He Took Wedding Photos With My Best Friend on My Birthday, So I Called Off the Engagement

On my birthday, my fianc said he had a last-minute business trip.

My best friend, who was out of town, sent me a birthday text.

Bella Swanson, happy birthday to both of us.

Her birthday and mine fell on the exact same day.

So I just bought a plane ticket and flew to Lake Tahoe to see her.

But there by the lake, I saw my fianc holding a camera, taking pictures of her.

She was laughing as she asked him.

"Noel Gilbert, today's Bella's birthday too. If you're not with her, won't she be upset?"

"Come to think of it, Bella never even knew you take great photos. You've never taken a single one of her, and you know photos are her favorite thing."

My fianc answered lightly.

"She won't be. She thinks I'm away on business in New York."

"Today's your birthday. I just want to spend it with you, properly."

"And I only take photos for you. Taking them for Bella feels like too much trouble. I don't have the patience for it."

I stood where I was, the wind off the lake blowing over me.

The cold went all the way into my bones.

......

Noel kept offering suggestions, and Cristina Bailey struck one pretty pose after another exactly the way he wanted.

The two of them moved in perfect sync. Before long, Cristina had already posted a new update to her feed.

A grid of nine photos, captioned:

Thanks to today's photographer. Good-looking and professional too.

So it turned out Noel wasn't unable to take photos. He just wasn't willing to take them for me.

Holding back my tears, I liked Cristina's post.

I decided to stick to my original plan. Even alone, I would still take some beautiful photos.

After all, a birthday only comes once a year.

I stood not far from them, a bouquet of flowers in my hands that I'd bought from a roadside stall.

The wind off the lake was too strong. In the end it pulled the tears from my eyes.

Even Noel and Cristina, standing not far off, grew blurrier and blurrier.

Swallowing down the hurt, I went through the photographer's directions and finished my set like a machine.

Just as I was about to leave, I saw someone walk over to Noel and Cristina.

Asking if they wanted to take wedding photos together.

The person said with a smile.

"Handsome, your girlfriend's gorgeous. You two look so right together. Since you're already here, why not shoot a set of wedding photos?"

Cristina's smile was shy and sweet as she looked up at Noel, waiting.

Noel took her hand and said gently.

"Sure. She'll look beautiful in a wedding dress. And it'll be nice to have something to remember it by."

"Today's her birthday, actually. I want her to remember how perfect this moment is, forever."

I'd asked Noel to take wedding photos with me many times, and every time he'd put it off, saying work was too busy.

I always tried my best to be understanding about it.

I'd even thought maybe we should skip the wedding photos altogether, forcing myself to believe it didn't matter. They'd only end up collecting dust anyway.

Maybe we wouldn't look at them once in years.

But it never once occurred to me that he simply didn't want to take photos with me.

And now, standing there, I watched them in the clothes people only wear at a wedding, the two of them leaning into each other.

My stomach turned over and over.

I turned around and, almost fleeing, made my way back to the hotel.

I was sitting on the couch when my phone screen lit up.

It was a message from Noel.

Bella, I just got out of a meeting. I'm exhausted. I miss you so much. Wait for me to come back.

I'll buy you a present.

Along with it he'd sent a photo. A necklace.

It was a beautiful necklace.

What he didn't know was that Cristina had once sent me that exact same photo.

She'd said she loved the brand, that she was planning to buy it for herself as a birthday gift.

Now it was clear that Noel had already bought it for her.

And bought me one too, on the side.

I picked up my phone and started scrolling through the local feed on TikTok, not really thinking.

Before long I landed on wedding photos of Noel and Cristina together.

They'd been posted from Cristina's second account.

The caption read:A secret only you and I know is happiness.

I tapped into the account and went through the posts one by one.

That was when I found out they'd been together for over a year.

Noel taking Cristina skydiving, bungee jumping, out for sushi...

And every single time, he'd told me he was away on business.

Six months ago Cristina had posted a set of photos from a hotel.

The caption was:I just mentioned in passing that I missed him, and he flew straight over to me. Such a romantic, perfect day.

My tears fell onto the screen, and my palms were marked with deep red crescents where my nails had dug in.

That day I'd been running a fever of 104, and all Noel did was have fever meds delivered to me.

When he called, his voice had been full of guilt.

"Bella, I'm so sorry. I got called away on a last-minute business trip, and the project's swamped. When I'm done I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Later, when he came back, he stayed by my side for two full months, taking care of me down to the smallest thing.

I thought that meant he loved me too.

I never imagined all of it was a lie.

I wiped my tears and sent him a message.

"Noel, let's break up."

"Give your present to someone else."

The next afternoon, Noel came rushing back, travel-worn and clearly frayed.

Tired and baffled, he demanded an answer.

"Bella, I was away on business. You want to break up just because I didn't come home for your birthday? Can you not be so childish about this?"

Reading the coldness on my face, he softened his tone.

"Haven't you always wanted wedding photos? I already found a designer and had a handmade gown made for you. The moment it's air-shipped from Milan, we'll go shoot them right away, okay?"

"Take a look at the sketches first. Do you like them?"

I glanced at them and let out a cold little laugh.

"No."

Seeing the disgust on my face, Noel forced his temper down.

"That's fine. Buy whatever you like. As long as you're happy."

"Work was too crazy this time. I couldn't be there for you. Missing your birthday was my fault, and I apologize."

"But you can't keep throwing around a word like breakup just to spite me. You know I don't respond to threats."

Right then, someone knocked at the door.

I opened it, and Cristina was standing outside.

She had a look of deep concern all over her face.

"Bella, I heard you want to break up with Noel. Why?"

"You two have been together so many years, and he treats you so well. You'll regret it if you let him go."

Cristina and I had known each other for over sixteen years. She and Noel had known each other only five.

Yet every single time, she took Noel's side.

And Noel was always praising Cristina in front of me.

Only now did I understand where all that easy rapport between them had come from.

I gave a mocking little smile.

"Funny. I only just noticed how close you and Noel have gotten at some point, jumping to defend him before you even know the facts."

Before Cristina could say anything, Noel's brows drew together and his voice went cold.

"Bella, Cristina's only looking out for you. Do you have to be so snide?"

"Since when did you get so ungrateful?"

He went out of his way to bring Cristina slippers and pour her something to drink.

What he brewed was his own coffee, the kind with a tiny annual yield and a hefty price tag.

Once, I'd asked if I could try that prized coffee of his.

Noel had shot me down flat.

"You don't even like coffee, and you can't tell good from bad anyway. I'll get you some boba tea."

I'd always respected his wishes, so I never brought it up again after that.

Now here he was, scooping out two whole jars of the coffee he'd hoarded so carefully to give to Cristina.

Telling her to take it home and enjoy it slowly.

Cristina was drinking the coffee when she carelessly spilled more than half of it.

She spoke up, apologetic.

"Noel, I'm so sorry. I accidentally spilled coffee on your couch."

But at that, Noel only stepped closer, his voice full of concern.

"Take your jacket off, quick, it's all wet."

"Did you burn your hand? Does it hurt?"

As he spoke, he pulled a few tissues off the table and started wiping the coffee off Cristina's hand.

Cristina practically cooed.

"How are you this nice? You're just so good to me."

I watched him.

That couch was another of Noel's absolute favorites.

He required that I shower and change into clean clothes every single time before I sat on it.

If there was ever a time I came in from outside and sat down on it directly,

Noel would pick a fight with me without fail.

Complaining that I'd dirtied his precious couch.

I'd always assumed he was simply a neat freak.

Only now did I realize it was me he found unclean.

When Cristina took off her jacket,

I saw that the shirt underneath was a perfect couple's match with Noel's.

I thought of the matching couple's water bottles and toothbrushes I'd once bought, wanting Noel to use them with me.

He'd thrown them straight out.

Said the things I bought were too childish, that he didn't like them.

My voice came out cold.

"Why are the two of you wearing matching couple's outfits?"

Noel frowned, looking at me with open displeasure.

"Bella, why on earth would I be wearing a couple's outfit with Cristina? This is nothing but a coincidence."

"I'm in L.A., she's out of town. How could we possibly arrange to dress alike? Can you not spend every waking moment being paranoid and suspicious?"

Cristina rushed to explain too.

"Bella, I came straight to your place the second I got off the plane. I don't see Noel more than once a year normally. This outfit really is just a coincidence, don't misunderstand. If it bothers you, I can go change right now."

Right. A coincidence. Funny how there were always so many coincidences.

I got together with Noel back in college.

I felt I absolutely had to introduce my boyfriend to my best friend.

So I set up a meeting between Noel and Cristina.

After that, Cristina was always coming to me for favors.

I was busy with work, and Noel couldn't bear to see me stretched thin.

So he'd volunteer to go help Cristina in my place.

Back then it actually moved me. I thought Noel simply loved me enough to be good to my friend for my sake.

Later the two of them grew closer and closer.

They'd often turn up in outfits that matched beautifully.

Noel in a black suit, and Cristina would be in a white dress.

Noel in a blue jacket, and Cristina would wear a red shirt.

Back then, when the three of us went out to eat, even the waiters would mistake them for a couple.

Noel's face would go dark with displeasure.

He'd take my hand and say, with all seriousness,

"This is my girlfriend. She's the only one I love."

Cristina would scold the waiter too.

"Excuse me, what's wrong with your eyes? The two of them look this perfect together, obviously they're the couple."

Then she'd round on Noel, fierce.

"If you ever treat Bella badly, I won't let you get away with it."

Back then all I felt was how lucky I was, the man I loved and my best friend both right there by my side, and I never sensed anything off about it.

Noel used to say what he loved most about me was how generous and understanding I was.

He said I wasn't like other girls, paranoid and suspicious every day, throwing tantrums and making scenes.

And I did play that role, all along.

I never checked Noel's phone or where he'd been.

I was forever understanding about his constant business trips.

Even when he was openly spending time alone with Cristina and casually said it was only because of work that their paths crossed at all,

I believed that too.

But what did the two of them make of my trust?

Was it more thrilling precisely because I was right there?

I stood up and told Cristina to leave, without a shred of politeness.

"You should go. Get out of my house."

Cristina's face changed, and she spoke like the wounded party.

"Bella, how can you be like this? I came straight to see you the moment I got back."

"And I have good news to share. My job's been transferred back to L.A. I wanted us to celebrate together."

Noel gave me a displeased look, then turned to comfort Cristina.

"It's fine, she's just having one of her fits today. Don't pay her any attention. I'll celebrate with you instead, it's the same thing."

"Let's go. Leave her here to lose her mind on her own."

I looked at the two of them coldly.

For the longest time I'd wanted Noel to take me to a new restaurant that had opened.

But he always brushed it off with one excuse or another. He simply wouldn't go with me.

In all the time we'd been together, he never once celebrated anything with me.

So it turned out he just didn't want to be with me. That was all.

The thought pushed the question out of me.

"You have a new job? Which company?"

Cristina paused, then answered, thoroughly pleased with herself.

"It's Vantage Ventures. They invited me on as a director."

My stomach dropped.

Not long ago, I'd been laid off from my company.

I'd gone to my boss to ask why.

All he asked was what my relationship with Noel was.

So I went to Noel.

He explained it to me lightly, like it was nothing.

"Bella, you're too caught up in work. You've been sick several times now. You need rest. In this whole world, nothing matters more to me than you being healthy. I care about you."

"And most of your attention, most of your time, goes into your job every single day. Honestly, I get jealous."

I was angry at the time, but I also believed he only cared about me, that it was all for my own good.

I let out a cold little laugh.

"How exactly did you get that company's offer?"

Before Cristina could open her mouth, Noel jumped in first.

"I went to Mr. Kim and suggested it. You'd already resigned anyway, so this opening was perfect for Cristina. She'd always wanted to work at your company."

I looked at him.

My heart felt like it had been pricked with a needle.

So he'd pushed me to quit not because he cared about me, but to hand Cristina a better job.

I stood where I was, and I finally couldn't take another second of it.

"Noel, since you like her this much, since you think of her every step, and clear the path for her at every turn, why don't you just marry her instead."

Noel's face darkened at once.

"Bella, what are you talking about?"

"Stop acting like some shrew throwing a fit, judging other people through that filthy mind of yours. There's nothing between me and Cristina. Believe it or not."

Seeing the air between us turn razor-sharp, Cristina rushed to speak.

"Noel, I'll just celebrate on my own, it's fine. I'm leaving. Stay home and keep Bella company. I won't intrude on the two of you. Please don't fight."

She played it so understanding that Noel loathed me all the more.

He said to Cristina,

"It's fine. She's just crazy. Don't mind her. Let's go."

His voice was cold and full of disgust as he took Cristina by the hand and turned to leave.

The door slammed hard behind them.

I stood there, cold all the way through.

This was the man who, when he proposed, had promised he'd always be good to me and never make me angry.

I sat alone on the couch for a long time.

Until a delivery driver knocked at the door outside.

Noel had sent me a message.

Ordered the food you like and that congee place you love. Remember to eat.

I didn't reply.

I just contacted the agent.

I'd bought this place only so Noel and I could get married.

Now that there was no marriage, of course the house had to go too.

Once everything was settled, I packed my things and went to stay at a hotel.

Several days passed before Noel finally called me.

"Have you calmed down yet? Once you've come to your senses, you'll apologize to me and Cristina."

"And you're going to promise me that after we're married, you'll never pull anything like this again."

I looked at the message the agent had just sent me.

And answered calmly.

"I've already told everyone the engagement is off. And I sold the house."

"What did you say?"

Noel's voice shot up.

"Bella, is this some kind of joke?"