Bruised Heart

Moving Forward

With her heart in pieces but her mind made up, Arella packed her bags. She packed light, just the necessities because she was going to start a new life and sever all ties with memories of Adrian for good. Her father had still not spoken to her and she didn't know what to make of it. Done packing and bored she decided to go see him.

"Dad" she called softly as she entered his study " Daddy are you mad at me? I'm sorry, I swear I didn't mean to get pregnant like this but I really liked him. Can you forgive me?" she was trembling by the end of her little speech. Her dad was strict and mistake was a mistake; she knew that much.

"Sit" he commanded softly and as if guided by an invisible force, Stella felt her feet move towards the chair. She sat down and held her breath. " I love you my beautiful daughter, and try as I might I can never really stay mad at you. You mother used to fight me all the time because of it" he smiled gently " it's just a parent's instinct. Single parenting is never what I wanted for you and it aches my heart to see you so heartbroken yet standing tall on your feet. If it is your intention to really go on on your own then I won't stop you, I will stand by you and guide you".

" Thank you so much daddy" she went around to hug him and cried a bit on his shoulder. Then she pulled back and wiped her tears " I'll make you very proud dad, very proud".

From then on it was settled Arella was to leave the country by the end of the week. She spent that time with her mom and brother, going out discreetly and smiling better.

*****************************

"Adrian, can you help me? All the gowns in here are so pretty I don't know which one to choose" Sabrina cooed. They were in his office with a host of people he hired to prepare for the wedding and Adrian was regretting his decision to make them do it in his office. He was suffering from a headache due to lack of sleep and all the shots he'd been having recently but Sabrina's voice did nothing to soothe him. Instantly he began to remember another voice that was so silky and smooth and how much that voice used to bring him joy. ' No' he thought ' She betrayed me. Such a woman is not worthy of my thoughts'

"Adrian"

"Huh?"

" You've been staring into space. Are you alright? How about we go for lunch?" Sabrina suggested softly, keeping up with her soft-spoken facade.

" Lunch sounds nice" he said to her, then to the wedding planners "You all may leave, you'll be contacted when necessary". He'd already stood up and was tidying his belongings. Adrian always had his lunch at five star restaurants where only the most heavy pockets dared to go. By pulling the lunch card, Sabrina planned to make it known throughout the city that she had bagged him and they were to be married thanks to the glittering, large stone on the ring which sat on her finger. Adrian had put it there that morning without much ceremony but no matter, she had the man now anything else could be acheived slowly. She smiled inwardly when they both got into the CEO's exclusive elevator. She had never been in there before; Lord knows how she wanted to explode each time she saw Arella come out that door while she wasn't allowed to go near it. The doors opened, and for a split second, she almost hesitated.

Not because she had never seen an elevator before—but because she had never been invited into one like this.

She stepped in anyway.

The air changed first. Cool, soft, expensive. It wrapped around her skin like it already knew she did not quite belong here—or maybe like it was testing if she could grow into it. She lifted her chin just slightly.

Do not look impressed.

But how could she not?

The walls shimmered in muted gold and glass, catching her reflection in pieces. She glanced—quickly, carefully. The girl staring back at her was composed, polished… convincing. Not the one who used to stand outside places like this, pretending not to notice.

She felt him step in behind her.

His presence was steady, effortless—like this world had always bent itself around him. He did not pause, did not look around. Of course he would not. This was his normal.

Hers… was learning.

Her fingers hovered over the panel for half a second too long before she pressed the button. It lit up instantly beneath her touch, soft and obedient. She almost smiled at that—at how easily things responded here.

If only everything had been that easy.

The doors slid shut with a quiet finality, sealing them in.

Just the two of them.

She became aware of everything at once—the silence, the faint scent in the air, the way her heels made almost no sound against the floor. Even the elevator’s movement was subtle, barely there, like it was careful not to disturb them.

Careful not to disturb him.

Or maybe… her.

She let her gaze drift again, slower this time. Taking it in. Owning it, little by little. This space that once felt distant, untouchable, was now carrying her down to lunch as if she had always belonged.

As if there had never been another woman standing in her place.

Her chest tightened—not with guilt, no… something sharper. Something closer to triumph, edged with disbelief.

She turned her head slightly, just enough to look at him. Calm. Certain. Already thinking about whatever came after lunch. He did not question her presence here. He did not second-guess.

That was what mattered.

Still, she smoothed an invisible crease on her outfit, a quiet, unconscious gesture. A reminder to herself.

Do not slip.

Do not look back.

Because the elevator did not hesitate. It did not judge. It only moved—downward, steadily, inevitably—carrying her deeper into a life she had once only watched from the outside.

And this time…

The doors would open for her.

' Poor little girl, she must have run home to her daddy crying. My win, her loss' Sabrina thought.

Getting to the car downstairs, they got in

"Take us to a private place" Adrian ordered the driver and Sabrina whirled around in shock. She wanted them to go where everyone could see them, not some private place!

"A-Adrian, why are we going somewhere private? I think seeing other people is a mental boost, don't you think so?" she tried to persuade him.

" I don't need unnecessary exchange of pleasantries, Sabrina. I just want to have lunch in peace and quiet" and this was why he and Arella clicked because they matched on so many levels. Arella did not like public attention any more than he did unless absolutely necessary. Sabrina opened her mouth to persuade him again and closed it, reminding herself to take it easy on him. At least they were getting married, she smiled and said "okay"