Chapter 10: Chapter 10

"What did you say? You are Adrian Moretti! You know no mercy, and today you said you couldn't kidnap that woman?"

I didn't interrupt my grandfather. I let him scold me.

"Are you a woman now?" My grandfather, Valentino Moretti, hung his wooden smoking pipe from his lips. He was now sixty years old, and he was still actively monitoring me running this family business. He shook his head. "How can you be this damn stupid? You even proposed to her,"

I sat quietly. My grandfather was very temperamental. No one dared to oppose him, moreover he was the most feared in his time in power.

"Let me remind you, young man. You came to the party to kidnap her, not marry her! You are a complete mess, and my plans are ruined because of you."

That night at the party, I saw Mabel for the first time. I kept my eyes on her from the corner of the room, but Ashton was always with her. I had a really hard time kidnapping her. But then, at one point, she went into a dark hallway. I took this opportunity to follow her. The absence of light made it easier for me to kidnap her. But when I wanted to smother her, I bumped into her instead. It was so damn dark and hard to see.

"Now you're making things complicated..." My grandfather sat back down on his throne.

“I plan to keep her with me,” I looked up now, after looking down for a long time. "Even if it's necessary to marry her to hurt Ashton Valley, then I would do it. She's his biggest weakness,"

My grandfather's idea was out of the box. From the start, I prepared myself to physically attack Ashton, but he gave me another way. He sent me files on Ashton as well as Mabel. At first I was confused about what it was all about, but after that I understood.

I didn't expect to be dealing with a woman again after three years had passed. Mabel, when I saw her personal information, I knew she's a good woman. When I met her in person, to be honest, she had an attractive face. Her gaze was as soft as cotton when we first spoke to each other.

I saw the sadness in her eyes, which made me not have the heart to kidnap her. I never felt that feeling, but this time my heart was shaking. There was sympathy in me at how hurt she was to see Ashton with another woman instead of her. She was so fragile...

I let her go, but then I remembered my true mission there. I had to make my own plans. I went to her father, Mr. Castello and explained. I could see the fear in his eyes at me. And at that moment, I knew that my plan was successful. Because he accepted my marriage proposal. I just needed to get Mabel to agree.

It was hard to get Mabel to agree. She was the most clumsy woman I had ever met, and liked to ask too many questions.

I tried to keep her away from Ashton, but when I saw her suffer and hurt, I couldn't stand it. So when I found out that Ashton was going to the same party as me, I immediately thought of Mabel. I asked her to go there, and then I made a false excuse so she could go with him.

But then I was selfish. I asked Mabel to wear a dress in my favorite color, because I didn't expect that she would be so stunning in it. But she was, unbelievably beautiful in it. She made it hard for me to let go of her, so I held her hand all night.

Since I met her, I didn't feel like myself anymore. I was starting to lose myself for sure.

"Hmm, interesting." My grandfather smirked. No matter how old he was now, he was still as cunning as when I was a kid. "I just don't want you to forget your grudge. Remember, Adrian. Selena died in that accident,"

My jaw clenched when I heard that name. It felt like just yesterday I woke up with her sweet face next to mine. Now my bedside was empty, so was my heart.

"I won't forget that,"

"Good! Don't forget that you promised to put Ashton in the same hell when you lost her," My grandfather chuckled. "I like it when your soul burns like this,"

I nodded silently. "I'm leaving,"

"Wait a moment, Adrian. Listen, I want you to be gentler with her."

It was the hardest part. I hadn't faced a woman in quite a while, let alone one like Mabel. She cried too easily, careless, clumsy, childish, and insensitive. She was anything, but my type.

"My men said you're still so uptight on her,"

I didn't give my grandfather the answer he wanted to hear. I was so tired of dealing with Mabel, and had to act out of my true self around her.

"Understand?"

I nodded and then left his office. I hadn't been in my extended family's mansion for a long time. Actually I was also rarely in my own mansion, apart from being at my base. But because of Mabel, I had been forced to be at home a lot lately. That woman really bothered me.

I put my sunglasses back on. I left the mansion and headed for the cemetery.

"I miss you, Selena..." I whispered.

I liked to linger at Selena's grave. It felt like I was with her. I was by her side, and accompanied her from loneliness. Although I could only stare at the tombstone with her name on it. She lives forever in every beat of my veins.

"You know, Selena? I found a lousy love story," I chuckled. "There were two humans who liked each other, but they chose to keep those feelings to themselves. Neither of them dared to cross the dividing line. In the end of the day, both of them got hurt continuously. Pathetic, isn't it?" I leaned my head against the tombstone and rubbed the writing that wrote Selena's name slowly. "I wish you were here with me,"

After feeling like I had enough of my longing, I stood up and sprinkled the flowers I bought on the way. I smiled, but the ringing of my phone disturbed my peace. I took my phone and looked at the screen. Unknown number?

I picked up the call, and...

"Where's Mabel? You bastard!"

I smirked. I recognized Ashton's voice well. "Where did you get my number from?"

"Does it matter? Tell me where Mabel is! If you hurt her, I will not hesitate to kill you."

Last night I told Mr. Castello that Mabel was with me, I assumed he told Ashton about it.

I snickered. "Whoa, that's harsh. But she's not with me," Well, I wasn't completely lying. I was standing alone in the middle of a vast cemetery.

"Do not lie to me!"

I was just about to answer him when I got a message from my man, telling me that Mabel went to the mall. I sighed softly, staring at Selena's grave for a moment. I knew what it was like to be worried about someone I cared about. That's why I told Ashton afterwards.

What is wrong with me?

Ashton's father was the cause of Selena's death. I didn't think I would still be willing to help his son now. I knew Mr. Valley had already received his punishment, but I still felt unsatisfied. Besides, everyone knew what the old man was like as a businessman. He had a lot of debt, and even ran away when Selena was in a coma after the accident. He didn't want to be responsible for what happened at all.

My hands clenched. I went back to my car to go home soon. I wouldn't let Ashton take Mabel away.

I arrived at my mansion at seven in the evening. I didn't see Mabel's whereabouts anywhere, other than her room. One of the servants told me that after returning from the mall, Mabel was crying and locked herself in her room. And I knew it had to do with Ashton.

Hearing Mabel cry was nothing new to me. I couldn't help, but sigh and went straight to her room. "Mabel?" I knocked on the door, waiting for her to open the door for me. I heard the sound of a lock opening. I waited a few seconds, still no answer from her. So I just went in, since the door was unlocked.

Mabel was really a mess this time. She was sitting, hugging herself in the corner of the room. The lights were left off. I walked over to her, then tried to lift her face up so she could look back at me. "Did Ashton hurt you again?"

Mabel shook her head. "I hurt him,"

I looked at her flatly. I thought women would cry when they were hurt. Mabel was completely beyond my expectations. "Get up, let's get on the bed."

Mabel nodded, complied. I gently helped her reach the bed, and let her sit on the edge of it. But when I was about to turn on the light, she stopped me. "Don't,"

"Why?"

"I don't want you to see my face,"

I almost wanted to laugh at that. Mabel had never had a problem with me seeing her cry before. I could still see her too, though it was not very clear.

"Want me to get you a drink? Or some chocolate?" I remembered what my grandfather told me to do, and I was really trying.

Mabel shook her head. "Just... stay with me,"

Mabel sounded utterly devastated. So I just did what she asked me. I sat next to her, kept silent to let the atmosphere calm down.

"I'm so tired," Mabel whispered. "Let's just get married,"

Did I hear wrong?

"Let's get married!" Mabel repeated, knowing I didn't believe her. "Why are you silent?"

I cleared my throat and stood up. I knelt down so I could face her, and got her full attention. "Are you sure with what you say? I'm not the type of guy to give up what I got. There will be no turning back after that,"

Mabel began to sob.

"Listen, you're doing this because you're tired of Ashton. After that, when things get better, you'll only regret it." I explained again.

"Why?" Mabel asked, trying to sound strong.

"Why? What?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you say that? Don't you want to marry me?"

I sighed softly. Deep down, I knew even if I married her, we wouldn't love each other. Our marriage would only be a marriage on paper. I didn't even know if my heart was still capable of loving someone after Selena.

I knew Mabel is a good woman, and she deserved a better man. I realized that I couldn't really do what I told my grandfather. Because Mabel held the key to my heart's weakest spot.

"I want to. But not now. I want you to marry me because you want me too, not out of a broken heart. You understand, right?" I wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

Mabel looked at me with welling eyes.

"And for that, give me some time to make you feel comfortable with me."

Why did my words flow so easily from my mind? My words felt real from the bottom of my heart.

"Okay..."

I stared at Mabel, not expecting her to jump into my arms. She put her arms around my neck, and wept over my shoulder. I rubbed her back, trying to calm her down. "Shhh,"

"You're my angel. I'm so grateful to have met you in the hallway that night,"

My chest was clenched so tight, and I found myself holding my breath. Mabel would soon be disappointed in me.