SHATTERED TRUST

Chapter3

Both Bia and Adam left while I remained seated in complete shock at what had just occurred.

“I’m deeply sorry that circumstances have unfolded in this manner, Bella, but you must understand that your father was a wise man and everything he chose to do had purpose behind it,” he said as he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder before standing back up. “You have always been your father’s greatest strength and support, and now that he’s gone from this world, I hope you’ll continue demonstrating that same dedication and hard work, particularly regarding the business.”

“You need to go,” I said with a weary sigh, finding his words almost absurd under the circumstances.

He complied with my request, leaving me alone in the silence of that room. I’m uncertain exactly how long I remained there, but by the time Mrs. Anga came looking for me to see how I was holding up, the sounds of people outside had completely faded away.

“It’s just the two of us now,” she announced softly as she approached me. She knelt down beside me on the floor, straightened out my legs, and attempted to wrap her arms around me in comfort. “My heart aches for you regarding the inheritance, sweetheart,” she whispered.

“What mistake did I make that warranted all of this suffering?” My voice had become hoarse and empty of any feeling except pain, devastation, and a hollow void inside.

“I still cannot comprehend how your father would treat you in such a manner. Let’s maintain our hope and trust that he had valid reasons for his decisions. Alternatively, you must find the strength within yourself to endure and resist succumbing to your sister’s destructive behavior.”

“Tomorrow I’m going to attempt to win my husband back. Not because he’s worthy of that effort, but simply because Bia would ridicule my complete defeat if I allowed her to take everything without putting up resistance,” I muttered as I began rising to my feet.

“Did you just say you want to win him back?” she exclaimed in astonishment, her voice rising in shock.

She clearly had no knowledge of the divorce papers, and I preferred to keep it that way. I disregarded her many concerns and inquiries, went directly to retrieve a bottle of wine, and headed upstairs to my bedroom.

After consuming the entire bottle in an attempt to numb my emotional agony, the room began rotating. Eventually, my body gave way and I collapsed onto my bed, continuing to breathe until consciousness slipped away entirely.

“Good morning, Bella,” Mrs. Anga’s gentle voice stirred me from sleep.

I suppose morning has arrived already. This is unbearable.

I pushed the blankets aside so my tangled legs could break free and rolled myself out of bed.

“Miss Bia has left instructions requesting that you visit her residence this evening. She mentioned she’ll be occupied with Mr. Adam throughout the day,” she relayed.

Wonderful. Now she was occupying herself with my own spouse, and somehow I was expected to simply accept this while she ordered me around regarding when I could see my own husband. The absurdity of it made me laugh bitterly. She had completely lost her mind.

“Listen to me, Mrs. Anga,” I said, matching her bewildered expression with determination. “I need you to depart from here immediately. Bia will undoubtedly find ways to embarrass and demean anyone who gets in her path, so I strongly advise you to leave right away. I will ensure your current month’s compensation is provided, and I’ll also pay you for the remainder of the year since your replacement arrived without notice,” I explained as I walked toward my bathroom.

“You also left this folder yesterday,” she said, showing me the black envelope. “You’re right about everything. I’ll follow your instructions. I’m grateful for the payment—both for this month and for the months to come,” she said with a slight bow, shifting from her warm grandmother-like demeanor to the formal tone she’d had on her first day before she departed.

I completed my morning hygiene routine rapidly and made my way to Adam’s residence.

“I regret to inform you, Ma’am, that Mr. Adam departed with Miss Bia a short while ago headed toward her father’s company,” one of the household workers shared with me once I found the staff gathered together.

“I understand. Thank you for letting me know.”

About thirty minutes after leaving the mansion, I walked through the doors of the company, and the entire energy of the place had transformed. The atmosphere made it abundantly clear that I no longer had any place there.

I proceeded inside regardless, deliberately overlooking the stares, quiet conversations, and thinly veiled mockery directed at me.

“Where is Mr. Adam?” I inquired of one of the employees after searching for him unsuccessfully.

“He’s currently occupied with Miss Bia, and they’ve requested that no one disturb them,” she answered, keeping her gaze lowered.

“Listen, I’m commanding you to—”

“You’re only hurting yourself by doing this, Bella,” Bia’s voice cut through the air, accompanied by the sharp sound of her heels against the floor.

I signaled for the innocent staff member to go away, and now I was confronting Bia directly.

“Where is Adam?!”

“Adam? I thought he made his position crystal clear—he has no desire to communicate with you. Why are you even bothering to search for him?”

“He happens to be my husband, and what I need from him is not your business!”

“Correction, Bella,” she said with a look of revulsion. “He was your husband. Now surrender those divorce documents and remove yourself from this place.”

“What are you doing here?” Adam’s voice came from behind me, sharp and cutting like a blade.

“There you are,” I said, breathing heavily as I moved toward him, though his expression was clearly telling me to leave immediately. “I wanted to see you, Adam. Couldn’t we at least discuss this rather than making such a hasty choice by signing these documents?”

“There’s nothing left to discuss. Bia will be my wife! The only respectful gesture I can make to you would be to finalize the divorce before marrying her, but if that’s too much for you to accept, I have an alternative solution.”

My eyes filled with tears as my father’s staff began gathering around us to witness the scene. He disregarded me entirely and approached Bia, taking her hands in his. He lowered himself onto one knee as several employees began recording the moment on their phones.

“Will you become my spouse, darling?” His proposal to Bia shattered what little hope remained within me as she immediately agreed, allowing him to slip the diamond band onto her ring finger.

My body moved slowly away from the unfolding scene, my vision focused downward and my frame hunched so severely I thought I might collapse. Once I reached my vehicle, I noticed someone rushing in my direction. No doubt he had come to sign the divorce papers.

Assuming it was Adam approaching for yet another round of humiliation, I signed my name across every designated line and shoved the documents hard against his torso.

“You could have spared yourself the embarrassment of what transpired back there, but you persistently seem to misunderstand your position. Your father is deceased and left you nothing in his will. I was never truly interested in you—my attention has always been on your sister. Furthermore, she possesses the wealth and assets that were the only reason I endured being married to you these past three years!”

“Take note of what I’m telling you, Adam,” I said, pointing my finger at the visible veins in my neck. “I will not stop pursuing this until you crawl back to me, begging and pleading for my mercy. You will come to realize this was the largest blunder of your entire existence. Mark my words!”

After that declaration, I refused to tolerate any additional mockery from him. I climbed into my vehicle, slammed the door shut before he could respond, and accelerated away as he stood in my path.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​