Chapter 1 Cheat

• Isla's POV:
• “F**k! Babe, please stop it. Someone might hear...”
• “They won't. My friends are coming soon. We need to hurry.”
• I stood in the club’s hallway, my heart pounding as the summer rain soaked through my clothes, turning the cake I had made for Aiden into a soggy mess.
• Behind me, my childhood sweetheart., my boyfriend was having s*x with another woman.
• Today was his 25th birthday. I had finished my art class early to surprise him with a cake, arriving an hour ahead of schedule. I hadn't expected to walk in on this scene.
• Their moans cut through me like a knife. I was frozen, unable to move or breathe. The scene was surreal, a grotesque parody of our shared history. I felt nailed to the spot, numb.
• Aiden and I had been neighbors since we were 3. We went to the same schools from elementary to college. We'd been officially together since high school graduation, five years now. Everyone around us—parents, friends and classmates—said we were meant to be. We were supposed to get engaged next month. Now, witnessing him cheat, it was a bitter joke.
• He is a liar! And I am a joke!
• I debated whether to leave quietly or storm in and smash the cake on them. I should be furious, but I was oddly calm, unable to do either.
• Just then, the room door opened.
• Aiden came out, hurriedly fixing his clothes. He looked at me with panic in his eyes. “Isla, how long have you been here?”
• I didn't look at him. My gaze was fixed on the floor, expressionless.
• “Isla...” Aiden grabbed my arm, stumbling over his words. “Let me explain...”
• I shook him off. “Don't touch me. You're filthy.”
• My cold voice made his face change. “Baby...”
• “This word make me disgusting. No need to explain.” I still didn't look at him, my calmness unnerving. “I've been listening for ten minutes. Quite a show.”
• I told myself not to cry, not to make a scene, or I would only embarrass myself.
• Smack—I hit the cake into the floor. My eyes finally reddened. “How long has this been going on?”
• My face was drained of color, my wet hair sticking to my cheeks, making my delicate features look even more fragile. I had dressed in his favorite blouse and pleated skirt, now a joke!
• “Isla.”
• “Let's break up,” I said firmly. I couldn’t describe my sadness and breakdown. I couldn’t even cry, my voice still unnervingly calm. “We're done.”
• I turned to leave, dragging my stiff legs, numb and struggling. Break up. It's over.
• I wasn’t a naive girl. I knew how dark and twisted people could be, but in this moment, 20 years of trust crumbled.
• Running to the elevator, I bumped into a man just stepping out. “Sorry,” I mumbled, my voice choked with sobs. I ducked into the elevator, desperately pressing the close button, wanting to escape this suffocating place.
• The rain outside hadn’t stopped. I ran down the street, letting the cool rain drench me.
• Sitting on the curb, the rain washed my tears away.
• If it’s worthless, then let it go. In this world, we can live without anyone.
• A car drove by, splashing mud towards me. I didn't even notice.
• But suddenly, I felt someone appeared, shielding me from the spray with his back, keeping me dry.
• A man held an umbrella over me.
• He had a striking face with sharp features and deep-set eyes that exuded a calm, composed aura. Tall and lean, dressed in a black shirt and pants, he seemed to blend into the dark night, looking noble and secure even in the pouring rain.
• I slowly looked up, my eyes falling on the hand holding the umbrella. His wrist was pale, fingers long and slender, contrasting sharply with the black umbrella handle, like a piece of art.
• The umbrella kept all the rain away. I saw the man looking down at me.
• “Mr. Logan?” I recognized him immediately. Matthew was a senior partner at Aiden’s law firm and his college roommate. His little sister was also a student at my art studio.
• We were barely acquaintances, with not much interaction between us.
• Suddenly, Matthew grabbed my arm, pulling me up before quickly letting go, maintaining a gentle manly distance.
• “Ms. Eliana, it’s time to go home.”
• Instinctively, I refused. “No…”
• “It’s just a breakup. Nothing to be ashamed of. But Ms.Eliane, try to move on. There are plenty of men out there.”
• I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. There was no comfort in his tone, just a cold acknowledgment of the situation.
• I hadn’t noticed how many colleagues from the law firm were at the party. Matthew was probably one of them, which meant he had seen the whole breakup scene. The thought made my face burn with embarrassment.
• The rain kept pouring down, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Matthew standing before me remained firm, as if silently stating, “I’m not leaving until you get in the car.”
• I bit my lip. “Alright, thank you, Mr.Logan.”
• The driver moved to open the door, but Matthew got there first, holding the back door of the Range Rover open for me. It was only a few steps to the car, but he kept the umbrella steady over my head, moving with me.
• I politely told the driver, “Please find a nearby hotel, thank you.”
• I couldn’t go home now. After what happened, Aiden might show up at my place. I hadn’t figured out how to tell my parents yet. For years, they treated Aiden like their son, letting him come and go freely. If they knew he cheated, they’d be heartbroken.
• Matthew suddenly spoke, “Seasons Hotel.”