Chapter 4 Well Played Adrian

The room felt too quiet, the absence of Adrian unsettling. My hands trembled as I paced the living room, the weight of dread pressing down on me. Nina was back. What did that mean for me? For everything that had happened between Adrian and me? My stomach twisted at the thought.

Suddenly, the sound of Adrian's footsteps broke the silence. He entered the room, his face unreadable as he glanced toward me.

"Adrian," I stammered, desperate to gauge his mood. "I-uh-didn't know where you went."

He didn't answer immediately, walking past me and pouring himself a glass of water. His calm demeanor was unnerving.

"Lyra, this is the end of our contract. Just sign the paper," he said coldly.

I had expected that this day would come but I did not expect it to happen this soon.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I had expected this day would come, but not like this. Not so abruptly.

My chest tightened as I stared at the termination contract he placed on the table, his cold expression making it clear this was non-negotiable.

"Why the change all of a sudden?" I asked, my voice shaking. "We've been doing well. Why now?".

With a heavy sigh, I sat up on the sofa and looked at the termination contract, my heart feeling a bit heavy.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, "Did you forgot that you are just a substitute for Nina?"

"But you said you sent her abroad so you would have more time with me. You said you would break up with her for me! Your words not mine" I shouted out loud, tears already streaming down my face even though I had tried to hold them back.

Adrian scoffed, "Are you that delusional?"

"It's not about being delusional Adrian," I pleaded, "Adrian, please, I thought we had something real. Don't throw it all away just because Nina is back."

He leaned back, a smug smile playing on his lips, "Lyra, you were convenient. Nina is my priority, and you were just filling the void temporarily."

Desperation filled my voice, "I love you, Adrian. Please, give us a chance. I can't bear losing you."

He chuckled, enjoying the scene, "Love? Lyra, you're too naive. You should've known better than to believe in this fairy tale."

Tears welled up in my eyes, "I'll do anything, Adrian. Please, don't let it end like this."

Adrian leaned in, relishing my desperation, "Anything? Beg for it then, beg for a love that was never meant to be."

His voice broke my soul, last night he had held me, last night he had touch me.

Seeing that I did not reply, Adrian said coldly, "If you do not sign the contract, I would stop all inflows of your grandmother's treatment"

I gasped, bursting into full blown tears, not able to hold it back. "Do you really want to get rid of me that badly? Really? What about last night?"

My body was still sore as it reminded me of what happened last night, he was drunk and took me to bed when though he had said multiple times that he hated me still he had enjoyed me.

I remembered the message he saw that Nina had fallen down the stairs, breaking her bones. Just that text, and he had dived up from the bed, ignoring me and rushing out.

"Last night was an accident," he said, his voice a bit sore and heartless. "I know your first time is precious to you ladies, and I don't mind sending more money into your account."

Fury surged within me, "Shameless, Adrian! Do you truly believe my body is worth any amount of money you throw at me? Is that all I am to you?"

He shrugged indifferently, "It's just business, Lyra."

I glared at him, the pain pushing me to confront the deeper wounds, "And using my grandma against me? Do you feel justified in manipulating every aspect of my life? In that one year, did you ever truly love me, or was I just a pawn in your game?"

"Answer me, Adrian!" I demanded, tears mixing with my anger. "Was I just a blood donor, a useless person to you? You played with my emotions, used my vulnerabilities against me, and now you reduce our time together to a mere transaction."

He remained stoic, unmoved by my outburst. "Lyra, you're overreacting. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement."

I shook my head, disbelief coloring my words, "Beneficial? You've stripped away any dignity I had left. I can't believe I thought there was something genuine between us."

Adrian smirked, a cruel satisfaction in his eyes, "You were always replaceable, Lyra. Don't delude yourself into thinking otherwise."

He even dared to laugh at me mockingly "Throughout those months, I had only touched you once. Are you that naive?" Adrian retorted, his words cutting through the air.

"I see," I said, my anger now masked by a coldness, all my hopes were shattered. I angrily signed the papers, silently vowing to free myself from this toxic entanglement.

I would move on, I can do this. I loved the bastard but all he cared about was Nina.

The moment I finished, Adrian nonchalantly stated, "You can come in."

Confused, I questioned, "What's going on?"

Before he could respond, police officers entered the room, their presence sending a chill down my spine.

The police arrested me, reciting the familiar lines, "Whatever you say can and will be used against you." Confused and alarmed, I kept repeating, "Adrian, what's going on?"

He looked away, callously stating, "You knew what I paid you for," leaving me in shock and disbelief.

Soon, I found myself in jail, the cold bars closing behind me. The officer declared, "You'll be judged for embezzlement and financial fraud."

Protesting, I exclaimed, "What? I never did that. I want a lawyer!"

The man standing in front of me revealed, "I am your lawyer. You signed the contract just now, Miss Quinn. You signed that you would replace Nina in many ways. You signed that you would go to jail for her, Miss Quinn."

In disbelief, I stared at the man who claimed to be my lawyer, the weight of the situation sinking in. "But I didn't know it would lead to this," I pleaded, the desperation evident in my voice.

He remained unmoved, "Ignorance won't absolve you, Miss Quinn. You willingly signed a contract that binds you to the consequences."

As the reality of my predicament set in, I felt a mix of betrayal and regret. "Adrian manipulated me," I insisted, grasping at straws.

The lawyer sighed, "That may be, but you put your signature on that paper willingly. Now, we'll have to strategize our defense."

Adrian deceived me, I should have known that this was what he would do. Sell me off just because of the love of his life.

Well played Adrian, till we meet again and I vow I would make your life a living hell.