Chapter 4

Adrianna’s POV

Bianca’s brows lifted slightly, and she let out a soft laugh. “Marco, didn’t you say Adrianna was injured? She’s probably still recovering… maybe she’s not feeling well.”

I narrowed my eyes. How dare Bianca even bring that up—after everything she had done?

She turned to me, her voice gentle, perfectly composed. “Adrianna, don’t be impulsive. You’ve been with Marco all these years while he worked so hard—you’re a very important friend to him. You can’t just leave like this.”

“And here I thought you’d be happy to see me go,” I said lightly, meeting her gaze.

Marco stepped to her side, smoothly shifting into his role. “Be polite, I won’t tolerate this attitude toward my fiancee.”

He turned to her, softening. “Ignore her. She’s always been like this—quitting is just her way of provoking me. And now you speak up for her, and she’s acting bitter.”

His gaze shifted back to me, sharp. “Don’t mistake this—I’m not stopping you from quitting because you matter. I pitied you, that’s all. Without me, do you think an orphan like you would have any of this? You’d still be struggling just to pay off your student loans.”

Each word landed harder than the last.

“So stop the act,” he finished. “Clean your office and get back to your job. I still need you to draft a contract for Mr. Robinson next week.”

Orphan, this word again.

Heat rushed through my body, sharp and burning.

He could have Bianca. A man who could be taken was never worth keeping. But standing here—forced to swallow my pride while he tore me down in front of her again…

For a second, I didn’t even know which version of Marco was real. The one in front of me… or the one who once held my hand and promised me everything.

“I’m leaving. Even if I end up starving on the streets, it won’t be your concern anymore.” I turned and walked out.

Marco’s words followed me.

“I pitied you.”

“Without me, what would an orphan like you have?”

My ears rang.

Just as I reached the lobby, a pair of cold hands suddenly grabbed my arm.

I spun around. Bianca. I shook her off and stepped back.

She smiled, then raised her voice just enough for everyone to hear.

“I understand you’re upset Marco’s attention isn’t on you anymore, Adrianna. But now that I’m here, I’m his fiancée—his future wife." She tilted her head slightly. “As women, we should know when to step back from someone else’s relationship… right? You wouldn’t want to be called a home-wrecker.”

A home-wrecker? How dare she!

She leaned in closer, her smile never fading. “So stop clinging to him. All this drama won’t get his attention.”

Then she stepped back, graceful as ever. “I know you want to stay at the casino—but from now on, make sure you remember your place. Alright?”

Eyes turned toward me from every direction, sharp, curious, mostly judging.

I could already hear the whispers— The orphan who dared to reach above her place.

And Bianca… Playing the generous, perfect woman—so kind, so forgiving—willing to tolerate someone like me by her fiancé’s side.

“Bianca,” I said, irritation slipping into my voice, “even a twelve-year-old knows not to judge what they don’t understand. And yet here you are, telling me to step away from Marco? I was never the one crossing the line.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Her hand reached for mine again—this time gripping hard, her nails digging into my skin. “I’m just giving you advice as a friend.”

I tried to pull away—

“What are you doing?!” Marco’s voice cut through the air.

In the next second, Bianca let go and stumbled back, collapsing onto the floor as if she’d been pushed.

Gasps rippled around us.

“Bianca!” Marco rushed to her, dropping beside her and pulling her into his arms, one hand cradling her head, holding her close.

Then he looked up at me. “First you make a scene in your office, now you’re pushing her? What’s wrong with you?”

Bianca trembled against him, her voice soft, fragile. “Why, Adrianna? I only asked you not to quit… why would you do that?”

Then she gasped suddenly. “My ring… it’s gone. It must have fallen.”

Marco’s eyes snapped back to me. He signaled, and two guards stepped forward immediately. “Make her find it,” he said flatly. “No one helps her. She finds it herself.”

Before I could react, hands grabbed my arms. One of them shoved me down hard.

I struggled for a second— But it didn’t matter.

My knees hit the marble floor with a sharp crack.

The sound echoed.

Marco didn’t even blink. He was busy helping Bianca to her feet. “Don’t think about getting up until you find the ring,” Marco pressed. “And when you do, give it back to Bianca. Then apologize.”

For a split second, Bianca’s lips curved—sharp, satisfied. Then it was gone, replaced by that soft, fragile look as she leaned into him. “Marco…”

“Don’t worry,” he murmured, guiding her to a seat. “She’ll find it.”

I tried to stand.

A heavy hand slammed down on my back, forcing me down again. “Is this really what you want?” I asked quietly.

I had endured worse. I grew up in an orphanage. But I never thought Marco would go this far—just to prove something to her.

“You heard me,” he replied. “Actions have consequences. You hurt Bianca, now you make up for it.”

“Yes… actions has consequences.”

A diamond that big wouldn’t just disappear.

After a while, I caught a flicker of light near the leg of a chair. I reached out and picked it up.

The diamond gleamed, bright and blinding.

For a second, I just stared at it.

This ring, the same one I had found in the closet, the one that made me believe… made me imagine what it would feel like on my finger.

My gaze dropped to its size.

Too small. It had never been meant for me. I had just been too happy to notice.

“I found it.” My voice didn’t shake.

Something flickered in Marco’s expression—gone too fast for anyone else to notice.

But Bianca noticed. Her fingers tightened around his arm. “Marco…” she whispered, soft and fragile.

Marco gestured. One guard took the ring from my hand, another reached to help me up.

I ignored him and stood on my own.

My knees were numb. I hadn’t even realized how long I’d been on the floor.

“Now come here and apologize to Bianca,” Marco said.

“I won’t.” I stood straighter.

Bianca tugged lightly at his arm. “Marco, she pushed me… If my father finds out someone can bully me in your casino and walk away without punishment…”

Silence fell between us.

Marco and I just looked at each other.

Then—“She’s all yours,” he said quietly, not breaking eye contact with me. “If she won’t apologize, then she’ll take the punishment. That’s only fair.”