Chapter 2

Ahtisa’s Pov

Adrian's hands were buried in another woman's hair. The woman's back arched into him with an ease that says she had been there before.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

“Adrian…”

Adrian turned and his expression hardened the moment he saw me.

"... Ahtisa?” He said, moving away from the woman. "What… what are you doing here?"

The woman also turned, not even bothering to cover herself and recognition hit me.

“... Isabella?”

My chest hurts. This wasn't possible. I shook my head. Isabella flashed me a smile.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?” I screamed at Adrian.

Then I turned to Isabella. I clutched my chest. I remembered her clearly. “You told me… you said you had nowhere to go… you begged me to help you!”

Isabella stood up from the bed, her breasts dangling as she moved. She crossed her arms flashing me a smile.

"Were you always planning to steal my husband?” I asked, voice breaking.

"Stop it, Ahtisa,” Adrian said, jaw tightening. "Just go home"

He raked his hands through his hair and sighed, as if this was just an inconvenience. “You weren't supposed to find out like this”

I blinked. “I should go home?! Do you even feel an ounce of guilt? Do you…"

“Guilt?" Isabella cut in. She laughed. “Why should he feel guilty?"

Adrian picked up his shirt and started putting it on. He shrugged. “Since you are here, we might as well stop pretending"

He turned his eyes and met mine. I held the doorknob to steady me because if I didn't, I might fall to the ground.

"When… When… I endured the insults, the pain… when I dropped my pride so that you could make it. Have you forgotten all about that so quickly, Adrian?” I murmured, voice breaking. "Does all of that not matter?"

Isabella stalked toward me, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. I sucked in a breath. "Do you know how many women would kill to be in your position?”

I stared at her.

Isabella continued.

"You have everything. The name. The house. The title. What else do you want?”

My nails dug into my palms.

"And yet you still managed to be completely useless.”

My breath caught. I laughed, though it sounded broken, it wasn't that she was the first person to call me useless. I had been called useless so many times that at this point, it didn't even hurt anymore.

But watching her, Isabella, the girl I saved from two men who wanted to rape her. I gave her money for tuition. Even when Adrian got angry with her, I tried to settle their fight.

Was that just a pretence?

Was that all I was to her? Useless.

But I didn't care about that.

I shook my head. I stepped toward Adrian,my body trembling. “Tell me, this was a mistake… Tell me, you are sorry.”

"Oh darling, I am not sorry,” he said. My face paled. "I’ve repaid you for everything that you owe me… Isabella is worth ten times of you”

"Ten times of me?”

My body shook.

Isabella came from behind, turning me towards her. She flashed me a smile. "Guess what, Ahtisa?”

She waited for a moment but I was not willing to play her game. “I'm carrying his child"

“No…" I whispered. “You're lying"

I faced Adrian. “He wouldn't do this to me."

“Are you sure?" Isabella said, shifting closer to Adrian. Her hands caressing his chest and Adrian didn't move away, he only looked proud.

I swallowed.

Fine. I took a step back and another. “Adrian, we are over"

Isabella doubled over, she was saying something but I couldn't hear her.

Then she dragged my hair backwards. “Oh no. You don't get to walk away that easily!"

Before I could react, my butt hit the ground.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you,” Isabella snapped, her voice losing its sweetness already.

Isabella reached for me. I shoved her hands away. "Don't touch me."

“Did you see that?" She said turning to Adrian. “She hit me"

Adrian's face suddenly turned cold. “Ahtisa"

I scoffed. “Did you… "

I didn't complete my sentence before I felt the impact. He grabbed a bottle and struck my head, pain exploding through my skull.

My vision turned white.

Then black.

My body fell to the floor. I was losing a lot of blood.

“... Idiot," Isabella's voice drifted through the whistling sound. “What if she dies?"

My fingers twitched weakly against the floor. Blood pooled beneath me.

“... What about the money?" Isabella asked

My breath caught. What money?

Adrian exhaled. “It's confirmed. Her father's will went through this morning."

My heart stopped. I coughed weakly. How did he know? How did he find out?

"Seriously?”

"I told you she was hiding something,” Adrian said. "All this time, acting like she had nothing.”

He kicked my stomach and I screamed in pain."You really thought I wouldn't find out.”

“... Adrian…” I whispered weakly. But they only looked at me without pity. They didn't move to help me.

“But we need her signature… or…” Isabella said, voice barely audible now.

"If that fails… " Adrian cut in. “There are other ways."

My chest tightened.

"... Please,” I breathed. "Adrian… please”

My voice was barely there. "Save me…"

I grabbed onto his leg and he kicked me away.

“Let's go," he said

Isabella paused for a second before following him. "Just leave her like this?”

"She'll be dead soon,” Adrian replied, closing the door.

I was suddenly alone. Tears rushed out of my eyes. So, this was how it ended.

I had been a fool to trust Adrian but it was too late now. Suddenly the door burst open.

“Ahtisa!"

My eyes fluttered open. That voice…

"... Lucien?" I whispered.

He was at my side in seconds, his hands hovering over me like he didn't know where to touch without hurting me.

“Stay with me." He said, voice tight. “You are not dying here"

I tried to smile.

"I…”

" Don't talk,” he said, his hand tightening around mine. Why would he try to save me? After everything I did to him. After pushing him away… he still loved me.

Tears dropped down my eyes. I am sorry, Lucien

If I had another chance, I would choose you. I would spend it loving you. And Adrian? I would make him pay.

Then, everything turned black.