The Devil Also Wears A Ring

2

Two weeks had passed since Isabella had found Scarlett in tears, and despite her best efforts, her friend remained in a perpetual state of melancholy. The usually vibrant and sociable Scarlett had become withdrawn, spending most of her days curled up on the couch, mindlessly flipping through television channels or staring blankly at her phone.

Isabella had tried everything comfort food, movie marathons, and even suggesting they look into prenatal care options together. Nothing seemed to lift Scarlett's spirits.

Meanwhile, Isabella had attended her interview at Lyons Dynasty and, true to Mrs. Lawson' prediction, had secured the position of executive secretary. She was due to start the following Monday, and despite the excitement of this new opportunity, she couldn't fully enjoy it while watching her best friend suffer.

As she prepared dinner in their small kitchen a simple pasta dish that was one of Scarlett's favorites Isabella made a decision. Scarlett needed something to shake her out of this funk, something to remind her that life went on, and that she had people who cared about her.

"A surprise party," Isabella murmured to herself, stirring the sauce as a plan began to form in her mind. Scarlett had always loved parties, thriving in social settings where she could be the center of attention. Perhaps surrounding her with friends and positive energy was exactly what she needed right now.

Over the next few days, Isabella meticulously planned every detail of the surprise party. She contacted their mutual friends, created a playlist of Scarlett's favorite songs, and ordered decorations and food from Scarlett's preferred caterer. She even convinced Scarlett to spend the day at a spa, a gift she claimed was to help her relax before Isabella started her new job.

The morning of the party, Isabella woke up early, her mind buzzing with anticipation. She sent Scarlett off to the spa with a warm hug and promises of a quiet dinner together when she returned. As soon as Scarlett was gone, Isabella sprang into action, transforming their apartment into a festive space with the help of a few early-arriving friends.

By late afternoon, everything was ready. Colorful streamers hung from the ceiling, balloons floated in every corner, and a table laden with food and drinks stood in the center of their living room. A banner reading "We Love You, Scarlett!" was stretched across one wall.

As Isabella surveyed her work with satisfaction, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. In the whirlwind of planning the party and preparing for her new job, she had neglected to check in on her fiancé, Cole. They hadn't spoken much lately, both caught up in their own busy lives. She made a mental note to call him later that evening, after the party.

The guests began arriving around six, filling the apartment with laughter and chatter. Isabella had instructed everyone to park a block away and enter quietly to maintain the element of surprise. The energy in the room was infectious, and for the first time in weeks, Isabella felt truly optimistic that things would improve for Scarlett.

As the designated time for Scarlett's return approached, Isabella dimmed the lights and hushed the crowd. "She'll be here any minute," she whispered, her heart racing with excitement.

Minutes ticked by, stretching into a half-hour, then an hour. Scarlett was late, which was unusual given her typically punctual nature.

"Maybe the spa treatments ran long?" suggested one friend, noticing Isabella's increasingly worried glances at the door.

"Maybe," Isabella replied, though doubt gnawed at her. She tried calling Scarlett's phone, but it went straight to voicemail. "I'm going to check if she's in the building," she decided, heading for the door.

As she stepped into the hallway, a strange sound caught her attention a faint, rhythmic thumping coming from somewhere in the apartment. At first, she dismissed it as part of the muted music from the party, but as she moved farther from the living room, she realized it was coming from elsewhere in the apartment.

Frowning, Isabella followed the sound, which led her toward Scarlett's bedroom. The door was closed, but the thumping was undeniably coming from inside. For a moment, she stood frozen, a terrible suspicion forming in her mind.

"It's probably just Mia," she told herself, referring to their high school-aged housekeeper who occasionally helped with cleaning. They had suspected her of bringing friends over when they weren't home, and Isabella had half a mind to catch her in the act.

With a deep breath, she pushed open the door, prepared to confront the teenager.

What she saw instead would be forever seared into her memory.

Scarlett her best friend, her confidante, the person she trusted most in the world was in bed with Cole, Isabella's fiancé. They were so engrossed in each other that they didn't immediately notice her standing in the doorway, her world collapsing around her.

It was Scarlett who saw her first, her eyes widening in shock over Cole's shoulder. But instead of scrambling away in shame, a slow, almost triumphant smile spread across her face.

"Isabella," she said, her voice eerily calm. "You're home early."

Cole whipped around, his face draining of color as he registered Isabella's presence. Unlike Scarlett, he at least had the decency to look horrified. "Isabella, baby, this isn't what it looks like," he stammered, pulling the sheets up to cover himself.

A cold numbness spread through Isabella's body. She felt disconnected, as if she were watching the scene unfold from a distance rather than living it.

"Don't," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just don't."

Scarlett sat up, making no attempt to cover herself. "We were going to tell you," she said, though her tone suggested otherwise. "Eventually."

Isabella struggled to reconcile the woman before her with the friend who had sobbed in her arms just weeks ago. "Tell me what, exactly?" she asked, a dangerous edge creeping into her voice. "That my best friend and fiancé have been sleeping together behind my back? That you've both been lying to my face?"

Cole scrambled out of bed, hastily pulling on his jeans. "Isabella, please, let me explain. It was a mistake. I've been feeling so alone lately, with you always working, and then Scarlett was here, and she was upset about the pregnancy "

"The pregnancy," Isabella repeated, the pieces suddenly clicking into place. She turned to Scarlett, disbelief etched on her face. "The baby is his, isn't it? That's why you couldn't tell me who the father was."

Scarlett's silence was all the confirmation she needed.

A hysterical laugh bubbled up from Isabella's chest. "God, I'm such an i***t. I've been planning a surprise party for you, trying to cheer you up, while you've been screwing my fiancé."

As if on cue, the sound of muffled music and laughter drifted in from the living room, a cruel reminder of the celebration waiting just beyond the walls.

Cole's eyes widened. "There are people here?"

"All of our friends," Isabella confirmed, a bitter smile twisting her lips. "They're waiting to surprise Scarlett, to show her how much they care. Isn't that ironic?"

She backed toward the door, needing to escape the suffocating betrayal that filled the room. "You know what? You two deserve each other. Congratulations on the baby, by the way. I hope you'll both be very happy."

With those parting words, she turned and fled, pushing past concerned friends in the living room and ignoring their questions as she grabbed her purse and keys. She needed to get away from the apartment, from the sight of Scarlett and Cole together, from the shattered remains of her trust.

As she stepped out into the cool night air, tears finally spilled down her cheeks. In the span of a few weeks, she had lost her job, her fiancé, and her best friend. Her entire life had unraveled, leaving her adrift in a sea of betrayal and uncertainty.

Without thinking, Isabella hailed a cab, giving the driver the first address that came to mind a nightclub downtown where she and Scarlett used to go in their early twenties, before responsibilities and careers had taken precedence.

Tonight, she would drown her sorrows in alcohol and loud music. Tomorrow, she would figure out how to piece her life back together.

Little did she know that her impulsive decision would lead her to an encounter that would change the course of her life forever.