7

7

Bethany's POV

The crazy idea came to me while I was sketching in the studio this morning. Mason has been distant lately and even though he apologized after last night's argument, I still felt kind of odd about it and I wanted to fix things, to show him how much I cared and to remind him how much I loved him.

And then I remembered his apartment near his office. He kept it for nights when work ran late or when he had early meetings downtown. He said it made his life easier, but he hardly uses it. At least that's what I thought.

So I decided it would be nice to surprise him. Just to do something nice to close that growing gap that was between us. So I left the studio and went to the kitchen to cook for him.

By lunchtime, I had everything ready: a box of his favorite deli sandwiches, a bouquet of bright sunflowers—he once told me they were his favorite because they reminded him of his childhood—and a small card where I'd written, "Just because I love you."

I quickly freshened up and dressed in my nicest casual clothes before leaving for the apartment.

My heart was beating really fast as I drove to his apartment. It wasn't far from his office, and I imagined him being pleasantly surprised when I walked in. Maybe he'd pull me into his arms, kiss me, and tell me he was sorry for being distant.

Maybe this would make everything between us normal again. I pulled into the parking lot of the apartment and got down, putting on my shades and grabbing the box where I'd put the food and flowers and note. I walked to the door quietly.

The key he'd given me slipped easily into the lock, and I pushed the door open quietly, wanting to catch him off guard.

The apartment was eerily quiet. The blinds were drawn, and the air felt heavy, like the place hadn't been aired out in weeks.

I frowned, setting the food and flowers down on the kitchen counter.

"Mason?" I called out, my voice echoing in the quiet, near empty apartment.

No answer.

I moved through the apartment, my heels clicking softly against the hardwood floor. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and I could hear the faint sound of a woman's laughter.

For a moment, I froze, my heart pounding.

No. That's not what this is, I told myself. Maybe it was the TV. Or maybe he was on a work call.

I walked quietly and fast to the door and pushed it open, and what I saw made my breathing stop for a moment, the reality hitting me like a punch to the gut.

There he was, in bed, the sheets tangled around his waist. Beside him was a woman I didn't recognize—her bare shoulders peeking out from the same sheets that should've been ours.

They both turned to look at me, startled by my presence.

"Bethany," Mason said, his voice flat, like I'd just caught him sneaking a snack from the fridge.

I stood there, unable to move, unable to breathe. My mind struggled to process the scene in front of me—the betrayal, the intimacy, the complete disregard for me and the fact that we were getting married in a few weeks.

"Mason?" My voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, his expression more annoyed than guilty. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" I repeated, my voice growing louder. "What are you doing? Who is she?"

The woman shifted uncomfortably, pulling the sheet up to cover herself. She looked at Mason, waiting for him to take charge of the situation.

He shrugged, as if this was no big deal. "Bethany, calm down."

"Calm down?" I repeated, my hands trembling. "You're in bed with another woman, Mason!"

"It's not what you think," he said, his tone infuriatingly casual.

"Not what I think?" I laughed bitterly, tears stinging my eyes. "What am I supposed to think? That this is some business meeting?"

"Bethany, you're blowing this out of proportion," he said, standing up and reaching for his pants. "This doesn't change anything."

"Doesn't change anything?" I was shouting now, my voice shaking with rage and heartbreak. "Are you out of your mind? You cheated on me, Mason! You lied to me!"

He rolled his eyes, pulling on his shirt. "Don't be so dramatic. These things happen. It doesn't mean I don't care about you."

I stared at him, utterly speechless. His complete lack of remorse, his dismissive tone—it was like he didn't even see me as a person.

"You don't care about me," I said, my voice trembling. "If you did, you wouldn't do this."

"Look," he said, stepping closer, "we're good together, Bethany. You know that. Don't throw everything away over one mistake."

I stepped back, shaking my head. "One mistake? How many 'mistakes' have there been, Mason?"

He didn't answer, and his silence cut deeper than any admission could have.

The woman cleared her throat, looking uncomfortable. "I think I should go."

"Yes," I snapped, glaring at her. "I think you should."

She grabbed her clothes and disappeared into the bathroom, leaving me alone with Mason.

The image kept flashing in my eyes, and I could see them both naked and tangled around each other, laughing at whatever shit was funny to them.

"I gave you everything," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I trusted you. I was planning a life with you, Mason. A marriage, a future. How could you do this to me?"

He sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "Bethany, you're being emotional. Let's talk about this when you've calmed down."

I laughed bitterly, tears streaming down my face. "Calm down? You want me to calm down?"

"Yes," he said, his tone firm. "Because you're making a scene, and it's not helping anything."

I stared at him, finally seeing him for who he truly was. Not the charming, supportive fiancé I'd fallen in love with, but a selfish, entitled bastard who didn't value me or our relationship.

"I'm done," I said, my voice steady despite the tears.

"What?" he repeated, surprise finally flashing in his eyes before he expertly covered it.

"I'm done," I repeated, turning toward the door. "We're done."

"Bethany, don't be ridiculous," he said, following me. "You're overreacting."

I stopped, spinning around to face him. "No, Mason. For once, I'm not overreacting. I'm seeing things clearly."

"Yes, Bethany you are overreacting. For God's sake, you and I are getting married in just a few weeks and you're cutting this off?" He bristled.

"Yes. You can get married to the woman you're fucking. It won't be me who would walk down that aisle with you," I answered him icily.

Without another word, I tuned around and walked out of the apartment, leaving behind the bastard who didn't even have the common decency or shame to run after me or apologize.

As the elevator doors closed, I clutched the flowers tighter in my hand, their bright yellow petals doing a very good job of mocking me of the love I thought I had.

It was over.

And I didn't know how I'd ever put the pieces of my heart back together. I got into my car, the waterworks pouring fully now as I drove it of the parking lot and as far away from his apartment and his office as I could before I parked and let the tears take over. I rested my head on the steering wheel and cried hardly, my shoulders shaking from the impact.

I loved Mason very much and I thought he loved me to, but now? I wasn't so sure of that. It was way too obvious now that he didn't feel anything at all for me and all I was to him was a pawn he could just play anyhow he wanted in some sick, twisted game known only to him.

I closed my eyes tight, feeling hot tears rush down my cheeks.

"Calm down," I murmured to myself through hiccups. "Calm down, Beth. Stay calm."

Although it was easier said that done. The more my eyes stayed closed, the more the image got clearer in my head. What was I going to tell everyone who already knew that I was getting married to him?

How was I going to explain this to my mother? That I was no longer getting married Mason because he had been cheating on me for God knows how long? And he didn't even had the decency to apologize, yet he made it seem like I was overreacting and the craziest part, he seemed angry that I found out, not because what he was doing was wrong?

I ran my hands through my hair, disheaveling it and then wiping my tears angrily. I didn't know how I was going to explain to everyone, but one think I was damn sure about was that I wasn't going through with the marriage any more.