Desperate to Die
1013 Words
The morning ambiance outside the Cole estate was cold. Bianca stood near the massive iron gates with trembling fingers wrapped around her phone. She had not slept, not truly after what had happened.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Adrian walking away from her without looking back. And somehow, that expressionless silence hurt more than tears ever could.
A black luxury car suddenly approached the gates. The guards immediately straightened. The gates opened automatically. Bianca recognized the person in the car instantly from last night's introduction.
It was, Isabella Cole. Panic flashed across her face. Without thinking, she rushed forward.
“Wait!”
The guards moved immediately. “Miss Vale, step back. Do you desperately want to die?”
But Bianca ignored them, desperation overwhelming her composure. The car window rolled down slowly.
Isabella sat inside dressed in a sharp black suit, looking flawless and terrifying even this early in the morning.
Her cold eyes landed on Bianca.“What do you want?”
Bianca swallowed hard. “I need to speak to Adrian.”
“No.”
The answer came instantly. Bianca’s face paled. “Please.” For the first time in years, Bianca Vale looked genuinely helpless.
“I just want five minutes.”
Isabella studied her silently before speaking again. “You had three years.” The words struck brutally.
Which made Bianca’s throat to tightened. “I made mistakes,” she admitted quietly. “But I didn’t know—”
“Didn’t know what?” Isabella interrupted calmly. “That he deserved basic respect?” Bianca froze immediately because she had no answer.
Isabella’s gaze became colder. “You mocked him.”
“I—”
“You ignored him.”
Bianca’s lips trembled.
“You abandoned him the moment someone ‘better’ appeared.”
Each sentence felt like another slap. And the worst part? None of it was false. Bianca lowered her eyes painfully. “I want to apologize.”
Isabella almost looked amused. “Apologies are interesting,” she said softly. “People only discover them after losing something valuable.”
The car window began rising again. Panic surged through Bianca instantly “Please!” she cried. “Just let me see him once!”
The window stopped halfway. For a brief moment, Isabella’s expression turned unreadable. Then the woman spoke again. “Adrian no longer wishes to see you.” The window closed completely with the car drove through the gates. Leaving Bianca standing alone outside. Again.
<<<<<<<<<
Inside the mansion.
Adrian sat quietly in the library, staring at an old family photo album. The younger version of himself smiled brightly between his sisters.
He was tiny and happy looking so safe. It felt strange looking at a child he barely remembered being. Elena sat beside him silently playing soft notes on a nearby piano. The music filled the room gently and peacefully.
“You’re thinking too much again,” she murmured.
Adrian smiled faintly. “Is it that obvious?”
“To us? Yes.”
He closed the album slowly. “She came again, didn’t she?”
Elena’s fingers paused briefly on the piano keys. “She did.”
Adrian looked down quietly and part of him had expected it. But strangely, he felt no satisfaction from Bianca’s regret and only exhaustion.
Elena studied him carefully. “You still love her.”
Adrian was silent for several seconds.Then finally the man spoke, “I really don’t know anymore.” And that terrified him more than hatred would have. Before Elena could respond, Scarlett burst into the library dramatically.
“She’s trending again!”
Vivienne walked in behind her with coffee in hand. “The internet is destroying the Vale family.” Scarlett immediately shoved her phone toward Adrian. Articles flooded the screen.
“VALE CORPORATION STOCKS FALL”
“BUSINESS PARTNERS DISTANCING THEMSELVES”
“INSIDE THE DIVORCE THAT SHOOK HIGH SOCIETY”
Netizens had turned brutally against Bianca overnight. Many blamed her for humiliating Adrian before discovering his identity. Others mocked the Vale family for their greed but one comment stood out:
“She must regret losing him after learning he was powerful.”
Adrian stared at the sentence silently because deep down, part of him feared it might be true.
Scarlett suddenly sat beside him dramatically. “But forget her,” she declared. “You have us now.”
Vivienne nodded lazily. “And we’re objectively more entertaining.”
Before Adrian could answer, Raven entered the room. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Unlike the others, she rarely interrupted casually. Isabella appeared behind her moments later and both women looked serious
Adrian frowned slightly. “What happened?”
Raven placed a thin black folder onto the table.
“There’s a problem.”
Scarlett immediately groaned. “Can’t criminals rest for one week?”
“It’s not business-related,” Raven replied. Her cold gaze shifted toward Adrian. “It’s about the fire.”
The room became silent. Adrian’s chest tightened slightly, “What about it?”
Raven opened the folder slowly. “Sixteen years ago, the fire that separated you from the family…” Her eyes darkened. “Was not an accident.”
The air changed instantly. Even Elena stopped playing piano. Scarlett’s playful expression disappeared completely and Adrian stared at Raven.
“What do you mean?”
Raven slid several photographs across the table. Burned documents. Old newspaper clippings. Security reports. “Someone caused that fire intentionally.” A heavy silence filled the room.
Then Isabella spoke quietly and for the first time since Adrian met her, there was unmistakable fury in her voice. “We believe someone tried to erase the Cole family.”
Adrian felt cold all over. “You’re saying…”
Vivienne’s expression hardened. “You didn’t get lost by chance, Adrian.”
Seraphina entered the library at that exact moment. But unlike usual her face was pale. “There’s more,” she said softly and everyone looked at her.
Seraphina hesitated briefly before speaking. “Grandmother collapsed after hearing the investigation reopened.”
Adrian stood immediately.
“What?”
- Writer
