Adeline

CHAPTER TWO

ADELINE'S POV

I carefully stepped out of the bathroom with my towel loosely wrapped around my bruised body. It's been two days now since I last saw Xavier nor his lover, Katherine, after he flogged the living hell out of me. Sadly, I also realised that I must have hurt my mother so badly because she hadn't called ever since the last time we spoke.

Again, I went through my daily routine, deciding to finally speak with my dad and let him know that I was okay. The worse thing that could happen now would be for my dad to show up and see me in this condition. Xavier would be in deep s**t and since my dad was already the least person to understand what I feel for Xavier, he wouldn't spare him for hurting me, not even for my sake.

“Good day, mum,” I exhaled after trying to reach my dad for the sixth time and I still wasn't able to get through to him. “I'm so sorry about the last time… I shouldn't have ended the call the way I did,” I began while taking a seat close to my window.

“I just want the best for you, my angel. I want you to be happy and even though your happiness is on a route that could destroy you, I'll still do everything that will be in your best interest. You can never blame a mother for caring for her daughter, can you?” She explained herself in a tone showing the extreme emotions she felt.

I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't feeling bad for how our last conversation ended. She was right. Everything she was doing for me right now was to either make me happy or to keep me safe.

“I'm really sorry,” I lowered my voice.

“It's okay. How are you doing?” Her voice softened a bit.

“Not in my best shape, but I'll be fine, I promise.”

“What happened?” Her voice deepened in worry

“It's nothing to worry about. I tried calling my dad today, but it keeps going to voicemail. Is he okay?”

“About that…” She trailed off.

“Why are you suddenly quiet? Did something bad happen to him? Wait, give me a sec.”

Before she could talk, I rushed outside my room to make sure that I was still alone in the house before locking myself again in the tight four walls. I collapsed on my bed and cleared my throat before asking her to continue with what she was about to say.

“Your dad kinda overheard our last conversation. I didn't reach out to you in the past days because he made sure of that.”

“W-why?”

“He has been trying to track your location, Adeline and I'm afraid he has it now.”

There was silence on both ends. Probably, one was waiting for the other to explode and I was defintiely going to be the one to do so.

“Why did you let him?” I almost started crying, greatly terrified by the revelation. If my dad had successfully found my location, then he was so close to finding out about Xavier and how he treats me.

“Trust me, I tried my best, my angel. He just refused to take more of my made up stories,” she sounded as though a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders, making me realise how difficult it must have been for her to keep lying to her husband. I couldn’t blame her. At least, not now.

“Where is he now?”

“I don't know. I didn't see him pack any of his things, but that doesn't guarantee anything. You have to speak to Xavier and if he doesn't understand you, leave him. That's the only way you can save him from your father, Adeline.”

“Tell me the truth, where is dad?”

“He is on his way to get you, I guess. You don't have time on your side to save what you feel for Xavier, but I'm sure you don't want to see him in pain. I'll leave you to figure something out, now. Good bye, my angel.”

“Thanks for everything mum.”

I put my phone down and mentally calculated how exactly I was supposed to shoot my shots at this. No matter how bad things might seem right now, I knew better than to miss even the slightest shot I got.

I tried calling my dad one more time and after I was still unable to get through to him, I decided to call Xavier. Maybe, I would be proven wrong when he finally knows who I really am. Maybe, even if he doesn't love me back for who I am, he'd love me back for my background or maybe for my last name, especially, Luther. Adeline Luther, daughter of none other that Derick Luther himself.

It was almost dark when I paced down the staircase the moment I heard the front door open. I walked past Katherine for the first time in two days without saying a word to her. Of course, I gave everyone here the impression that I had nothing and that they operated in a class much higher than mine, but that, I guess would be seriously adjusted today.

“Are you blind not to see me or has your tongue been cut?” She spat.

“Where is Xavier?” I asked with a hint of desperation in my voice, squinting towards the door to know if I could sight him from afar.

“Listen to me, Evelyn. I know that you must be feeling excited for disrupting my session with Xavier, but let it be known to you that I hit the jackpot you'd never be able to hit. Xavier loves me, Evelyn and no matter how much you try, you'll never be able to win him over!”

“If you're so sure, then why do I feel like all you said is more to reassure yourself than to threaten me. I mean, you shouldn't be scared of losing him to me if your super sure that all senses are tied to you –”

“Really? Is that what you think?” She let out a nervous laugh.

“Listen, Katherine,” I finally gave her the attention I never planned on giving her today. I took moderate steps closer to her to get us on the same eye level. “If Xavier really loves you as he claims, he'd be doing a lot of things better than he is now, he'd know better not to slam into random hole at any chance he gets in parties, clubs, anywhere… He'd attempt to be a better man at least for your sake and please, don't tell me that's who he is, because if he really loves you, he'd make those huge changes by himself, even without you asking.”

I gave her my last straw and turned to leave only to hear a hoarse voice in the kitchen. I followed the direction of the voice to find a finely chiseled man, standing with his back turned to me. I watched as Xavier effortlessly folded up his sleeves, revealing his strong, tattooed arm, before pouring his wine into a glass.

“I really need to speak with you and it's important.” I said desperately, realising just how much time I wasted on Katherine.

“How else should I make it clear to you that I don't want to see you here again?” His voice was void of all human emotions when he spoke, but that was who he was: cold and ruthless.

“Just hear me out this once and I'll leave your mansion.”

“Don't listen to this cheap brat, honey.” Katherine interrupted from behind.

“Leave, Evelyn.”

“Xavier, please, just–

“I said leave.”

“My dad is–” before I could complete my sentence, he cracked the glass in his hands and threw it at my face.

Katherine gasped in terror at the sight of it and I'd have said that it was nearly a lucky miss for me until thick crimson liquid began to stain the marble floor, rapidly. He was so close to cutting my eyes and even though he didn't, he left a deep cut on my face.

He pulled me abruptly until we were at the entrance of his mansion.

“I don't want to see you here ever again, Evelyn!”

I had already been cut but his words cut deeper, I was already in pain but his words intensified it, I was barely holding up, but him throwing me out of his mansion without second thoughts, shattered me completely. Skin to bone.

I clung to the metal gate, crying my eyes out. I had nowhere else to go to and I couldn't even book a hotel room if all my property including my phone and card were inside. I just let the whole world collapse on my shoulders until I was to weak to keep my eyes open and to weak to stop the bleeding.

The rays of blinding lights soon pierced through my eyes and for a moment I was upset at whoever was driving until not just one but two more cars packed in front of Xavier's mansion.

It was a convoy I recognised very well. I didn't need to see him to know who he was. Derick Luther finally found his daughter in the worst shape and now she's screwed.

“Adeline?” He called out from more shock than disbelief.

I couldn't speak, I couldn't move, I couldn't even cry my heart out to him the way I wanted to so badly. I just froze on the floor with my bloody face, palms and dress. Everything was screwed.