Chapter 3 Painful memories
“YOU ARE THE ONE who betrayed our marriage.”
The biting reproach brought back the painful memories, Adriana had desperately tried to forgot, which rushed back to her mind like a flood.
(FLASHBACK)
Three years earlier, Adriana had been the daughter of the Clarke family and the wife of the wealthiest man in the country, Calvin Walker, CEO of Grand Empire. People had envied her for having him as her husband, but Adriana was the only one who truly knew the reality of their relationship.
Despite knowing that Calvin didn’t love her, she had married him, believing that as long as she loved him, he would eventually fall in love with her.
But Adriana’s belief had been nothing more than wishful thinking. In their three years of marriage, the number of times she had seen him could be counted on one hand.
Although Calvin treated her coldly, Adriana, like a stubborn fool, had tried to warm his heart.
Then, that rainy night changed everything.
Adriana opened her eyes and felt her head spinning. She tried to support herself with her hand, attempting to sit up, but before she could, a strong arm pulled her back.
“Baby, where are you going?” the man said.
Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Adriana was shocked and turned to look at the half-naked man lying beside her. Her mind went blank as she pulled the blanket over her body.
“Who are you?” she asked, her voice shaky.
“I…”
Before the man could finish speaking, the door to the room was kicked open.
Adriana looked up, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Calvin standing there with a dark expression on his face. He walked toward her with long, determined strides and glared at her coldly. His eyes were so frosty that she shivered in fear.
“I didn’t expect you to be so shameless…” he spat out, his tone icy.
“No, Calvin, it’s not like this! I don’t know…” Adriana stammered, trying to explain herself.
But before she could finish, he grabbed her roughly and dragged her out of the bed, pulling her toward the door.
He threw her to the ground once they were outside, in the parking lot. Then, he took something out of the car and tossed it at her face.
“Sign it and get out of my life,” he said coldly.
Adriana looked down at the papers in her hands, her heart sinking when she saw the words "Divorce Agreement."
Her mind raced in shock, but before she could process anything, Calvin got into the car and sped away, leaving her alone in the parking lot. She stood there, staring after him, as tears welled up in her eyes.
“I loved this man for so many years… I did everything to be a good wife, and yet he throws divorce papers in my face without even giving me a chance to explain…” she muttered bitterly, a laugh escaping her lips—half incredulous, half broken.
Adriana composed herself and returned to her parents’ house, seeking refuge in the only place that had ever felt like home.
But the next day, things took a darker turn.
She received a notice from the court stating that her Bar License had been revoked, accusing her of accepting bribes and leaking confidential client information.
Then the police arrived at her home and arrested her older brother for selling illegal drugs. Despite their pleas of innocence, the police refused to listen.
Just as she was about to take action and fight for her brother’s release, she heard her mother’s voice behind her, desperate and trembling.
“Honey…”
Adriana spun around, only to see her father clutching his chest, his face pale and ashen.
Panic surged through her as she rushed to his side, taking him to the hospital. After what felt like an eternity in the waiting room, the doors to the operating room finally opened, and the doctor stepped out.
“How is my father?” Adriana asked urgently.
“He had a heart attack. The operation was successful, but we’ll have to wait 24 hours to see how he responds,” the doctor explained.
Adriana’s heart dropped. The weight of everything was almost too much to bear. Her mother, overwhelmed by the shock, collapsed beside her.
“Mom!” Adriana cried out, holding her mother up.
To make matters worse, the shareholders of her family’s company began selling their shares, afraid of angering Calvin, who had seemingly orchestrated everything. Within a week, the company went bankrupt.
In short, Adriana’s entire family paid the price for her stubbornness in marrying a heartless man.
Because of Calvin’s influence, no one would help them. Even small restaurants refused to hire them.
With no other option, Adriana and her family left the country.
Abroad, they started over from scratch. Adriana’s parents worked as a driver and maid, while her brother and sister-in-law took jobs as a waiter and delivery driver.
It took Adriana three long years to pick up the broken pieces of her heart and find the courage to return home. During those years, she studied hard and regained her Bar License.
(FLASHBACK ENDS)
After returning to the country, Adriana had no intention of crossing paths with Calvin again.
But fate had other plans. Within a month of her return, she ran into him once more.
It felt as though life was playing a cruel joke on her.
Adriana collapsed to the ground, her heart aching.
She had thought she had became brave enough and move on from her loveless marriage three years ago, and her suffering she and her family endured over the years.
But now, when she faced Calvin again, she realized that it was all her wishful thinking. She still got affected by him and her heart still ached because of his cold words.
Moreover, it is quite obvious that he has no intention of letting her off.