I'D RATHER BURN IN HELL THAN LOVE YOU AGAIN.

5: "FAR TOO LATE"

ADRIAN POV

“Ria”. My voice came out soft. Weak. I shook my head slowly. No. She wasn’t gone. She couldn’t be. This had to be a prank. A mistake. Something. Maybe when I get home, she will be there. Sitting quietly. Waiting like she always did. But I had gone home. And she wasn’t there.

Now I am sitting in my office. The only place I could hide. Outside, there were reporters. Crowds. Voices shouting my name with anger. Inside, it was silent. Too silent. Evelyn was gone. She ended things. Said it was affecting her health. Her baby. My company was falling apart. Stocks dropping. Calls I didn’t answer. Everything was breaking. But none of it mattered.

Not like this. Not like her. “Just how?” My voice cracked. “How did this happen?” My hands trembled. Then the memories came. One after another. And they didn’t stop.

I saw her in the kitchen. Smiling softly as she tasted the soup. Turning to me, asking, “Is it okay?” I didn’t even answer her that day. I remember I felt it was childish that I was there.

I saw her waiting by the door. Holding my coat. Every night. No matter how late I came home.

I saw her kneeling on the floor. Cleaning broken glass. Her fingers were bleeding. Still saying, “It’s fine, I’ll handle it.” It was my fault. I had thrown the glass and now felt foolish for not apologizing.

I saw her standing in the rain. That night. Looking at me like I was everything. Like I saved her. I saw her laughing. A small, quiet laugh. The kind she only gave when she was comfortable. When she felt safe.

I saw her bringing me coffee. Every morning. Even when she looked tired. But she makes coffe so good, I couldn’t drink any other and I didn’t realise I was stressing her.

I saw her sitting alone at the dining table. Waiting. Food already cold. Still not eating. Because she was waiting for me. I saw her holding her phone. Looking at it. Hoping I would call. I saw her flinch. The first time I raised my voice at her. The way she quickly said, “I’m sorry,” even when she did nothing wrong.

I saw her smile. That soft smile. The one that slowly disappeared. The one I didn’t notice fading. Not until now.

“Why” My voice broke completely. “Why am I only remembering this now?” Tears blurred my vision. “Why didn’t I see it?”. My chest tightened painfully. “I promised,” I whispered. “I promised I would protect you.” My hands covered my face. “I promised I would never make you feel alone” A sob escaped me. “I promised I would be your home.”

Silence. Then. A knock. I didn’t respond. I didn’t have to, because I knew the door would open anyway. My secretary stepped in. He stopped a few steps inside. For a moment, he just looked at me. And I saw it.

Disgust. Clear. Unhidden. He had never looked at me like that before. Not once but now, I gave him the reason to. “Sir,” he said, his tone formal. Distant. “I’ve gathered everything you requested.” I said nothing. He walked forward and placed a file on my desk. “And more,” he added.

Something in his voice made me look up. “What do you mean?” I asked hoarsely. He didn’t answer directly. “Before I leave,” he said instead, “I think you should see the truth.” My brows furrowed. “Leave?” “I’ve submitted my resignation.” The words barely registered. “What?” “I can’t continue working for you,” he said calmly. “Not after what I’ve seen.”

My chest tightened. “Your wife was always sweet, leaving me extra meal when she dropped yours. Working with someone that treats a sweet soul like that, is not something I would be proud off” He explain, cold, plain. But before I could respond, he turned the laptop toward me and pressed play.

Video 1

The living room. Ria stood quietly, her head lowered. Evelyn stood in front of her. “Clean it again,” Evelyn snapped. “I already did,” Ria said softly. Evelyn’s hand moved. A slap. Sharp. Ria stumbled slightly. “Don’t talk back to me,” Evelyn continued.

“Remeber, between me and you, he only believe me, your love for him is only one sided and he only sees me, he will always see me”. Then footsteps. Me.

I walked in. Ria immediately straightened. “She spilled wine everywhere,” Evelyn said, her voice suddenly soft. “I just asked her to clean it.” I looked at Ria. Because i remember the rest, I remember Evelyn saying Ria called her just the other woman.

Disappointed. Annoyed. Irritated, I said words so hurtful, I am ashamed. “Don’t cry, you should have been more careful and more open to Evelyn” I told her. Ria nodded. “I’m sorry.” The video ended. My hands shook. “No”

Video 2

The kitchen. Ria stood by the stove. Evelyn leaned against the counter. “You really think he loves you?” Evelyn asked. Ria stayed silent. Evelyn laughed. “You’re just a replacement because he is still obsessed with me, even when carrying another man child.” Still no response.

Evelyn picked up a glass. And poured water on the floor. “Clean it.” “Or I will tell him you hit me”. Then she whisper something the camera couldn’t get and I watch Ria bent down without a word. The video cut. I couldn’t breathe.

Video 3

The hallway. Ria walked slowly. Her hand pressed against her head. She looked weak. Unsteady. She reached the wall for support. Then. She collapsed. Hard. I froze. Memory hit me.

Two night ago i think or more. She told me when I was leaving to Evelyn that she wasn’t feeling well. I told her she was faking it. I ignored it. I left. My chest felt like it was being crushed.“No… no…”

The next video started but more of pictures and recording in slide show.

No missed calls from Evelyn. No calls at all. Just records. Then. Messages.

Evelyn texting someone else.

“He believes everything I say.”

“She won’t last long anyway.”

“Once I secure everything, I’m leaving.”

Photos. Different men. Different places. Transactions. Money. A pattern.Clear. Calculated. My hands dropped to my sides. Empty.

“Last one,” my secretary said quietly.

The accident.

Ria walking. Slow. Unsteady. She looked exhausted. Broken. Her eyes red from crying too much. She had just told me she was pregnant and I only thought about Evelyn.

Then. Headlights. A horn. She turned, Impact. Her body hit the ground. Rolled. Still. The screen went black. Silence filled the room. I didn’t move.I couldn’t breathe.

Everything was wrong. “I” My voice failed. I swallowed hard. “I didn’t know”. “That’s the problem,” my secretary replied coldly. “You never tried to.” Each word hit. Hard. “You had a wife who was dying,” he continued. “And you chose not to see it.” I closed my eyes.

Tears fell freely now. Uncontrolled. “You chose to believe someone else over her.” You lied about an affair for another woman, I wish i never work for you”

My shoulders shook. “She never fought back,” he added. “Not once.” A broken sound left my chest. “I”. “You don’t deserve to explain,” he cut in. Silence. Then, “I hope you live long enough to remember all of this,” he said.

Footsteps. The door opened. Then closed. He was gone. I was alone. Completely alone. My gaze slowly returned to the screen. To the last frame. Ria.

On the ground. Not moving. My vision blurred again. “I’m sorry” I whispered. My voice broke. “I’m sorry”. But it was too late. Far too late.