Rivals of the heart

33.The Storm and the Paper

Bella's POV:

The next day at the office was like stepping into a storm I wasn't prepared for. Whispers floated around, barely concealed behind hushed voices and side glances. The topic? William and Olivia. I spotted them walking together, Olivia's arm casually looped through his as they made their way to his office. My heart lurched, a cold realization settling over me like a dark cloud.

Olivia.

I remembered her now, the girl from the party. She had seemed so insignificant at the time, but now the pieces started to fall into place. How William had asked about her, subtly, as if it was nothing more than idle curiosity. How had I not seen it? I was so blinded by whatever I thought was between us that I didn't even notice the real story unfolding right in front of me.

I felt like such a fool.

The whispers grew louder in my head, even though no one was speaking directly to me. It was all too clear now—William and Olivia had been together all along. And me? I had been nothing more than a distraction, a momentary amusement to pass the time. Every glance, every touch, every word he had said to me was suddenly tainted with the bitter sting of betrayal.

I felt used. Worse than that—I felt humiliated.

As they disappeared into his office, I couldn't stand it anymore. The walls of the office felt like they were closing in, suffocating me with the weight of my own naivety. I couldn't let them see me like this, couldn't let the tears that burned behind my eyes betray my pain.

So, I ran.

I ran home, barely holding back the sobs that threatened to escape. The moment I closed the door behind me, the floodgates opened. I collapsed onto the couch, tears streaming down my face as I cried harder than I ever had before. The weight of my heartbreak, the betrayal, the sheer disbelief—it all crashed down on me at once, suffocating me.

I had been so stupid to think there was something real between us. Every memory, every moment replayed in my head, now painted with the ugly truth. I had been nothing to him. Just a distraction, something to fill the void between him and Olivia.

The thought of it made me sick.

I cried until I had no more tears left, until I was completely spent. And still, the hurt didn't go away. It sat there, lodged deep in my chest, a constant reminder of how easily I had been played.

The day passed in a blur of pain and tears, and all I could do was hope that, eventually, this agony would fade. But for now, it consumed me, and I wasn't sure when I'd be able to breathe again without feeling that unbearable ache.

The next morning, I forced myself out of bed, though the weight in my chest made every movement feel heavy. I went through the motions, brewing coffee, making breakfast, all while feeling like I was still stuck in yesterday's nightmare. I needed a distraction—anything to pull me out of my own head for a while.

I picked up the newspaper, flipping through the pages absentmindedly. But then, my eyes landed on the headline, and my heart sank.

"Hot Couple Back Together: William and Olivia Reignite Romance."

There it was. Right in front of me, in black and white, for the whole world to see.

How did I not know?

I stared at the picture of them, smiling for the cameras, looking perfect together. Olivia, with her flawless beauty, leaning into William, who looked like he belonged next to her—confident, powerful, and unreachable. My stomach twisted as I skimmed the article, detailing their long history, their breakups and reconciliations, and how they had always found their way back to each other.