Chapter one: THE FALL
788 Words
Chapter One: The Fall
The wedding invitations had already been sent.
Ariana Woods stood in front of the mirror, smiling as she held her phone against her ear. In just two weeks, she would marry the man she had loved for four years.
"Don't worry, baby," Ethan's voice came through the phone. "The investment deal is almost complete. In a few months, we'll have enough money to expand the business and buy that house you wanted."
Ariana smiled.
Every kobo she had saved over the years was invested in the project Ethan had convinced her to support. She trusted him completely. Why wouldn't she? He was her fiancé.
"Thank you," she said softly. "I couldn't have done this without you."
"You won't regret it," Ethan replied.
If only she knew.
A few hours later, Ariana arrived at the bank to withdraw some money for the wedding preparations.
The customer service officer frowned as she checked the account.
"Ma'am, your balance is zero."
Ariana laughed nervously.
"That can't be right."
The officer checked again.
Then again.
Her expression became serious.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. The funds were transferred out of the account three days ago."
Ariana's stomach dropped.
"What transfer?"
The officer turned the screen toward her.
A transaction history appeared.
Every naira she owned.
Gone.
Millions.
Transferred into an unfamiliar account.
Her hands began to shake.
"There must be a mistake."
The officer looked sympathetic.
"There isn't."
Ariana immediately called Ethan.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
Panic clawed at her chest.
She left the bank and drove straight to Ethan's office.
The receptionist stopped her.
"Mr. Ethan isn't available."
"I don't care."
She pushed past and opened the office door.
Then froze.
Ethan wasn't alone.
A beautiful woman sat on his lap.
His hand rested comfortably on her waist.
The same hand that had slipped an engagement ring onto Ariana's finger.
The same hand she had planned to hold at the altar.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Ariana felt her heart crack.
"Ethan..." she whispered.
The woman smirked.
"So this is her?"
Ethan slowly stood.
There was no guilt on his face.
No shame.
Nothing.
Only annoyance.
"You're not supposed to be here."
Ariana stared at him.
"My money is gone."
Silence.
Then Ethan laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound hit harder than a slap.
"You finally figured it out."
The room spun.
"What?"
"The investment was fake, Ariana."
Her breathing stopped.
"What did you say?"
"You heard me."
The woman beside him crossed her arms and smiled.
"You were too easy."
Ariana felt tears sting her eyes.
"You stole from me?"
"I call it compensation," Ethan said coldly.
"For what?"
"For wasting four years pretending to love someone beneath me."
The words sliced through her like a knife.
Every memory.
Every promise.
Every dream.
A lie.
"You said you loved me."
Ethan shrugged.
"I lied."
Ariana felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath her feet.
The woman stepped forward.
"He's marrying me instead."
Ariana recognized her immediately.
Vanessa Kingston.
Daughter of one of the wealthiest Alpha families in the country.
Everything suddenly made sense.
The expensive gifts.
The secret meetings.
The distance Ethan had shown recently.
He had already chosen Vanessa.
And Ariana had funded his escape.
"Get out," Ethan said.
Ariana stared at him.
The man she had planned to spend her life with.
The man who had stolen everything from her.
The man she loved.
And in that moment, she realized something terrifying.
She didn't know him at all.
As she turned to leave, a sharp pain exploded in her chest.
A bond.
A connection.
Something deep within her soul snapped.
Ariana staggered.
Her wolf cried out in agony.
The mate bond.
Rejected.
Ethan looked at her with cold eyes.
"I, Ethan Blackwell, reject Ariana Woods as my mate."
The world went silent.
Ariana's knees nearly gave way.
Tears streamed down her face.
Not because she loved him anymore.
But because the pain of rejection felt like her soul was being torn apart.
Vanessa wrapped her arm around Ethan possessively.
Together they watched Ariana suffer.
And neither cared.
Ariana wiped her tears.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Then she looked Ethan directly in the eye.
Something changed inside her.
The broken girl was dying.
And something stronger was being born.
"You may have taken my money."
Her voice trembled.
"But one day, you'll regret this."
Ethan laughed.
Vanessa laughed with him.
Neither believed her.
Ariana turned and walked away.
She had no money.
No fiancé.
No future.
Nothing.
But as she stepped into the pouring rain, she made a silent promise.
One day she would return.
And when she did—
Everyone who had betrayed her would wish they had never met Ariana Woods.
End of Chapter One
- Writer
