Illicit Affairs │Justin Bieber

Before: How can I be guilty as sin?

hey, everyone! a few quick notes before we dive in:

-as the title hints, this story revolves around an... affair, meaning both characters will be unfaithful to their partners.

-this writer does not support cheating in real life, this is just a work of fiction.

-and yes, they're both assholes.

-i mention justin's ex in this chapter, but it's not hate! it's for plot and timeline reasons only

the chapter title is inspired by a line from taylor swift's song "guilty as sin?"

warning: this chapter contains explicit sexual content!

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POV: Isabella

Two years later

The first few months without Justin in Stratford were some of the hardest of my life. It felt like a piece of me had been ripped away, and the world was just a little quieter without him around. Just four months after he left, my grandparents died in a car accident and weeks later my sister moved to the United States. But over the past two years, I've learned to live with the void he and everyone else left behind. My dad got a better position at the hospital and I joined the drama club to distract myself, so we try to keep ourselves busy. Life moved on. And Justin became astronomically famous, just like everyone knows he is deserving.

Even though his world changed, we managed to stay close. We exchange endless emails, text messages, and late-night video calls when our schedules line up. Justin makes sure to send a postcard from every city he visits-each one with a little note about something that reminded him of me. I've kept every single postcard, tucked away in a small box under my bed. Whenever I miss him too much, I go through them, letting the scribbled words and faded images remind me of the boy I grew up with, not the celebrity the world sees now. Those little gestures kept us connected, even though sometimes it felt like he was living on a different planet.

He has an official girlfriend now-a famous one. She understands the flashes, the weight of fame, the media harassment, and the constant adoration of fans. It's a relief for him, I think, to have someone who gets that part of his life. He tells me good things about her-how she can be fun, how she understands the pressures he's under. But he also tells me about the bad stuff: how jealous she gets, how they argue more often than not, and how she raises her voice at him when she's upset. It's hard to listen sometimes, knowing what he's going through, but I always do. That's just how it is between us.

He doesn't hide any of his new life from me, but no one in this new life knows about me. I'm the secret he keeps tucked away from the chaos, and honestly, I'm fine with that. The fans, the media-they'd go crazy if they knew about the girl he sneaks emails and video calls on a daily basis. Especially when that girl isn't the one he's seen in the tabloids.

His grandparents always insist on keeping the Christmas tradition, and just like every year, Justin will be there. He's never missed it. I've always felt a little on edge before these gatherings, but this time, my nerves are all over the place. He texted me the day before to let me know he'd be arriving-and to emphasize that he's coming alone. He's never brought anyone before, but the way he made it clear that his girlfriend wouldn't be joining him this time spoke volumes. I know exactly what he meant, and it's making my stomach twist in knots. It's Pattie who answers the door and lets us in, her smile lighting up the chilly evening.

"Isabela! Amy! It's so good to see you both!" She pulls us into warm hugs, her excitement wrapping around us like a cozy blanket.

The familiar scent of cinnamon and pine fills the air, instantly transporting me back to the laughter and warmth of childhood Christmases. As we step inside, I glance around, taking in the twinkling lights adorning the house and the colorful decorations that bring life to every corner. Diane and Michael are in the living room, their faces lighting up as they see us.