crashed at my place. She was still asleep when I left this morning. Maybe you should call her later and see if she needs a ride."
A vein in my temple throbbed.
So, they were already that intimate.
I lowered my gaze and tried to walk past him, but Julian stepped in my way.
He was clearly here to provoke me.
Leaning in close, he whispered in my ear.
"You know, while she was lying in my arms last night, she kept saying she wished she’d met me first. That way, she wouldn't be tied down by some stupid engagement with you."
"Honestly, I have to hand it to you. Knowing all this, you're still playing it cool. Guess you really don't mind sharing your woman with another man."
Looking at the smug, sleazy grin spreading across his face, my hands curled into fists.
Julian clapped a hand on my shoulder, wearing the expression of a triumphant victor. It burned my eyes.
The moment he let go and turned to walk away, my control shattered. I swung my fist straight into the bridge of his nose.
*Crack.*
His glasses shattered on impact, the jagged lenses slicing deep into his cheek.
Blood instantly gushed down his face.
Chaos erupted in the office. Just then, Bella came rushing through the doors in a panic.
"What happened?! Julian, are you okay? Who did this to you?"
Julian pressed a bloody hand to his face, his voice shaky and weak.
"It's fine... Ethan was just being impulsive. He was probably worried about you."
"It's my fault, really. I should have told him sooner that you stayed the night at my place. I deserved this."
Hearing that, Bella shot a venomous glare in my direction.
"Ethan, you've crossed the line! How dare you assault someone in broad daylight?"
"Apologize right now, or I swear I'm calling the police!"
I looked at the two of them clutching each other, finding the whole scene utterly pathetic.
Bella didn't hesitate for a second to take Julian's side.
In her heart, I had ceased to exist as her fiancé a long time ago.
What was I even expecting?
I let out a cold laugh.
"Go ahead. Call the cops. Let's see if they arrest the homewrecker first."
The office exploded into hushed whispers.
Everyone exchanged wide-eyed looks, their gazes darting between Bella and Julian.
They were all trying to piece together who was cheating on whom.
Unlike Bella, who kept our relationship a secret at her job, I had shared wedding candies with my colleagues the day we got engaged.
Many of them had even seen Bella's picture on my desk.
Everyone in this office knew she was my fiancée.
And now, she was running to another man's defense, turning on her own fiancé to protect him.
Noticing the judging stares around her, Bella bit her lip in embarrassment. She barked at me, "Come outside with me. Now!"
When I didn't budge, she grabbed my arm and dragged me into the stairwell.
"What was that supposed to mean? If you have an issue, why couldn't you talk to me in private? Did you really have to humiliate Julian in front of everyone?"
"Ethan, is this the result of your self-reflection? Don't think for a second that being my fiancé protects you from the consequences!"
Even now, every single word out of her mouth was about Julian.
I curled my lips into a sneer and cut her off.
"I already called off the wedding."

Chapters (3)

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

I had zero interest in a half-assed apology gift. I turned to leave, but Bella frowned, clearly annoyed by my cold reaction. She hurried after me, but before we could take more than a couple of steps, Julian appeared down the hall. Dressed in a sharp black suit with a navy-blue designer tie clip, he smiled and walked over to us. "Bella, thanks for the gift. It fits perfectly. I really love it." As he spoke, he affectionately reached out and patted the top of her head. Bella blushed, lowering her head shyly. "I'm just glad you like it. I spent ages picking it out, worried you wouldn't." They stood there in the corridor, exchanging flirtatious glances like a couple in the honeymoon phase. Watching them made my stomach turn. Right then, Julian noticed the empty box in my hand, a look of confusion crossing his face. "Wait, isn't that the exact box my tie clip came in? Did you get two?" Panic flashed across Bella's face. Just as she scrambled for an excuse, I offered a thin smile. "I didn't realize that tie clip was custom-made for you. Is it a crime to have the same taste?" Sensing the hostility in my voice, Bella’s frown deepened. "Ethan, what's with the attitude?" "This is just who I am. If you don't like looking at me, look away." With that, I tossed the empty box straight into the nearest trash can, dusted off my hands, and walked away. Trash belongs in the garbage. Ignoring Bella’s stormy expression, I walked right out of the building. Looking up at the clear blue sky outside, a wave of relief washed over me. Letting go of this relationship was probably the best decision I'd ever made. I drove out to an extreme sports park on the outskirts of the city and tried the bungee jump I had always been too terrified to attempt. The moment I plunged from the platform into the open air, I knew I was ready for a fresh start. By the time I was done, dusk had settled over the city. I checked my phone and saw several missed calls from Bella. I didn't care. I got into my car, ready to head home. That was when I stumbled across her colleague's SnapChat story. They were partying at a club. In the dimly lit corner of a VIP booth, Bella had her arms draped over Julian's shoulders, the two of them locked in a passionate kiss. A wave of nausea hit me so hard I nearly threw up right there in my car. All those nights I thought Bella was pulling grueling overtime, she was probably doing this—tangled up with Julian. Or worse, already in his bed. And here I was, playing the devoted fiancé, keeping her food warm and trying to be her biggest supporter. Looking back, I was nothing more than a pathetic clown. I opened my contacts and called my parents. "Mom, Dad, I'm calling off the wedding." "No particular reason. I just fell out of love." I sat outside in the cold wind for a long time until my face went numb. Only then did I drive back to the apartment. To my surprise, Bella was already home. She was sitting on the couch. The moment I flipped the light switch, she looked up at me. Her dark, doe-like eyes seemed filled with unspoken grievances.

Chapter 3

I paused for a second, then calmly bent down to take off my shoes. Bella walked over holding a warm cup of honey water, her tone laced with complaint. "Why are you back so late? I've been waiting for hours." "I made this honey water for you. Drink some." I didn't take it. My arm brushed past, and the glass crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. Bella gasped. She looked up, her patience finally snapping. "What is your problem? You stay out running around until midnight, and I haven't even said anything yet!" Running around? Ever since we decided to get married, I made sure I was home before eight every single night. Tonight was the only exception. Compared to Bella, my late night was nothing. The number of times she came home late or didn't come home at all was too high to count on both hands. What right did she have to lecture me? Seeing that I wasn't responding, Bella followed behind me, nagging. "What's that supposed to mean? Do you even want to get married anymore?" "No." The living room fell dead silent. I turned around to face Bella's utterly stunned expression. Since she brought it up herself, I saw no reason to hold back. Bella kicked a glass shard on the floor, her voice dripping with disdain. "Quit joking. You really think threatening me like this works?" "Take tonight to think about your behavior." She slammed the door and stormed out. I didn't think I had anything to reflect on. After five years of pouring myself into this relationship, I wasn't the one who needed to do any soul-searching. I pulled the covers over my head and fell asleep. When I woke up, Bella hadn't returned. I didn't care anymore. Without her here, the place was peaceful. I gathered my things and headed to my office. But the moment I stepped inside, I saw Julian. I heard from a coworker that he had a business partnership with our company. Seeing me, he smiled and walked over. "Ethan, right? Bella talks about you all the time. We met briefly the other day, remember?" Looking at his outstretched hand, I didn't move. My colleague behind me quietly hissed my name, urging me not to offend our high-value client. But I couldn't swallow this insult. I even suspected Julian had shown up at my office on purpose. He took my woman, and now he wanted me to bow and scrape to him? Not a chance in hell. The smirk on Julian's face widened. "By the way, Bella had a bit too much to drink last night and crashed at my place. She was still asleep when I left this morning. Maybe you should call her later and see if she needs a ride." A vein in my temple throbbed. So, they were already that intimate. I lowered my gaze and tried to walk past him, but Julian stepped in my way. He was clearly here to provoke me. Leaning in close, he whispered in my ear. "You know, while she was lying in my arms last night, she kept saying she wished she’d met me first. That way, she wouldn't be tied down by some stupid engagement with you." "Honestly, I have to hand it to you. Knowing all this, you're still playing it cool. Guess you really don't mind sharing your woman with another man." Looking at the smug, sleazy grin spreading across his face, my hands curled into fists. Julian clapped a hand on my shoulder, wearing the expression of a triumphant victor. It burned my eyes. The moment he let go and turned to walk away, my control shattered. I swung my fist straight into the bridge of his nose. *Crack.* His glasses shattered on impact, the jagged lenses slicing deep into his cheek. Blood instantly gushed down his face. Chaos erupted in the office. Just then, Bella came rushing through the doors in a panic. "What happened?! Julian, are you okay? Who did this to you?" Julian pressed a bloody hand to his face, his voice shaky and weak. "It's fine... Ethan was just being impulsive. He was probably worried about you." "It's my fault, really. I should have told him sooner that you stayed the night at my place. I deserved this." Hearing that, Bella shot a venomous glare in my direction. "Ethan, you've crossed the line! How dare you assault someone in broad daylight?" "Apologize right now, or I swear I'm calling the police!" I looked at the two of them clutching each other, finding the whole scene utterly pathetic. Bella didn't hesitate for a second to take Julian's side. In her heart, I had ceased to exist as her fiancé a long time ago. What was I even expecting? I let out a cold laugh. "Go ahead. Call the cops. Let's see if they arrest the homewrecker first." The office exploded into hushed whispers. Everyone exchanged wide-eyed looks, their gazes darting between Bella and Julian. They were all trying to piece together who was cheating on whom. Unlike Bella, who kept our relationship a secret at her job, I had shared wedding candies with my colleagues the day we got engaged. Many of them had even seen Bella's picture on my desk. Everyone in this office knew she was my fiancée. And now, she was running to another man's defense, turning on her own fiancé to protect him. Noticing the judging stares around her, Bella bit her lip in embarrassment. She barked at me, "Come outside with me. Now!" When I didn't budge, she grabbed my arm and dragged me into the stairwell. "What was that supposed to mean? If you have an issue, why couldn't you talk to me in private? Did you really have to humiliate Julian in front of everyone?" "Ethan, is this the result of your self-reflection? Don't think for a second that being my fiancé protects you from the consequences!" Even now, every single word out of her mouth was about Julian. I curled my lips into a sneer and cut her off. "I already called off the wedding."

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