Scarlett's eyes flipped open and she looked around, trying to recall where she was. She finally understood that she was in her room, lying on the bed. She suddenly remembered everything that happened before she passed out, everything that Adrian said to her, and immediately broke down. She cried her eyes out, her heart aching like an arrow had been driven into it.
She couldn't believe that the man she had been fighting to have for close to a year now was nothing but a fraud. He had been pretending all this while and kept his motives hidden. It was almost as if the universe was constantly testing her, things always seemed to turn sour every time she started to enjoy herself.
“I hope this all ends up being a dream.” She sniffed, tears blurring her vision. She pulled her own hair, overwhelmed by pain and anger. She didn't know what to think or what to do, she felt like she was drowning and there was no one to save her. She sat up on the bed, tears still pouring down her cheeks.
The door suddenly creaked open, slowly opening until Adrian came into view. His head hung in shame as he carried a tray of food in his hands. He made his way over to her, avoiding eye contact with her. He knew she was extremely upset with him, he was expecting it but her reaction was something he never expected.
“I… I brought you something to eat.” He muttered but she knocked the tray right out of his hands, watching everything, including the food, shatter all over the floor and walls. She fumed, sending dangerous glares to Adrian.
“What are you doing here you liar!?” She barked at him. He gulped, terrified by the look in her eyes. If looks could kill, then he'd definitely be on the floor, knocked out cold. He had never seen her that angry, ever. He had never seen her show so much emotion, she seemed like a completely different person.
“Hear me out Scarlett, I promise you, I'm not thinking about revenge anymore. All of that is in the past, you're my present and my future.” He tried to touch her but she slapped his hand away.
“Don't you fucking lay those filthy hands on me Adrian! , Is that even your real name? Or you lied about that too!?”
“My name is Adrian.” He mumbled.
“Why would you do this to me?” She sniffed, still in awe about the whole thing. Adrian sat by her bed, although she was avoiding contact with his body. He stared at her with a worried look on his face, wishing that she would just calm down and believe him.
“Listen, Scarlett, it's nothing like you think.”
“How can you even say that? I actually thought what we had was real, but no. You were just pretending, you were lying to me and my mother all this while and all for revenge! Why did I have to suffer? I have no hands in the death of your mother!” She wept bitterly.
“No Scarlett, everything we shared was real! I promise!” He insisted, seeing her so brokenhearted made his heart bleed. He was on the brink of tears.
“Liar! Just shut the fuck up and stop lying to me! How do I know that this isn't another scope for revenge, huh?” She asked with resentment, tears streaming down her eyes continuously.
“No… I am no longer interested in revenge, I swear! I love you Scarlett, I love you so freaking much and I can't hurt you!” He confessed, voicing out his feelings for the very first time and Scarlett's breath seized for a moment.
She had yearned for such a long time to hear those very words from him, but she was pained, believing that they were lies too. Lies fabricated to lure her in for the purpose of his revenge.
“Adrian.” She called softly.
“Yes?” He sniffed.
“Get out.”
“What?”
“Get out! Get out!! I don't ever want to see your face, ever. Get the fuck out of my life and don't come back.” She started to throw a tantrum and he was forced to run out of the room, leaving her to hug her pillow and cry her eyes out.
~~~~
Vivian had already found out about the whole thing and she was very unhappy. Scarlett told her everything later that night and Vivian didn't waste any time before calling Lily who had only returned from college that evening. Lily agreed to come the next day after Vivian explained everything to her.
Vivian saw Scarlett's pain, she saw how much her daughter was suffering and did not want her to remain in misery or get into a state of depression. That was why she called Lily, perhaps, she could cheer Scarlett up.
The very next morning, Lily showed up as promised and she went straight to see Scarlett who did not sleep a wink last night. She was up all night thinking about how Adrian broke her heart, right after she had fallen helplessly in love with him.
“Bestie, you can't keep doing this yourself. How long do you want to remain here, wallowing in self-pity? You promised that no man would ever keep you in this condition, now what happened?” Lily was really upset seeing her friend in that condition.
“I don't know how it happened Lily.” Scarlett sniffed. “I just… I just can't seem to live without him. I feel as if a big part of my soul has been taken away from me.” She lamented tearfully.
“Stop it. That asshole isn't worth it. Come on, I need my girl back. Let's go shopping or something.” Lily cheered, trying her best to snap her out of it.
“I don't want to go anywhere.”
“Really? Scarlett Davenport doesn't want to go shopping? Alright, what should we do then? Go out for ice cream or I know! Visit your foundation. It's been a while since I went there.” Lily continued.
“Stop it, Lily. I said I don't want to go anywhere. Everyone should just stop trying to cheer me up, let me process the hurt I'm feeling.” She yelled, even though she didn't mean to. Lily understood that she needed some time and went outside for some fresh air.
She was standing outside when Adrian drove into the compound and he stepped out, looking like a lost puppy.
“What are you doing here you fraud?” Lily fired, shooting daggers at him with her eyes.
“Please Lily, I just want to see Scarlett. I need to talk to her and let her know how much I genuinely love her.” He pleaded.
“If you step an inch closer, I will bite your ears off! Dare me.”
“Lily..”
“Get out. Leave here now or I'm gonna call the police!” She screamed and he retreated. He got back into his car and drove back to the apartment.
Isabella was still there, she had been waiting for him since yesterday and she was ecstatic that he finally came.
“Welcome baby.” She smiled as soon as she opened the door and let him in.
“This is all your fault.” He muttered.
“It's obvious, isn't it Adrian? Those people will never accept you, but I will. I'm always waiting for you with open arms.” She said and made to kiss him but he walked away and she smiled to herself.
Meanwhile, Vivian had run to the store to get a few things for the kitchen. She decided to drive herself since it was evening already and the store was quite close to their mansion.
She got into the car after putting the groceries away in the trunk. As soon as she started the engine, she felt something hard and cold poking at her forehead. Her heart clenched in fear as she turned to see what it was and saw a gun.
“Fuck!” She exclaimed, her heart instantly sinking into her stomach, fear gripping her. Her entire body began to shake, her body drenched in sweat already.
“Please.. please don't shoot.” She mumbled, shaking like a convulsing child.
“Shut up.” The voice came, she could have sworn that she recognized the voice.
“Just keep quiet and drive.”