005.

A R I A N A

I woke up to blinding white lights, the smell of antiseptic and the beeping of machines.

A hospital.

I was in a hospital.

My head pounded as I tried to remember how I got here, my body felt heavy, like I had been crushed under something.

Then the pain hit.

A sharp, stabbing ache in my abdomen.

I gasped, my hands flying to my stomach.

My baby.

Memories flooded back.

Bella’s smug face, her cruel words, the w way she stepped closer, her eyes full of hate and the way she had left me to die after pushing me from the stairs.

How she had shoved me off the stairs with no remorse, the menace, all of it came back.

The last thing I remembered was the wetness between my legs.

Blood.

Now, I was here.

Alone.

In pain.

I clutched my stomach, tears burning my eyes.

“No! Please, please let my baby be okay” I cried.

The door opened, and a nurse walked in.

She rushed to me seeing my state, I was panicked tears as I clutched my bump hoping that nothing had happened to my baby.

"Ms. Melendez, you need to stay calm—"

Melendez.

She knew my real name.

But I didn’t care.

"My baby," I choked out, my voice raw. "Is my baby okay?"

The nurse hesitated.

That one second of silence shattered me.

Her lips parted, and she spoke softly. "I’m so sorry… but you lost the baby."

No.

No, no, no.

A scream tore from my throat, “No! Please… you’re lying to me” I broke down, that the nurse flinched.

I clutched my stomach, sobbing.

My baby.

My sweet, innocent baby. He or she didn’t deserve this, it was the only good thing I had left after four years and more, of lies and betrayal.

It can’t be.

I cried until my throat was raw, until my body had no tears left.

Hurt.

Betrayed.

Angry.

So, so angry I burned with rage.

The nurse stood by, helpless, until my cries turned to shaky breaths.

Then, she reached for a folder on the table.

"These were left for you," she said gently. "The man who paid for your hospital bills asked me to give them to you."

I knew before I even opened it.

Angelo.

I took the folder with trembling hands.

Inside divorce papers.

Already signed.

By him.

After what Bella had done to me, he still didn’t realize his mistake and chose her?

His name was written bold and final, like he couldn’t wait to be rid of me.

I stared at it, numb.

No tears came this time.

Just… rage.

The nurse squeezed my hand. "Do you need anything?"

I didn’t answer.

What was there to say?

My husband betrayed me.

My best friend was a monster.

My baby was dead.

And I

I had nothing left, nothing but pain.

The door burst open cutting through the tensed environment my attention snapping back to the door as I hoped to see him return, maybe to beg for forgiveness and things would go back to the way they were.

Instead my mum walked in with some guards he expression unreadable. I looked away the minute our eyes clicked together, I felt ashamed.

“Leave us!” She ordered.

The nurse and the guards walked out hurriedly the sound of the door clicking close has me breaking into sobs.

I buried my face in my palms as I cried harder. Mum settled next to me pulling me into her arms making me cry harder than I did.

“I’m sorry… im so sorry mum. I should have listen to you” I say in between tears.

She rubbed my back, “It’s okay Sweetie… We’ll talk about this later, let’s get you home”

Home?

A home that I had abandoned for all these years for a fucking, liar, cheat.

Mum helped me out of the bed taking the divorce papers, I didn’t miss the change in her expression as she saw it but she was quick to mask it off.

The car ride to the Melendez estate was silent.

No music, no words were exchanged between mum and I, which I was thankful for cause I was in no mental state for a talk.

My breath was heavy,I could feel the fire in my chest.

Rage.

Pure, burning rage.

Angelo thought he could throw me away?

Bella thought she could take everything from me?

They were wrong.

So wrong.

I stared out the window, my hands clenched into fists.

I would make them pay. They had no idea who they were messing with, but I’d show it to them, one by one.

Every single thing Angelo had his job in the Melendez Corp, his money, his fancy life, I gave him that.

And Bella?

She thought she won?

No.

I would destroy them both.

I would take everything from them.

Just like they took everything from me.

The car stopped in front of the huge iron gates of the Melendez estate.

The guards immediately opened the gates.

Their faces were shocked as they saw me.

No one had seen me in years.

But now,

Now, I was back.

And I was done hiding… Ariana Melendez was back! Back to were in the world truly belongs.

The car drove up the long road to the mansion.

My family’s mansion.

The door opened before I even stepped out mum had walked to my side holding me.

“Are you okay?” She asked to which I nodded even though I felt slight pain.

“Yes Mum… thank you” I say forcing a tight lipped smile.

“Let’s get you inside”