HATED BY MY FIRST LOVE

Chapter 6

Aria’s POV

I picked up my bags, all of them, and hugged them to my chest like they were the only things left that belonged to me.

Actually they were.

My steps were small and careful as I followed Adrian out of the building. I felt nervous, almost like I was walking into something unknown.

When we stepped outside, my eyes immediately landed on his car.

My mouth fell open.

It wasn’t just a car, it was a black beauty. The body was so shiny, it's shape was smooth and curvy. The rims were silver, smooth and sparkling, and the tinted windows gave it a powerful, mysterious look.

It looked like the kind of car only kings, celebrities, or dangerous people owned.

“Wow…” the word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.

I quickly shut my lips, embarrassed.

Adrian didn’t say anything. He simply took my bags from me like it was nothing, even though I knew they were heavy. He placed them neatly in the boot, moving with that same calm confidence that always made me feel small. He wasn’t even trying, yet everything about him screamed elegance and power.

I stood there awkwardly until he opened the driver’s door and slid inside. I swallowed hard and, reluctantly, opened the passenger door. The inside of the car smelled expensive like leather mixed with something sharp and masculine.

The atmosphere was heavy.

I clasped my fingers together, trying to think of something to say. After a moment of silence, I finally cleared my throat.

“Sir—”

“Call me Adrian,” he cut in before I could finish. His tone was firm but not harsh. “We are outside work now.”

My lips parted a little. I blinked, trying to process it. He actually wanted me to call him by his name?

Slowly, I nodded. “Adrian…” I said softly, testing how it felt to call him that. It felt strange, almost too personal.

I bit my lip and then added quickly, “I really appreciate you for allowing me to stay at your place.”

He didn’t reply.

The silence stretched, and the embarrassment crept up my cheeks. Why did I even open my mouth? I should’ve just kept quiet. I turned my face toward the window, regretting the words instantly.

The car moved smoothly, the engine almost too quiet for such a powerful machine. I stole a glance at him, his hands gripped the steering wheel with ease, his eyes fixed on the road. He looked like he was carved out of stone, unreadable and distant.

Fifteen minutes passed, though it felt like an eternity. The silence was so loud it made me tired. My eyelids grew heavy. Before I knew it, I had dozed off.

The sharp sound of a car horn jolted me awake.

I gasped and sat upright, rubbing my eyes. When I looked outside, I froze.

We had stopped in front of a massive gate, black, tall, and decorated with elegant designs. Guards stood at attention, dressed in uniform, their faces serious. They looked like soldiers, strong and alert. The moment the car approached, the gate slowly opened with a heavy, majestic movement.

My breath caught in my throat.

As the car drove through, my eyes grew wider and wider.

The compound was enormous. Beautiful flowers lined the drive, glowing softly under the lights that illuminated the entire place. The path seemed endless, and at the end of it stood a mansion so huge and breathtaking that my heart almost stopped.

Even though the night had fallen, the lights around the mansion made everything clear. Golden lights glowed against the walls, highlighting the grand design. It looked less like a house and more like a palace fit for a king. The windows stretched tall, the balconies curved with beauty, and the overall structure screamed wealth and power.

“Wow…” I whispered again, my mouth open.

A low chuckle came from beside me. Adrian glanced at me with a smirk. “Close your mouth before a fly enters,” he said casually.

Heat rushed to my face. I quickly snapped my mouth shut and looked away.

I didn’t even realize when the words slipped out of me. “You… you live here?”

He chuckled again, a sound so soft I almost thought I imagined it. “Surprised?”

My eyes widened even more. Did he just laugh? For the first time since I had met him, I heard a sound that wasn’t cold or harsh. My heart skipped. For a second, he seemed human, not the mean, strict boss I knew. A small part of me wished he would stay like that.

The car stopped in front of the mansion.

I was still staring, my mind spinning, when two people came out, a man and a woman, both in their late forties. They walked toward Adrian with respect. The man bowed slightly and said, “Welcome, sir.” The woman did the same.

Then, to my surprise, they also turned to me and greeted politely, “Welcome, miss.”

I gave a small smile, still nervous.

Adrian spoke firmly, “Take the belongings inside.”

They both nodded immediately and picked up my bags. I followed Adrian through the large doors, and when I stepped inside, my breath was stolen all over again.

The living room was massive. The ceiling stretched high above me, with a sparkling chandelier hanging down like a cluster of diamonds. The walls were decorated with golden patterns, and two grand staircases curved upward on both sides like something out of a fairytale. Expensive-looking furniture filled the room, polished and elegant.

I couldn’t hold back my words. “This house is so big… I’ve never seen something this beautiful before.”

I was still spinning around, taking it all in, when I suddenly felt his eyes on me.

I turned, and sure enough, Adrian was staring at me. His gaze was so intense it made me freeze. For a moment, we just looked at each other. My heart raced wildly.

Before I could think of what to say, the man and woman came back, breaking the moment. Adrian quickly straightened his posture, his face turning serious again.

He gave orders smoothly. “Morgan, take her bags upstairs. Hannah, take her to her room.”

I followed the both of them whom I just learned their name up the grand staircase. The hallway was long and filled with paintings and decorations that looked priceless. Finally, we reached a room, and Hannah opened the door.

My mouth fell open again.

The room was huge, almost bigger than the room in my father's house I once lived in. A king-sized bed sat in the middle with clean white sheets, and the walls were painted in calming colors. The curtains were silky, and there was even a balcony with a view of the garden.

Morgan turned to me with a smile. “Welcome, madam. It’s nice to have you here. I’m Morgan, the chef of this house. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you, sir—” I started, but he immediately interrupted with a laugh.

“Oh no, don’t call me sir. You can just call me Morgan.”

I gave a small nod and smiled. “Alright… Morgan. I’m Aria.”

“Welcome, little miss Aria,” he said warmly.

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling my chest lighten a little.

Hannah finally spoke, her voice soft and kind. “And I am Hannah, the housekeeper. In case you need anything, I’ll be right here.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Hannah,” I said politely.

She chuckled and waved her hand. “Oh, my little girl, don’t call me Mrs. Hannah. Just Hannah is fine.”

I smiled wider. “Okay. Thank you, Hannah.”

Both of them made me feel at ease, something I hadn’t felt almost all my life.

Hannah gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder. “Go take a shower, dear. I’ll bring you dinner shortly.”

After they left, I stood in the middle of the room, spinning slowly. I couldn’t believe this was real. Just a few hours ago, I was begging to sleep in the office. Now, I was here… in a palace.

I quickly showered, letting the warm water relax my tired body. When I came out, I wore clean clothes and sat on the edge of the bed, still in awe.

A knock came at the door.

I opened it and found Hannah holding a tray filled with delicious-smelling food. “I hope you’re hungry,” she said kindly. “I made something special for you.”

I laughed softly. “I am. Thank you so much.”

As I ate, Hannah sat with me, chatting warmly. She even complimented me. “You’re really beautiful, Aria.”

I felt shy but smiled. “Thank you.”

Then, her next words shocked me. “You know… this is the first time Adrian has ever brought a woman to this house.”

My fork paused. I shook my head quickly. “No, I don’t believe that. I know he brings women here.”

Hannah laughed lightly. “ How do you know that? Well… the women comes by themselves, but Adrian has never brought one home in his own car. Not once. I was surprised when I saw you”

I blinked at her, confused. “He was just being kind, that’s all.”

“I doubt it,” she said with a knowing smile. “There’s more to this.”

I rolled my eyes a little, though my heart pounded. “No, you’re wrong.”

Hannah didn’t argue further. She just smiled softly and took the tray when I finished eating. “Goodnight, little miss.”

“Goodnight, Hannah,” I said warmly.

When she left, I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her words replayed in my mind, but I pushed them away. Adrian was cold, harsh, and distant. He wasn’t the type to care.

And yet… I couldn’t help but wonder.

My eyelids grew heavy. Surrounded by the comfort of the room, I drifted into sleep, my heart still confused but strangely hopeful.

I missed the old him.

I missed us…

Maybe I still love him?