HATED BY MY FIRST LOVE

Chapter 8

Aria's POV

I refused to leave my room. I didn’t want to see Ashley’s face again, and I definitely didn’t want to face Adrian after what he said about me. A nobody. Those two words kept echoing in my head like a curse.

I curled up on the bed, hugging my pillow tightly. My chest ached as I thought about my family. Are they even worried about me? I wondered. Is Dad looking for me? Does my stepmother even care? Do my sisters miss me?

But deep down, I knew the answer.

“No,” I whispered to myself. “This is what they’ve always wanted. To throw me out… to watch me suffer.”

The more I thought about it, the more tears filled my eyes. I pressed my phone just to distract myself. I scrolled through the internet for hours, looking at random posts, funny videos, and people smiling with their families. It only made my heart heavier.

Time moved too fast and soon it was already evening.

My stomach growled loudly. I hadn’t eaten anything since. With heavy steps, I dragged myself downstairs.

Morgan was already in the kitchen, moving around with pots and pans. He looked up and smiled warmly.

“Hey little miss. How are you doing?”

I tried to return the smile. “Hey, Morgan. Is there any food?”

“Of course,” he said. He quickly dished a plate for me—scrambled eggs, sausages, and some toast. I sat quietly and ate, grateful for the comfort.

“Thank you,” I said when I was done.

“You’re welcome,” Morgan replied with his usual cheer.

I didn’t want to go back to my room, so I decided to walk around the mansion. The air outside was fresh, and the compound looked even more beautiful in the evening. The garden was filled with colorful flowers, perfectly arranged. The guards stood at different corners, sharp and alert.

I greeted some of them, and most of them bowed politely. One of them, a young man who looked like he was in his late twenties, smiled back at me.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Morning,” I replied. “You must be new. I don’t remember seeing you yesterday.”

He chuckled. “I was on the night shift. Name’s Mike.”

We started talking. He was funny, cracking small jokes that actually made me laugh. For the first time since today, I felt a little lighter.

But then my eyes caught something that made me freeze. Ashley.

She was walking out of the house, heels clicking on the floor like she owned the place. My heart sank. I thought this witch already left.

Before I could turn away, she noticed me. Her lips curled into a smirk, and she changed direction, walking straight toward me.

I quickly excused myself from Mike. “I’ll see you later.”

Mike nodded. “Sure thing.”

Ashley stopped right in front of me, her perfume almost choking. Her eyes were filled with poison as she folded her arms.

“So,” she began, “you’re still here.”

I stayed silent, not giving her the satisfaction of a reply.

She leaned closer. “I’ve already spoken to Adrian. I know why you’re here. You’re just some pathetic girl he pitied. Nothing more. Don’t start thinking too much.”

Her voice dripped with venom. “If you ever try something stupid, if you ever think of seducing him, I’ll make sure the whole world knows. I’ll post your face all over social media as the desperate slut trying to trap Adrian Wolfe, the famous hockey player and CEO. Do you want that kind of attention? Hmm?”

I clenched my fists. Her words stung, but this time I refused to bow down. I lifted my chin and glared at her.

“You can post whatever you want,” I said firmly. “But remember this, truth always comes out. When people see the kind of toxic woman you are, they’ll laugh at you, not me. And as for Adrian…” I paused, my voice shaking but strong. “I don’t need to seduce anyone. If he wanted you, he wouldn’t be here wasting time with me.”

Her eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected me to clap back.

I walked past her without waiting for a reply, my heart beating fast but proud.

Back inside, I tried to calm myself down. I avoided Adrian as much as possible. No greetings, no small talk, nothing. I didn’t want to give him or Ashley the chance to humiliate me again.

But Adrian noticed. He always noticed.

That evening, when I was about to return to my room, his voice stopped me.

“Aria.”

I froze. Slowly, I turned to face him. He was standing near the hallway, his hands in his pockets, those piercing eyes locked on me.

“Yes, sir?” I forced out.

His jaw tightened. “Why are you avoiding me?”

I swallowed hard. “How? I’m not avoiding you. We barely even talked” I rolled my eyes.

“Yes, you are. You can't seem to stay in same place with me since today. It's as if you're running from me.” His tone was sharp.

Something in me snapped. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. My voice cracked as I spoke. “Because I didn’t like the way you humiliated me. You called me a nobody. In front of her. Do you even know how that felt?”

His eyes flashed with something… an emotion, but only for a moment. Then they hardened again. He stepped closer, his presence towering over me.

“You are a nobody to me, don’t take it too seriou” he said coldly. “Don’t get the wrong idea. Nothing will ever happen between us. I don’t care about you.”

The words hit me like knives. My throat burned, and my chest tightened. I wanted to cry, but I refused to let him see my tears.

I forced a bitter smile. “Don’t worry. I won’t make that mistake again.”

And with that, I turned and walked away, leaving him standing there in the hallway.

But inside, I was breaking into pieces.