CHAPTER THREE: PAID REPORTERS

ADRIAN'S POV:

Theo Lennox. 

The fucking bastard who tried to steal Anya away from me after our marriage. I narrow my eyes at him, totally unimpressed by his presence. I fold my arms across my chest with a snarl on my lips as I wait for him to get closer. 

Thalia gasps in shock from beside me as she eyes him with a sly look in her eyes that pisses me off. It's just like her to go after the one man who is forbidden. My family is off limits for the fucking bastard. 

“What the fuck are you doing here?!” I ask, my rage visible through my words as I step closer to him, my hands clenched tight into fists. 

“I heard that Anya was in an accident.” Theo says, his words dropping with concern as he looks around the empty hallway. 

Thalia scoffs from beside me, and I can feel the rage emanating from her just at the mention of Anya's name. It's almost as if I'm seeing things from a new light. Things I was blind to all this while. 

Anya might not be the bad person my family and Nyssa were making her out to be. That may be the reason I found it so hard to sign the divorce papers. I couldn't let go of someone so precious. 

“Who told you about it?!” I demand, my rage building to new heights as I glare at him. I stand just a few inches taller than him and damn right I'm going to use that to my advantage. 

“I got a call from the hospital.” Theo explains impatiently as he tries to draw the attention of the doctor who just stepped out from the room. 

My hand closes in on his arm, and I push him back roughly. “Why the fuck did they call you?!” 

“Because I'm enlisted as her emergency contact. Shouldn't you be more worried about the wellbeing of your wife rather than acting like a jealous asshole?” Theo asks with a growl as he steps up into my personal space. 

My face squeezes up in disgust as I take him in. Just like I suspected, Anya was indeed cheating on me, and probably with this bastard! Because why else would she provide his contact for emergencies? 

“Stay the fuck away from my wife!” I say heatedly as I stare him down. My knuckles are white due to how hard I'm squeezing my fists, but I don't even care. 

“Why are you acting this way, Adrian?! Don't you want to divorce her anymore?!” Irene asks with a confused frown on her face. 

Theo snarls at me after taking in my mother's words. I can see the obvious look of disgust on his face, and I don't know why it disturbs me the way it does. However, before they can say anything, the doctor interrupts us.

“Mr Theo Lennox?” The doctor calls out, addressing Theo. “Miss Anya is awake.” 

My mood sours at his actions. “Anya is my fucking wife. Don't talk to him. Don't tell him anything.” I say through gritted teeth. The doctor visibly covers under my intense gaze. A part of me knows that he shouldn't be the object of my hatred, but I can't seem to care. 

Thalia curses under her breath while my mom is filled with rage. I guess they really want her dead. 

My mother and sister stare at me like I've grown three heads, but I don't pay them any mind. I know I'm acting crazy, but I don't care. Anya is my wife, and until the divorce is finalised, I won't let this bastard act otherwise. 

“Oh… I'm sorry sir… well do you want to come into the room?” The doctor stutters while adjusting his glasses. 

“Lead the way.” I order in a harsh tone. 

The doctor nods his head in a flustered manner as he starts heading towards the room, but he comes to an abrupt stop with his hands on the door knob. 

“I have to warn you though,” He says  while swallowing heavily, “She probably won't remember you.” 

“What do you mean doctor?” I ask in a completely stumped tone. My heart pumps blood 

“She – she's lost her memories.” The doctor says in an ominous tone that leaves me cold. 

_________________________

ANYA'S POV:

I hide the paper under my pillow as I prepare myself for the confrontation with Adrian. I have to put on my best acting skills, if not he will find out my secret. 

I pleaded with the doctor to lie to all of them that I lost my memories, and he was a bit hesitant, but after seeing the scars on my body he gave in. 

I'm so lucky that I only had a mild concussion after the car crash. It didn't seem that way because I came in bloodied from an injury on my arm, but after it was cleaned up and I finally woke up, everything returned to normal. 

I clench my fists as I remember the information I just learnt. So all this time, the Vasilis corporation also belonged to me, and they treated me no better than trash.

After hearing what they did to my father, it only solidifies my decision to go on with my revenge plan.

The door is pushed open, and Theo comes rushing to my side. Seeing him brings back all the memories of the past, but I need his help so I have to ignore his betrayal. 

“Anya?” Adrian calls out calmly as he steps into the room. He's the very definition of stoic perfection. I'm having a hard time reconciling this man with the one who cheated on me without any remorse, and then had the audacity to throw divorce papers in my face. 

I take him all in, working hard to keep the anger and sadness out of my expression. Adrian is one of the most beautiful men I've set my eyes on. His facial features are built like that of a Greek god, and seeing that he's actually from Greece, I'm not shocked. 

He has a very muscular build and a tall frame that is the envy of many others. But if only his appealing stature could hide his evil nature. Adrian is worse than the devil. A fact which is acceptable considering he's as wickedly handsome as the devil. 

“Who are you?” I ask with a frown of confusion on my face. I school my expression to be the perfect mixture of confusion and just the right amount of interest. 

“Theo, baby, who is this?!” I ask Theo in a frantic tone as I grip his hands tightly in mine. I blink my eyelashes rapidly, my expression one or fearful awe. 

“Calm down, Anya. The doctor said you lost your memory, so it's okay to feel slightly confused, I will explain everything.” Theo says in a soft tone as he pulls me in for a hug. 

“Get the fuck away from my wife!” Adrian growls in a deadly tone as he glares at Theo. His reaction is so shocking that it takes me a moment to recover. 

“I'm married?!” I ask with wide eyes as I turn towards Theo for answers. I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, not missing Adrian following the action keenly with his eyes. 

“This isn't the time for your jealousy, Adrian! Anya is sick and she needs our help.” Theo says in a heated tone. I'm shocked at the protective note in his words. 

“If my wife needs help, she's going to get it from me.” Adrian says in a deadly calm tone. “You have five seconds the get the fuck away from her.” 

I'm momentarily stunned quiet by the unveiled threat in his words, but I quickly recover. “Can someone just answer me already?!” I ask in a frantic tone as I start to pull on my hair, my eyes filling rapidly with tears.

“We broke up, Anya. I did something unforgivable. And then you got married to Adrian.” Theo finally explains while swallowing heavily. 

It doesn't take anything to see the genuine remorse in his features. 

“It would be too reckless to force everything on you, Anya. Let the past be left alone. This will help you recover faster.” Adrian butt's in as he heads towards my side. 

Why is he acting this way?! Did something happen that I'm not aware of?! I thought he wanted to divorce me?! My heart thumps in my chest, and I can feel the familiar hope surging in my chest, but I squash it down immediately. 

“We have to get you home, Anya.” Adrian says in a tone of finality. His tone leaves no room for argument, and I actually have to remind myself that this is the man that abused and mistreated me, in order to stop myself from just giving into his orders. 

“How can I go home with you?! I don't even know you!!” I say in an alarmed tone. I shuffle backwards on the bed, my hand gripping the sheets tightly in my fists. 

“You can come with me if that will make you feel safer.” Theo says immediately. He has a genuine expression on his face that leaves me honestly stressed out. 

Although he is the better option out of the two, I still have to remember that this is the man who cheated on me. 

As much as I hate it, I know I have to return to the Vasilis mansion. That's the only way I will be able to find out the truth. 

“My wife will come home with me.” Adrian says in a heated tone and with a sneer on his lips. 

I immediately slide the paper from under the pillow and down the floor when Adrian's attention is averted from me. Theo notices but I give him a subtle sign not to react. 

Adrian moves towards me and lifts me into his hands before I can protest or anything. “What are you doing?!” I ask in an alarmed tone as my hands automatically wrap around his shoulders out of fear of being dropped. 

“You need to recover, and you will do so in my house under my roof.” Adrian says through gritted teeth. Without giving me any chance to object, he storms out of the room barely giving me the chance to say goodbye to Theo. 

I don't miss the expressions of shock and distaste on Irene and Thalia's faces as their gazes lock in on us. Adrian still doesn't say anything to them as he moves to the entrance of the hospital. However, just as the door is pushed open, we are overwhelmed with reporters. 

My mood sours as they rush towards us. In the past, this was one of the means Thalia and Irene used to ridicule and disgrace me. My blood pressure spikes up as they start to ask deep and invasive questions. 

"Do you think you will still be enough for your husband even after this life-altering accident?” A reporter asks in a harsh tone as she steps closer to me. 

"How does it feel knowing you will never reach up to his childhood lover, Nyssa?" Another reporter asks with a sneer on his lips. 

I start to breathe irregularly, and soon I'm having a panic attack. I bury my face in the crook of Adrian's neck. Why won't they just leave me alone!! 

"You stole him from someone, isn't it brazen of you to think that you can keep him?"

"Without the support of your mother-in-law and sister-in-law, do you really think your marriage will last long?"

"Your husband is only with you because he pities you, yet you still decided to cheat on him. How do you feel knowing that you are a betrayer?"

"Nyssa is a better option for him, why don't you just die?"