CHAPTER FOUR: LIES AND MORE LIES.

ANYA'S POV: 

“Enough!” Adrian says in a cold and loud tone, drawing the attention of all the reporters standing around us. I'm too strung up tight, and shaking too badly to even appreciate his effort. 

“Adrian, I don't think it's wise for you to engage with them. They are here to interview Anya. Maybe you should let them, after all she's the one under fire for embarrassing the family.” Thalia spits out, her lips squeezed into a hateful and bitter line. 

Just as always, she's willing to throw me to the wolves for the family’s image as if I'm not married to her brother. A lone tear rolls down my cheek as I fully expect Adrian to do as she has said and stop defending me, but his next words shock me. 

Adrian steps away from his sister's touch as he pulls me closer himself. “My wife will not be answering any of your questions. Stay the hell away from her, or I will make sure that you all lose your fucking jobs.” 

“What the hell are you doing, Adrian?! Why do you want this pitiful girl to drag you down with her?” Irene asks in a bitter and harsh tone as she glares at me. I see the frustration and anger in her orbs, but this time, it gives me a strange sort of peace. I revel in her discomfort. 

“Stay out of this, mother.” Adrian orders in a tone I've never heard him use with his mother. His eyebrows are tilted low in a grim line of anger and seriousness. 

The reporters start to disperse slowly, until we are the only ones left in the entrance. Irene and Thalia watch with shock in their features as Adrian places me in the front seat of his car and pulls away. 

I'm equally as shocked as them, if not more. Things are not going according to script! Adrian is not supposed to change. He's supposed to remain the same asshole who cheated on me with his best friend. 

At the remembrance of his affair, my mood dampens, and I don't have to worry about not hating him anymore. 

“Are you good?” Adrian asks in a gruff tone as his hands tightens around the steering wheel. 

I nod my head as I inhale deeply, getting into character. “Does that happen very often?” I ask in a raspy tone as I swallow heavily. 

I see Adrian struggling with himself before he shakes his head. “No. This is the first time.” He says grimly. 

Liar. 

“Don't worry, this is the last time you will ever have to go through that.” He promises in a solemn tone, but I don't believe him. Adrian's care and love is flitting. One minute it's there and the next it isn't. 

“Why did they do that though? Who are you?” I ask with a careful frown of confusion on my face. I swallow nervously when he doesn't respond, and I realise I need to up my game. 

“I'm sorry I can't remember anything about you. I really am.” I add with tears filling my eyes at his lack of response. I bury my face in my hands while gently sobbing. My reaction shocks the hell out of him, because in the past, all I've ever been in front of him is strong. 

Adrian immediately brakes the car before turning towards me. “It's not your fault you had the accident, Anya.” My heart skips a beat at the intense look in his eyes. 

“I'm Adrian Vasilis. You must have heard of the company seeing as you grew up here.” Adrian says with a sardonic smile on his lips. It's almost like he expects to see the dollar signs in my eyes at the mention of his family name. 

A gasp of shock and surprise escapes my lips. “Was I drugged or forced into the marriage?!” I ask in an alarmed tone. Knowing that I went willingly into this marriage just to save my fathers life made my question the cherry on the cake. 

Something flickers over Adrian's expression but it disappears before I can comment on it. “No. Why would you think that?” Adrian asks in a cold tone. He's visibly upset, his hands gripping the steering wheel tighter than usual. 

“I've only ever wanted a small life with the man I love. A small house with the white picket fence where we could spend our days tending to the garden.” I say with a dreamy smile on my lips. 

Adrian stares at me with shock all over his features, but before he can say anything, my expression changes. 

“But that's okay, once I regain my memories, we can go our separate ways.” I say while averting my eyes to my fingers clenched tightly on my thighs. 

Adrian grinds his jaw together as he glares at me. “You are not going any fucking where.” He says in a sharp burst of possessiveness that chills me to my core. He starts up the car again, leaving me to stew in my shock. 

I'm still unsure of what just happened by the time we are pulling into the large estate. Adrian parks the car and storms out of the door, not waiting for me to step out of the car. 

Right. There's the Adrian Vasilis that I know. I didn't have to wait that long for his true nature to show. 

Irene and Thalia follow closely behind us as the driver parks the car and they head towards the door. My mood sours as I find Nyssa waiting by the door with tears in her eyes. 

“What the fuck are you doing here?!” Adrian asks with a sour expression on his face. He glares at her with so much hatred that for a second I fear I might have been transported to another universe. 

“Why are you being so rude to her, Brother?!” Thalia asks in an irritated tone as she rushes to her side. She gives Adrian a completely disgusted look, and I wonder why she has never stood up for me this way before. 

“Stay the fuck out of this, Thalia.” Adrian warns in a cold tone. The veins in his neck are popping out, signifying his intense anger and rage. 

Thalia looks unsure for a second, but then her gaze locks on mine and her expression becomes cold and ruthless. “I won't let you ruin what you have with Nyssa!” Thalia says through gritted teeth. 

“Get out of my way, Nyssa. I don't want to see your fucking face ever again.” Adrian orders in a dispassionate tone. He looks completely bored and disinterested in her explanations. 

Nyssa falls to her knees, her hands held together as though in prayer. “I'm so sorry, Adrian! My brother was blackmailing me!! I couldn't tell you because I didn't want you to harm him. He's still my brother and I love him regardless.” Nyssa says while full on sobbing. 

I move closer to Adrian and slip my hands through his elbow. “Who is this, Adrian?! I don't feel safe with her here.” I say in a fearful tone as I cling to him. This draws all their attention to me, but I don't cower even for a second. 

Adrian pulls me closer while sneering at Nyssa. “You heard my wife, leave!” I'm completely shocked that he's taken my words, but I refuse to look a gift horse in the mouth. 

Nyssa stares at both of us with complete shock and bewilderment, but she recovers quickly. “I have information that I think you might want, Adrian. Please just hear me out.” Nyssa says as she rises to her feet. 

Adrian looks hesitant, but Irene and Thalia give her the go ahead to continue with what she wants to say. 

“Once I heard about the accident, I decided to hire a private investigator, and within a few hours, he was able to provide me with the details of the driver of the truck that rammed into her car.” Nyssa says hastily. 

She gives me a soft look, but I don't miss the hatred in her gaze. “After confronting the driver, he admitted that he was sent by someone who once worked for the family.” 

“I don't know if I should say this or not.” Nyssa says hesitantly. “He was the gardener, and he admitted to trying to kill Anya because she ended their affair.” 

My blood goes cold in my veins as I feel Adrian become as still as a statue beside me.