(Bianca's POV)
Even when I try to go back to ignoring Adrian and Ivy's relationship, I just can't get over what that woman said the other night. Her words echoed in my head, each syllable sinking deeper into my chest. Used. Discarded. Ashes. My fists clenched at my sides as rage bubbled beneath my skin. How had I let myself become another one of Adrian Sterling’s conquests? The shame was suffocating, but fear gripped me tighter. Was this my future? Broken, forgotten, left to rot like the others?
No. I wouldn’t let him destroy me. Though he has been pulling me piece by piece away. I would become stronger, better. If Adrian consumed, I would devour it. My mind raced, plotting, planning. He wouldn’t get away with it—not this time.
The door creaked open. Adrian stepped inside.
Three days later, he is here after an emergency rush to Ivy who always had one or two things she couldn't do without Adrian’s help. Seeing him come in like it was nothing after being gone for days; I knew it was time to leave this cage.
He stared at me, stunned, like a man watching his carefully built empire crumble into dust. For a brief, maddening second, I believed he might choose me—finally. His dark eyes softened, just enough to trick me into hope. But then they hardened again, and I knew better.
“I can’t,” he whispered, the words barely audible yet slicing through me like a blade.
I swallowed hard, my pride fighting to mask the betrayal threatening to consume me. “I thought so,” I said, my voice steady, though my heart was breaking by the second.
I turned around and walked away, my footsteps echoing on the polished marble floor. The silence between us was heavy, almost suffocating, but the sharp click of my heels cut through it like a quiet rebellion.
“Bianca, wait,” Adrian called after me, his voice cracking with desperation.
I froze mid-stride, refusing to turn back. “There’s nothing left to say, Adrian.”
He sighed heavily, the sound rippling with frustration. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
I laughed bitterly, the sound strange even to me. “You didn’t just hurt me. You broke me. But here’s the difference, Adrian—I’m done waiting for you to fix it.”
His silence felt heavy, almost crushing. I could feel his eyes on me, hoping to find the words to fix this. But I wasn’t going to be the one to speak this time.
“This is over,” I said, and the words tasted like power. For once, I wasn’t the girl shrinking into the background, bending to someone else’s will. “Goodbye, Adrian.”
The familiar warmth of my parents’ estate enveloped me as soon as I stepped inside. The scent of freshly baked cookies mingled with the polished mahogany furniture, bringing back memories of old times. A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down. This wasn’t the time to fall apart.
“Bianca, darling!” My mother’s voice rang out like a bell, her perfectly coiffed hair catching the evening light. She reached for me, her diamond earrings glittering with every movement. “You look stunning, as always. The chef’s making your favorite tonight—duck à l’orange. We’re celebrating!”
I forced a smile, though my chest tightened painfully. How long had it been since I’d let myself relax here, surrounded by people who cared about more than my connections or last name?
“Thanks, Mom,” I murmured, hugging her briefly. Her warmth felt comforting, but it also reminded me of everything I’d neglected while drowning in Adrian’s world.
I made my way upstairs, leaving my designer handbag on the chaise lounge in my childhood room. For the first time in years, I felt lighter. My phone buzzed continuously, reminding me of everything all over. Adrian’s name lit up the screen, each call and text a desperate plea for my attention.
Missed Call – Adrian
Text: Bianca, please, we need to talk.
I silenced the phone and placed it face-down on my vanity. Whatever he had to say could wait. I’d spent too long hanging on his every word, waiting for promises he couldn’t keep.
The doorbell rang just as the chef announced dinner. My father, still as regal and composed as ever, raised an eyebrow at the interruption.
“Expecting someone?” he asked, setting his whiskey glass down.
“No,” I said, frowning slightly.
A moment later, Adrian stepped into the foyer, carrying an array of luxury peace offerings—vintage wines, rare cigars, and a box wrapped in gold. He smiled politely, but his eyes sought mine immediately.
“Adrian! What a surprise!” my mother exclaimed, clasping her hands together.
“Mrs. Carter. Mr Carter,” Adrian greeted, flashing the charming smile that always disarmed people. “I finished a meeting early and thought I’d drop by. I hope I’m not intruding.”
“Not at all,” my father said, rising to shake his hand. “Come, join us for dinner. Bianca will be thrilled.”
Who? Me Thrilled? The knot in my stomach tightened as I fought to keep my expression neutral. My mother’s happy chatter filled the room as she ushered Adrian into the dining area.
But I wouldn’t play along. Not this time. Tired of pretending everything was well even to those who nurtured me. If only my father knew how much I begged Adrian for crumbs.
“I actually have to leave,” I announced, grabbing my handbag. Unable to look at my mother’s face.
“Leave?” My mother’s smile was gone. “Bianca, Adrian just got here. Surely you can stay a while.”
I forced a polite smile. “I have an appointment I can’t miss.”
The tension in the room was thick as my parents exchanged puzzled glances. Adrian followed me to the door, his cologne—a maddening combo of cedarwood and regret—clinging to the space between us.
“Bianca,” he said sharply, his voice low enough that my parents wouldn’t hear. “We need to talk.”
I turned to face him, my expression unflinching. “There’s nothing left to discuss, Adrian.”
His jaw tightened. “You’re being unreasonable. You know how complicated things are with Ivy. You’ve always understood that.”
Anger surged through me, quick and unrelenting. I took a step closer, meeting his gaze with all the fire he’d tried to extinguish in me.
“Complicated?” I repeated, my voice dangerously calm. “What’s complicated, Adrian, is spending years waiting for someone who’s too much of a coward to choose me. What’s complicated is pretending I’m fine while you live a double life.”
His silence was deafening. For once, the man who always had a polished excuse was left scrambling.
“You’ve always loved her,” I said, the truth hanging in the air like smoke. “Even when you were with me, I was just a placeholder, wasn’t I?”
“That’s not true,” he said, his voice breaking slightly. Adrian, you can't fool me again.
“Yes, it is,” I countered, my voice firm. “And it’s okay, Adrian. I don’t need your half-hearted attempts at love anymore. I’ve finally realized I’m worth more than that.”
His face softened, his eyes wide with something that might have been regret. But it was too late.
“You’ve changed,” he said quietly.
I smiled faintly, tilting my head. “No, Adrian. I’ve just finally found myself.”
“ You have always wanted me gone from your life, I will pack my bags first thing tomorrow morning. Then you don't have to bother about lying to me”
“ Don’t think you can stop…Don’t dare to…This is what you have always wanted”
