Chapter 2

Isabella’s POV

“Adrian… how could you?” I asked, my voice breaking.

“You honestly thought I was going to marry you?” he sneered.

Adrian’s words slammed into me like a physical blow as the room fell silent, even the employees looked shocked.

For a moment, I couldn’t speak, I couldn't even think.

Three years of loving him, of sacrificing everything for him, and it had meant nothing.

Vanessa slipped her hand into Adrian’s and smiled sympathetically at me. The fake concern on her face made me sick.

“Adrian…” she said softly. “Don’t say that to her, I’m sorry we upset her.”

Upset me? I stared at her.

This woman had just accepted a proposal from my boyfriend and she was acting like I was overreacting.

Adrian pulled her closer and unlike before, he didn’t even try to hide it.

“Vanessa has nothing to apologize for,” he snapped at me.

My heart twisted.

“What about you?” I asked.

His expression hardened, “What about me?”

“What do you owe me after three years?”

The crowd exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Adrian looked completely unmoved, “I don’t owe you anything.”

The words landed like a slap.

Vanessa sighed dramatically, “Adrian, don’t be cruel,” then she turned toward me, “You have to understand something, Isabella.”

I folded my arms.

“Oh, enlighten me,” I said sarcastically.

She smiled, "Don't take it personally but love isn’t enough.”

I frowned, “What the hell are you talking about?”

Vanessa lifted her chin proudly, “A successful man needs someone who can stand beside him.”

The employees immediately nodded. Someone even murmured agreement.

I felt my stomach drop because I knew exactly where this was going.

Vanessa continued, “Someone who contributes. Someone who helps build his future. Someone who actually adds value.”

The crowd began whispering again.

I laughed bitterly, “Adds value?”

She smiled, “Exactly. Now you're getting it.”

“So what value are you adding, Vanessa?” I asked mockingly.

Before she could reply, Adrian answered.

“Vanessa has done more for this company in one year than you’ve done in three.”

My entire body froze. I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard.

“What?”

Vanessa squeezed his hand, “Don’t say that, babe. I just did my part.”

But her smile said otherwise. She was enjoying every second of this.

Adrian shook his head, “No, she has to hear it. When this company was struggling, Vanessa stayed and rallied new investors. She brought new opportunities to this company. What have you done?”

I stared at him, my jaw tightening with anger. Vanessa didn't do shit because I was the one doing all those things behind the scenes.

“How dare you give her credit for all my hard work? Without me, your company will be nothing,” I snapped.

Vanessa laughed mockingly, “Calm down, Isabella. You don't have to lie to gain Adrian’s favor.”

“Yes, you don't have the power to do that. All you do is take like a fucking parasite. You don't give anything back!” Adrian snapped at me.

“But it was me who —” I started to say but he cut me off.

“Take a long hard look at the latest contract Vanessa secured for my company,” he said, flinging the papers at me.

I grabbed the document and my eyes widened when I saw it was the signed Sterling Group contract.

“Vanessa got you the Sterling Group contract?” I asked, disbelieving.

Vanessa looked smug, “I mean not to brag but yes.”

Employees immediately burst into applause.

“Oh my God.”

“I knew it.”

“No wonder Mr. Cole proposed.”

“She’s amazing.”

Vanessa lowered her eyes modestly. Her performance was flawless. If I didn’t know the truth, I might have believed her myself.

I clenched my fists.

“You liar! How dare you take credit for my effort?” I snarled, “I secured the Sterling contract and I had to work my ass off on the shitty proposal you submitted.”

Gasps filled the room as Vanessa’s eyes widened and suddenly they were filled with tears.

“Adrian…” she cried, “I don't want to upset Isabella any longer so let her have the credit.”

I nearly laughed. The woman deserved an award.

Adrian immediately moved in front of her, protecting me from her. His eyes hardened as he glared at me.

“Apologize to Vanessa right now! A lowlife like you can't even afford to eat food without my help so how could you possibly have secured the Sterling contract?”

I pointed directly at Vanessa, “I am not going to apologize to that drama queen because she didn’t secure that contract. I did!”

The room exploded with laughter this time as the employees stared at me mockingly.

Adrian cocked a brow at me, “Since you're so good with lies tell me how you secured the contract.”

I shrugged, “It was pretty easy. I just rewrote Vanessa’s tacky proposal and sent it to Sterling Group because I know exactly what type of proposal gets their attention.”

Adrian scoffed, “You don't even have the brains for that so how would you know what the Sterling Group wants?”

I shrugged and finally said the truth I’ve hidden for three years, “Because I'm Isabella Sterling.”

After my revelation there was at least three seconds of complete silence before the entire room erupted with laughter. It echoed from every corner of the room.

Vanessa nearly doubled over.

“Oh my God!” she wiped tears from her eyes, “This is embarrassing, even for you, Isabella.”

“It’s the truth,” I snapped.

“Just because you have the same first name as the Sterling Heiress doesn't make you an heiress,” Vanessa said.

“I do not have the same name. I am her!”

Vanessa smiled triumphantly, “Sweetheart, I personally know Isabella Sterling. She's my best friend which is also how I got the contract.”

“I’d never be friends with the likes of you!” I snapped.

“Enough! You've gone too far, Isabella!” Adrian snapped at me.

I was shocked. Nobody seemed to believe me. Suddenly my eyes fell on the car keys and I picked it up.

“If I'm not the Sterling Group Heiress then tell me how I was able to afford this car,” I said smugly, flashing the car keys before them.

Adrian’s eyes flickered with recognition when he saw it.

“That’s my dream car. It cost fifty million dollars,” he gasped.

I smirked, “I got it for you to celebrate the Sterling contract and reveal my identity to you but you don't deserve it.”

Vanessa didn't look impressed. In fact she smiled smugly.

“That cost more than what most people make all their lives, Isabella,” she said then turned to Adrian and gave him a sympathetic look, “I hate to say it but it seems I was right about her.”

I frowned, “Right about what? What do you mean?”

Adrian’s expression darkened as he flung some pictures at me. I frowned when I stared at them because they all showed me conversing with elderly men in a fancy restaurant or a hotel.

“What is this supposed to mean?” I asked him.

“That is how you got the car, sweetie. Which sugar daddy bought it for you?” Vanessa said, her voice dripping with disdain.

“I mean, I know you did it for Adrian but you didn't have to whore yourself out just to get him to love you,” Vanessa continued.

I turned to Adrian, “You honestly don't believe this nonsense right? I was with those men discussing business strategies on how to help your company.”

“By sleeping with them? You're so dumb that you'll rely solely on your body to get what you want, Isabella. You disgust me,” Adrian spat.

My mouth hung open in shock and suddenly my hands curled into fist as hot rage washed over me.

“So you'll just believe whatever she says even without proof but you wouldn't believe me? How can she claim to know the Sterling Heiress when I'm right here!”

Vanessa rolled her eyes and before anyone could speak she dialed a number on video call.

The call connected immediately and my eyes widened when I saw the girl in my old room back at the mansion as servants attended to her.

“Hey Bella, some loose whore is claiming to be you, the Sterling Heiress,” Vanessa said.

Everyone craned their necks to see the person and they all gasped when they saw her in the bedroom crested with my family’s name.

“Send me her picture, I'll tell my father’s guards to lock her up so she stops impersonating people,” the girl said.

“No, don't do that. I'll handle her,” Vanessa smirked and hung up.

I was too speechless to speak. Who the hell is that girl and what is she doing in my bedroom?!

Vanessa turned to me, a smug smile playing on her lips, “You’re welcome. I could have had you arrested.”

Adrian’s eyes were filled with disgust as he stared at me.

“Take your cheap lies and get out of my office,” his eyes dropped to the car keys in my hand, “And return that car to whoever bought it for you.”

The room erupted in laughter.

I stood frozen.

Because for the first time in three years, I realized Adrian Cole had never trusted me at all.