Chapter 3:The Ultimate Betrayal

 was sitting down on the small bench inside the cell I had been pushed in and I was staring at the blank wall, my mind faraway.

My head was hit with a mad headache and my wrist was hurting from the handcuffs that had been on my wrist.

My life. It was all moving too quickly. Moving in a way that I just couldn't understand and I don't know why.

It seemed as though everything had suddenly decided to fall apart around me—the humiliation, the betrayal and now the arrest. 

Hours ago when I asked for my lawyer they told me I would have to wait.

Tears had stung my eyes and now I was just too tired to cry or do anything.

I had no friends, no husband, no family members to bear my burden with.

 Waiting seemed to be all I had been doing lately: waiting for Liam to get back to me, waiting for the board to change their mind and tell me it's World Fools Day because tomorrow is the first day of April,waiting for my life to suddenly make sense. 

There was a slight chatter and a small noise from the officers outside the cell.

 Above their desks a tiny TV was fixed to the wall and was broadcasting the morning news which I had no interest in watching but I stared at it to keep my mind sane.

I was initially too preoccupied with my thoughts to give it much attention but then I heard a name I recognized. 

 Breaking News: Billionaire Liam Miller married his fiancee Claire Waters in a magnificent ceremony. 

I froze and blinked rapidly.

Their names rang in my ears and I felt like I was about to pass out.

I hurried to my feet grasping the chilly cell bars and my voice echoed throughout the room .

"Turn that up!."I yelled .

 Although the officers looked at me, they disregarded my request.

My heart sank immediately as I saw everything displaying on the television screen.

"Please! " I pleaded ."I have to hear it."

 After giving his partner a quick look the younger officer grudgingly picked up the remote. 

Just enough for me to hear the remainder of the broadcast he turned up the volume a bit and I inched closer, my eyes widening and my heart hammered.

As the news anchor went on, I held my breath.

*In a confidential ceremony earlier today at St. At Catherine's Cathedral, Liam Miller exchanged vows with Claire Waters, his fiancée.*

Claire Waters. So it's true.

Liam wasn't lying when he said that he was dating my cousin .

I had loved Claire like a sister and would do anything for her.

Why ?

The betrayal hit me like sharp blades and my eyes stung.

My knees failed me and I fell to the cell floor. 

I couldn't get what I had just heard to register in my mind. 

"This cannot be true." I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible as tears rolled down my eyes again.

Something cruel and fishy had been happening right under my nose and I had thought that I was married to the nicest and loving husband ever

" No."I shook my head and whispered. "This isn't possible."

However it was more than just words.

 The scene shifted to the cathedral with its imposing doors opening to show Liam wearing a dapper black tuxedo and holding Claire's arm. 

Her blonde hair fell down her back in elegant curls. She looked so pretty in her white lace gown. 

They smiled at each other and leaned in for a hot passionate kiss.

"Liam…" I struggled to speak but my voice was cracking.

 As the anchor went back to show them they exchange vows in front of a small group of family and friends, tears clouded my vision.

So they had been planning the wedding when my life was falling apart and I was rotting in this cell? 

My chest heaved with pain but I was soon overcome by rage

 Liam had told me just this morning that he was in love with someone else. He had thrown divorce papers in my face only this morning. And he was getting married to my cousin now? 

" How could he have done this to me?"I whispered.

" How could they both hurt me in this way?"

I wiped away my tears with shaking hands and forced myself to stop crying and think of the next step.

This had to be more than that. There must have been a reason m

I grabbed the bars once more and got to my feet.

"Officer!" I yelled in a shaky but firm voice.

 The younger officer gave me a quick look.

 "What? 

"I have a phone call to make. Now."I commanded.in a shaky tone 

 .

"You've already made your one call."He said dismissively like I was the cause of his problems .

"That happened hours ago!$ I yelled. "I must give my lawyer another call. This is an urgent situation."

After letting out a sigh he finally answered the phone

" Give me a minute."

 My thoughts were racing as I paced back and forth. How long had they been preparing this?

Cheating on me and smiling like everything was fine.

Was Closure the person Liam had been seeing behind my back the entire time?

How could he have moved on so quickly—and so cruelly—after everything that had happened to us?

 Nodding toward the desk phone, the officer reappeared. 

"You have five minutes."

I grabbed the receiver and ran out of the cell. I could barely punch in the numbers because my hands were shaking so much. 

Finally the line connected after ringing once twice and three times

" Mr. Carter?" I muttered my tone breaking. 

"Ariana?" My lawyer asked in a worried tone. "What's happening? I'm still gathering evidence for your case—."

 I cut in ."Forget about the case for a moment. Were you aware of Liam's marriage today?"

 A pause ensued. 

"What?

 I raised my voice and said .

"He married Claire, my cousin this morning in a private ceremony. " 

"Ariana, I'm not aware of any wedding whatsoever." He muttered slowly. "But this makes things more complicated."

 "Complicates things?" I said again my rage erupting. "It's already a mess. How does this make things more difficult?"

 He clarified .

"Because it could affect the division of assets in your divorce if he's married to someone else. "

 Depleted of energy I had, I sagged against the wall. 

"The assets don't matter to me. The betrayal matters to me. Mr. Carter.I picked him up when he had nothing. I threw myself into him. And this is his way of paying me back?"

"I get it Aria" he said softly.

 "But for the time being we must concentrate on proving your innocence. That is the top priority."

 Even though he couldn't see me I nodded. "All right. Take whatever necessary action."

" I will,"he said. But you must be hopeful, Ariana."

After hanging up I allowed the officer to lead me back to my cell. 

Despite their pitying glances, I chose to ignore the other prisoners. 

Currently I don't need sympathy. 

I had to have justice.

 I sat back on the bench and thought about Liam and Claire once more. Their laughter and smiles were like a dagger to my chest. 

 However a new feeling replaced the pain as it moved through me.

 Willpower. .

Claire and Liam believed they had won. They believed that they could ruin me and escape unharmed. 

However they were mistaken. 

 Not only had they betrayed me but they had also misjudged me. 

I would also make them regret it.