"Timothy!" Cara gasped in horror, the tray crashing to the floor as it fell from her hands.
Hearing the sudden crash, everyone in the booth looked up at her, but her eyes were stuck on just one person. He hadn't seemed to realise she was the one yet, as he was so occupied with the bimbo sitting on his lap, he couldn't spare her more than a glance.
Cara watched in shock as the man she would be getting married to in a few months time-the man who was supposedly in a meeting with a client-whispered into the ears of the lady sitting on his legs and how she giggled unnecessarily in reply.
Her eyes welled up with tears. Looking around once more, she saw more familiar faces. This betrayal, she felt her entire world come crashing down.
Sitting in the room with Timothy were his friends and their girlfriends-the people she thought were her friends too, but she was wrong. She'd known them for as long as she'd known Timothy and wondered if they only saw her as his girlfriend instead of a friend.
Did everyone know about this?
"Cara?" One of his friends loudly called out, and Timothy snapped his head up in surprise.
"Cara? Where's she?"
Looking away from his friend, he looked her way, and Cara could only stare at him in disgust as she willed herself not to let the tears fall.
Never again. She had promised herself. She'd never again cry over him, and she wasn't going to break that promise today.
"Cara baby. What are you doing here? I thought you worked on the ground floor only."
Rolling her eyes, Cara scoffed.
Typical Timothy.
She caught him cheating again, and all he's worried about is the fact that she wasn't supposed to work up here.
I have to get out of there, she thought.
She wasn't going to stand by and watch Timothy insult her once again. Feeling anger course through her veins, with a firm resolve, she gathered the last of her courage, looking at him with contempt.
"We're over, Timothy. I'm done with you." And then she walked away.
"Cara wait. You don't mean that. I'm sorry." He called after her, but she didn't spare him a glance.
Walking faster, she pulled off her apron, rushing towards the staff room. Behind the little courage was a lot of fear. She had to put enough distance between them both and fast! Cara wasn't sure she could take another beating tonight.
She thought of everything she had done for him. Timothy wasn't always like this. He was there for her at her lowest point when no one was. She was struggling, contemplating giving it all up, when she met him. His love for her got her through it all. When she caught him cheating the first time, she confronted him and got a good beating. Everyone said he was emotionally manipulative and violent, but he apologised and promised to turn a new leaf, so she stayed. When she caught him the third time, they said he didn't care for her, but he apologised and proposed, so she stayed. No one could understand their love, she had thought. Looking back on it all now, all she could feel were regrets.
She had been so foolish. Why blame everyone for hiding the truth from her when they all expected the same result? Well, they are going to get the biggest shock of their lives because she was done.
She was done. Done being a foot mat for everyone. She was tired of working and working with nothing to show for it. She was done taking trash from her sorry excuse of a fiancé. For Christ sake, it was her birthday, and here she was working hard to pay off her father's debts instead of living her life.
"Don't walk out on me while I'm talking to you!"
She felt him pull her back and she let out a small scream, stumbling on her feet.
"Timothy! How dare you?"
"How dare me? How dare you walk out on me? In front of my friends?" He sneered
"Is that all you care about? I just caught you cheating again, Tim. This isn't even the third time." Cara cried out.
"I wasn't cheating. We were just hanging out." Timothy defended
"Hanging out? On my birthday? Timothy, you told me you had a meeting. I have had a rough day, and I just wanted a break with my fiancé. You know what? I don't care anymore; we're over." She declared, trying to free her arm of his tight grip.
"You can't break up with me!" Timothy gripped her wrist tighter, ignoring Cara's painful pleas.
Pulling all her weight, she pushed him back and ran for the staff room door.
If she could just get in, she'd be safe on the other side, she thought.
As she made a move to open the door, it was thrown open, almost slamming into her face. In a fit of shock, Cara lost her footing, her eyes closing automatically as she anticipated the fall, only to be stopped by a firm arm around her waist.
The first thing she felt was how strong the arm was as it held unto her waist tightly, and then she smelt him.
His cologne was enough to have any woman sway on their feet. She felt as though she could get drunk on the scent alone.
"Are you alright?"
She heard his deep, baritone voice ask and felt shivers run through her spine. Never in her entire life has she heard anything that could make her feel so pleased and fearful at the same time.
Opening her eyes, she was met with the deepest grey ones she'd ever seen, staring into hers as though he were trying to see through her soul.
Cara glanced over his facial features and wondered how a man could look this beautiful even with a stoic expression on his face. Giving him a once-over, she could see his muscles straining against the fabric of his shirt and the tip of an elaborate tattoo as it peaked out from the turtleneck he was wearing.
"Cara! What are you doing? Get over here now!" Timothy bellowed, reminding her of his presence behind them.
Suddenly, an idea struck her mind. If she's going to escape leaving with Timothy tonight, she couldn't do that by herself. Even if she did, he'll be back at the house when she goes to pick up her stuff. It had always been like that. The same vicious circle repeats itself whenever they have a fight.
Cara shot one last icy glance at Timothy before she slipped her hands around the strange man's neck.
Holding onto him tightly as a big smile stretched across her face.
"Babe! You're here." She said in faux surprise.
And then she kissed him.
Pulling back a little to search his face for any sign of reluctance, she noticed a brief moment of shock flash across his face then he went back to his typical stoicism. Bringing her lips back to his, she whispered
"Kiss me back, please."
Timothy stood fuming with rage as he watched Cara break off the kiss with the unknown man, reflecting on her last words.Babe. You're here? Babe. You're here?!His hands balled into fists as he simmered in anger."You've been cheating on me?" He spat out distastefully, and Cara let out a cold laugh."I guess we can call it even then." She entwined her fingers with that of her pretend boyfriend's. "...or maybe not. This is your fourth time, right?"Timothy, visibly annoyed, took a step towards her."Are you crazy? Come over here while I'm still being nice, and let's go home."Cara let out a hollow laugh."Home? You mean the apartment I paid for?""I never asked you to! You did that on your own." Timothy replied with a snarl.Cara felt foolish once again. After everything she had done for him, he was just going to brush it off like none of it mattered. Like it didn't cost her a lot.She was always the one giving, even with the little she had.Was she really foolish?Memories of the time
Bernardi HotelCara let out a small moan as she rolled over on the bed, taking in the unfamiliar room. She felt her ears prickle at the sound of the shower running in the other room and came to the conclusion that she wasn't alone.Glancing at the bedside clock, it read 8 a.m. She sat up suddenly, which wasn't the best choice at the moment, as she felt a slight twinge of pain in between her legs.She was late for work.She moved to get off the bed when memories from the night before flooded her mind.Adonis taking her on the wall of the club. In the car. In the elevator. At the door of the hotel room. On the bed. When she cried out she couldn't take anymore, he took her on the bed again. In the shower... and finally in the early hours of the morning.He was a beast in bed, unravelling even the deepest fantasies she never knew she had.Cara felt her face flush red with embarrassment; she couldn't believe she just had a one-night stand with a man she barely knew-not even his name.She h
All heads turned at the ding of the doorbell. They watched the young woman, who could easily pass for a high schooler, hold tightly to the tote bag on her arm as she skipped into the cafe with a big smile on her face.Multiple faces tried to stifle their laughter as she walked up to the counter in clothes that looked to be three times her size, but she couldn't be bothered. It hadn't even occurred to her that she was the centre of attraction."Good morning. Two cups of caramel machiatto and one walnut pie, please." Cara ordered as she thought back on the last time her family had walnut pie. It used to be a tradition. Whenever there was good news to share, they always had walnut pie.She decided it was time to renew the tradition. It seemed like only good things would happen from now on."Your coffees and walnut pie." The attendant said, and Cara received them with an overly excited thank you.She pulled up the tote bag on her shoulder for the third time since she'd reached the cafe as
Gone was the carefree girl with light eyes that showed happiness; a minute was enough for Cara to understand what was happening. Staring at the men through blazing bloodshot eyes, she whispered."Is that my father?" Silence reigned in the room, and Cara's eyes drifted over to the body on the floor. She closed her it in pain, and a single tear rolled out.Followed by another and another until they were gushing, yet a sound didn't come from her. She raised her head to look at the man with the bloodied knife in hand."Is that my father?" He smirked, his eyes crinkling at the side."Mine is six feet under, so he definitely isn't mine."His subordinates snickered, and suddenly, All hell broke loose."You bastard!" Cara screamed as she lunged for him, but was blocked by one of the men.Was her life a joke? Her father's dead, yet they seem to be acting like nothing happened. Is murder a joke to them?She clawed at the air, thinking of a way to free herself from his subordinate's hold. Th
The Bernardi Mansion.A heavy knock sounded on the door of Adonis's home study, and he ignored it as he leaned back, stretching his legs to get comfortable, his eyes not leaving the laptop screen on his black mahogany desk.It was footage of the club from the night before.Folding his hands beneath his chin, he narrowed his eyes as a young man came into view; he looked around twice before slipping into an office.Adonis's office at the club.The knocking continued, more louder and impatient than the first. Before Adonis could tell whoever it was to go away, the door was thrown open.A young, handsome man who looked to be no more than 35 years old strolled in with a teasing smirk and a bag of chips in one hand. Unlike Adonis, who always wore a simple black-brown, roughly curled hairstyle, he was a blondie with the same build.Adonis threw him a glance."I didn't say enter.""...but I don't care either way." Luca sang out, munching loudly on the chips.Adonis rolled his eyes at Luca. Th
It took Luca longer than he'd like to admit for the meaning of those words to register in his brain.I want you to meet my future wife.Oh, h*ll no!He sprung to his feet just as the door to Adonis's fancy study slammed shut, in pursuit of the man himself. "Tell me you're joking." Adonis paused in his steps, fixed him with a cool, then shrugged as if to say, 'If that's what you want.'"I'm joking." "Thank God." Luca breathed. "And for one second I thought you were actually serious about finding a wife." Adonis stopped once again. This time, he had reached the top of the grand staircase that led to the living room. He turned to Luca."I wasn't joking about you meeting my wife—well, fiancè for now." "You just said you were joking." "Because you asked me to." He retorted and resumed his journey down the stairs. Knowing Luca, it'd take another minute or two for him to fully grasp the situation, but that was just how he was. Whenever he was smart, he was smart to the core, and whene
Cara watched as Adonis-with so much unnecessary grace-lifted a spoonful of food into his mouth.She looked down at her still filled-up plate.Yes, she was hungry and had been the one to suggest that they had dinner first before anything, but she felt too uncomfortable to scoop anything down her throat. Everything about this place made her uncomfortable. She'd been walking on eggshells since she stepped into Adonis's home. Just the chair she was sitting on looked like it'd cost her home, and everything in it, including herself, to replace if she just as much as scratched it.She had caught herself glancing around more times than she could count since she walked into his home. The sofas, the rare antiques, the chandeliers, and even the grand staircase you'd see just as you step in through the big and expensive glass doors of his home.His home. Cara scoffed.No. This wasn't a home. It was a mansion.Not your typical modern glass see-through mansion. No. This mansion had a blend of b
Did he kiss her or did she pull him in? Neither was sure as they met in the middle.Like fire to ice, Adonis and Cara clashed against one another.He sucked in her bottom lips, giving it a painful nip, and earning himself a soft gasp. Taking his chance, Adonis forced his tongue into her mouth. He explored every corner of it, drinking her in like a man that has been starved of water for days.Suddenly Cara felt herself being pulled up. For a moment she was sitting; the next, she was roughly pressed against the wall with her neck in a choked hold.She pushed at him. Closer or away? She wasn't sure. Adonis gripped her tighter, his nails digging into the flesh at her neck, and Cara released a choked sound at the overwhelming feeling.She tapped on his arm as she struggled free, but he didn't let up. His chest was pressed firmly against hers. It took a great difficulty to pull her hands up and she pushed at him once again, but it was futile.He didn't move an inch.Adonis bit down hard o
Cara's POVAll through the drive to the hospital, I couldn't stop imagining the what-ifs.What if his case had worsened? What if his case was already beyond the point of recovery? What if he doesn't regain consciousness at all?I didn't know what to expect, and the fact in itself was sickening. Literally speaking.At the hospital, we found my father and Doctor Bruno talking at the reception and were immediately escorted to Adonis's room."What happened? He was fine before I left." I asked, my eyes zeroed in on my husband's unconscious form. "I don't understand either. We stood up to see Diavolo out when fluid suddenly began to leak from his nostrils—My face contorted, "Excuse me, what? Fluid?""I wouldn't say it was sudden. The fluid is from his brain. I believe there's a leak somewhere." Doctor Bruno cut in, "Remember, we have left this untreated for long, so adverse effects like this are bound to occur."My heart skipped a beat. At the end of the day, it was due to Adonis's stub
"To warn you." Was all Cara said, but those three words were enough to get his full attention if it was still divided. "Diavolo's at my father's." Luca leaned forward, clasping his hands in concentration."The time has come then?" "Yes, it has." She confirmed. Both were speaking in parables... half words. Despite not using complete sentences, they understood each other."I'm surprised Adonis let you leave the house at all." "He didn't have a choice. My presence there would only cause chaos. It was better for me to be away, believe me." "Still, you could've sent someone. It's not safe for you to be moving around unprotected. Adrian had recruited a lot of people. The threat would be too overwhelming for a mere dozen guards.""I don't have a dozen and have you forgotten what I said?" Cara stressed. "I needed to warn you." "Yeah. From what? Adonis couldn't come himself to do so?" He scoffed, rising to his feet to get his pills.One of the few things he was grateful about for Cecelia
Cara's POV One would think arriving at the mansion I'd missed so much would bring me joy, but it only made my anxiety turn sour.What are the odds that I'd meet Tina at the door just as I was about to walk in?"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in..." she taunted.As usual, I was taken aback; it would take a million years for me to get used to this version of her. She used to be the only reason I looked forward to working at the restaurant... one of the sources of my rarely enjoyed happiness. Now she was... different.She gave me a once-over, her face scrunched up like she was disgusted. "You look fat... I must say. And how is life treating you, now that your rich husband is not so rich? Did you think all your problems would go away when you married him?" Tina laughed mockingly.I eyed her outfit, composed of the latest pieces of Louis Vuitton from her head down to her feet. "Are you sure you're not projecting yourself on me?""Excuse me?""You're the one who changed because you
Cara's POVI didn't go down immediately. Adonis wasn't a child or a stupid man; the fact that he brought Diavolo to our home meant that he was trying to achieve something.Whatever it was, I was not interested. As we had indirectly decided months ago, he could do as he pleased. I was already doing the same.Diavolo's acceptance of the invitation made me uneasy. Living with men who had mastered the act of manipulation and psychology in their work dealings had taught me more than a thing or two.He wasn't here to play.Making my spine as straight as possible, I began heading towards our room."Come along with me. I'll need your help." The maid didn't argue and silently followed. One of the attributes one must have to work for a man like my father.Never ask questions.I went straight into our dressing room, moving over to the section of clothes I hadn't touched for months. Adonis's side of the dressing room seemed to be more comfortable than mine, so I lived wearing his clothes.Not to
Cara's POVThere isn't much to say. Literally, there isn't. I'd never been to a theatre to watch a play, but I've read tons of novels where the saying, 'The show must go on' was used. That was the best description of our current situation.Life took unexpected turns, the unusual becoming the new normal... and in my case, the lines between what's real and unreal become distorted, yet we live.Two months have passed since that day... the day the first group of Adonis's men was taken. Since then, more have followed.Now, we're just living like things are normal; life at the mansion was crumbling. Luca barely shows up at my father's home anymore. He calls only when he has important information, and the call is never two-way. Day and night, I'm surrounded by complaints about his unavailability. Even when I tried to reach him, I was met with the same silence.'The number you're trying to call is busy; please try again later'.I think we broke him. Although Cecelia seems to believe the 'w
Cara's POV I watched with worried eyes as Adonis shrugged off the two pairs of supporting arms that prevented him from falling face flat as he found his footing—to my utmost disappointment, he didn't pass out."I'm fine." He grumbled.I was reaching my breaking point. How long could it take a man to lose consciousness?Was his brain truly in control of his body system like all normal humans, or was he the one controlling it?However, my patience was wearing thin, and the limit was soon reached."We should get you admitted." I deadpanned, ready for the disagreement that would spring up."You know my answer to that." He rasped, taking a seat. "I have a few days more to go.""Nothing is likely to change. You heard the bombshell Luca dropped. The symptoms are worsening." My mouth stated points I believed were valid enough to get him to change his mind, but this was Adonis.He was as stubborn as a goat. "All the more reason why I should be home."Despair washed over me. I looked at him,
Cara's POV The cutlery, halfway to Adonis's lips, fell from his hand at those startling words. Slowly, very slowly, he lifted his gaze, once emotionless, now hard, pinning it on his second-in-command."What the fuck are you talking about?" His voice was deadly calm, yet I felt the chill in them.Luca began to pace, unfazed by his friend's shift in emotion. "My phone had been blowing up with calls and texts from the guys." He ran a hand down his face, a flicker of something that looked like regret crossing it. "I didn't get to check it until a few hours ago, but I dashed to the mansion immediately after I got the news."Adonis narrowed his eyes at him, a brewing storm in them. I could hear his teeth grinding together, the sound clawing at my skin.He was mad! Extremely... mad.The rest of the people in the room were just as shocked as I was. They stared speechless, peering eyes watching the movements of both men. All except for my father, who pushed away his almost empty plate, taking
Cara's POVAfter leaving Doctor Bruno's office, I spent the rest of the day stuffing myself in the hospital cafeteria while I waited for Adonis to be done with his examinations.At the end of it all, we left in separate cars, a stark contrast to our arrival. The emotions, the atmosphere, everything down to the littlest details was different.The heavy tension, born of fear for the news we might receive at the hospital, gave way to an awkwardness neither of us wanted to acknowledge.Talking about it meant compromising, which we weren't ready to do. Not he, nor I. It was better that way."I'd be back," Adonis said in a low voice as he drove off with an extra car packed with about five guards behind him. The dark circles underneath his eyes spoke volumes about the stressful poking and prodding he'd endured all day. His usually proud posture had a slight slouch yet I acted oblivious as I was escorted to the other car, surrounded by my guards,"I'll be waiting back at the house." Was my o
Cara's POVSilence hung heavily in the room, the thick smell of antiseptic, suffocating despite being in an office. The leather chair felt as cold as the diagnosis made me feel as my husband and I took in Doctor Bruno's last words to us. Our lives felt like a labyrinth of chaos; with every step we took forward, there was more trouble waiting to jump in our faces.It seemed like there was no end to this.Adonis's sickness seemed too convenient, just like the other unplanned and unforeseen problems. One after another. Yet I couldn't show how I was feeling. I was always the dramatic one—the one amongst us who couldn't hide her emotions and would display exactly how it was, leaning on my man's broad shoulders.Not this time. Adonis did his best to hide it, but I could see how shaken he was about losing his memory. He had taken the crown from me. It was my turn to be there for him and support him as he always did me. It was like wearing his suit, too large and heavy, but necessary.I sup