Bound By Deceit; A Love Formed From The Ashes

"I'm sorry, but I can't continue this relationship anymore," Ethan said to Arianna, his face was void of any expression. They have been dating since she started college. They had met in a bar, when Ariana and her best friend went to the bar to chill and have fun. They became friends and after that, their friendship skyrocketed into a relationship and since then they have become inseparable. But now he was trying to end the relationship. Ariana couldn't believe her ears.

"What was going on?" She questioned as she stared at him, but he didn't answer.

"What's wrong, Ethan? Why are you calling our relationship off so soon? Did I do something wrong?" Ariana repeated. She was almost on the verge of crying, but he shook his head.

"No, Ana. I just realized that I don't love you anymore. I have fallen out of love and I'm sorry," He said to her, his face void of any expression and the next minute, she scoffed.

"Are you serious? You have fallen out of love? When did it happen? When did your feelings for me die?" She asked, clearly demanding answers.

"When I fell out of love with you is none of your business. Just know that we are done with this relationship," He said to her in a stern voice and Ariana just sighed.

'Why am I even trying to talk things out?' She thought to herself as she cleared her throat.

"Okay, Fine. Goodbye. Let's end this relationship. It's even suffocating," She hissed and with that, she turned around to leave the bar. This was the same bar they met at before they started dating and now he was calling their relationship off in this same bar. All good.

Ethan was shocked. He had expected Ariana to make a fuss as he told her that he wanted to end the relationship, but she didn't. Instead she just walked out of the bar like she didn't care about their relationship in the first place. She even said the relationship was suffocating!

He began to see reasons to believe her best friend, Marietta. Ariana took Marietta as her best friend, but little did she know that Marietta didn't like her that much. She was only coming close to her so that she would spoil Ariana's and Ethan's relationship, even though she was the one who had introduced them to each other. She was jealous of Ariana that she had someone like Ethan as her boyfriend, since he was an influential man.

Some weeks ago, Marietta had told Ethan that Ariana doesn't love him and that she was just staying with him because of his money and the fame she could get when she becomes his wife, and he had decided to do exactly what Marietta said to see if really Ariana would beg him when he tries to call their relationship off.

Marietta was the one that brought up the idea of Ethan telling Ariana that he wants to break up with her, so that they would see Ariana's reaction.

As soon as Ariana was out of sight, he took his phone and called Marietta. She picked up at the second ring and he wondered if she had been waiting for his call all day.

"Ethan," She spoke up.

"You are right, Marietta. I did as you told me. I told Ariana that I wanted to break up with her and she didn't even try to beg me," He said to her and she just exhaled.

"I told you. Ariana doesn't love you. She never did. She is just after your money," Marietta said. It was evident that she was trying to spoil Ariana's name before Ethan, but Ethan was too dumb to realize. He just believed her. He always believes everything that she says. He trusts her more than he trusts his girlfriend.

"I'm glad that I found out beforehand. Did you know that I was already about to propose to her today? I've ordered that the ring be delivered to me in two days" Ethan sounded sad.

Marietta smirked as she heard that. She was really happy with herself that she just spoiled her friend's relationship. She didn't want to see her friend happy. If there is anyone who deserves to be with Ethan, then it's her, not Ariana. After all, she was the one who introduced Ariana to Ethan. She had expected that Ethan would ask her out and she had always been waiting for the day, but instead he asked Ariana out and since then she had been mad and she harbored anger and jealousy against Ariana, that she had been looking for a way to break their relationship. When her mother brought up this idea, she didn't wait to carry it out and now she was glad that it worked. This calls for celebration. Indeed mother knows best.

"I'm really sorry, Ethan. I'm sorry that you fell in love with the wrong person, a gold digger," Marietta said. One would think that she was sympathizing with Ethan, but in the real sense, she wasn't. She was just glad that Ariana and Ethan won't be together anymore.

Ethan exhaled. "You are right, Marietta. I really fell in love with the wrong person. I'm glad that I have broken up with her. I have a feeling that I would have regretted my actions in the future if I had truly married her," He said to Marietta and she just smiled mentally.

"I'm glad that you have realized," She said to him in a soft voice, feigning concern for him.

"Where are you now? Let's meet up," She said to him and she really hoped that he wouldn't turn her down as he had always done.

"I'm at McDonald's," He replied.

"I will be there soon. You need someone to be with you at this point, to sympathize with you after this heartbreak, so I'm coming to meet you," She said to him.

"Okay". Ethan said before ending the call. He didn't try to turn down Marietta this time around and that was because he really needed someone to comfort him.

Marietta on her part jumped in excitement as she raced to her bathroom. She was really glad that Ethan didn't try to turn her down this time around. She has a perfect plan in mind. She has had this plan already all these while. She had a lot of things up her sleeves and now, she was going to take the bold step. She would confess her love to Ethan and tell him how much she has been secretly loving him since the first time they met.

Before going to meet Ethan, she dialed her mother's contact and her mother picked up at the third ring. "Hello mother?"

"You sound so excited. What's the secret?" Her mother's voice boomed from the background.

"Of course, I'm excited, mother. Our plan worked. Ethan have broken up with the bitch already,"

"That's good to know. Now you can weave your way into his life."

Marietta chuckled lightly. "Of course, mother. I'm even on my way to go meet him. I'll seduce him when I get there,"

"That's what I wanted to hear. Good luck,"

"Bye mommy. I'll call you later to tell you how it went," Marietta whispered as she ended the call.

She arrived at McDonald's, her mind racing with excitement. She spotted Ethan, his eyes red from drinking, and her heart skipped a beat. She had been waiting for this moment for so long.

"Ethan?" she called out, her voice soft and concerned.

He looked up, his eyes locking onto hers. "Marietta...I'm so glad you're here. Your presence means a lot to me"

Marietta's heart fluttered as she approached him. "Don't be silly, Ethan. I know you're hurting and right now you need someone to be here with you"

Ethan nodded, his eyes welling up with tears. "I feel so lost, Marietta. I thought Ariana was the one..."

Marietta's expression turned sympathetic. "You deserve so much better than someone who doesn't appreciate you, Ethan. You need someone who understands you, someone who can help you heal, someone who isn't a gold digger"

Ethan's eyes locked onto hers, and Marietta knew she had him. She reached out, her hand brushing against his.

"Let me be that person, Ethan. Let me help you through this difficult time."

Ethan's face contorted in a mix of sadness and longing. "I don't know, Marietta...I feel so vulnerable right now."

Marietta's voice turned soothing. "That's exactly why you need me, Ethan. I'll be your rock, your confidante. We'll get through this together."