Chapter 34

“The house hasn’t changed a bit” Adrian commented as they walked around the house.

“I tried to keep it the same way for when you got better” Nicholas responded.

“I’m very proud, you built this all by yourself” Adrian began, “I’m sorry I left you alone to deal with all this” he added.

“It’s okay brother it’s not your fault it was Daria’s she drove you to that state” Nicholas replied gritting his teeth.

“No, don't say that she had a choice and I just didn’t respond to it well” Adrian defended.

“But when she returned she pretended not to know  anything or anyone in this house, she abandoned you” Nicholas continued.

“Stop it, I and Daria’s relationship wasn’t that fragile. I am sure she had a good reason to live and we were only teenagers then” Adrian tried to calm him down and Nicholas turned pale.

“I have something to tell you about Daria,” Nicholas began.

“We are…” he was cut short by the maid, “excuse me sir but Mrs Raceanu is back” she said.

Adrian looked at Nicholas and smiled “are you married” “you got married without me, who is she?” He was excited by the news.

“Let me go see” Adrian rushed to the door to receive his sister in law.

“Daria!” Adrian stopped, he couldn't believe his eyes, for the first time in eight years since she left this was the first he saw her.

Quickly he rushed to hold her, but Daria, scared from the last time, ducked away.

“Why are you here?” “Are you friends with Nicholas' wife” he asked, taking a step towards her.

Again Daria moved away “don’t come close” she demanded to Adrian’s surprise.

“Is it because of my illness, I’m well now, I have recovered thanks to you” he explained, but Daria was buying none of it.

“It’s okay, I will step back but where is Nicholas' wife? The maid said she was here” Adrian asked looking at the doorway.

“She’s my wife” Nicholas announced as he emerged from the staircase. “Daria and I got married three months ago” he added and Adrian’s happy expression dropped.

“Brother, I can explain why” Nicholas continued standing in between the both of them.

“Nicholas, what is going on, you never came to get me” Daria finally spoke.

“And you should have stayed” Nicholas scolded, and it did not sit well with Adrian.

“Don’t speak to her like that” Adrian reprimanded, “what do you mean your married, Daria what’s going on” Adrian turned to her.

“You left that day, and I never heard from you, and now you are married to Nicholas”, 

“I don’t know what you're talking about. This is the first time that I have met you,” Daria replied.

Adrian felt like a needle had pierced into his heart, as he heard her.

“No don’t  say that, whatever I did I’m sorry, whatever Nicholas did, I am also sorry but please do not pretend that you don’t know me” Adrian pleaded.

“I love you, I still love you, Nicholas is lying right you love me, don’t you?” He continued 

Daria looked at Nicholas for help but he wasn’t moving “Nicholas what is he saying, who is he?” Daria began to fret.

“No Nicholas isn’t wrong, we are married, and I love him, I don’t know what you are talking about,” she replied.

“Brother please calm down, let me explain” Nicholas cut in, “brother, I thought you said he was dead” Daria asked, her brows high on her forehead.

“You told her I was dead!, and then married her!” Adrian snapped.

“I did it for you, I did it to take revenge on her on your behalf” Nicholas began to shout.

“She drove you mad, she pushed to a point I lost my brother, dad couldn’t handle the fact that he lost his favorite son and he drove himself off a hill and mom happened to be in the car that day” he continued

“I was left alone and the only support I had was driven to madness by her” Nicholas spoke outraged, pointing towards Daria.

Daria couldn’t believe what she was hearing, how she was connected to all this?, why did he blame her.

“Brother, I grew all alone, maintained and built the house and business all alone, anytime I reached out to you, you only ever asked for her and each time you got worse when she didn’t come” 

“So I vowed to ruin her life like she ruined yours and I am not done yet” he said with anger rising above him.

Adrian, hearing enough, slapped him across the face, “who are you, why would you do all this and for what, did you ever stop to ask why she left” he said, matching Nicholas' aura.

“You don’t get to put my health defect on her” Adrian reprimanded.

“Brother, she is responsible, I would never forgive her” Nicholas retorted.

Adrian raised his hands to hit him again.

Scared Daria threw herself in between both of them, “don’t please stop, don't hit him again” “stop it” she pleaded,