Chapter 1: Fiancé and Best Friend

By the apartment door. Ten o'clock at night. I unlocked the door, stepped inside, and flipped the light. The crystal chandelier in the living room lit up, casting my shadow across the floor-to-ceiling windows. Tomorrow was my wedding day. My fiancé, Julian Shepherd, was a department manager at a major corporation. Handsome, reliable, and attentive, he treated me like I was the only woman in the world. I felt incredibly lucky to be loved by a man like him. According to tradition, we weren't supposed to spend the night together before the wedding. Julian was at his place, while I was staying at my best friend Naomi Chase's apartment. I was going through tomorrow's checklist before bed when I suddenly realized I'd left my bridal veil at our new place. I didn't call Julian. I wanted to surprise him. As I pictured his reaction, a warm smile crept onto my face. In less than twenty-four hours, we'd officially start our life together. I slipped off my heels and put on my house slippers. The moment I stepped into the living room, I heard something. A woman's moans. Pleasure-filled. Intimate. Coming from the master bedroom. My heart skipped a beat. The bedroom door was cracked open. The soft, breathy sounds continued, seductive and clear. A hot wave surged through my chest. My legs felt stiff, but my body moved on its own, drawn toward the noise. I stood just outside the door, and with every step, the woman's moans became sharper, cutting deeper into me like glass. I pushed the door gently, and it creaked open. A pair of beige heels was tossed on the floor. Women's clothes were strewn around carelessly, the whole room a picture of chaos and lust. My chest tightened. I forced myself to look at the bed. What I saw made my stomach turn. There, in bed, was Julian. With Monica Belmont. My best friend since high school. She glanced at me, then turned her attention back to Julian. Her lips curved into a mocking smile as her moans grew louder, more dramatic. Everything hit me at once. The betrayal. The humiliation. The sickening disbelief. My fiancé. The man who was supposed to say vows with me tomorrow. He was in bed with someone else, and not just anyone, but someone I trusted like family. Fury surged in my veins. My fists clenched at my sides as I tried to breathe through the shock. Monica's eyes were sultry, her hands running down Julian's chest like she owned him. Her voice dripped with seduction. "Babe, aren't you getting married to Serena tomorrow? Doesn't this make you feel even a little guilty?" Julian grunted, his voice low and rough. "What's there to feel guilty about? Whether it's the night before the wedding or after, it doesn't matter. She's not gonna find out." Monica gave a soft laugh. "What if she does? What if she walks in right now and sees everything? What do you think she'll do? Cancel the wedding?" She threw me another look, her smirk cold and smug. She knew I was there. Julian didn't even pause. "She's not coming. And even if she does, who cares? We just won't get married. Honestly, I never wanted to get tied down this soon anyway." He chuckled as he kissed down Monica's neck. "If I go through with this wedding, I won't get to see you as often. That's the real tragedy."