The Scorned Bride: His Cruel Vows

Chapter 11: Who Did You Marry?!

Adrian's Pov

I stood there, frozen, staring down at her lifeless face. My mind went blank, but the crushing weight in my chest felt unbearable.

Slowly, with my hands trembling uncontrollably, I reached out and pulled the white cloth back over her face, covering her again.

I leaned forward and grabbed the sides of the cold metal bed, holding on so tightly that the sharp edges dug deep into the palms of my hands. I squeezed until it hurt, using the physical pain to stop myself from completely falling apart right then and there. My eyes burned, stinging with unshed tears, but I clenched my jaw and forced them back. I refused to let a single tear fall. If I did, I knew I would break down completely.

I took a long, deep breath, trying to regain control over my emotions. I straightened my back, adjusted my clothes and turned away from the table.

When I pushed open the doors and walked back out into the hallway, Matthew instantly jumped up from his seat. He rushed toward me, searching my face with panicked, desperate eyes.

“It’s not her, right?” Matthew asked quickly, his voice cracking with hope. “Tell me it’s not her, Adrian! They made a mistake, didn't they? It's someone else!”

I stood in front of him and said nothing. I couldn't bring myself to say the words out loud. Seeing my silence, the small spark of hope in Matthew’s eyes vanished completely.

His hands dropped heavily to his sides. He stared at me in disbelief, and the corners of his eyes flushed red as tears pooled in them. He took a step back, sliding his hand down his face.

I turned my eyes away from him and looked at George, who was standing a few feet away with a somber expression.

“George,” I said, my voice sounding hollow and raspy. “Start preparing everything to take her back home so we can bury her.”

“Yes, sir,” George replied softly.

“Do it fast,” I added, my throat feeling tight. “She was recovered from the crash site... Now that her body is out of the water, we need to bury her before it starts decaying.”

As I spoke those words, I closed my eyes for a fraction of a second, and her image flashed vividly behind my eyelids. I saw Aria’s pale, bloated skin and her light blue lips, it was a stark difference to the rosy and happy face I knew and loved. My stomach twisted into a violent knot. She must have suffered so much inside that freezing water, all alone, waiting for help that never came.

Aria was brave, but she hated the water. She hated pools, she hated the beach, she was extremely scared of water. For her to die in water? What an irony.

“I will handle all the arrangements immediately, sir,” George said with a heavy nod, stepping away to make the necessary phone calls.

“Let’s go,” I told Matthew, not waiting for his response as I turned and walked toward the exit. Matthew followed me in silence. We left the morgue and walked out, heading straight toward the car waiting in the parking lot. We both got into the back seat.

A suffocating silence hung in the air inside the car for a long time. Neither of us spoke. I sat staring out the tinted window, watching the city buildings blur past, but I wasn't really seeing anything.

Finally, Matthew broke the silence. His voice was dangerously low. “How did this happen, Adrian?”

I kept my gaze fixed on the window, remaining silent.

“Answer me!” Matthew suddenly roared, turning in his seat and slamming his fist against the car door. The loud bang echoed through the small space. “How did she end up on that plane?! Why did Aria travel?! She was so happy about the wedding, Adrian! She was counting down the days! She would never have gotten on a plane just a few days before her own wedding unless she was angry about something! What did you do?!”

I closed my eyes, feeling the exhaustion deep inside my bones. I knew I couldn't hide it from him anymore. Matthew wasn't going to let this go.

“She left because of what happened that night,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

“What night?” Matthew demanded, leaning closer, his eyes sharp and furious. “What happened, Adrian? Speak!”

I gripped my knees, staring down at the floor of the car. “I had s*x with Thalia.”

The air inside the car seemed to freeze instantly. Matthew stared at me, his eyes wide with absolute shock, as if I had just spoken in a foreign language.

“What... what did you just say?” Matthew asked, his voice barely audible now.

“The night before Aria left,” I explained, my words coming out rushed and heavy with guilt. “Thalia came into my room. I was drinking, but... she drugged my drink. I wasn't in my right mind, Matthew. She took advantage of it and slept with me. Aria found out... she saw us. That’s why she got so angry and ran away. She told me she was leaving and would only come back when she cooled off.”

Matthew shook his head slowly, his jaw slack as he stared at me in utter disgust and disbelief. “You... you slept with Thalia? A few days before your wedding with Aria?”

“I told you I was drugged!” I snapped, turning to look at him. “I didn't mean for any of it to happen!”

“I don't care!” Matthew yelled, his hands trembling with rage. “Look where your damn mess got her! She’s dead, Adrian! She’s dead because she was trying to get away from you!”

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes suddenly narrowing as if a sudden, horrifying realization had just struck him. He remembered something.

“Wait...” Matthew whispered, staring at me as his expression shifted from anger to pure horror. “When I came into your office today... I asked you about your new wife. I heard you got married three days ago.”

I went rigid, freezing in my seat. I couldn't look him in the eyes. Matthew’s breath hitched. “Adrian... who did you marry?”

I kept my mouth shut, staring straight ahead at the back of the driver's seat. Matthew reached out, grabbed the collar of my suit jacket with both hands, and yanked me toward him. His knuckles pressed hard against my neck.

“Who did you marry, Adrian?” Matthew asked again. This time, his voice was terrifyingly calm, slow, and deadly. “Who is your new wife?”

I let out a shaky breath, “Thalia,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “I married Thalia.”