Chapter 5

I turned around, and he stopped.

"Hey, pretty lady," he said.

My face twisted in disgust.

"Get away from me, you creep!" I shouted as he reached for my hands.

"Come on, I only want to talk to you," he said. "Ain't no harm in that, right?"

I looked around.

The passageway was empty.

If I screamed, no one was going to hear me.

I turned around and quickened my pace. If I could just make it to the bathroom, I was sure I would be able to lock myself inside, and he wouldn't be able to get in.

Terrible mistake.

His footsteps quickened behind me. This time, I was basically running.

I finally got to the bathroom door, and just as I was about to shut it closed, he held the door with his foot.

"Get away from me, you creep," I screamed.

I pressed the door harder against his foot. He winced in pain, and he reached for my neck, grabbing it tightly.

"You stupid bitch!" he screamed.

Just as I was about to release his grip from my neck, the man got thrown across the wall.

I fell to my knees, gasping for air.

"Elaina, are you okay?" Adrian asked.

I struggled to speak. I couldn't breathe.

"Elaina, look at me," Adrian almost screamed.

I tried to look at him, but this time, the creepy stranger punched Adrian from behind.

A few minutes passed as I lay on the floor, weak. I had bruised my knee from the fall, my dress had an extra slit at the side too, and my neck was red from the man's grip.

But none of that compared to the punches Adrian was throwing at the man. He kept on going until blood had splattered against the wall.

"Adrian, stop!" I screamed, but he kept on going until the man lay unconscious on the floor.

He moved over to me, placing a hand on my neck.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his face filled with worry.

I had never seen him look at me like this.

I nodded slowly and asked, "Why are you doing this?"

He completely ignored my question and grabbed a white cloth from his back pocket and cleaned my bruised knee.

His hands against my skin felt electrifying. A small shiver ran down my spine as he looked at me, his eyes focused on my lips.

It was just like that night he was drunk. His eyes held that same look.

"I thought you hated me," I said again.

"I do," he replied, and I stared at him, shocked.

"But at the same time, I don't," he said again. "I just want what my parents want, and if marrying a total stranger that meets up to their standard is what they want, then I'll do that."

He grabbed my wrist and looked at me again. "Who did this to you, Elaina?"

I stared at the healed mark on my hands.

My stepmother would make me hold a knife against my wrist whenever I disobeyed her. This was just one of her many tricks.

But I couldn't tell Adrian that.

I was Elaina, not Ivy.

"It was an accident. I accidentally got cut with a knife while I was doing the dishes," I said instead, hoping he would believe me and we would move on from that conversation.

When he said nothing and lifted me off the ground, a sigh of relief washed over me.

I heard footsteps coming down the hall.

Lisa's annoying scream pierced my ear. "What happened here?"

She used her feet to kick the creepy man's body on the floor and said, "Is he dead?"

"No," Adrian replied. "Just unconscious."

Elliot moved to my side and said, "Elaina, are you okay?"

I gave him a small smile and nodded.

Something died inside of me the moment Adrian released my hand and was back at Lisa's side. I pushed the feeling aside and turned to face Elliot.

"I don't think I can stay here anymore. I just want to go upstairs."

"Of course," Elliot said immediately. "I can walk you back."

"I'll take her."

Adrian's voice cut through the conversation.

I looked at him, confused by his sudden offer.

"Elaina, are you hurt?" Lisa asked, stepping closer.

I stared at her.

Was she seriously pretending to care?

"I'm fine," I muttered.

She gave me a sympathetic smile.

Lisa being nice to me?

That was weird.

********

After the party

"Ouch, that really hurts!" I screamed as Adrian pressed the hot towel against my knee.

"Stop being dramatic," he said, completely unfazed.

Then he gave my knee another light jab.

I winced. "Adrian!"

He smirked. "You're still alive."

"Who knew the great Adrian Sterling would be good at basic first aid?" I teased.

"Well, I'm good at many other things," he replied.

I bit my lower lip as I watched him apply a Band-Aid over my knee.

His fingers lingered for a second longer than necessary.

Then he looked up at me.

"Careful."

I frowned. "About what?"

"That look on your face."

"What look?"

He leaned closer, his eyes holding mine.

"The one that makes me think you're starting to enjoy having my hands on you."

My cheeks instantly burned.

I opened my mouth to argue, but he beat me to it.

Then something inside me snapped.

The embarrassment disappeared.

So did the stupid little flutter in my chest.

What replaced it was pure anger.

"Wow."

His smile faded slightly.

I pulled my knee away from him and stood.

"You really are an asshole."

His brows lifted.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me."

I grabbed my things, refusing to look at him.

For the first time since I'd met Adrian Sterling, I didn't care what he thought of me.

"You think you're so clever, don't you?" I snapped. "You walk around insulting people and acting like everyone should be grateful just because you decided to look in their direction."

His jaw tightened.

I turned to face him.

"Well, congratulations, Adrian. You finally got what you wanted."

"And what's that?"

"I hate you."

The words came out before I could stop them.

He stared at me.

I smiled bitterly.

"And don't worry. I won't mistake your arrogance for charm again."

I walked past him, my shoulder brushing against his.

"From now on, you can keep your hands, your jokes, and your precious first-aid skills far away from me."

I didn't wait for his response.

Because for the first time, I wasn't embarrassed about how much Adrian Sterling could hurt me.

I was angry that I'd ever cared enough to let him.

For a few seconds, neither of us said anything.

Then, as if our argument had never happened, Adrian spoke.

"My parents are coming over next week," he stated.

My heart started beating fast against my chest.

"How long will they be staying?" I asked.

"A couple of days."

There was a brief silence between us, and then he went on to address the elephant in the room.

"They don't know about Lisa," he stated. "Well, they do. They just don't know we are still together, and I would prefer we keep it that way. It's none of their business."

I nodded in agreement.

"And I'm not leaving Lisa," Adrian stated. "Definitely not leaving her for you."

Those were his final words, and then he turned his back and walked out of my room.

I heard something vibrate on the bed.

Adrian's phone.

He must have forgotten it.

Curiosity got the best of me, and I took a look when it vibrated again.

It was a message from Lisa.

Lisa: I didn't expect him to actually hurt her.

Then another notification.

Lisa: But I needed to know how you'd react.

Then another.

Lisa: Now I know.

My blood ran cold.