Her face was on the cover of magazine, everyone knew who she was. Arella Berkley was known as the lead singer of the band "Silver Lining." They started on the charts in the late 90's and now have 4 hit albums behind them. Arella had been working non-stop since the moment they began recording their first album. She met Brandon when they played at an aids benefit in New York City, he was playing there with his band "Deep Heat" and they formed an instant connection.

A year later they were married and living in a house in Queens New York. Brandon's band split up six months after him and Arella were married. Brandon often said it was because he was the only member married and it was a burden on the rest of the band. But Arella knew it was because Brandon is extremely controlling and the rest of the band had taken enough of his crap. She proved herself right when "Deep heat" welcomed a new lead singer and hit it off right away. Brandon Maylin went solo and his name was everything. It wasn't long before he wasn't home much and Arella wasn't sure if she disliked it.

She knew of affairs that Brandon had been having but never confronted him about it. She was frightened of him most days and was scared of what might happen if she were to bring it up.

Arella had planned the week out perfectly. Her childhood friend Asher and her husband Mark and Brandon were spending the week at a house in Emerald Isle, North Carolina. The house was beautiful, 4 bedroom, 3 and a half bath, and an ocean view. It was expensive but when it came to a vacation, Arella didn't care much for the price. An escape from her every day life was the only thing on her mind when she typed in her credit card number on the reality website. She was sure the price would be an issue is the couple weeks after the purchase. But she had a couple weeks to prepare for the argument it would bring between Arella and her husband Brandon.

Arella flew in early Sunday morning and rented a car that would take her the rest of the way. She preferred flying at night and driving in the early morning when the airport and the roads weren't so hectic. It also made her a little less tense that people would recognize her and bombard her as she tried to make her way to a peaceful vacation.

Asher and Mark would be arriving late in the evening. They were driving in from Greenville, the town where they grew up. She wanted to live there but Brandon was a New Yorker and wanted to stay that way. That was the first thing Arella had compromised to make him happy. Many more were to come after that.

Brandon would be arriving late that night. He hadn't even wanted to go until she mentioned that Asher and Mark would be there as well. "You always lie about me when you are with them" he had said to her when she told him about the vacation. "You always lie about the way I treat you." She never talked about Brandon to anyone. When she was with other people she wanted to be free from the thoughts of her husband. She hadn't even wanted him to go; she went over the idea of just disappearing over and over in her head. But she knew that wouldn't do any good.

"He probably wouldn't have even noticed I was gone" she said aloud as she pulled into the drive way of the house. She got out of the car and took a deep breath and clean ocean air filled her lungs leaving her refreshed. Arella left her bags in the trunk for now and started to walk up the front steps. The moment she walked in she fell in love with the place. The entire side of the house facing the ocean was windows. From almost every single room you could see the waves crashing onto the beach.

Arella got her bags out of the trunk of her car and placed them on the bed of the master bedroom. She would unpack later, for now she wanted to take in the oceans peacefulness.

--

"Arella, where are you?" Came a female voice that woke Arella from sleep.

"I'm on the deck." Arella replied and out came Asher and Mark. Arella quickly stood up to greet her friends. "I must have fallen asleep out here"

"This place is gorgeous." Mark said as he gazed out into the ocean.

"Come on guys, I'll show you to your room." They followed Arella up the stairs and then they all met down in the kitchen to think of something to have for dinner.

"Order a pizza, or actually make something?" Arella asked her guests.

"Well, since I remember how you cook." Asher paused. "Order a Pizza"

Within the next hour they were scarfing down a pepperoni pizza and talking about what has been going on while they have been apart. Arella talked of award shows and tours as Asher and Mark talked about who is having kids and the latest gossip of Greenville. She wanted the topic to stay off of Brandon as long as possibly but she knew Asher would bring it up before long.

"So, Brandon coming or what?" Mark asked, and Arella hesitated.

"Yeah... Later" Arella quickly replied. She suddenly thought that her friends are going to eventually figure out that their marriage was more of show then anything. She actually often wondered if he married her because it would bring more attention his direction.

As the night went on they talked about many things in their lives and around midnight they decided to head off to bed.

--

Brandon came in at 3AM, he lay down next to Arella and he smelled of another woman's perfume. She turned to face him and he placed his hand on her cheek.

"Hey baby," he said to her.

"Did you take the record company's jet?"

"Yes."

"With that woman?"

"Now Arella. You aren't accusing me of something are you?"

"Do I have a reason to?"

He had nothing to say. Arella got up and walked into the bathroom, Brandon followed.

"I can't believe you do this shit" she said in a loud whisper.

"Do what, Arella? Have a good time?"

"You swore there was nothing going on." Her voice getting louder.

"There isn't"

"You smell like that fucking whore!" she shouted. She went to move away from him and he grabbed her wrist.

"I needed it. You won't give me any."

"You asshole." He slapped her in the face. She got herself free of his grip and slammed the bathroom door in his face.

A couple hours later she opened the bathroom door and Brandon appeared to be asleep on the bed. She left the room and went out onto the deck. She knew it wouldn't be long before Brandon would notice she left and come out here looking for her.

"How long do you think it would take before I noticed?" she said, he was unaware she knew he was there. He didn't reply. "I smell her perfume every time you come home late. When you say you are working at the studio, I call the studio and you are nowhere to be found. You are with her aren't you?" She got up off the chair and turned to look at him.

"You can't prove I did anything." His voice was angry.

"You can't tell me you didn't." She spoke matter-of-factly.

"A man has needs."

"A need to be a controlling asshole?" He stepped closer to her. "The moment I am gone you fuck the first girl you can find."

"It's not my fault I don't get any from you."

"Get out of here Brandon." She yelled, "Get out of this house. Now"

Brandon grabbed her by the neck. "You will regret this, Arella. You will." Her let her fall to the floor and turned away to leave. Arella didn't relax until she heard the car pull out of the driveway and drive down the road.

Later that day Arella received news that the car Brandon had been driving went off the road and into the bay. They hadn't found a body but they were positive he was dead and weren't sure if they would ever find him.

"Are you going to be ok?" Asher asked her before they went to sleep that night.

"I'll be ok." She replied with a smile.

--

Arella Berkley was found dead the next morning; she was shot in the head. Investigators called it suicide. The papers soon read "Dead of a broken heart" and "Died for love." The world mourned her death.

Brandon was found a live the next day.