Dangerously Yours CEO

Bella’s POV

The moment I stepped inside my room, I collapsed onto the bed as if the weight of the world had dropped on my shoulders. My chest burned with pain I couldn’t even name. I pressed my face into the pillow, but it didn’t stop the flood of tears.

Leo. My Leo. The man I was supposed to marry in less than a week. I trusted him with everything, with my heart, my dreams, my life. And Ciara—my best friend. My other half, or at least that’s what I thought she was. She had held my secrets, wiped my tears, whispered advice into my ear like she cared.

But tonight, I saw the truth with my own eyes.

The image refused to leave my mind. The sound of their voices, the way Ciara leaned into him as if she had always belonged there. His lips moving, calling her “Bella” in that hushed tone that once made my knees weak. I had stood frozen at the doorway, my throat closing, my heart tearing into pieces I couldn’t gather. They didn’t see me, not at first. They were too wrapped in each other, too close, too familiar.

I thought I would scream. I thought I would storm in and tear them apart. But instead, silence swallowed me. The kind of silence that hurts worse than shouting. My legs gave way, and I stumbled back, choking on my own breath, the reality searing into me like fire.

My best friend. The woman who once told me, “Leo isn’t right for you. He doesn’t even have money, Bella. You deserve more than that.” Those words echoed inside my skull like cruel laughter. She had pretended to be looking out for me, but all along she was sinking her claws into him.

And Leo… he had called her by my name. He had touched her like she was me.

Tears spilled hot and fast, blinding me. How could life be this cruel? How could the two people I trusted most turn into strangers overnight?

I curled into myself on the bed, shaking, as my eyes drifted to the wedding gown hanging by the window. The soft fabric glimmered in the faint light, mocking me. That dress was supposed to carry me into the happiest day of my life. I had pictured myself walking down the aisle, Leo waiting with that smile of his that always made my heart skip. Now, all I could see was his lips on Ciara’s skin. My dream had turned into a nightmare I couldn’t wake from.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to rip that dress apart, shred every memory, burn everything that tied me to him. But I couldn’t even move. I just lay there, drowning in my own grief, wishing I could erase the night.

The knock came suddenly, sharp and heavy against the door. My head jerked up, my swollen eyes darting toward the sound. My heart lurched into my throat.

Another knock, louder this time. Then a voice. His voice.

“Bella, please. Open the door.” I froze. My breath caught.

"Leo." I muttered softly to myself 

I dragged myself to the mirror, my reflection almost unrecognizable. My eyes were red and puffy, my hair a tangled mess. I looked like a ghost of myself, broken and hollow. I didn’t want him to see me like this. I didn’t want him near me at all.

The knocking wouldn’t stop. My hand trembled on the doorknob. Part of me wanted to ignore him forever, to let him stand out there in the cold until he gave up. But another part—weak, desperate—wanted answers. I needed to know why. I needed to hear it from his mouth, even if it destroyed me further.

Slowly, I opened the door.

Leo stood there, his eyes heavy with guilt, his shoulders sagging as if the weight of the world had fallen on him too. For a second, I almost hated myself for noticing how broken he looked.

“Bella, can I come in?” His voice was low, almost pleading.

I didn’t move. My fingers tightened on the edge of the door. Rage boiled under my skin, but my heart was a mess of love and hate colliding until I could barely breathe.

“What do you want, Leo?” My words cracked with anger. “Haven’t you done enough?”

He winced, taking a step back like my voice had cut him. “Please, let me explain.”

“Explain?” My laugh was bitter, empty. “Explain how you slept with my best friend? How you called her my name? How you held her the way you were supposed to hold me?”

“I didn’t—Bella, listen.” His voice shook. “I don’t remember what happened. I thought I was with you. Please believe me. I swear, I never wanted this.”

His excuses stabbed at me like knives. I could still see Ciara’s smirk when she tilted her head against him. I could still hear his whisper, soft and intimate, like the ones he used to save only for me.

“You’re lying,” I said through clenched teeth. “I saw it with my own eyes. You and her. Don’t you dare stand here and tell me it didn’t happen.”

He stepped closer, desperation in his eyes. “She drugged me, Bella. I swear I didn’t know. Ciara put something in my drink—I didn’t realize anything until it was too late.” His voice cracked, his hands shaking. “I thought I was calling you. I thought I was holding you.”

I shook my head violently, tears spilling again. “No! Don’t twist this. Don’t you dare make excuses. You think that makes it better? You think saying her name by mistake hurts less? It broke me, Leo. It killed me.”

He reached for my hand, but I yanked it back like his touch burned.

“Bella, please,” he whispered. “I love you. I never stopped loving you.”

My chest ached, but anger roared louder. “You don’t love me. If you did, you wouldn’t have let this happen. I trusted you, Leo. I trusted you with everything. And you let her take it all away.”

His face twisted in pain. “Don’t say that. I can fix this. I’ll make it right. Just don’t leave me, Bella. Please.”

But it was too late. Something inside me snapped.

“I don’t want to hear it anymore.” My voice was sharp, final. “You and Ciara destroyed me. My best friend and the man I was supposed to marry. There’s nothing left to fix.”

His lips parted as if he wanted to fight back, but I slammed the door before he could. The sound echoed through the room, sealing the end of us.

I slid down against the wood, my body trembling with sobs. He kept knocking, kept begging, but his voice was nothing but noise to me now. I pressed my palms over my ears, desperate to drown him out.

The wedding dress caught my eye again, glowing pale in the shadows. For years I had dreamed of that moment, of wearing it with joy in my heart. Now it was nothing but a cruel reminder of everything I had lost.

I buried my face in my hands and let the tears consume me. My heart felt shattered beyond repair. Leo’s love, Ciara’s friendship—gone. Everything is gone.