HIS DESIRE

When reality kicks in.

Each step I took toward him felt like stepping into fire. My body trembled, my lungs ached, but still I moved closer. I was terrified—terrified that if I looked too closely, if I stared too long, I would see only the cruel truth in his eyes and not the man I loved. Terrified that if I touched him, I would shatter completely.

But I had to. I had no choice. I needed to face him, to tear the truth from his lips. I needed to know what my life had truly become in the blink of an eye.

When I finally stood in front of him, I raised my hands and cupped his face. His skin was warm, familiar, and my heart broke all over again because it felt like home. But this wasn’t home. This wasn’t safe. This was betrayal dressed in the face I once adored.

“Adriana, stop this—let him go!” Aunt Jane’s voice trembled as she tried to pull me back, her hands gripping my arm.

But I shook her off. “No. Not yet. I’m not done with him.”

“Adriana!” Clara’s shrill voice cut through the air. She lunged forward, trying to drag me away, but I shoved her off with more strength than I thought I had left. “What are you trying to do? Let him go!”

Ignoring her, I kept my eyes locked on Andrew’s. My voice cracked as I whispered, “Let me get this straight… you only approached me because of my money?”

Clara scoffed, almost gleeful. But Andrew… Andrew nodded. He didn’t look away. He didn’t even blink.

The world tilted. My grip on his face faltered, my hands trembling violently.

“Okay…” My throat burned. “So when you gave me the joint ownership documents to sign in my office, it wasn’t about love at all. It was the transfer of my wealth, wasn’t it?”

His silence told me everything. Then he said, simply, “Yes.”

The air left my lungs. For a heartbeat I stood frozen, every memory of his touch, his laughter, his whispered I love yous turning to ash.

And then my hand snapped across his face.

The slap cracked through the room like a gunshot. His head whipped to the side, a red mark blooming on his skin. My palm stung, but the pain in my chest was worse. The strike wasn’t just anger—it was betrayal, humiliation, every unshed tear, every unsaid word I had swallowed for his sake.

“You bastard,” I whispered, my chest heaving.

Ciara gasped, then immediately threw her arms around him, shielding him like I was the aggressor. She glared at me, her eyes blazing with hatred.

I straightened, breathing hard, but forcing myself to stand tall. I would not let them see me broken—not yet. Slowly, deliberately, a smile curved on my lips.

“Nanny,” I said softly. “My phone, please.”

The room went still. Clara and Andrew exchanged confused glances. Even Ciara tilted her head, suspicion flickering in her eyes.

Aunt Jane handed me the phone hesitantly, her worried gaze never leaving mine.

I dialed, pressing the device to my ear. When the familiar voice answered, I smiled faintly. “Hi, Attorney Caleb. Let’s meet at our usual location.”

Clara let out a mocking laugh. “Attorney? Really, Adriana? Come on. You’re better than this. It’s not like you were forced to love him or sign those papers. You chose to, remember?” Her grin widened, sharp and cruel.

Before I could respond, Aunt Jane snapped. “Clara! You shameless girl! Do you have no self-respect left in you? I am so glad I did not raise such a despicable woman!” Her voice shook with rage, and she pulled me close, as though to shield me.

I held on to her hand tightly—she was my strength, the only reason I hadn’t collapsed already.

On the phone, Caleb’s voice was steady, grounding me. “Dear, I heard what happened." "Are you all right? Would you like to sue him?”

“Yes,” I whispered, clutching my heart. My chest burned, but I forced myself to sound calm. “Yes, I want to sue him.”

“Good. We’ll meet in thirty minutes. Be strong, Adriana. Understand?”

My lips curved into a bitter smirk. “Got it.”

I ended the call and looked at Andrew and Clara blankly. My voice was cold when I said, “I suggest you get yourselves a lawyer. Because you’re going to need it.”

Their eyes narrowed. Clara tugged on Andrew’s arm. “Let’s go. She’s lost her mind.”

But before they could leave, I raised my voice. “Wait.”

They froze. Clara turned slowly, smirking as if she had already won.

“You forgot something.”

My hand flew before she even saw it coming. The slap landed with a savage crack, sending her head snapping to the side. A red imprint spread across her cheek.

Her eyes widened in shock, her hand trembling as it rose to touch her face.

“That,” I hissed, stepping closer until I towered over her, “is for being a desperate little thief.” My voice shook with fury. “You are pathetic—just like your mother.”

Her lips curled into a snarl, but her eyes glistened with humiliation.

“Now get the f**k out of here,” I spat, my chest heaving. “Both of you. Assholes.”

Ciara trembled with rage, clutching Andrew’s arm. “Babe, let’s leave,” he murmured, his voice low.

But before turning away, Ciara jabbed a finger at me, her voice trembling with fury. “You’ll regret this, Adriana. I swear to God, it won’t end here.”

I folded my arms, my lips curling into a smirk. “Of course it won’t. Not after taking everything from me.”

The moment the door slammed behind them, my strength drained all at once. My legs buckled, jelly beneath me, and I nearly collapsed—until Aunt Jane caught me.

“Oh, my Lord. Baby, are you all right?” she whispered, holding me tight.

“My heart…” I choked, clutching my chest. “My heart is ripping apart, Nanny. They turned my life into a f*****g joke. How could he toy with me like this? How could he?”

She eased me onto the couch, her hands cupping my face, her eyes glistening. “My dear, you have to let him go. You heard him—he does not deserve your glance, not to mention your love.”

“But how?” My voice cracked as tears spilled freely. “How do I stop my heart when it keeps beating only for him?”

The dam broke, and sobs tore through me. “Despite what he’s done, I… I still want to believe it’s not true. I’m so stupid. I’m losing my mind!”

Aunt Jane pulled me into her chest, rocking me gently. “Shh, my dear. It’s normal. You just had your heart broken. It will take time to accept it. But you’re strong, Adriana. You’ll get through this. I know you will.”

Her words were a balm, but they didn’t stop the bleeding inside me. My mind swirled with memories—his smile, his warmth, his lies.

Finally, I pulled back, wiping my eyes. My voice was hoarse. “I don’t want to go back to that house. Not until I’m done with them.”

Aunt Jane smiled softly, brushing my hair back. “Then you won’t. I’ll get your things myself and move them to a hotel. I’ll send you the address. But first, we have to see Sir Caleb.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Thank you. Both of you. Without you and him, I… I don’t know what I’d do.”

“You’re not alone,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

She pulled out a simple black flare dress from her bag and handed it to me. “Here, quickly. Get dressed.”

I half-smiled, though my fingers shook as I held the fabric. “Black,” I murmured. “Fitting.”

I walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. For the first time since this nightmare began, I forced myself to look in the mirror. My reflection met me—pale, fragile, broken. The left side of my face still carried the girl I once knew, untouched and almost innocent. But the right… scarred, burned, carved into something unrecognizable. It was more than flesh; it was the reflection of betrayal itself—trust seared away, loyalty scorched to ash. The mirror showed me not just what had been done to my skin, but what had been done to my soul.