CHAPTER 1 - Left alone

Clara's Pov

"Please just pick your call?" Tears clouded my vision as I shamelessly dialed Adrian’s number for the fiftieth time that evening. Yes I was counting.

"Excuse me ma'am, we're closing soon, should I pack your order as take out?" A young lady in her early twenties addressed me politely.

She was neatly dressed in a white shirt tucked in a black skirt that stopped mid thigh with a black panty hose and a warm smile.

"Yes please," she left, leaving me to stare at the entrée before me.

I had ordered several dishes Adrian loved, even his favorite french wine, chateau Margaux to break the news to him but as always he had stood me up.

"Do I pack up all the food and—"

"No, just the wine please." I smiled sadly. Adrian was rich and there was no one at home to eat all of the food if I carried it with me but the wine—I was hoping he went home straight and fell asleep.

"Ma'am is your husband picking you?" Her face lit up like a light bulb and she hid her blush. Of course one of his fans.

Adrian was a famous actor and movie director before he started handling Hollingsworth films as the CEO and he was every girl's heartthrob including mine from childhood.

From her reaction I could tell she recognized me as his wife and it eased my burdened heart a bit, at least someone saw me.

"No, he has a lot of work today, I just came here to clear my head by myself." I lied. Her eyes grew wide in shock as she scanned through the dishes I had ordered, anyone would think I was having a feast with at least ten friends coming over.

The truth was that my marriage to Adrian wasn't borne from love but duty and I wasn't surprised that he didn't show up.

Two years ago, I had followed my friend to the set for a shoot after party and somehow ended up in his room, the media had carried a story the next morning after I was seen leaving his private room that morning. To protect the Hollingsworth family's image and avoid the scandal from escalating, the grand patron of the Hollingsworth family, Romeo, Adrian’s grandfather had forced him to get married to me and made him CEO of the Hollingsworth films as his wedding gift to me.

Though my heart always belonged to him since I was a child, Adrian only saw me as a friend and younger sister.

"Ma'am, your wine." The gentle voice of the waitress drew me out of my thoughts.

"Thank you Amelia," I read her name from her tag on her shirt. Instantly she lit up again.

"Please can I at least take a selfie with you?" My heart swelled with joy and I agreed, no one ever saw me or acknowledged me as Adrian’s wife so her gesture was a welcome development.

When I was safe behind my wheel, I dialed Adrian’s number again.

If he didn't pick, I was going to drive home and sleep. The next day was my mom's golden jubilee party and my parents’ pearl anniversary and everyone would expect me to show up with him.

I had not seen him in a week, he always returned late when I had slept and left before I woke up so I couldn't tell him about it.

I had left several messages with no responses either.

My mum and Dad were very excited about it and the entire industry would expect me to show up with him so I did my best to save my face—click!

Just then, the ringing stopped and the call connected.

"I've been—"

I heard a beep sound, he was requesting a video call, with so much glee, I accepted it but my happiness was short lived as a woman's breasts came in view.

"Oh Addy, you're so huge," I heard her moan and I froze, I stared at my screen with wide eyes as I tightened my grip around my phone.

"You're always so tight," I heard Adrian’s deep voice. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.

"Oh baby, go a little faster," the woman moaned even more followed by the sound of flesh slapping against flesh. Then I heard him groan.

"Oh El, I've missed you so much." That was the last straw that broke my back and I threw the phone away, my hands were trembling as my heart raced fast in my ribcage.

El—I knew that name.

That was short for Elena, his first love but I didn't know she had returned to the country. Despite being married to Adrian, I knew his heart belonged to her alone, he had told me countless times but foolishly I believed that if I tried harder, one day he was going to see me and love me but it was obvious he was only ever going to love Elena.

My hand moved over my stomach in a protective stance to prevent myself from throwing up, the distant sound of their moans filled the silent car making me nauseous as I cried my eyes out.

I reached for the phone and ended the call before driving home with blurry vision.

As I drove, I let down the glass and let the night breeze tussle my hair and set me free, "Did I ask for too much to be loved by my husband?" I sobbed as I drove, tears flowed freely down my cheeks as I drove passed familiar places.

It was all ever for show, the public kisses, the nights we had to be intimate in the Hollingsworth mansion just to convince his grandfather that we were a happy couple. It was all just a facade and now Elena was back, everything was over.

I took a reckless turn and bright light flashed in my eyes, my heart beat fast in my chest, cold sweat soaked the back of my dress when I realized I had turned into a one way drive.

"Oh damn it!" I tried to steer myself off the road but I could barely focus in that panicked state, the hair on my skin stood as I watched with wide eyes.

My heart was thumping fast as my car spun twice so I closed my eyes and immediately hit the brakes waiting for the impact of the other vehicle that approached me on high speed.

The last thing I heard was the screeching sound of my tyres as my car came to a hault in the middle of the road.