Chapter 3

Isabella’s POV

I didn’t remember leaving Adrian’s office. One moment I was standing there while everyone laughed at me. Next, I was sitting alone in a taxi staring out the window.

The expensive car I bought for Adrian was still parked in the company garage.

Just like my heart, abandoned. The thought made me laugh bitterly.

Three years wasted on a man who had never trusted me.

Twenty minutes later, the taxi stopped outside the apartment that Adrian and I shared.

I paid the driver and slowly made my way upstairs.

The apartment was silent. For the first time in three years, it didn’t feel like home.

I stood in the living room and looked around. I had chosen every piece of furniture and decoration in this room because I thought we were building a future together.

God, I was pathetic. A fresh wave of pain hit me. Maybe my dad was right after all.

My eyes burned but I quickly wiped the tears away. No, I was done crying over Adrian Cole.

There was only one person I wanted to talk to now. I stared at the number on my phone as my fingers hovered over it before I pressed the call button.

The call connected immediately and I heard a worried soothing voice.

“Bella, is that you?”

“Mom…” I cried, tears running down my cheeks, “I’m so sorry for leaving home, Mom. I'm so stupid. You and Dad were right. Please forgive me.”

“Oh sweetheart,” my mom’s voice was filled with concern, “You have nothing to apologize for. I've been so worried about you. Where are you?”

My heart broke. I abandoned and ignored my family for three years because of an unfaithful man and yet my mom was so worried and concerned about me.

I sniffled, “Come get me, Mom.”

“Stay where you are. I'm coming,” she said and ended the call.

I wiped my tears again as I stared around the sitting room. Before I could stop myself, I grabbed one of the framed photographs from the shelf.

It showed Adrian smiling at me during our second anniversary. I stared at it for several seconds then I threw it into the trash.

I walked into the bedroom and pulled out a suitcase. I packed everything I came with from my clothes down to my books, shoes, and personal items.

An hour later, my suitcase was finally full. I looked around the apartment one last time and felt nothing. The love and hope were gone.

Suddenly the front door opened and Adrian walked in. Vanessa followed immediately behind him.

Vanessa’s eyes immediately landed on my suitcase and a smug smile appeared on her face.

“Oh,” she crossed her arms, “I guess you’re finally accepting reality.”

I ignored her.

Instead, I continued folding my clothes. Vanessa stepped further into the room then her expression changed.

“What are you doing?”

I didn’t answer.

Her eyes narrowed, “Are you stealing?”

I froze, “What?”

She pointed toward my suitcase, “Those things belong to Adrian.”

“No,” I zipped the suitcase closed, “They belong to me.”

“Take only the things you came here with. Don't steal anything else,” Adrian said.

I scoffed, “I don't need to steal anything.”

“How will you survive unless you steal something expensive and sell it? Or maybe you'll continue selling your body,” Vanessa laughed mockingly.

Adrian suddenly yanked the suitcase from me and opened it. His face scrunched up in disgust as he went through my things.

“Take only your garbage and not the things I got for you,” he said coldly.

I watched as he removed all the clothes, shoes, and jewelry he's ever gifted me in the last three years then he tossed my half-empty suitcase to me.

“You can go now,” he said.

I scoffed. He's done a lot today, but I wasn't expecting him to stoop so low. I guess there was really nothing left for me here again.

I grabbed the suitcase and threw it in the fireplace. Vanessa gasped as the clothes caught fire.

“I don't need anything coming from this house. I can buy whatever I want,” I snapped.

“You keep acting so high and mighty, Isabella, now you've burned your old clothes and you'll stay naked when you leave,” Vanessa said with mock pity.

“That shouldn't concern you, I can take care of myself,” I said.

Vanessa smiled, “Of course. Just sell the pretty earrings you have and you can survive for a month or two.”

Adrian’s eyes suddenly snapped up to my ears and he frowned as he extended his hand.

“Take off the earrings and necklace too. I bought it with my money, the bracelet included,” he ordered.

I smiled, this set of jewelry was the first anniversary gift he had ever given me.

“Maybe let her keep them, Adrian,” Vanessa sighed dramatically, “She’ll need something to sell when she runs out of money.”

Adrian shook his head, “No, this whore doesn't deserve anything from me.”

I saw the triumphant look in Vanessa’s eyes as I handed over the jewelry. As I removed the bracelet, Vanessa’s eyes landed on the ring on my finger.

“Wait. What’s that?”

I immediately covered it, “Nothing.”

It was a crystal diamond ring that has been in my family for generations and it was passed down to me by my mom and I'll eventually pass it down to my daughter.

“If it’s nothing then take it off.”

“I’m not taking it off.”

Vanessa frowned. “Why?”

“It’s a Sterling family heirloom.”

The room fell silent before Vanessa burst into laughter.

“Oh my God. She’s still pretending.”

Adrian looked annoyed, “Take it off, Isabella.”

“No.”

His expression darkened, “I said take it off.”

“You didn’t buy this one.”

“So what?” he snapped. “You bought it with my money.”

My eyes widened, “This belonged to my grandmother.”

Vanessa smiled, “I want it.”

Adrian grabbed my wrist before I could pull away. The ring slipped from my finger and landed in his palm.

“Adrian, give it back.”

Instead, he handed it to Vanessa and my heart dropped.

Vanessa barely held it for a second before it slipped from her fingers.

“Oops,” she smirked as the ring shattered against the floor.

“No!” I dropped to my knees immediately. My hands shook as I tried gathering the broken pieces.

“You did that on purpose!”

Vanessa rolled her eyes, “It was an accident.”

Tears burned my eyes, “You’ve both gone too far this time. You'll regret it.”

Adrian’s face hardened, “You don’t get to threaten us.”

I reached for another piece and cried out when his shoe suddenly crushed my fingers against the floor.

Pain shot through my hand.

“Adrian!” I cried.

He looked down at me coldly, “Know your place, Isabella. People like you will never belong in our world.”

A sharp knock suddenly echoed through the apartment. Before anyone could react, the front door opened and six men in black suits stepped inside.

Six men in black suits entered first then an elderly man stepped forward and bowed deeply when our eyes met.

“Miss Sterling,” the elderly man’s voice trembled slightly when he saw the blood on my hand, “We’ve come to take you home.”