Love Reborn: A Tale Of Redemption

Chapter 2: The Ultimate Humiliation

The huge gates of the Calloway apartment building slammed behind Elena as she stood motionless outside. The ice destruction seeping into her bones was far worse than the chill night air that pricked her skin.

Elena stood on the pavement outside Adrian's penthouse while the rain continued to pour down. It was as if the sky itself were grieving for her.

She had never experienced the kind of pain she was feeling in her heart now, before. She had been cast out like she was nothing by the man she had loved, the man she intended to marry—the man for whom she was carrying a child.

Adrian had only disgust and rage when he gazed at her. He had fallen for the falsehoods, the fake pictures showing her locked in what appeared to be a passionate embrace with Caleb Frost.

Elena felt a knot in her stomach. It was not real. It was all a well-calculated lie. Her hands automatically went to her flat stomach.

If only Adrian had listened to her. He would know that she would never betray him. She wanted to rush back inside and yell at him. However, what would it accomplish?

Her stomach churned but she forced herself to ignore it. After losing everything, she didn't want to do that now.

Just then, the sound of heels approaching caught her attention. She turned.

Cassandra Langston emerged from the darkness with a contented sneer on her lips. Cassandra looked every bit like the queen of Adrian's world, which she was until Elena came into the picture. She was the woman his family had carefully chosen for him to marry a long time ago.

She wore a sleek black dress and her auburn hair fell in lovely waves over her shoulders. She was the woman who, if Adrian really did choose Elena, had everything to lose.

Elena's heart was racing as she watched Cassandra come to a stop before her. "Cassandra," she muttered. "You did this, didn't you?"

Cassandra tilted her head and laughed softly. She folded her slender arms in front of her as she remarked, "Oh, Elena. There is no way you could be surprised, is there?”

Elena balled her fists. "I see you've been busy, going through the trouble of setting me up by fabricating those photos. Did you have to go that far?”

With a sigh, Cassandra's amused green eyes glistened. "Well, I might have made some arrangements. But to be honest, Elena, it wasn't that difficult. It wasn't any trouble at all. Adrian was already left nervous because of you.” She shrugged before adding, "The correct prod was all that was required."

Elena's throat became constricted. She knew Adrian had his reservations about her–her background actually but he always made it seem like it wasn't a problem. She hated the c***k in her voice as she murmured, "He wants to marry me. He loves me. You can't take that away."

Cassandra grinned more broadly. "Does he?" She lowered her voice and took a step closer. "Because he would have stood up for you if he loved you. However, he tossed you out like trash instead.”

The reality was too painful for Elena to argue. Their wedding was coming up soon but Adrian didn't even allow her to explain. One look at those damn pictures and hearing a distorted account of what happened was all it took for him to sentence her without trial.

Cassandra smiled in an almost pathetic way. “Elena, you have to face reality. Never were you more than a fleeting diversion. A beautiful distraction. Something exciting and forbidden.” Her breath brushed Elena's ear as she leaned closer. "But he would marry me no matter what. It takes more than love to make a home."

Elena felt a knot in her stomach. Because she had secretly always feared this. That she would never really have Adrian's world, with its wealth, legacy, and expectations? After all, she was just a regular girl from a regular background who only stumbled upon a tycoon like Adrian Calloway by a stroke of luck when she unexpectedly secured a job at the Calloway Group of Companies.

Cassandra's tone suddenly shifted to one of sarcastic sweetness. "I advise you to leave in silence. Go on. You could even be able to locate a decent middle-class man who is willing to raise a child for someone else.”

Elena's mouth flew open and her gaze widened in shock. Cassandra knew. But how? Since when?

At her reaction, Cassandra's grin became wider. "Oh, my dear. Did you honestly believe I was blind? Aren't you two months pregnant?” She asked. "I'm sorry Adrian won't find out though."

Elena felt waves of terror and rage. "You wouldn't—"

Cassandra's well-groomed brow arched as she cut in impatiently. “Wouldn't what? Inform him?” She chuckled. “Well, I don't have to. He won't care even if he ever finds out. Not after tonight.”

Elena stepped back unsteadily. Cassandra was the one Adrian had decided to believe. Cassandra now held all the power. Elena pushed her quivering legs to the side and turned away.

"Getting out so quickly?" Cassandra yelled in jest. Elena continued without stopping. She refused to let Cassandra experience the joy of witnessing her breakdown.

But one thing became brutally obvious as she continued into the darkness. She could not stay here. Or continue to work at the Calloway Company. Not when she was hated by Adrian. Not after Cassandra had taken everything from her.

And above all, not while she was carrying a child of Adrian Calloway.

************************************************

Adrian sat at his desk in the office the following morning, groping through his phone while suffering from a terrible headache.

The headlines were harsh: "After his fiancée betrays him, Adrian Calloway calls off his wedding!"

"Elena Carter Revealed: Her Relationship With Caleb Frost!"

"Gold Digger or Tragic Love Triangle?"

Adrian clenched his jaw. Images of Elena in Caleb's arms, looking like lovers, were all over the place. It ought to have been sufficient to dispel any remaining uncertainties Adrian may have.

Why, then, did something feel a little….off about the whole thing? There was a gentle tap on the door.

"Enter," he whispered. As usual, Cassandra entered the house immaculately dressed. Nevertheless, her expression was too controlled that day.

She placed a folder before him. "I handled everything. You should appreciate a friend like me, you know?"

Adrian scowled. "What do you mean?"

Grinning, Cassandra brushed the imaginary lint from her sleeve. "Elena has left…for good."

Adrian felt a sudden twist in his stomach. "She left?" He asked.

Cassandra gave a nod. “Yes. Last night, she left the city. No forwarding address, not a trace.”

His chest began to feel uncomfortably uneasy. There was something about Cassandra's delivery and how much she seemed invested in the matter. Adrian took the folder in front of him and opened it.

Elena's termination documents were inside. He knitted his brows. "You got her fired?"

Cassandra let out a sigh. “She was a liability, Adrian. Keeping her associated with the company would have simply made matters worse for you, as her reputation is in ruins.” She looked him in the eye. "I believed I was helping. She is on leave and isn't even a top staff member, so the HR department took care of it quietly.”

Adrian reclined on his seat, feeling a chill crawl up his back. There was a problem. Elena would not simply have run. Although he had told her to leave, she wouldn't have left without a struggle. Not without trying to defend herself, at the very least.

He looked at the fake pictures that were all over the media. Had he perhaps…..erred in judgment? He wondered.