Chapter 6

Yara.

Growing up in the orphanage, I wasn't alone like I had thought. There were people who loved me. There were people who deeply cared for me, but I was too focused on Andrian to notice. Back then, my life only revolved around Andrian, and to please him, I had put everyone at arm's length.

Thinking about it, a tone of regret and self-blame pressed down on me, but apart from that, my hatred for Andrian heightened, and that's the only thing I needed to keep going, hatred.

"There is nothing left here for you, daughter." There was pity in her eyes as she pleaded with me. Her words broke my heart, but she was telling the truth.

" All you need is a clean start, a break from everything. " Once again, the orphanage director's wife tried to convince me, a hint of worry evident in her kind eyes.

I had lost everything. It was true that I needed a break, but did I want one?

" I am sorry, mentor. I won't be going with you all to the island. " After a brief moment of silence, I finally revealed, my voice steady with conviction.

" Once again, you have chosen him over us, over yourself, right?" My mentor asked, disappointment lacing his words.

I felt embarrassed. Maybe they thought that I had decided to stay behind for Andrian, in attempts to win him back, but they were wrong. Yes, the reason I was staying behind was partially because of him, but rather than winning him back, I wanted him to burn in hell. Together with his family..

Well, I couldn't blame them for assuming that, though. Over the years, they had seen how much I loved Andrian. They had seen all the sacrifices that I had made for him, to keep him by my side.

My mentor, now, the retired hospital director, and his wife were there when I refused to be adopted by Aunt Rosa just to stay with Andrian. Later, they chose to adopt me, to take me in as their daughter, but I had resolutely turned them down all because of Andrian.

Years later, after I graduated from college, the best in my class, my mentor had high hopes for me, but once again, I had disappointed him. Instead of focusing on my career, I had once again chosen Andrian, doing three odd jobs a day just to support him and his startup.

And even after all those sacrifices, all I got was a simple sentence 'I don't know you. Forget about me.'

Thinking about all that, I couldn't help but marvel at how blind and stupid I had been my whole life.

" I must have been the most disappointing disciple that you have ever had, mentor. " I whispered, a self-mocking smile tagging at the corners of my lips.

" I know I have failed you and your legacy. I am also disappointed in myself." I added, my tone bitter.

Yes, my mentor was not just the orphanage director. He was a renowned fashion designer, and his name still remained in the fashion industry even after he had retired.

Yes, before he became the orphanage director, he was a famous designer, mysterious, and iconic, designing based on his moods, and he only designed two gowns in a year.

Later, he gave up on designing, and he chaneled all his energy towards homeless children, orphans, and the likes. With his newfound passion, he had built several orphanages, including the one that Harper, Andrian, and I grew up in.

Later, when he saw me, he changed his mind. He decided to go back to the fashion industry but not as a designer, but just as a mentor, heartily teaching me everything that he knew, everything that I gave up on to support that ungrateful we*tch.

" You silly child. At least you are sensible enough. " Maybe my apology had appeased him a little. He wore a small smile as he scolded.

" But don't worry. I am no longer choosing Andrian over you, me, or my life.. This time, I am staying because I have to. " I vowed, my voice, an echo of determination.

"I will continue your legacy. " I teased with a small smile, and the tension in the air thawed.

" Don't be silly. I don't care about legacy anymore. I would be at peace as long as you can stop worrying me." He reminded with a warning gaze.

" Aunt Dee? Please take care of my mentor for me.. And yeah, take care of yourself too." I urged, trying as much as possible to sound normal, but deep down, I felt utterly drained.

" Visit us often, okay?" She urged back, a hint of a motherly worry evident in her voice.

"Sure, I will. " I promised, giving her a hug. Aunt Dee was really kind. She had always treated me like her own daughter, and because of my life choices, I had ended up disappointing her. But not anymore.

***************

It was the third day after I was discharged from the hospital and Harper and I were at the airport, seeing my mentor and Aunt Dee off.

After I told them that I was not going to leave with them, they were disappointed but they decided to delay their departure and we spent the time together. Well, it was more like they were trying to distract me, worried that I would think about the betrayal and the loss of my baby. But let's be real, I couldn't hide from it forever, right? I had to face it in one way or the other, and the time had come.

" I knew that you wouldn't go with us." Harper and Aunt Dee were still inside the car while my mentor and I stood outside. He had something that he needed to tell me, and from how urgent he sounded, it was something serious.

"You are still that one person who knows me better, Mentor. " I countered, nervously.

" This place is no longer safe for you, Yara." He spoke, his tone grave.

"You crossed paths with the Fox family, and they are nasty. Although I am worried about you, I still respect your decision." His brows were furrowed as he expressed.

" Since I can't take you with me, I have to give you this. I hope it will help. Please, take care. Call us if you need our help. Your mentor is still capable. " There was a cold glint in his eyes as he handed an envelope to me.

********

Harper and I sat silently in her apartment building, each one of us in our own worlds. Before us, several photos were scattered, each like a knife slicing through my heart, slicing through my sanity, shattering every little hope that I had left in Andrian, in our past, erasing every good memory that I ever had with him.

Looking at those images, there was a killing intent surrounding me, a desire to shed blood, to rain chaos, exposing a layer of me that I never knew existed.

" Will you take them to the police?" Harper, my ever-composed friend, looked shaken as she asked.

" No," I whispered, slowly lifting one photo, the one that had Andrian and his mother talking to the track driver, the one who ran me over.

"Taking them to the authorities will be too complicated. They have power, they can bend the law to their advantage, I will lose, eventually. " My voice was icy cold as I revealed raw anger shimmering in my chest.

" They are despicable, disgusting!" Harper cursed, stomping on the pictures. She had always been so expressive.

Yes, the accident that took my baby was not an accident at all. It was murder, orchestrated by my ex-husband and his family. I had the evidence. It was in the envelope that my mentor gave to me before he left the country.

The death of my baby was caused by the Fox family.

As if betraying, divorcing, and breaking my heart was not enough, Andrian went ahead and killed my baby. I would never forgive him for that.

He was going to return the life that he took from me.

"What will we do now, Yara?" Harper's voice pulled me back to reality, and I took my phone, slowly scrolling through the contacts.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I pressed the call button, and I waited for a few seconds before the call was picked up.

Regret, guilt, and self-hate surged through my veins as a very familiar voice resonated at the other end of the call. Her voice was still the same, warm, calm, and kind, just like I recalled.

" Aunt Rosa? You remember the offer that you once made to me.. Is it still on the table? "