CHAPTER {2} Baby… Please

The last 48 hours felt like a year. I waited, overthinking, my heart racing so hard as I kept counting the hours.

Two years of my life wasted over a crime I didn't even commit.

I slowly step out of the prison's big gate, clutching the small bag they gave me. 

Inside are the divorce papers I refused to sign, a few old things, and my phone that’s probably dead by now.

The space outside feels too big, the air is fresh too. I take a deep long breath, but it doesn't calm the burn I feel in my chest.

My eyes search for Adam's car among the cars lined up. He’s not here.

Any second now, he’ll show up. He’ll pull me close, kiss me, and tell me this was all a welcome home prank. 

Because I know how crazy he can get when he wants to tease me, it's one of the reasons I can't stop loving him. His playfulness, his charm, his tease.

Tears sting my eyes regardless, because something tells me I'm just dreaming.

Then a glossy black ride startles me as it makes a quick stop in front of me. The window rolls down.

“Ma’am, get in. I'm supposed to take you to your preferred destination.” 

I take a slow step forward and look at the cab man. Dark hair, with a built frame. His grey eyes are still fixed on me waiting for me to hop in

“What’s your name?” I ask, just to ensure I'm not getting kidnapped.

“Hunter Ramsey,” he says, "from the possible directions I was given, you're likely headed to Hilton's Estate?”

“Specifically Adam Hilton's mansion. Right?” he asks.

Adam. He didn't come by himself, he booked a cab instead. That's so unlike him. For some reason that realization made my stomach sink.

 “You’re Mrs. Hermione Hilton, right?” He asks, with an impatient tone

“Yes,” then I drag in a deep breath and enter.

~~~

The car slows in front of our mansion, the wide black gate automatically opens and we drive in.

My eyes move across the compound, and a deep feeling of sweet-sorrow overwhelms me.

The pool. The same blue pool where Adam and I spent so many nights. Laughing, kissing.

My gaze shifts to the house itself, the big and tall mansion covered in glass. My home.

From here I can even see our room. I would wake up and look out at the city while Adam kissed down my back and told me to stay in bed, to rest a little longer.

I grip my knees and take a deep breath.

“Mrs Hermione. We’re here.” Hunter’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. 

I look down at the divorce papers in my lap and hold it up, my hands cold and shaky.

What if this is real? What if he doesn’t want me anymore? What if another woman has already taken my place while I was rotting away in prison?

I push the door open and step out.

The glass door uses face recognition, and it immediately starts sliding open as I approach.

I start climbing the stairs to our room, that's when I hear a faint moan.

My stomach twists and my hand holds the rail tight.

The sound grows clearer as I reach the top of the stairs. 

My whole body trembles. I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want to see it. But my feet carry me forward anyway.

I push the door open.

The sight almost knocks the air out of me. 

A woman in nothing but a black g-string kneels in front of Adam, his fingers digging into her silky black hair, swaying as she sucks on his dick, moaning loud to it.

Adam is sitting there, his face is calm, his other hand resting on the bed, watching her.

My mouth goes dry instantly. I gag, fighting the urge to throw up right there.

Adam’s eyes finally lift. His fire brown eyes lock onto mine.

“Fuck Hermione, you forgot your manners in prison?” He groans.

I can’t breathe. It feels like someone has their hands wrapped around my heart, squeezing, choking the air out of me.

I slowly close the door back, my hand slipping on the handle. My head feels dizzy and I cling to the railing for support.

Adam steps out of the room with his phone pressed to his ear.

His black shirt is open, revealing his abs that's even more wickedly toned than I remember. 

His dark hair looks damp, like he’s just stepped out of the shower.

I fell in love with that look, long before he stole my heart with his words and actions.

He leaned to the door frame. My heart aches badly as I watch him fold his sleeves, revealing his toned arm muscles.

His shoulder holds the phone to his ear, as if my presence doesn't even affect him anymore, as if I'm totally invisible to him now. 

“Six? Come up here” he speaks into the phone.

Within seconds his Personal assistant, Six Albello arrives, he looks way taller than the last time I saw him.

“Did you sign the papers?” He finally asks casually, with a deep husky voice.

I slowly step backwards, my chest is burning. 

“Adam!” His name rips out of me before I can hold it back. My throat stings.

He shuts his eyes for a moment, pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose, like he's really tired of me.

“There was a note in the folder, Hermione,” he says slowly, not lifting his gaze to mine. “Didn’t you get it?”

“You can’t do this to me, Adam.” My voice cracks so badly I almost don’t recognize it.

“I waited for you in that damn prison. Every single day, every single night.”

“You were all I ever thought about.” My chest heaves, tears burning my eyes. “You can’t just send me away.”

I drop the papers and they hit the floor with a soft slap. 

My hands shake as I reach for him, wrapping gently around his hand. His skin is warm and familiar, it breaks me even more.

“Baby,” I whisper, holding on like he might vanish if I let go. “Please… you don’t have to do this. Just tell me what I did wrong.” 

For a second, he looks down at my hand. And I catch that trace of softness I know so well. But it dies almost instantly. 

His jaw tightens, so hard I can see the muscle jump from his side profile. His deadly handsome side profile that I became charmed by.

He looks away like I disgust him.

“I’m back, right? We can be together again, Adam. Just like we used—”

“I've made my decision, Hermione. What did you think? You step out of prison and expect things to be the same?” He lashes out.

“Adam!” I yell, my grip on his hand tightening, “baby, please just look at me.”

“Just get it done!” His voice explodes, as he yanks his hand away.

My body jerks back from the roughness in his voice, I've never seen him like this before.

The door behind him creaks open and the lady steps out. 

That's when I realized she's the same woman in the picture. 

Her long dark hair spreads over her shoulders, her blue eyes too intimidating to look at. She’s holding the bedsheet from our bed across her chest.

My gut twists at the sight of her. I can’t even breathe properly.

She leans on the doorframe, tilting her head “Adam, sweetie,” she purrs, “you’re being too cruel,” her expression is filled with fake concern.

“Get the fuck inside, Cassie,” Adam snaps without looking at her. His tone is harsh and commanding. “I didn’t ask you to come out here, did I?”

Cassie smirks, shifting the sheet around her body.

 “Sorry, Hermione. It’s just that… you’re interrupting something.” Her voice drips with mock sweetness.

“Adam, tell her to take it off,” I manage to choke out my words, pointing at the sheet. 

Cassie smiles like she’s won. “You still smell like sweat and piss,” she says coolly. 

“Maybe clean yourself up first before you act like you still own anything here.” 

Her gaze shifts to Adam, hand brushing his bare chest.

“I'll be inside my love,” then she turns and disappears into the room, the door shutting behind her.

I try to swallow but it feels like there's a stone in my throat, the silence between us speaking a million words.

“Hermione. I won’t repeat myself. Sign the papers, and head out.” Adam demands.

My knees weaken. I slowly crouch down as I reach for the papers scattered on the floor. Tears falling uncontrollably.

I came from a family with a harsh upbringing, parents that didn't care if I was bleeding or hurting.

But nothing. Nothing ever broke me the way Adam just did.

He loved me, the only love I've ever experienced in this cruel world.

We were addicted to each other—the sex, the mind-shattering orgasms, the laughs, the cuddles, the sweet words. The way he held me.

Everything is being stripped away from me. 

All I ever wanted was to come home to him, to get lost in his arms, just like we used to lose ourselves in each other.

But all I get is the coldness in his eyes that I've never seen before, the sharpness of his voice, these divorce papers, another woman in his arms.

I look up at him, to beg, to pour my bleeding heart out, to say the last words that are left of me.

“Adam, if I sign these papers…” I breathe out.

“If you let me walk out of here like this, I'll never be back in your life again. We'll never have those moments…” I couldn't finish my words.

Tears roll down my cheeks, my heart shattering in a million pieces, waiting for him to give me the tiniest bit of hope that he still loves me.

“Baby… please,” I beg.

“Sign those fucking papers, Hermione.” he commands.

I look down at the papers, then pick up the pen and sign. My tears drop on the ink, smearing my signature.

I sniff hard and hold them up to him, and he picks it. My eyes search his face for any sign of remorse but…nothing.

“Take her to where her stuff is,” he orders Six.

“This way, ma'am.” Six subtly holds my shoulder, guiding me through the corridor and down the stairs.

I stare back at Adam as I walk down the stairs, holding my chest, because I can feel it ripping apart.

He finally looks at me, and I burst out crying, as if I haven't been crying before.

Everything is happening so fast. I wasn't prepared for this. It's too much pain to bear.

Who can love me the way he did? How can I love anyone else the way I love Adam? He's all I want.

I shut my eyes, letting the warm tears fall down my cheeks.

Six opens the door to the visitors’ room, and that's where I find my belongings.

My box and my laptop, neatly packed in one corner of the room.

I don't care to check the box. I open my laptop, and there is my App idea that I've been working on before I got arrested.

I shut it and pick my stuff.

“Let me get them for you,” Six offers politely.

“No, Six, I've got it,” I say, sniffing back the snot already falling through my nostrils.

I push the box forward, and we head out, clutching my laptop in my left hand.

The idea is the only hope I have left. I can't go back to my family house; they will just break anything that's left of my heart with harsh words.

As the gate opens, I spot him again, standing by the side of his car, waiting.