"Surprise," I said softly.

Belle's mouth opened but no sound came out. Tears started rolling down her face.

Noah jumped up. "Belle, I can explain—"

"Can you?" I interrupted. "Can you really explain why you've been cheating on her for three months?"

Belle's face went white. "Three months?"

Noah shot me a look of pure hate. "Talia, don't—"

"She deserves to know the truth," I said, standing up slowly. "Don't you, Belle? You deserve to know that while you were working yourself to death for him, he was with me."

Belle started shaking. I could see her whole world falling apart, and it felt amazing.
~

Belle gave Noah her all
She left it all for him - her parents, her inheritance, her town. 

She worked many jobs, being despised by those who paid her wages, mocked by her college friends for being foolish in love, but his love was enough for her.

On their anniversary, she suspects he was going to propose to her, but instead she gets the shock of her life - he was making love to no other person, but her best friend.

Shattered and heartbroken, she called home, "dad, I'm ready to come home."

Chapter 16 - Shattered Silence