Chapter 2

Arianna.

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

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

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

"Good evening, sir. I want to see my dad," I replied. "Please, it's urgent. I need to see him."

Mr. Adam wore a black top and trousers. He frowned. "Your father kicked you and your mother out four years ago. I can't afford to lose my job. You should leave." He turned to enter the house, but I rushed to hold him back.

"Please..." I begged him, looking into his face. "It involves my mother's life. If I don't get my father's help, I might lose her." I cried, my body trembling from the pain of such a cruel fate. How could my mother be the one to fall sick, when my father and stepmother were enjoying themselves? Where is Karma?

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

"Mmmm," Mr. Adam's shoulders slouched. "I will try this once. Just hope that your father will grant you an audience."

"Thank you very much, sir," I replied as Mr. Adam pushed the 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 at the other cars driving by. A black car arrived, and I frowned when I noticed my boyfriend, Vincent, perched in the driver's seat.

"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 and black trousers paired with black shoes. He got out of the black car. It was brand new, and I wondered where he got the money to buy it. Vincent had told me he had no money. Now, seeing the black Benz 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, like I wasn't his girlfriend for the past three years.

"Arianna, what are you doing here? Are you stalking me?" Vincent asked, and my brows furrowed.

"No. I should be the one asking that question if you followed me here. This is my father's house. What brought you here?" I asked Vincent, pointing back at the magnificent white duplex behind me.

Vincent frowned as he towered above me. I wasn't up to his shoulder height. "Arianna, don't tell me you're Mr. Felix Maddox's daughter just because your surname is Maddox."

"Vincent, what do you mean? I told you 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, Aria. Before anyone hears you say that. Mr. Maddox has only one daughter, and that's Talia Maddox. Since you won't accept to date me or hang out with me, and you're too busy with your sick mother, I've decided to dump you. I am now officially Talia's boyfriend."

"What?" I looked shocked, like a bucket of water had crashed down on me.

"You're 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. When I asked to see you, it was to tell you that we can't continue our relationship. I can't wait until we're married to have sex, and I don't love you anymore. You should wait for your real husband. Don't stay around here, and don't try to stop me again." Vincent spoke cruelly, his gaze sharp like a blade, his eyes warning me not to come close.

My heart slammed against my chest, threatening to explode. How could Vincent break up with me? Since when did he get to know Talia?

"No, Vincent." I moved to hold his hand, to stop him. "You can't dump me just like that. I love you, please..."

I held Vincent's right hand to make him realize it was me. But he shoved me hard against the ground. "Arianna," he called my full name, not like how he called me "Aria." "I've been nice to you. Don't cross me again."

The gate swung open just as Mr. Adam rushed out and helped me stand.

"Miss, are you alright?" he asked with shock when he saw me sitting on the ground. He offered me his right hand to pull me back to my feet.

"I'm fine," I managed to say, 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 launched a punch at Vincent's face, who gasped, looking at us in shock.

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

The gate swings open, and Talia, my stepsister, and her mother, Rose, step out of the house. Their gazes sharpened like swords when they saw me.

However, Talia rushed to Vincent's side. She sported a short red dress that hugged her slender body like a second skin. She had smooth fair skin and long blonde hair like mine. Her face was plastered with heavy makeup. Her lips were painted bold red as she wore black stiletto shoes.

Similarly, her mother stood there, poised in a long green dress that swept the ground, like a queen. They deserved karma. They both took my mother's place and mine.

My fist clenched by my side as I watched Talia wrap her hand around Vincent. The sight twisted my heart.

"Vince, are you alright?" Talia asked affectionately, holding Vincent's hand. She touched his face and tilted his head to look at her. She was a model, taller than me, but Vincent stood taller.

"Who did this to you? Who hit you?" Talia demanded, before she glared at me. "Did you touch my boyfriend?" She asked, glaring at me.

"I'm fine, babe. Don't waste your time with her," Vincent replied as he pulled Talia close and placed a warm kiss on her forehead. "I came over to take you on a date, like I promised."

The sight of the two of them pierced my heart, and I wanted to retaliate. But remembering what brought me to my father's house, I chose to ignore them.

"No, babe. I can't let this go. Tell me, who dared to lay a finger on you? Is it that bastard?" Talia asked, pointing at me.

Vincent frowned. His eyes flickered between me and my stepsister.