Chapter 4 THE DESIRE FOR REVENGE.

"You are bleeding dear" Victoria exclaimed loudly.

Mariana had felt something tickle down on her lap, but she hadn't realize the glass cup had left some of its pieces in her flesh, she look at her bleeding palm, unlocking her gaze from Adriel's piercing gaze.

She didn't expect him to be smiling, what would I do? How would I come out of this mess? What should I say? That I am a victim just like him? Who would believe me?

Adriel noticed the tension in the room, enjoying the anxious expressions on Mariana's and Wilson's faces. But he knew he had to speak before they vanished, they already looked as pale as a ghosts.

"Oh, the doctor said my memory loss is temporary," he said with a chuckle. "It's funny how I remember almost everything except my own marriage and off course the night of the accident. He continued aloofly.

Wilson unconsciously let out a sigh of relieve. "You don't remember anything?" he spoke after a long while

"Well I won't say everything, I don't remember my marriage and the night of the accident, and maybe a few more things" Adriel replied.

Wilson stood up, struggling to maintain his composure. "Come here, brother," he said, spreading his arms wide. "You must have gone through a lot." He hugged Adriel and gently guided him back to his seat- beside Marian, before moving to the opposite end of the table.

"Mariana?! Won't you hug your husband?" Racheal asked, breaking the awkward silence. "You don't seem happy. Are you okay?"

Mariana was dabbing her palm with the napkin handed to her by the maid who had cleaned up her spill. She froze at Racheal's question. "I am okay, I'm happy to see him. I'm just... overwhelmed," she replied, forcing a smile as she met Adriel's gaze.

"I am famished, I am sure Adriel is also. Can we eat already" Wilson said, changing the topic.

Everyone ate in silence, occasionally glancing at each other. Adriel noticed that Mariana and Wilson exchanged looks a little too often, confirming his suspicion. She was working for Wilson. He looked at her with irritation in his eyes.

"I'll make you suffer. In your next life, you won't be an accomplice to murder, you wretch."

Rachael's cool voice cut into his thought "Adriel, tell us! Why didn't you tell anyone about your marriage? Why would you hide a thing like this from your family" she knew this was the question in everyone's mind but they probably didn't know how to ask.

"I don't know why I hid it, I can't remember" he said calmly munching on another chuck of his food.

Rachael gave him a questioning look, she had always knew Adriel to be one who doesn't talk much, and he always made decisions without consulting anyone. He was never like this, he became this person after the death of his father.

#####

Antonio Bruce was assassinated in his room, and Adriel witnessed everything through the peephole in his father's study, which overlooked the room.

That night, someone poisoned all the guards in the mansion. Shortly after, two masked men burst through the front door, demanding to see Antonio. Everyone in the mansion feel on the floor, pleading for their lives. They dragged Wilson up and ordered him to lead them to Antonio. Wilson was in final year in college and was home for the summer holiday.

He led the masked men to Antonio's room. Once inside, Wilson's demeanour turned cold as he exchanged words with his stepfather and spat on him. A wicked laugh escaped his lips as he spoke to the men, who promptly shot Antonio.

Adriel witnessed everything, although he didn't hear a thing of what Wilson said to his father or the men or why he spat his father, he was certain Wilson planned the attack.

Adriel didn't come out of the study that night; he cried himself to sleep. He came out the next morning to find everyone still in his father's room, wailing, including Wilson.

"Have you been there all night?" Victoria asked him

"You killed him!" Adriel charged towards Wilson, but was easily overpowered. He was only 15 years old.

Adriel kept insisting that Wilson had murdered his father. His accusations led to him being sent to a psychiatric hospital, where he remained for six years. During his stay, private tutors were brought in to continue his education until he completed college. It was only three years ago that he was finally released.

Dave insisted on staying with Adriel at the hospital until he recovered, he was the only one who believed him.

During his stay, Adriel spoke to no one but Dave, he also refused to return home.

It was Dave's constant reminders that finally prompted Adriel to muster the courage to go back. He couldn't bear the thought of his father's company and inheritance falling into Wilson's hands.

Fuelled by hatred for Wilson and driven by the desire for revenge, Adriel knew he needed to reclaim his rightful position to stand a chance at avenging his father's death.

"What do you mean you can't remember why you hid your Marriage from us bro?" Rachael said again "it's your marriage we are talking about bro"

"Let him be Rachael, he said he can't remember" Wilson added sharply.

"I wasn't talking to you, you know?!" she frowned at him

"I think we should let him be Rachael, I am sure whatever his reasons are, they are justifiable" Victoria said smiling towards Adriel.

"Hey, Marian, are you done? Can we go to bed already?" Adriel asked abruptly, catching her off guard.

She choked on her food, reaching for her water immediately.

Adriel's gaze bore into her, a hint of a smile curling at the corner of his lips, filled with an unsettling mix of fury and curiosity.

"Adriel, are you sure that's what you want?" Wilson asked sharply.

"What's there to be unsure about?" Adriel replied coldly.

""You... you don't remember her, and you hate sharing your space. Are you really going to let her sleep in your room? She can stay in the guest room until you fully recover," he stuttered.

"She is my wife; it's her duty to help me remember. She can't do that from a separate room, can she?" His lips twisted into a half-smile, dark and calculating.

Adriel rose, grabbing Marian's hand, leading her toward the stairs before she could protest. She could only follow him humbly like a sacrificial lamb.

Adriel paused, tightening his grip on Marian's hand, as they reached the top of the stairs. He turned to face her with dark and indecipherable eyes. His voice was dangerously low and he whispered, "Marian, I want you to remember this moment because you are the first woman I am bringing into my room and I expect you'll be the last, I'll expect you to start proving your loyalty to me. Every. Single. Day."

She gulped, her heart pounded in her chest, the weight of his were heavy. Before she could respond, he pulled her into the bedroom, closing the door behind them with a resounding click that echoed like a foreboding promise. She glanced back at the door, feeling as if her last chance of escape had just been sealed away.

With nowhere to run, she met Adriel's eyes, the intensity of his stare leaving no room for doubt. This was only the beginning of her trials, and she had no idea how she would survive the night, let alone the days to come.