Camila glanced at her watch, the diamond-studded bezel catching the waning sunlight as she stood up from the wrought-iron café table. Her friends' laughter was a fading symphony in her ears as she excused herself with a grin that couldn't be tamed.
"Sorry, everyone, I've got to run. Big night ahead," she said, gathering her purse and jacket in a swift motion.
"Big night? More like a big year! Can't believe it's been one already," A girl called out, raising her glass in a mock toast.
"Feels just like yesterday when Blake popped the question," added a boy, his eyes twinkling with shared joy.
"Make sure you tell us all about your celebration!" another friend chimed in.
"Will do," Camila promised, her voice bubbling with anticipation. "But for now, it's surprise time."
With the echo of well-wishes trailing behind her, Camila hurried through the cobblestone streets, her heels clicking rhythmically. She arrived home, her breath slightly quickened- not from the brisk walk but from the thought of Blake's reaction to her carefully crafted gift.
Just two days ago she had been admiring her gift at home.
Camila had slipped into their shared apartment, the scent of polished wood and faint cologne greeting her. In the quiet of the space, she retrieved the hidden bracelet from its velvet sanctuary- a band of woven leather, the intricate design born from hours under lamplight, interwoven with tiny, personalized charms that chronicled their shared history.
"Blake's going to love this," she whispered to herself.
Camila knew that the bracelet would be more than just a gift. It would be a tangible reminder of their unique bond- one that had always felt so deeply right.
The thought of his smile when he'd see the gift made her quicken her steps toward their bedroom.
"Blake, love, are you ready?" she called out, expecting to hear the shower running or finding him donning one of his meticulously chosen suits. Instead, a stifled giggle responded, a sound that didn't belong to Blake. Camila's brow furrowed. That laughter was familiar, too familiar. It was a siren call to unease.
"Blake?" Her voice rang out again as she approached the slightly ajar bedroom door, her hand trembling as it pushed the wood open just a crack. The scene that greeted her, however, was no celebration but a betrayal laid bare.
Her heart pounded as she pushed open the door. There, tangled in the sheets, were Blake and Layla, lost in the throes of passion. The sight was raw and unfiltered, their betrayal laid bare before her eyes. Camila's world shattered in that moment, the happiness she once knew replaced by a searing pain she could hardly bear
This couldn't be real. Not Blake, not her Blake, who had been the very definition of devotion. Yet there he was, in that bed with her stepsister. Her damn near evil stepsister who had walked all over her since she moved into the family house.
They were talking, Camila took a moment to hear their words through her shock, they were muffled.
"It was always you Layla" Blake's voice, the reverence shook her to her core. How long had this been going on? Was it right under her nose this entire time?
"I've always loved you Blake, I can't wait until we can be together fully." Layla's voice jumped in pitch, he must still be touching her in all the places Camila couldn't dare to think of.
Why would they do this to her? Layla was almost unsurprising but Blake. Her Blake? Her sweet, devoted, childhood friend Blake chose to hurt her like this? On their anniversary no less. She hated the bracelet in her pocket, she hated him and she hated her sister. But most of all she hated herself for trusting him.
Camila stepped back as if to turn away, refusing to face the reality in front of her, but she knew in her heart what she heard was real, she couldn't let them get away with this no matter how scared or shocked she was.
Camila's heart hammered against her ribcage as the murmured voices from the room seeped through the crack of the slightly ajar door. She paused, her hand suspended mid-air, inches from the polished oak surface that separated her from the truth she was about to uncover. With a breath caught in her throat, she leaned in closer.
Blake appeared flustered. He quickly tried to cover himself, his eyes wide with panic. But then, his demeanour shifted. He took a deep breath and turned to face Camila, a mixture of guilt and resignation in his eyes.
"Camila," he started, his voice trembling slightly, "I... I'm sorry you had to find out this way. But the truth is, I've fallen in love with Layla."
Camila stood frozen, her mind struggling to process his words.
"I think I've misunderstood my feelings for you all this time," Blake continued, his voice now steadier. "I care about you, I really do. But it's more like the way a brother cares for his sister. It's not the intense love you deserve."
The room felt like it was closing in on her. Camila's heart ached, the weight of his words sinking deep. What had once been her safe haven was now a place of betrayal and confusion.