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♥ PROLOGUE ♥

Good morning, readers! I want to apologize for the mistakes in the story. The problem is that I don't speak English. I'm from Brazil, and I'm trying to learn English, but it's challenging.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I hope you will give the story a chance.


18:00 '' New Jersey. '' USA.

Isabella Conti.

I've been here in New Jersey for a week now. I came to visit my aunt and my boyfriend. We've been together since I was just fifteen; today I'm eighteen. We've been together for three years, and he's been a wonderful man. But there's a problem; I feel there's something going on with Thiago. Since I've been here a week, he barely has any time for me, always saying that he's busy, that he's been working too much, and that he needs to rest.

I feel that he's not the same as he used to be. Thiago is two years older and works as a security guard for a famous company in New Jersey. I'm trying not to be suspicious of him, because I didn't even tell him I was going to spend my vacation here; I wanted to surprise him. I begged my parents a lot to let me come here; even though I'm of age, my parents are very protective and strict.

Right now, I'm at the door of his house. I have the spare key he gave me on our first anniversary. I want to talk to him seriously. Likewise, I want to understand why he's avoiding me so much.

I unlock the door and look into his living room.

"Thiago? "I called out, but silence was the only answer.

It's after ten past six. I decide to wait for him upstairs. I climbed the steps slowly. When I got close to his room, I heard the noises. No... It couldn't be. Moans? My heart raced uncontrollably, and a sharp pain squeezed my chest, suffocating me. Shortness of breath began to set in.

I reached out a trembling hand to the doorknob and turned it; what I saw made me doubt reality.

'' Ahh! Thiago... Just like that! "My cousin's voice echoed through the room, piercing my soul. The two of them were in an intimate moment. The pain was so intense that it seemed to suffocate every inch of my being. Uncontrollable tears streamed down my face; my sobbing was a scream of agony.

'' Isabella? '' He turned away from her quickly. ''It's not what you think...I...

'' Enough! You don't have to say another word! I'm not just thinking, Thiago; I'm seeing! H-How... How can you do this to me? '' My words came out broken by crying, my voice laced with pain. ''I've tried to be a good person to you... I studied so hard to get good grades. So that my parents would always allow me to see you... I tried hard, and I gave everything for you... And you do this... Just to my cousin.

'' Isa... '' He tried to touch me.

''Don't you dare touch me! '' I faced my cousin, my heartbreaking. ''How could you do this to me? I trusted you... I thought of you as a sister. Why did you do this to me? Why did you do this to me?

His expression of guilt and regret meant nothing to me.

''I-I'm sorry, Isa... I... Since you never wanted to give yourself to me... I got lusty and ended up with your cousin. Forgive me. '' Her words were like a punch in the stomach.

"You... You did this to her just because I didn't give myself to you? Is that right? ''I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

'' Please... I'm sorry. '' I slapped his cheek, leaving him in shock.

'' Go to hell! Both of you! ''I turned my back and left the room.

'' Isabella! '' Ignoring his call, I continued walking.

I left his house with my heart in tatters, torn apart by the pain of betrayal. The rain, previously unnoticed, now fell incessantly, mixing with the tears that flooded my face. My stumbling steps could barely keep pace with the sobs escaping my throat.

Why had he done this to me? Why had my own cousin betrayed me like this? The feeling of betrayal cut through me like sharp blades, tearing apart every bit of trust I had left. I thought so much of them that I trusted them with my whole being. Why was that? Why?

The pain in my chest was unbearable-an agony that never seemed to end. I just wanted the pain to go away, for God to give me some relief, a breath of comfort in the midst of despair.

I shouldn't have agreed to this long-distance relationship, an illusion that was now crumbling before my eyes. And in the end, the blame fell on me, as if I were to blame for not giving myself completely to him. You bastard! Bastard!

'' What am I going to do? '' I whispered to myself, the words getting lost in the wind and rain.

I decided to leave, to go back to my city, to leave behind this province of betrayal and disillusionment. I rose from the soggy ground, the mud sticking to my clothes like a slimy reminder of my own misery. My mind was exhausted, and my body was heavy with pain and disappointment. I just wanted to burst into tears, but I wouldn't allow the betrayal and pain to consume me completely. I'm not a weak girl.

Fuck them; forget about me forever. I swore to myself that I would never set foot in this cursed place again, ever.

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