Mr. Sterling, Your Ex-wife is a Famous CEO

Five years ago, Arabella Sterling vanished without a trace, disgraced, heartbroken, and branded her billionaire benefactor’s dirty secret.

What the world never knew was that she’d also been his wife.

Or that the man she loved—and the son she gave everything for—chose another woman over her.

Now, she’s back as The Reformer, a world-renowned business strategist celebrated for resurrecting dying empires.

Her newest client? The Sterling Group.

Her ex-husband’s empire.

Adrian Sterling has spent years trying to atone for the lies that destroyed them both.

But when Arabella walks into his boardroom, colder, sharper, untouchable...he realizes redemption may come at a cost he can’t pay.

Because this time, she’s not here to save him.

She’s here to ruin him.

Betrayal On The Matrimonial Bed

“Umm…Uugh.. Aaah…” The voice was breathy, urgent, and way too close.

Arabella slowly lifted her heavy eyelids and for a second, she couldn’t tell if she was still dreaming.

The room was dark, the air heavy with alcohol, heat and perfume.

Then another moan broke through the haze.

A laugh. Soft. Intimate. Wrong.

Serena.

Arabella froze. The alcohol she had last night still fogged her head, and for a heartbeat she wondered if she was imagining it.

Her heart stuttered as she turned her head ever so slightly.

Adrian.

Serena.

Serena's figure went down between Adrian's thighs, the soft sheets rumpled beneath them.

Adrian groaned, hands buried in her hair, his face twisted in confused pleasure, like he was caught between sleep and waking, guiding her movements while she took him deeper.

"Adrian..." Serena's voice was soft, deliberate.

Arabella’s world tilted.

The bed wasn't a mistake, but their marriage was.

If not for a drunken one-night stand, six years ago.

If not for his father’s will…He would never have married her.

Now his father was dead. Their son already five years old.

Nothing was stopping him from his freedom.

Well…Except for a few signatures from her.

She gagged, covering her mouth as she slipped out from under the covers, bare feet hitting the cold marble floor.

The night air cut through her thin nightdress as she stumbled into the hallway.

She pressed her back against the wall, sliding down until she sat on the floor. Her chest heaved, but no sound came out.

Her fingers dug into the hem of her dress trying to stop them from trembling, her long blonde hair scattered over her face.

She couldn’t breathe, every sound clawed at her chest.

The urge to scream rose in her throat, but she swallowed it back, tasting salt.

Five years.

Five years since she married him…

…Since she’d vowed to endure anything just to watch her child grow.

And this was what ‘enduring’ had become.

To think she thought she could make this marriage work. After all, she’d been in love with him long before their one night stand.

Over the years, she did everything she could.

She cooked his meals, ironed his suits, tidied his office, even waited by the door at night just to hand him a warm cup of tea, hoping he’d finally see her.

But instead of appreciating her, he’d snap at her, call her desperate, and pathetic gold digger and even accuse her of trying to gain his affection through pity. Her efforts only seemed to irritate him.

“Serena isn't like you, Arabella. I won't reduce her to a mistress by cheating on you with her while we’re still married,” Adrian would always say whenever he came back home dead into the nights with lipstick stains all over his shirt.

Arabella wanted to believe him. She believed him. And now this was what she got in return.

He didn't just cheat with her. He did it on their matrimonial bed…while she was sleeping on it.

“Mommy?” Axel's voice was low, unsure as he stood in front of his room.

His brown hair scattered, his eyes tired.

Arabella sniffled, quickly wiping the tears in her eyes as she walked up to him, not wanting him to get closer and hear the disgusting sound coming from her room.

“Axel, dear. Why are you not asleep?”

“I had a nightmare. I was coming to your room.” He replied, still rubbing his sleepy eyes. “Mommy, were you crying?”

Arabella wiped her face once again, smiling broadly despite her heart ripping apart. “Of course not, Axel.”

As she picked Axel up and took him back to bed, she whispered, “How can I cry when I have you?”

She gently tucked him back to sleep, slowly patting her back as she sang him a lullaby.

Axel shifted on the bed, looking up at his Mom, “Mom, why do I have two moms?”

Arabella swallowed, her eyes darting around the room.

When Adrian insisted Axel call Serena mom in public, she knew this question was going to come one day.

Just not in the middle of the night when he should have been sleeping.

She laid gently beside him at the edge of the bed, hands carefully wrapped around him.

“I am your only Mom, sweetheart. Aunt Serena is just someone your dad cares deeply about.” She tried to explain though it didn't make sense even to her.

Axel shifted on the bed, holding his mom's gaze, “But all my friends and teachers think she's my mom.”

Of course they did.

Serena was the one who stood beside Adrian at school events, smiling for photographs like she belonged there.

The one who signed permission slips.

The one who went on the school trip last week while Arabella stayed home, folding laundry in a house that barely remembered her name.

To the world, Serena Sterling already existed. Arabella was just the shadow that hadn’t been erased yet.

"Sweetheart, I will talk to your Dad…"

"Can you sign the papers?" Axel suddenly interrupted, his voice small.

Arabella raised a brow, her heart skipping. "What papers, baby?"

Axel fidgeted with his blanket, not meeting her eyes. "Aunt Serena said... she said if you sign them and go away, then she can be my real mom. She said Daddy and grandma would be happy then." He paused, then added quietly, almost like a question, "Don't you want them to be happy?"

Arabella's chest tightened, her brain refusing to process the words. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to scream.

The taste of bile rose in her throat, air snatching from her lungs.

Axel loved her. He was the reason she could cope in this hellhole for so long, so those words…she refused to believe they were his.

"D–did something happen during the school trip?" she asked when her lips finally parted.

But Axel quickly turned his back against his mom, shoving her hand off. "Nothing happened. I'm sleepy."

A pause, then softer, repeating what he'd clearly been told: "Just... just leave and everything will be okay. That's what Aunt Serena said.” His tiny voice cut deeper than any knife could ever.

The kid she went through humiliation and pain to birth, suffered to raise…was choosing another woman over her.

The same woman his Dad chose over her.

Arabella's voice trembled as his name echoed from mouth, “A-Axel…”

“I want to sleep, Mommy. Leave me now.”

As Arabella left the room, a tremor rippled through her body, starting from her throat and ending in her knees.

She didn't know where else to go. Her husband was sleeping with another lady in their bedroom and her only son didn't want her.

Arabella covered her mouth with her palm, as she climbed down the stairs, not wanting to disturb anyone with her sobs.

The kitchen spun. Or maybe it was her, but she gripped the edge of the kitchen island hard, afraid that moving would make it real.

She slumped under the island, finally letting out the cry tearing through her throat.

Once she was the Young Miss of the mansion…adopted daughter, beloved by their father.

She had everything. Love, family and domestic staff at her beck and call. Now she was nothing. Far less than the family dog.

Even when she was sick, she worked, got hit, starved, humiliated over and over again with several scars to tell her story of resilience.

She thought that was pain. But watching the only reason she went through that pain for turn against her…that's hell on earth.

Arabella cried, sobbed, forced herself to stay strong, and eventually…dozed off.

Until…

“Hey,” an exaggeratedly sweet voice called, kicking her legs.

When her eyes fluttered open, Serena's sweet smiley face was the first thing she saw.

Her long brown hair was packed in a messy bun, the sleeve of her sexy nightwear falling from her shoulder.

“Oh, Bella…you look exhausted. Did we disturb you last night?”

Arabella almost choked on her breath, her body shaking with anger.

Oh how she wished she could just scratch her sly, and annoyingly beautiful face.

Serena knelt before her, her lips curving into a smirk, “Adrian wanted us to take the guest room, but I kinda like your bed better…especially when you're on it.”

A lone tear trickled down Arabella's eyes, but she quickly wiped them out, sniffling hard.

She’d cried enough through the night. Her head was splitting in pain, her body was sore, her eyes blood shot.

But she was done.

Adrian had humiliated her enough. She didn't want his love anymore. She just wanted her son.

“Now do what you are good at and prepare breakfast.” Serena said as she stood up and turned away.

Arabella struggled to get feet, gripping the counter as a wave of dizziness washed over her.

Serena was almost out of the doorway, already dismissing her like she was nothing.

No.

Not this time.

“Serena Smith,” Arabella called, her voice low but shaking with fury, “What did you do to my child?”

Serena halted, the smirk on her face intensifying as she slowly turned and walked back to her.

“Oh, Axel told you?”

Arabella felt her heart sank as she confirmed her suspicions.

“I only told him the truth…that the world can not know you are his mom.”

Arabella's jaw tightened, “Serena!”

“What? Am I wrong?”

Arabella couldn't reply. Because Serena wasn't wrong.

Despite Adrian having to marry her to claim his inheritance, he made his stance clear.

“You're nothing but my dirty little secret, Arabella. Know your place.” Adrian had insisted.

And she did.

Serena glanced over her shoulder gently, catching a glimpse of Adrian by the doorway. She had seen them coming downstairs earlier.

Her sly smirk deepened, her voice lowered so only Arabella could hear her, “The will might have made Axel a legitimate heir, but we both know he’s always going to be a bastard…”

White-hot rage exploded behind Arabella's eyes.

She could take the humiliation. The cheating. The abuse. She'd swallowed it all for five years.

But her son?

Her son was innocent. Perfect. The only pure thing that had ever come from this nightmare of a marriage.

And this woman…this mistress who paraded around her house, slept in her bed, stole her husband— dared to call her child that word?

Over her dead body.

The slap rang out before Arabella even realized her hand had moved.

Serena slowly placed her hand on her cheek, her lips widening into a smile, leaving Arabella confused.

Until…

“Arabella!” Adrian's voice thundered from the doorway as he stormed into the kitchen, shoving her off, “Have you lost it.”

The Trap

Adrian pulled Serena into his arms inspecting her face like a trophy.

“I know you hate me, Arabella. But I care about Axel and I can't let you hurt him like that.” Serena's voice was sugary sweet with small choked sobs, almost convincing even for Arabella.

Adrian shot stunned Arabella a disdainful look before quickly sweeping his gaze back to his precious treasure, “What happened, Serena?”

Serena wiped out the lone tear that found its way into her teary eyes, explaining, “Arabella wants to come to the annual party tonight. I was worried she might cause a scene and put Axel in a tough spot…”

Arabella let out a loud, humourless chuckle, intentionally cutting her short.

She’d seen Serena scheme against her for so many years but this one? It was just too childish…yet so believable.

Adrian and Serena exchanged a look, the fake fear her eyes held earlier now completely gone.

Adrian's jaw tightened with anger as he gripped Arabella's hand firmly, his eyes spitting fire, “Arabella, stop your stupid tantrum! I am not letting you step a foot into the hall…”

“Don't worry,” Arabella forcefully shoved his hand off her, “Just tell your ‘fiancée’ to stay away from my child!”

“And who exactly are you to make such an order?” Catherine, Adrian's mom wheeled into the kitchen in her electric wheelchair.

Her grey hair was pulled back severely, making her sharp features look even harder.

Arabella dragged her palm down his face, slow and tired, “Mother, Axel is asking questions about this whole mess! I can't let my baby grow up like this.”

“Oh? That bothers you?” Catherine asked, lips curving upward.

She lounged back in her chair as if the whole world amused her, “Then you should sign the damn papers and let Serena raise him without all this drama.”

Arabella slumped back with a groan, head tilted toward the ceiling.

Every conversation with Catherine always ended up with the divorce reminder, even more desperate than Serena and Adrian were.

But Arabella never dared to speak back, after all, she still carried the guilt of that terrible accident that killed their father and confined Catherine to the chair.

Sometimes she still wonders how someone who once bought her her first pretty dress…gave her her first warm, motherly hug could hate her like this.

But that woman was dead. And Arabella was done mourning her.

“I never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad Father isn't to witness the trash you have raised, mother.”

The room went still.

Catherine's fist tightened around the handle of her chair, her eyes burning into Arabella.

Adrian’s face went blank, the kind that meant danger.

Arabella wanted to walk away, but Adrian held her back, pinning her to the counter. His voice was low, dangerous, “How dare you speak to my mother like that?”

Arabella ignored the pain shooting up her waist from the impact on the counter, “Am I wrong?”

Adrian was quiet. Too quiet.

“I know you hate me, but if you have any shame…or at least the slightest bit of respect for father, don't bring your affairs to our matrimonial bed.”

“This is what all this is about? Last night?” His tone was flat, like it wasn't a big deal.

And maybe for him it wasn't.

"We were both drunk. We didn't know we ended up in our room, okay?"

But his eyes flickered with something—confusion, maybe. Like he was trying to remember something that wouldn't come into focus.

"I don't even remember going to bed," he muttered, more to himself than to her.

Arabella's rage boiled over. "You don't remember? You DON'T REMEMBER?"

Even now, he wouldn't take responsibility. Wouldn't admit what he'd done.

But Adrian's face had gone pale, his jaw working like he was trying to piece together a puzzle with missing pieces.

Arabella stared at him for a while, dumbfounded, and when she finally spoke, her voice broke, “D–did you ever love me? Even for a moment?”

Adrian's eyes seemed to soften for a heartbeat…just like his feelings always did, then it disappeared.

“As my sister? Yes.” He replied, avoiding her gaze, “Serena and I have always been together, so stop acting like I cheated on you.”

Arabella's breath caught.

Sister.

His father had adopted her when she was twelve. And Adrian had accepted her as his sister.

But somewhere along the line, the brotherly love blurred into something she couldn't ignore.

She became the adopted sister whose heart raced every time he held her hand or ached when she saw him with Serena.

He leaned even closer, his lips grazing her ear, “You were always the affair, Arabella. Not her.”

The affair.

Something cracked inside her chest. Not her heart—that had broken long ago.

This was something deeper. The last fragile hope that maybe, somewhere buried deep, he'd cared about her even a little.

He hadn't.

His grip around her arm tightened as he warned, “So don't ever speak to my mom like that.”

He turned sharply, kneeling by his mom who had angry tears in her eyes, “Mom, please go and rest in your room. Ms. Shaw will bring you breakfast.”

Ms. Shaw was the elderly Housekeeper of the family. The only domestic staff that was allowed to reserve her job ever since Arabella fell from grace.

Catherine nodded gently, dabbing off her tears as she looked up at Arabella, ”Arabella, I’m going to make sure you regret coming to this family.”

Arabella smirked, “I already am. I think the orphanage would have been better.”

Adrian shot her a cold glance, but she ignored him, walking her tired body out on them.

***

By evening, Arabella was done with her chores. The house was quiet, as everyone had gone to the company's annual charity gala which was being held in the Sterlings Hall at the west wing of the mansion.

She stared at the picture of Axel on her phone, her mind unsettled.

It wasn't the first time Axel was going out with Adrian and Serena, but she'd never been worried because as much as Adrian and his mother hated her, they adored Axel even more.

She thought Serena genuinely adored him too, but after today, she realized all that affection was just part of her scheme.

Just as she was still contemplating, her phone buzzed. A text from Adrian Sterling.

“Axel is bleeding. Come get him.”

Arabella’s heart skipped and without stopping to think she ran out of the house, heading straight for the hotel.

As she sat inside the cab, she wondered why Adrian didn't just call a hospital first. Or didn't even take care of things himself.

She dialed his number. It rang. Once. Twice. No response.

She shook the doubt away, “Maybe he is busy.”

Soon enough, she arrived at the hotel.

Arabella dashed into the hall, breath uneven, still in the plain dress she’d been working in, her apron tied crooked at her waist.

The chandeliers glowed over polished floors and elegant guests, their champagne raised in a poised hush as Adrian spoke at the podium, his voice steady and calm.

Arabella bit back her anger, assuming he was too busy with his stupid speech to care for their son.

Everything stopped when they noticed her. A few guests pulled back, their eyes slipping over her apron and flushed face with quiet disapproval. She didn’t care.

She moved through the crowd, scanning every table, every corner—heart in her throat—trying to find her little boy.

Then just by the front row, she spotted Serena squatting beside Catherine, holding what looked like a kid’s suit. In front of them was Axel, his white shirt wet, stained Red.

From this distance, it looked like—

‘Oh God. Blood.’

Arabella dashed forward, forcefully shoving Serena aside, dropping to her knees before her son.

"Baby, where does it hurt? Show mommy—"

But up close, the smell hit her. Sweet. Acidic.

Wine.

Her hands froze on Axel's shirt.

“Mommy?”

The words echoed through the hall like a gunshot.

Whispers erupted instantly, spreading through the crowd like wildfire.

Arabella's heart slammed against her ribs as reporters surged forward, cameras flashing like lightning, microphones thrust into her face.

"Is this child really Adrian Sterling's?"

"Did you have an affair with your brother?"

The questions came from all angles, suffocating her. She pulled Axel tighter against her chest, his small body trembling.

Her eyes found Adrian across the chaos.

He stood frozen at the podium, his face carved from stone, jaw so tight she could see the muscle jumping beneath his skin. But it wasn't concern in his eyes.

It was pure, cold fury.

At her.

Catherine sat with one hand pressed dramatically to her chest, but there was no shock on her face.

Arabella raised her head slowly to meet Serena's gaze. A sinister smile spread over her lips.

A smile only Arabella could see.

Only then did she realize she'd walked into a trap.

And Catherine was in full support of it.

Her stomach dropped. The cameras. The questions. The looks.

They'd planned this. All of it.

This is Where it Ends

The crowd pressed in around her, but Arabella barely felt them.

Everything sounded distant—like she was underwater.

Cameras flashed. Voices shouted. Her name echoed again and again.

But her mind was somewhere else entirely… stuck on the thought of bringing shame to what Victor cherished most—the Sterling name.

Her fingers trembled at her sides, cold despite the heat of the crowd.

A faint ringing filled her ears. Her heart thudded unevenly, like it couldn’t decide whether to keep going or give up.

For once, she wondered, “How have I ever offended Serena?”

For Adrian and Catherine, she could fathom their hatred. It came from the company shares Victor had used to force Adrian into the marriage. And subsequently, his death.

But Serena was different. Yes, Arabella had loved him first, but he'd chosen Serena. He'd always chosen Serena

So why? Why was she bent on humiliating Arabella at every chance she got?

Arabella wanted to scream. She wanted to run… to just disappear.

But she couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t even breathe.

“Please stop!” Serena’s voice cut through the chaos like a sword, bringing momentary silence to the room and snapping Arabella out of her daze.

Serena locked eyes with Catherine, whispering something between them.

Then she walked up to Adrian on the podium, gently rubbing his clenched fist. “Don’t worry, Adrian. I’ve got you,” she whispered.

“On behalf of the entire Sterling Group, I apologise for the disruption,” she began, her voice calm, commanding, and convincing.

“I know there have been a lot of whispers surrounding us,” she paused, linking hands with Adrian, who looked like he was barely recovering from the shock. “Especially since we’ve never publicly talked about our child.”

She swept her gaze around the room before letting it land on Arabella, who was still trembling with fear. “Adrian and I had Axel through surrogacy, and Arabella helped us carry him.”

Her words sounded so certain that Arabella doubted herself for a moment.

Then a reporter asked, “So why is Ms. Arabella claiming him as her son?”

Serena looked up at Adrian, who was already looking down at her, unsure of what she was planning.

She then looked at Catherine, exchanging a slight nod, before turning back to the reporters.

“It is with utmost regret that I announce Arabella Sterling has been mentally unstable for a while now.”

Blood drained from Arabella’s face as she clenched her dress tightly.

She looked up at them, and their gazes were already fixed on her.

The initial shock on Adrian's face vanished the moment he caught Arabella's gaze.

One corner of Serena’s mouth lifted in a mocking curl, as if daring Arabella to correct her.

Murmurs erupted within the crowd—some critical, others filled with sympathy.

Reporters immediately followed with questions.

“Is this true?”

“Mr. Sterling, can you say a word about this?”

Arabella looked up at Adrian, her eyes filled with hope.

Maybe… just maybe he would say something in her favour.

But before he could open his mouth, a feminine voice cut in.

“Serena is right.”

Catherine wheeled toward Arabella, drawing everyone’s attention.

“After causing such a terrible accident that destroyed our family forever, Arabella has become more and more delusional by the day.”

She looked directly at Arabella as she added, “Anything to steal the inheritance from its rightful owner.”

The flashes intensified, as did the questions.

Everyone knew about the accident, but the accusations that followed were wild, adding fuel to the tension in the room.

“Mrs. Sterling, what do you mean by that?”

“How did it happen?”

Serena stepped forward, positioning herself just behind Catherine’s wheelchair.

“Why don’t you ask the gold digger who is trying so hard to seduce her own ‘brother’ and marry into the family that raised her?”

“Or better still,” she paused, the curl on her lips unmistakable as she glanced from Arabella to the child beside her.

Arabella’s eyes widened as she immediately understood what Serena was about to do.

“No… not Axel. Don’t drag him into this…” her heart pounded violently

But her pleas fell on deaf ears.

“…ask my son who his real mother is.”

Camera flashes exploded as attention turned back to Arabella and Axel.

Reporters shouted over one another.

“Ms. Sterling, how long have you been ill?”

“Young Sterling, can you tell us who your mom is?”

“Are you seducing your brother?”

The questions were endless, but no one seemed to care.

Arabella pulled Axel close, shielding his face from the flashing lights.

She was lost, barely gasping for air. The only thing stopping her from breaking down was the child in her arms.

Just as she felt herself about to collapse, Axel wiggled free from her grip.

Arabella’s breath went shallow, her lips trembling as she tried to hold him back, but he moved away.

His eyes were red with tears as he stood amid the crowd. This was nothing a five-year-old should have to endure, yet none of the adults around him seemed to care.

“Axie,” Serena called gently, though the smile on her face was strained and brittle.

His hands curled into the sleeves of his jacket, fingers disappearing as if he wanted to hide them, before he ran to Serena and wrapped his arms around her.

“That woman is crazy. She is not my mom,” he said quickly, glancing over his shoulder.

Arabella felt the words strike her chest; sharp, precise, right where it hurt most.

The murmurs around the room faded into distant noise.

For a moment, she didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Her body went still the way it did when something inside her cracked and she couldn’t afford to let it show.

It was one thing for him to favour Serena at home, but to denounce her in public? She never thought she would live to see this day.

“Do you have no shame?”

“Are you after the company?”

The questions were cruel, the murmurs accusatory—and she stood in the middle of it all.

The noise overwhelmed her, her legs too weak to keep her standing.

Just as she started to lose her balance, Adrian’s voice cut through the chaos.

“Enough!”

And it stopped.

The questions, the noise, the flashes— all fell into silence as Adrian pushed through the crowd and stopped in front of Arabella.

A glimmer of hope sparked in her eyes.

Maybe he was going to help her. Tell everyone she wasn’t crazy, that Axel was their child.

“Adrian…”

Adrian turned sharply, lifting Axel into his arms before facing the crowd.

“I do not want to see pictures of my son or…” he paused, glancing over his shoulder, “…Arabella outside of this room.” His voice was sharp and commanding. “This is our family’s business, which I do not wish to make public.”

Gavin Bush, Adrian's personal assistant, immediately stepped forward to address the crowd, though his eyes lingered on Arabella's trembling form for a moment longer than necessary.

Adrian then walked back to Arabella, leaning in close, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“This is where it ends, Arabella.”

His tone was calm, but it sent a chill down her spine.

As she watched the two most important people in her life walk away, Arabella's vision blurred.

The floor tilted.

And then she was falling.

The sound of her body hitting marble echoed through the hall.

Adrian paused mid-stride. For one brief moment, his shoulders tensed.

He glanced back.

Their eyes met.

Then he tightened his grip on Axel and walked out.

And Arabella, lying on the cold floor surrounded by strangers and cameras, finally understood.

He was never going to save her.

The Text

“This is where it ends!”

The words echoed in her head as Arabella opened her eyes.

She was in Axel's room, curled on the floor beside his bed, sunlight streaming harsh and bright through the window.

She barely remembered getting home last night—just stumbling through the empty house, collapsing in the one place that still smelled like him.

Sunlight.

Her eyes flew to the clock: 9:47 a.m.

She shot to her feet. She never slept past six. Never. Not in five years of living in this house.

Where was Ms. Shaw? The elderly housekeeper woke her every morning at 5:30 sharp with a list of chores.

Unless she'd been told not to.

The bed was empty.

Her heart lurched. She pushed to her feet, checking his bathroom, his closet. Nothing.

“He should be at school…”

Then her eyes landed on his school uniform, still hanging pristine on the back of his door.

She grabbed her phone and called his homeroom teacher.

"Oh, you didn't know?" The woman's tone shifted to sympathy. "Mr. Sterling called to inform us Axel transferred schools. I assumed you'd discussed it..."

The words barely registered. Transferred? In the middle of the session?

Arabella ended the call, her mind racing.

Adrian had taken him. Actually taken him.

She needed to see Adrian. Now.

Fifteen minutes later, she was walking through the Sterling Law Group offices, ignoring the whispers that followed her down the hallway.

Adrian might have used his power to stop the media frenzy last night, but gossip among colleagues and friends was inevitable.

“Arabella, what are you doing here?” Gavin asked politely, standing as she entered his office.

“I need to see Adrian. It’s urgent,” she replied, forcing a smile.

Gavin had been Adrian's assistant for almost seven years. Unlike the others, he'd never looked at her with contempt. Never whispered when she passed. Once, he'd even held the elevator door when she was carrying groceries.

Small kindnesses. But in this house, they felt like lifelines.

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Um…Mr. Sterling is inside with Ms. Smith. Let me inform him.”

“They even make out on our bed beside me. What worse could happen?” she muttered, scoffing as she walked away.

Gavin sighed, shaking his head as he watched her leave with pity.

When Arabella stepped into the office, Serena’s voice reached her first. “…I only did that to protect you.”

Arabella watched as Adrian leaned forward, his eyes unusually gentle, the way he hadn't looked at her in years.

“I’m not angry at you, Serena. I’m glad you thought to handle her mess,” he said softly.

His eyes flicked to the doorway, locking on Arabella. His jaw stiffened, but he continued. “I am doing this to punish Arabella.”

The gentleness vanished. “She deserved what she got.”

Serena glanced at Arabella, her expression softening.

“Oh, Arabella. You’re here…”

“Where’s Axel?” Arabella interrupted, her voice trembling.

Something in Adrian’s expression told her it had to be about Axel.

“What did you do to him?” she demanded, though her hand shook.

Serena let out an exaggerated gasp, glancing between Adrian and Arabella. “Oh, you haven’t told her?”

Arabella’s eyes widened. “Tell me what?”

“Axel is currently in Asia,” Adrian announced, his voice flat as he leaned back in his chair. “On his way to be enrolled in a boarding school there.”

The lie tasted bitter on his tongue. How could he afford to send his child away? But Arabella didn't need to know that.

Arabella shook her head. “What? That’s impossible. He’s only five. No school would accept him.”

Adrian rose and circled toward her, his hand buried in his pocket. “Not when that school runs an orphanage that just happened to receive a generous donation from me.”

Arabella’s legs weakened, and she grabbed the edge of the desk for support.

He leaned close, whispering, “You want him back living with me?”

His face was so near she could feel his breath.

“You sign the divorce papers,” he added, pointing at the desk.

“No. No, that can’t be right,” she whispered, brows furrowed.

‘Adrian loves Axel…there’s no way he could do that, right? He must be trying to pull my leg.’

As if reading her thoughts, Adrian pulled out his phone and showed her a video of Axel in a different school uniform, held in the arms of one of Adrian's guards.

“Don't worry, Dad. I'll be okay here as long as it takes. Tell Mommy she doesn't have to stay because of me anymore.”

The words were wooden. Rehearsed.

Arabella’s resolve shattered.

Still she believed her son was too sweet to say those words.

He was doing this for Adrian. Because Adrian asked him to.

Because Adrian had convinced their five-year-old that his mother's refusal to divorce was the problem.

Not the affair. Not the abuse. Not the public humiliation.

Her.

"You turned him against me," she whispered. "You actually turned my son against me.” Hot tears blurred her vision. Adrian had crossed the line.

Arabella's legs weakened, and she grabbed the edge of the desk for support.

She watched the video again. And again. Axel's small face on the screen, trying so hard to be brave. The uniform that didn't fit right.

“A child whose birth you weren't even there for!”

On the day of Axel's birth, Adrian was nursing Serena's bruised ankle in the same hospital. Five years later, he had the audacity to take that child away.

Adrian's jaw tightened, his eyes darting everywhere else but her.

“Do you think it’s easy to send my child miles away?” His fist came down on the desk. Not enough to hurt, but enough to make his point.

“I tolerated you for years, letting you watch him grow!” His voice shook with rage he could barely control. “But you had to barge in, acting like a lunatic, like Serena was going to eat him up!”

He leaned in close, his voice dropping to something cold and precise. "You embarrassed me. You made my son a spectacle. You think I can let that slide?"

His eyes were ice. "You need to learn that actions have consequences. And since you keep using my son as a shield to cling to me, I decided to send him away.”

“Serena sent me a text with your phone, Adrian! This is all her! Can’t you see?” Her voice cracked before she steadied herself.

Adrian raised a brow, eyes shifting between Arabella and Serena. “What?”

Serena's eyes widened, filling with tears. "Arabella... how could you think I would do something like that?"

She turned to Adrian, her voice breaking. "I've tried so hard to be kind to her. To understand her condition. But this…accusing me of—"

A sob cut her off.

Arabella watched Serena's shoulders shake, her hand clutching Adrian's desk for support.

The tears were real—or looked real. The trembling voice, the wounded expression.

But Arabella had seen this performance before.

“Check your phone, Adrian! You’ll see she orchestrated the whole incident,” Arabella insisted, a little more confidently.

Adrian hesitated as he grabbed his phone. He had given it to Serena last night, but she…she was too innocent for that, right?

“Adrian, are you really going to listen to her?” Serena asked, her brows knitted with fury.

But Adrian didn't listen to her.

As he opened the text app, a frown crept onto his face. “What the hell is this?”

Dear Diary

“What is this new tactic, Arabella?” Adrian asked, raising his gaze to meet hers.

Arabella’s brows furrowed as she tried to speak, “W–what are you…”

“Arabella, I know you hate me, but please don't implicate me like this!” Serena cried, but only Arabella noticed the curl at the corner of her lip. “What do I have to gain from ruining the family’s reputation?”

Adrian ran a hand through his dark crew cut, “Serena is right. You should be thanking her for cleaning up your mess, not coming up with more lies!”

“Our last messages were dated to over a month now and it's from you!”

Serena sniffled dramatically, “Adrian…I’m more heartbroken that you chose to believe her instead of me.”

Adrian slipped a hand around waist, helping her wipe out the fake tears that she always seemed to have ready, “I’m sorry, Serena.”

Arabella bit her lower lip bitterly.

What was she thinking? Serena was one hell of a smart lawyer. There's no way she’d leave evidence behind.

“I doubt you can delete mine,” she scoffed, pulling out her phone.

But upon checking her message, nothing was there.

“What?” she muttered, scrolling up and down. There was no trace of any message from Adrian in the past few months.

“What? Can't find the message?” Serena asked with a smirk.

Arabella immediately knew Serena had tampered with it. Ms. Shaw actively worked for her—there was no need to think twice. She sighed, shoulders slumping in defeat.

‘Serena is really unbeatable, isn’t she?’

“Arabella, no amount of scheming will change my mind today,” Adrian interrupted her thoughts. “Unless you don’t want Axel back.”

Arabella looked up slowly, eyes red. “You want divorce and full custody…” Her voice broke as she paused, “How is this a choice for me?”

Adrian turned, a mocking curl lifting one corner of his lips. “Axel gets to come back home to live with me, my mom, and Serena…a happy, normal family.”

Hot tears trickled down Arabella’s cheeks faster than her hand could wipe them.

“Or he remains in the boarding school with no one until he’s 18,” Adrian continued, dawdling over the words, barely hiding his smugness. “Your choice.”

He returned to his seat, typing on his laptop, trying his best to be nonchalant about the whole situation…and failing.

Serena leaned closer, her voice pleading, “Arabella, please don’t let Axel stay there. He’s too young…”

Arabella raised her gaze, silencing Serena.

For the first time, she saw raw fury reflected in her own eyes, sharp enough to pierce Serena’s smugness.

Arabella didn’t speak, but her stare was warning enough.

As she stepped forward, Serena quickly moved back, unsure why the look intimidated her so much.

Adrian lifted his gaze from his laptop as Arabella approached his desk.

“I will sign it,” Arabella said firmly, despite shaky breaths.

Serena ran up to her, excitement written all over her face. “Good choice, Arabella.”

But when Adrian looked at her, she quickly added, “Uh…Axel will get to come back home.”

“But…I need you to promise me you will protect Axel at all costs,” Arabella insisted, voice firmer now.

Adrian frowned. “He’s my son too. I don’t have to promise you. It’s my responsibility.”

“Well, I’m just worried Serena will start scheming against him once I’m gone, and you’d blindly believe her like the fool you’ve become,” Arabella murmured with a small, bitter smile.

“ARABELLA!” Adrian snapped—but that was all he could do as she picked up the pen and signed the papers.

As she finished, Arabella felt a strange lightness, as if a huge weight had lifted.

She looked at Adrian, expecting to see relief…maybe even triumph.

But his jaw was locked tight. His eyes fixed on the signed papers like they'd betrayed him.

“You should be over the moon now. All your insecurities about my ‘golddigging’ are over.”

Adrian didn't say a word. He stared at the signature-her name in black ink, finalizing everything he'd demanded.

His throat worked. His fingers curled into his palm.

For a moment, he looked like a man who'd gotten exactly what he wanted and hated himself for it.

For someone who always wanted this divorce, that felt weird.

As much as Arabella tried to stay strong, tears blurred her vision as she looked at the man who had once ruled her heart.

“We are divorced now. Can I at least…see him before I leave?”

Adrian didn’t hesitate, “No!”

His jaw clenched. “It’s only after I’m sure you’re far away from him that he comes back. Don’t get any ideas or try any tricks.”

All the while, ignoring her gaze.

Arabella inhaled sharply, hurriedly wiping a tear before Adrian could notice. She forced a smile, holding his gaze one last time. “Yes, it was my fault I fell in love with you. I disrupted your relationship with Serena… but remember, Adrian, you kissed me first.”

Serena's face twisted, the mask slipping just for a second before she composed herself. "Adrian was drunk. You took advantage-”

“You moaned my name as we fucked,” Arabella screamed, veins throbbing in her neck. “Was that a mistake too?” Angry tears poured down her cheeks.

Adrian didn’t respond. His eyes slowly reddened, glistening as if he were holding back tears. His hands clenched the edge of the table.

“Adrian Sterling, I will never forgive you for ruining my life.” Arabella started to walk away, wiping her cheeks.

Just as she reached the doorway, her phone pinged, and Adrian’s voice followed, stopping her in her tracks.

“I sent $5 million to your account.” His voice softened, almost like the boy she once loved.

Five million dollars. Like he could pay her to disappear. To forget her child.

To stop existing in his world.

She almost laughed. Almost threw it back in his face.

But she would need to survive…to come back stronger.

So she took his blood money and said nothing.

Then he spoke again, “Live a good life…Petals.”

Petals. Named after the birthmarks on her shoulders that only he had ever noticed.

The nickname that once made her heart race now made her blood boil.

She opened the door and walked out. She didn’t stop crying, letting the pain spill over as she left the company and hailed a cab.

The cab ride was a blur. She didn't remember paying the driver or walking through the front door.

She only remembered the sound of it closing behind her-final, hollow-before her knees gave out and she slid down against it, finally alone enough to shatter.

This was the last time she would cry over him.

Eventually, she began packing, but everything reminded her of him—from the expensive jewelry to the small hair brooches he had bought randomly, saying, “If I don’t spoil my sister, who will?”

What used to make her heart flutter now only burned her skin. She took only essentials: clothes and documents.

She paused at her business degree, realizing she had never used it since marrying Adrian straight out of college.

Then she went to Axel’s room. She could almost see him lying peacefully on his bed.

Her fingers trembled as they clutched the blanket, still warm with his scent.

The room was silent, toys lined up neatly as if waiting for him. Her shoulders curled inward, each breath splintering her chest, forcing her to hold the bedframe to stay upright.

Her gaze drifted to the wall where tiny stickers clung in a crooked line—pirates, planets, a smiling sun he used to say looked like her.

A shaky laugh escaped, shattering into jagged sobs. She pressed her forehead into the mattress, remembering him crawling onto her lap with morning hair sticking up like a startled bird.

Axel loved her. She refused to believe otherwise.

As she tried to stand, her hand brushed something hard at the bed’s edge.

A notebook.

She remembered it clearly—a fancy diary she’d bought Adrian for his 21st birthday eight years ago. “You may need a place to write your deepest, darkest secrets,” she had joked.

Arabella wiped her eyes and dusted it off. “Why is this here?”

Adrian often spent time in Axel's room so he might have dropped it?

She wanted to put it back—she didn’t need reminders of him. But curiosity won.

The date at the top caught her eye: his birthday.

The first line read:

“Dear Diary, as scary as it is to admit, I am in love with my sister.”

This Is Where it Ends

Arabella felt her whole body go numb for a moment.

Maybe she’d read it wrong. Maybe.

She closed the note…then opened it again. But the words didn't change.

Adrian really wrote those words. She knew his handwriting well so there was no mistaking it.

Arabella tilted her head back, forcing herself to hold back the tears.

Maybe this was just another drunken mistake. After all, he had a lot to drink that night at the party.

But when she continued to open one page after another, her heart sank deeper into the bottom of her belly.

Adrian had kept a record of every flirty word he said to her…and then laughed it off as a joke.

Everytime he held her hand and felt butterflies in his stomach.

Every time his gaze lingered on her a little too long.

And every time he bought her gifts because they reminded him of how beautiful she was.

More tears pumped out of Arabella's eyes, as she realized it wasn't all just in her head.

The words that made her heart flutter, the touch that gave her butterflies…they were all deliberate.

She wasn't confusing things. Adrian was really seducing her…making her fall for him.

And when she did…he panicked and tried to create a distance.

He even knew the moment she realized she’d fallen for him. Something Arabella still wasn't sure of.

Arabella's memory replayed to the eve of her high school reunion party years ago when he interrupted a dance she was having with a male friend.

Adrian had noticed Arabella being uncomfortable and intervened at the perfect time…so perfect that Arabella wrapped her hands around him in what felt like the warmest hug ever.

It had caused quite a stare back then, but everyone knew how protective of her Adrian was, so they didn't talk about it.

Maybe it was the way her heart thudded louder than ever that gave away her feelings?

But somehow he knew right then and there she’d fallen for him.

Her tears dropped on the pages, each drop soaking the paper as her hands trembled by the edge.

She could still remember how he stopped coming home for the small holidays from his law school…and how he started to ignore her calls.

Arabella covered her mouth as a choked sob threatened to escape her.

“Serena asked why I call Arabella 'Petals.' I lied, said it's a sibling thing. Truth is, I've memorized every mark on her skin. She's my sister, for God's sake. I'm trying so hard to love the right person. I keep failing. I'm sick.”

Just when she thought nothing more could surprise her, she opened to the next page. It was about their one-night stand.

He wasn't drunk that night.

"I told everyone I was too drunk to remember. Told Serena it meant nothing. Told myself it was a mistake. But I remember everything. Every sound she made. Every time she said my name. It was the best night of my life, and I let her think she seduced me. I'm a coward."

Arabella's hands shook.

He knew. He'd always known.

Arabella's throat clicked as she swallowed, the words blurring for a moment before she blinked them back into focus.

A hollow ache settled beneath her ribs, spreading slowly and cold as she read the last lines on the page, “I love Arabella, but dirty feelings will ruin my family.”

“I can not disappoint my Father. I can't love. I will never love her…because I can't protect her. Serena will have to do.”

Arabella let out a shaky exhale, the kind that sounded more like defeat than breath. “This…this is what he calls love?”

She let out a humourless laugh that did nothing to the sting as she wiped her face off.

There were still so many pages left to read. Probably about the pregnancy, the forced marriage and everything in between.

But she was done crying over an asshole like him. Now it was time to leave, so at least Axel could come back home.

Since he was adamant that she had to leave before he brought him back, there was no doubt he had someone keep an eye on her.

But before she dropped the book, she picked up a pen and scribbled something on the last page; words he'd find later, when it was too late to take back what he'd done.

As she dragged her small suitcase down the living room, she met Catherine sitting on her wheelchair in the center of the room.

When she reached her front, she stopped, looking at her with deep sadness, “As you might already know, I have finally divorced your son.”

“I give up my child to fulfill your happy family fantasy.”

Catherine scoffed, rolling her eyes. She’d already heard about the divorce so it wasn't news to her, “Don’t think you’re doing us a favour, Arabella. You owe us this.”

“I took you in wholeheartedly, but as soon as you were old enough, you bit the hand that fed you. So don't play victim around me.” she said, leaning back with a maddening smirk, “It's disgusting.”

“I’m playing victim?” Arabella muttered, a laugh slipping out, sharp, disbelieving, entirely humorless. “So what do we call you who weaponize your immobility against me every single time?”

Catherine's brows creased with fury. Arabella was talking back now? How dare she.

“If you had just let Dad drive in peace…If you hadn't started arguing about HIS decision to change HIS will…” Arabella’s voice broke as the memories of that night flashed in her face again.

The shouting. The arguments. The sudden break fail. The crash. Blood. Darkness.

“...maybe Dad would still be with us now.”

She'd been in the back seat, silent, as Catherine railed against Victor's decision to change his will in Arabella's favor. The shouting escalated. Victor turned to respond.

He never saw the truck.

The impact through the driver's side killed him instantly. Arabella and Catherine survived.

And Catherine had spent five years making sure everyone believed it was Arabella's fault.

“You…” Catherine cut in sharply, but that was all she could do. She didn't have any words to counter her.

Ms. Shaw who was just walking into the living room thought to defend her boss, “How dare you speak to madam…”

Arabella shot her a cold glance, forcing her mouth shut, but she didn't have words for her. Didn't have time to waste on her.

She wiped off her tears, facing Catherine again, “Making me take the blame might have eased your guilt…but I’ve had enough. Now is your turn.”

“Keep enjoying the attention and control you have over Adrian because of your condition, but stop making him hate Father, because we both know neither of you deserve him.” She dragged her suitcase away.

Catherine’s eyes were bloodshot, jaws clenched and fingers digging furiously into the iron railings of her chair.

Yet she had no words to defend herself.

Arabella suddenly stopped as she reached the doorway, looking back at the big mansion that held both her happiest and saddest memories.

Her gaze darted back to Catherine even as hot tears blurred her vision.

“As of today, I have paid my debt to this family for raising me.”

Her voice broke even as she tried hard to hold back her pain, “I-I…might never understand why you suddenly hate me so much after all the love we shared in all those years.”

“But…” she paused again, wiping off her tears, speaking more steadily this time, “I will come back. To take everything that belongs to me.”

For once she could swear she saw tears in Catherine's eyes, but maybe it was just her blurred vision.

She turned away, restraining her tears with all her might as she walked out of the mansion. The one she once called home.

Arabella had to cover her mouth to hide her uncontrollable sobs as she walked along the pedestrian.

This is where it ends. The love. The hate. The pain. The guilt. The humiliations.

She looked back again, even though only the top balcony of their house was barely in view.

“I will come back for you Axel. I promise.”

She pulled out her phone and began moving the money—splitting it across accounts Adrian couldn't access, accounts she'd set up before but didn't use.

$5 million. Her escape fund. Her revenge fund.

Her new beginning.

In her heartbreak, she had forgotten to book a cab and it was rare to find wandering cabs in such a high society area.

Luckily for her, a cab drove out of the estate, stopping before her. She didn't hesitate and entered.

“Oasis Hotel.” She said as she pulled out her phone and started to make her reservation.

She planned to stay in the hotel for the night while she booked a ticket.

When she raised her head, she noticed the driver had passed the intersection leading to the hotel.

She looked back through the window to be sure before she spoke up, “Hey, I think you missed the lane.

No response.

Arabella adjusted to her seat and spoke again, “Hey Mister, is there another route you plan to follow?”

Still no response.

A cold dread washed through Arabella’s body. But she didn't want to show it.

“Stop the car!” She ordered.

But the driver didn't.

“Stop the car or I will call the police.” Arabella threatened.

Finally, the car slowly came to a halt.

Arabella attempted to step out of the car but it was on central lock.

“Who are you? What do you want from me?” Arabella panicked but the driver maintained his silence, searching for something in his pocket.

Arabella quickly dialed 911, threatening, “The police will…”

Her voice trailed off to a mumble as the driver suddenly turned, pressing a cloth to her face.

Arabella struggled, her mind going through the identity of her possible abductor. Adrian? Serena? Catherine?

Her mind scrambled for a reason until everything slowly went dark.

Havenbrook

"Wake up." A tap on her cheek. Then another, harder.

Arabella's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar ceiling. White. Sterile. The thick smell of disinfectant burned her nose.

She tried to lift her hand to her face. It wouldn't move.

That's when she felt something biting into her wrists.

“W–what is this place? Who are you?” Arabella questioned, attempting to stand up, but again, she couldn’t move her legs.

She looked down at herself, only then did she realize her legs and arms had been strapped on the table before her like some criminal in an interrogation room.

Her dress was gone as she was now wearing a plain white gown. Hospital gown.

Arabella panicked, “What’s going on here? What do you want from me?”

The lady who was standing before her—middle-aged, tired eyes, nurse's uniform—sighed, running her hand through Arabella's hair gently, “You are so beautiful, I wonder what drove you crazy.”

Arabella angrily moved away her head, her heart thumping wildly in her chest as fear crept into the depth of her soul, “What is this place? Who the hell hired you to do this? Adrian?”

“This is the Havenbrook Psychiatric Hospital, Ms…” The nurse paused looking at the name written on the form in her hand, “Ms. Elena, You’ve been admitted here.” The Nurse explained slowly like she was talking to a child, “I am Nala, your personal nurse and I am here to assess your current condition.”

Arabella’s eyes widened in disbelief, “Elena? Who the hell is that? I am Arabella. Arabella Sterl…” She paused, realizing she had no relationship with that name now, but the nurse mistook it for memory shortage.

“I understand Elena. We’ve been told you have a memory issue and keep taking on people’s identity. But don’t worry, we are you to reset your memory.” Nala said with an evil smirk dancing on her lips.

Arabella’s lips trembled as she realized she was doomed, but she tried to compose herself. This was a mental hospital, so every aggression she showed could be confused for a mental problem. The best option she had at the moment was to borrow the Sterling one last time.

“Nala, I promise you I am not crazy. I am Arabella Sterling. Daughter of the Sterling Law Group. You can check it online.”

Even though they had long dissolved her adoption, it was never made public so that detail was still somewhere on the internet. Or so she thought.

Nala raised a brow, her eyes drifting between the file in her hand and Arabella’s face.

Arabella’s heart thudded violently, as she hoped Nala would give her the benefit of doubt and just check the internet.

“First you claim to be the mother of his child, and now his sister?” She sighed, shaking her head. Nala made a note on her chart. "Honestly, does it look like I care? As long as she pays me well, I will tolerate your gibberish forever.”

Arabella’s heart sank as hot tears rushed up her eyes, “She? W—who is she?”

Nala looked at the file again, then replied, “Your sister.”

Arabella let out a humorless chuckle as more tears poured, “I have a sister now?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me, sweet little sister?” Serena’s voice echoed from the door as she walked into the room, heels clicking the floor loudly.

“You?” Arabella gasped, eyes widened in disbelief.

Serena glanced at the nurse and commanded, “Excuse us.”

Nala attempted to leave but Arabella yelled loudly, “Please just check the internet. You will see it.”

Serena smirked, pulling out her phone showing off the screen, “You mean this internet?”

On it was an article that had been issued the previous day.

The title clearly read, “The Sterling Family has no daughter.”

Arabella’s fist clenched so hard her knuckles turned white. It's barely 24 hours since the divorce and Adrian couldn't wait to publicly get rid of her?

Nala left while Serena pulled a chair and sat just meters away from Arabella.

“You know ever since I called you crazy, I’ve always wanted to see how this white gown would look on you.” Serena started, admiring her freshly made acrylic nails nonchalantly, “I won't lie though, you make anything look beautiful.”

Arabella screamed at the top of her lungs, the veins of her neck throbbing as she lunged at her. But the strong chains held her back. “I have divorced him now, haven’t I? You’ve taken everything. What more do you want from me?”

The corner of Serena’s lips curled up in a disdainful smirk, shrugging her shoulders, “Everything?”

“Can you ever give back everything you owe me?”

Arabella’s brows creased in confusion. She tried to look back into their past when they were kids. Nothing.

Aside from Adrian, she’s never taken or even attempted to take anything from her.

Hot tears streamed down her eyes as she stared at her, Serena's smile making her skin burn as she cried, “What did I ever do to you?”

Serena chuckled loudly but she didn't look satisfied…didn't even look like someone that just won everything.

“As for your son…”

“Don’t you dare touch my son, you psycho!” Arabella roared, bouncing on her seat, barely able to contain her anger.

Despite the restraint on her movement, Arabella shook so hard, her chair moved closer, startling Serena for a heartbeat, “If you touch a single hair on his head, I will kill you!”

Serena tried to hide the chill that ran down her spine with Arabella’s threat, as she stylishly pulled her chair back, trying to bring back her composure.

“Don’t worry about Axel. I will treat him well, after all, I don’t plan on having a kid of my own.” She reassured her.

Arabella swallowed hard, dropping her gaze as she tried to regain the strength she’d exhausted. Her fingers trembled, blood smearing the place where her skin met the restraints.

“Please…please let me go.” Arabella begged, how voice was weak. Defeated. “I will never show up again.”

That boosted Serena's ego, her confidence returning fast, her smile running wide, “Don't worry. I already made sure of that.”

“That’s why I changed your name? Even if anyone remembers you, they will never be able to find you, just like your mother…” Serena caught herself a little too late.

Arabella’s eyes widened, a chill running down her spine, “M–my mother? How do you know about my mother?”

For all she knew, her birth mother died in prison. At least that was what Victor could uncover before his sudden death.

Serena bit the inside of her lips, avoiding a direct glance at Arabella as she picked her purse ready to leave. “You don't have the luxury to worry about anyone.”

Just then the door creaked open and the head psychiatrist of the hospital, Dr. Sebastian walked in, with Nala behind him.

“Ms. Smith, I rushed over as soon as I heard you came by yourself.” Dr. Sebastian greeted.

Serena took in a deep breath as she rose, giving one last disdainful look at Arabella before turning to face them.

“Torture her until she actually loses her mind. Then I will have my father give a huge donation to your hospital.” She instructed, striding towards the door.

“Thanks, thank you, Ms. Smith.” Dr. Sebastian replied, years of corruption etched in his brows.

Just as Serena reached for the door, Arabella managed to speak, “Serena, can you at least tell me what I ever did to offend you?”

Serena’s hand hovered over the doorknob for a while, then she turned back walking towards Arabella.

When she was close enough, she leaned in, whispering into her ear with a smile, “If I tell you, I will have to kill you.”

“But I don't want you to die just yet.”

She strode away, her laughter echoing around the room long after she left, every sound, piercing Arabella’s broken heart.

Find ARABELLA!

Adrian woke up with a splitting headache as he rubbed his palm through his face before slowly opening his eyes.

He lay awake on the bed in the private bedroom within his office.

Bottles of booze lay on the floor by the bed as he had spent the past two days since Arabella left getting drunk and just being utterly miserable.

"Mr. Sterling." Gavin's voice came through the door. "The fraud case meeting is early tomorrow. You still haven't touched the files."

Adrian groaned, sitting up. "I'll handle it overnight.”

He stretched his aching muscles, even though he’d barely done any strenuous work to get him so tired.

It felt like his mind was in a fog as he couldn't tell what was weighing him down.

Maybe he missed her?

He scoffed at the idea, dismissing it as fast as it came.

But when his phone buzzed and he picked it up, he realized the last thing he was staring at before he dozed off was an old picture of Arabella.

“Fuck!” He groaned.

As much as he hated it, he found himself staring at the picture a little too long again.

It was the picture he’d taken of her on her college graduation day.

Her smile was bright, open. She looked so young there, sunlight catching in her hair, joy radiating from her face…a smile that had slowly disappeared from her face over the years.

It shouldn’t have surprised him to see how much of her brightness had dimmed over the years, but somehow it did.

As if he could pretend he didn’t know what he did to drain the light from her eyes…what he did to tighten her smile into something cautious, then erased it altogether.

He suddenly slipped the phone into his pocket, inhaling sharply as he forced himself not to think too deeply into how he treated her over the years.

He wasn't looking for redemption. In fact he did everything just to make her leave. Forever.

But now that she was gone, why did it suddenly hurt?

He stood up and walked towards the large window overlooking the city from the 4th floor.

“You better live a good life, Petals.” He mumbled partially to himself and partially to the wind that blew a lone tear down his cheek.

His phone buzzed again in his pocket, jolting him back as he quickly wiped off the tear and reached for it.

Another missed call from Serena among several other notifications.

He typed a short text, “Let’s talk in the office tomorrow. I have an important case to prepare for. Take care of Axel.”

He made to clear the notification bar, but something caught her attention.

An “Important” email from an unfamiliar sender.

The name caught his attention and he eventually opened it.

The email was brief, straightforward.

***

Hi,

This is an urgent reminder that the contents of your vault at EverGuard Secure Storage are scheduled for release. Please collect your items before 11:59 PM today, or arrange payment for an extension to avoid the items being discarded.

Thank you for your immediate attention.

Best regards…

***

He arched a brow in confusion because he’d never used the company’s services before.

Surprisingly, this wasn't their first email.

When he checked the CC, he realized the message was forwarded to both him and his father.

His hands tightened around his phone as he realized his father might have included his email in the contact info.

He checked his phone.

6:30pm.

He sucked in a deep breath as he walked out of the bedroom to start reviewing his case file.

But as the hour went by, he couldn't stop himself from thinking about the email.

“What could be in the safe?” his mind constantly questioned.

When he checked the time again, 8:47pm. Less than four hours before the deadline.

He grabbed his jacket and car key, giving into his curiosity as he drove off.

When he arrived at the office, he was made to fill a few paperworks and a small f*e before they handed over the key to him.

“Let us know if you wish for an extension,” The vault operator said as she walked away after showing Adrian to the vault.

Adrian was hesitant, taking a few seconds to brace himself.

His relationship with his father had strained ever since the news of Arabella’s pregnancy.

He felt like he was a disappointment. A sick perv who preyed on his own ‘sister.’

And when his father forced the marriage, he thought it was just damage control. After all, his Dad cherished the family name a lot.

He stopped looking into his Dad’s eyes since then…avoided him even.

And suddenly he was dead. Adrian felt guilty.

He needed closure. And maybe this was it.

Eventually, he opened the vault.

A bunch of files laid tired inside the vault. It’d been years, but they looked neat and perfectly in good shape.

Adrian’s hand trembled around the edges of the paper as he held them.

‘What are these?’

He wasn't sure what he was going to find, but he braced himself for disappointment.

He sat up on the floor to support his numb legs, his back relaxing on the vault as he finally opened the file.

By the third page, hot tears were already blurring his vision.

Inside the file were detailed documents on a secret case his Dad has been working on.

The Wrongful Arrest of Isabella Greene.

Arabella’s real mother.

His heart thudded wildly in his chest.

All the secret meetings with Arabella, the lengthy phone calls, the hushed conversation that made his mom believe Arabella had been scheming for the company shares were nothing but innocent case readings?

His Dad was just trying to find her family?

When he got to the last page, it was Arabella’s adoption nullification papers.

The date…Adrian's eyes widened.

His Dad had actually nullified her adoption three months before the one night stand? Before his secret feeling even became public debate. Why?

A note fell and with much hesitation, he picked it up reading through it.

***

Damn! I died before I could discuss this with you?

***

As he read the first line, a lone tear trickled down his eyes.

This line alone meant he was anticipating his death. But why? Could it not be a simple accident as they had always thought? Or was it just instinct?

***

I must have been a terrible father not to notice how you look at her. I saw your diary, son. You're not sick. I’d say you're brave even. Loving someone ‘forbidden’ is never easy. I’m sorry for making you feel that way. So I have nullified her adoption. She's not your sister anymore.

I just feel horrible that you don't find me worthy enough to open up to. You used to tell me everything. How did we become like this?

That aside, can you do me a favour? Look into this case file. It might lead to a dead end, but that innocent girl deserves to know her family if they are still alive.

Just be discreet. The people behind this case might be more dangerous than I anticipated.

Promise me you will protect her at all costs, but drop the case if it gets too risky.

No matter what, you will always be my son. I love you.

***

Adrian curled into his fetal position, each line hitting with the slow, sick weight of a punch he never saw coming.

It should have felt like relief—proof that he wasn't a disappointment to his father.

But all Adrian felt was pain. A raw, twisting ache that settled under his ribs, refusing to loosen.

For over five years, he’d hurt Arabella for his own guilt. Covered it up by calling her a gold digger. And now even tore an innocent mother and child apart just to hide his own shame.

And now his father just told him he wasn't wrong for loving her.

The guilt was instant and suffocating. He’d let his father down horribly.

But maybe he still had a chance. To redeem himself. To get Arabella back. To create their happy family. The one his father always envisioned.

He hurriedly grabbed his phone and dialed Gavin's number.

It rang once. Twice.

"Find Arabella." His voice shook but his resolve was firm. "I don't care what it takes. Find her. NOW.”