Chapter 002

Arianna's POV:

Upon arriving at the magnificent black gate where my father lives, I banged on it, waiting anxiously.

A few minutes later, a muscular man stepped out. His gaze was sharp as he stared at me.

“Arianna, what do you want here?” he asked, and I recognized him as Mr. Kingsley Adam.

“Mr. Adam, I want to see my dad,” I begged. “Please, it’s urgent, and I need to see him.”

Mr. Adam wore a black top and trousers. He frowned. “Your father kicked you and your mother away four years ago. I cannot afford to lose my job. You should leave.”

Mr. Adam turned to leave, but I rushed to hold him. “Please, sir…” I begged, holding his right hand and looking at his face.

“It involves my mother’s life. If I do not get my father’s help today, I might lose her,” I cried, my body trembling from the pain of such a cruel fate. Why would my mother have to suffer?

My father left her with nothing. The court ruled in his favor. He had the money, and no one dared to challenge him.

“Mmm,” Mr. Adam’s shoulders slouched. “I will try this once. Just be hopeful that your father will grant you an audience.”

“Thank you very much, sir,” I replied, letting go of his hand, as Mr. Adam pushed the black gate open and went back into the house.

I waited anxiously, hoping that my father would listen to me.

I looked around the estate road and at the other cars driving by. Just then, a black car arrived, and the driver glanced at me. My jaw dropped when I noticed that he was my boyfriend, Vincent Micah.

“Vincent. What are you doing here?” I rushed to meet him, not expecting to see him. I thought he had come for me.

Vincent wore a yellow top, black trousers, and polished black shoes. He got out of the car, a brand-new Benz, and I wondered where he got the money to buy it.

Vincent had told me that he had no money to support my mother’s surgery. Now, seeing the black Benz that he parked, my heart ached painfully.

Before I could near him and touch him, Vincent’s expression hardened as he looked at me like I was a piece of trash. Like he didn’t know me. And he wasn’t my boyfriend for the past three years.

“Arianna, what are you doing here? Were you stalking me?” Vincent asked, and my brows furrowed.

“What? No. I should be the one asking that question if you had followed me here. This is my father’s house. What brought you here?” I asked Vincent as I pointed back at the magnificent white duplex behind me.

Vincent frowned as he towered above me. “Arianna, don’t tell me you are actually Mr. Felix Maddox’s daughter just because your surname is Maddox.”

“Vincent, what do you mean? I told you that my father is Felix Maddox. This is my father’s house. Didn’t you believe me?” I started to say, but Vincent cut me off.

“Shut up, Arianna. Before anyone hears you say that, Mr. Maddox has only one daughter, and that’s Talia Maddox. Since you will not accept to date me, or hang out with me, and you’re too busy with your sick mother, then I already accepted to dump you, and I am not officially Talia’s boyfriend.”

“What?” I looked shocked, like a bucket of water had crashed down on me. “You are joking, right?” I asked Vincent, my lips trembling.

“Arianna, do I look like a joke to you? I wanted to tell you before, but you were too busy to make time for us. The reason I asked to see you was to tell you that we cannot continue with our relationship. I cannot wait until we are married to have sex with you, and I do not love you anymore. You should wait for your real husband. Don’t stay around here, and do not try to stop me again,” Vincent spoke cruelly. His gaze was sharp. His eyes narrowed, warning me not to come close.

My heart pounded heavily against my chest, threatening to explode.

“No, Vincent.” I moved to hold his hand to stop him. “You cannot dump me just like that. I love you, please…”

I held his hand to make him realize that it was me. But he shoved me hard against the ground and growled, “Aria, I am being nice to you. Do not cross me again.”

The gate swung open, and Mr. Adam rushed out and helped me stand up. “Miss, are you alright?” he asked in shock when he saw me seated on the ground. He offered me his right hand to pull me back to my feet.

“I am fine,” I managed to reply, but tears kept falling from my eyes like pearls.

“How dare you lay your filthy hands on Miss Arianna? Are you crazy?!” Mr. Adam growled, and he launched a punch at Vincent’s face, who stood looking at us in shock.

“What? Do you know her? How dare you punch me?” Vincent growled back and wanted to attack Mr. Adam, but seeing that Mr. Adam was muscular and like a giant before him, he stepped back.

The gate swung open, and I watched Talia and her mother, Rose, step out of the house. Their gaze was sharp like swords when they saw me.

However, Talia rushed to Vincent’s side, as she was sporting a short red dress that framed her slender body, paired with black shoes. She had fair skin, and her long blonde hair was packed in a bun like mine. Her face was plastered with heavy makeup. Likewise, her mother stood there, poised in a green long dress that swept the ground like a queen. They both deserve karma. How could they take my mother’s place and mine? My fist clenched as I watched Talia and Vincent.

“Vince, are you alright?” Talia asked affectionately, holding Vincent’s hand. Her hand reached to touch his face, as she stood tall like me, but Vincent was taller.

“Who did this to you? Tell me, who hit you?” Talia demanded before she glared at me.

“Did you touch my boyfriend?” she asked, her eyes glaring daggers at me.

Boyfriend? The word hit me hard like a punch.

“I am fine, babe. Do not waste your time with her. I came over to take you on a date like I promised,” Vincent chimed in as he pulled Talia close and placed a warm kiss on her forehead.

The sight of them pierced my heart and made my tummy churn violently. I wanted to retaliate, but remembering what had brought me to my father’s house, I stilled and chose to ignore them.

“No, babe. I cannot let this go. Tell me, who dared to lay a finger on you? Is it that bastard?” Talia pointed at me, and Vincent frowned, meeting my gaze.