I take on your offer

AYSEL'S POV

"Your ex-husband needs to pay for what he did, I can help you get revenge, but on one condition," he said, studying my face carefully. I tried to keep my expression neutral, though my heart was racing.

I knew nothing about him and he has said everything about me, and what I am currently going through, if he was that powerful or wanted to assist me, he wouldn't have let that happen to me. I rolled my eyes and stared away from his cold gaze that was boring holes into my skin.

I wasn't comfortable with his presence but I don't think I have a choice then I asked, "Who are you? Why do you want to help me? What will you be getting and what are your conditions?"

No one appears out of nowhere offering revenge without an agenda. Everything about this man screamed ulterior motives.

He chuckled, a sound that held no warmth.

"Is that really the most important question right now?"

I nodded firmly. "I don't make deals with strangers, no matter how desperate I am. Who are you?."

"Fair enough." He leaned back in his chair.

"Adrian Night, owner of Night Construction Company. Your ex-husband—" the words tasted bitter in his mouth making him squinting his face. "—is my biggest rival. He's stolen ideas from me, undercut my bids, destroyed partnerships. I'm set on getting back at him."

His eyes darkened as his hands clenched into fists. Something about his intensity made my skin crawl, but my judgment was clouded by pain and desperation.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly.

He looked genuinely surprised by my apology, as if kindness was foreign to him. Well, I wasn't a monster like Raven.

Thinking of my ex-husband brought back the avalanche of hurt and humiliation. How I'd begged him not to throw me out into the cold. How I'd even pleaded with his mistress to intercede for me. I'd sacrificed everything—my family, my career, my dreams—believing he was worth it all.

But none of it had mattered. She was the one he loved, the one he'd always loved. I remembered all those nights when he'd make love to me while whispering another woman's name in the darkness. Her name.

The memories brought both pain and something else—anger. Raw, burning anger at being played for such a fool.

"Are you going to sit there wallowing in self-pity all day, or accept my offer?" Adrian's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Get back at those who hurt you. Leave and return transformed, successful enough to make him regret losing you." His words were like gasoline on the fire of my rage, but something in me still resisted.

"I don't think I can—"

My words died as Raven's familiar voice filled the room. I looked up at the hospital TV to see him on some entertainment show, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist, gazing at her with the love I'd always craved.

"Mr. Rashford, what about your wife?" the interviewer asked.

His mistress shifted uncomfortably, but Raven's expression didn't change. If anything, that cruel smile I knew so well spread across his face.

"That woman was never really my wife—just a gold digger who saw an opportunity. Here is the love of my life, she is going to be my wife in a few weeks," he said, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.

The words hit me like a slap. I stared at the screen in shock, my mouth falling open.

“A gold digger?” I'd never asked him for anything except his love.

"How so, Mr. Rashford?" The interviewer pressed, equally confused.

"She was unfaithful from the start, then tried to steal from me. Fortunately, I caught her in time and threw her out like the trash she was." The lies flowed so smoothly from his lips.

I sat frozen, too stunned to even cry. He was rewriting our entire history to protect his image, painting me as the villain to justify his betrayal.

"I'm so sorry you went through that," the interviewer said sympathetically.

Raven just smiled, pulling his mistress closer. "It doesn't matter now. I'm finally with my soulmate. A pest like her can't touch our happiness."

The screen went black. I turned to see Adrian holding the remote, his expression unreadable.

"Why?" I whispered, barely finding my voice.

"Because watching more would only hurt you, and you're already broken enough." His unexpected gentleness made tears spring to my eyes again.

Even this stranger—someone I'd met only hours ago—showed more concern for my wellbeing than the man I'd loved for two years. The man I'd sacrificed everything for hadn't even blinked at my pain. Instead, he'd made it worse.

I could already imagine the social media storm brewing, people who didn't know the truth tearing me apart based on his lies.

"Stop crying," Adrian said, but his harsh words only made the tears flow harder. He sighed and fell silent.

I placed my hand on my still-flat stomach, trying to sense the life growing inside me. Pregnant with his child, and he'd never know. Part of me wondered if I should tell him, but I knew better. A monster like Raven would probably try to eliminate both the baby and me to protect his perfect new life.

A gentle hand touched my back, and I found myself leaning into the unexpected comfort.

"It's okay," Adrian whispered, continuing to soothe me until I finally got control of myself.

When I looked up at him, my voice was steady for the first time all day.

"I accept your offer."