Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Until morning came, my head was still ringing with her name, Selena Angela. Everyone has a past, and so does Adrian. But why am I so surprised to know the fact that Adrian ever fell in love? I also want to be loved. I wanted to hear a man say my name with as much amazement in his eyes as Adrian pronounced Selena's name. Even the way he talked about the woman was meaningful. So sweet.

The first time I read the writings on Selena's tombstone. I felt close to the woman, as if I had met her before. But I couldn't possibly say that to Adrian. I didn't want him to think I was hallucinating or making up stories. Moreover, there was no evidence that what I said would be true.

And knowing the facts about Selena gave me a new perspective on Adrian. First, the man was indeed different from other mafia men I thought he was. And thinking about how he suffered alone because his lover left him forever, truly ripped my heart into pieces. I didn't want to give him another wound. He was already had enough of a wound behind his annoying attitude.

"Where were you last night with Adrian?" Rainy asked. She just came down from above and was now sitting next to me. Last night when I went out with Adrian, I didn't see Rainy. I didn't know where she was.

"I asked him to accompany me to get some fresh air outside," I was not telling the truth because I felt like what I knew about Selena was a secret. And Adrian didn't want his secret to be known by others. I mean, everyone wouldn't like it if their secrets got out to someone they didn't trust enough, would they?

Rainy clearly didn't believe my words, but she nodded. Luckily she didn't force me to tell the truth. "What about your foot and your condition?"

"It's getting better," I massaged my foot for a bit. "I can walk well too,"

"Good,"

Rainy's attitude towards me was volatile. One day she could ignore me, and the day later she was being so friendly like she didn't ignore my presence just yesterday.

"Today my mom is going to fit the wedding dress, do you want to come or stay at home?"

"You're going with her?"

Rainy nodded lightly.

"I'll just stay home," I replied with a typical smile.

In the end, it was really just me left in the mansion, of course apart from the servants and bodyguards. I sat relaxedly without feeling burdened at all. It was raining heavily. And it was so cold in the room that I needed to take a blanket and cover myself.

I hadn't been able to completely fall in love with Adrian, but remembering the little things about the man was enough to make me smile on my own. How he was acting cocky in front of me even became my favorite part.

I love it when he acts like that.

I bit my lower lip with my thoughts wandering all over the place. I could still feel Adrian's soft lips landing on my neck last night. The touch of his lips really made me almost lose my way. It felt nice, and left me wanting more. I even wondered what if his lips met mine. It would be the perfect combo.

If I could re-describe, Adrian was no longer the same in my eyes. He's a grown up man, who probably knew a lot more than me. His character was very sturdy and he definitely wasn't easily provoked.

"Excuse me, Miss. Sorry to interrupt your time,"

I immediately sat up straight when one of the servants came over to me. Her face was quite panicked, and I could tell something had happened.

"Mr. Valley... He wants to see you, and he's waiting in the living room."

I immediately took off my blanket, exposing my long legs that were only wearing short jeans.

I smiled widely knowing Ashton had come again. However, I still missed him, even though I was determined to keep my distance from him.

"Ash?" My smile faded when I saw the face of the man I really wanted to meet was battered. Ashton looked at me with a limp look. His eyes were swollen, and had red bruises.

"Oh my God," I covered my mouth and walked closer. My hands reflexively cupped his cheeks which also had bruises. The corner of his lips was still dripping with blood. Ashton seemed to have been beaten badly by someone. "Why is it like this? Who are you fighting with?"

Ashton closed his eyes as he held my wrists. "I feel calm when you're with me,"

"Ash!" I said. "Stay here, I'll get a first aid."

"I asked your servant to do that. She's getting it for me," Ashton smiled faintly. "Just sit next to me,"

I didn't want to listen, but Ashton insisted. He made me sit next to him, and then made my shoulder a place to rest his head.

"I'm tired," Ashton mumbled, which made my heart beat really fast. He still gave me the same feeling whenever we got so close.

I couldn't just stay still. I needed an explanation of where the wound on his face came from. "Who did you fight with?"

"Is it important?"

"Ash, come on. Don't be like this. You know I'm worried," I replied, sounding desperate. Yes, I was desperate to win the heart of this man next to me. He felt close, but hard to reach.

Ashton paid no heed to my words, and I saw how his hands were still clenched into fists. He was still holding back his anger behind his spoiled behavior towards me.

"It was Adrian,"

Suddenly I moved away from Ashton. "Adrian?"

Ashton got to his feet, obviously surprised at my response. He looked at me worriedly. "What's the matter, Mabel?"

"You had a fight with Adrian?" I asked in disbelief. "But why?"

"Why what?" Ashton repeated in the same tone. "Isn't that obvious? He's blackmailing you by forcing you to marry him. I had to beat him up so he knew that I'm not afraid even though his family is in mafia!"

"But Adrian is my future husband!" I replied to Ashton's words in a high tone. I was angry for no apparent reason. I didn't even know why I got so angry with Ashton.

Ashton's expression fell blank. "What did you say?"

I didn't answer, still taken aback by my own statement.

"Wow, Mabel. Wow..." Ashton chuckled very forcefully. He gave me a fake smile with loud applause, once to two and three times. "I tried to save you, but apparently you were willing to serve that jerk by making him your husband."

I shook my head at his words. "That's not what I meant. Really, I don't want to fight with you right now. Can you calm down first?"

"How can I calm down when I know you're by his side instead?" Ashton laughed darkly. "This is a mistake, I shouldn't have come here. The Mabel I knew isn't like this. She's always been by my side, even in the front row defending me."

Just then my servant came to bring first aid. Ashton and I just watched her in silence as she put the box on the table.

"I'm going home now," Ashton said.

"Not until I treat your wound," I grabbed his wrist.

"No, you don't need to. I can do it myself,"

I didn't listen to him. Now it was my turn to make him sit back down, and it was impressive enough that Ashton sat down without me forcing him a second time. He stared at me as I started to treat him. He should have felt a sting, but he didn't flinch and just kept his eyes on me. No matter I tried not to be embarrassed, I still ended up being embarrassed under his gaze.

"Stop staring at me, Ash. Are you so mad at me that you look at me like you want to eat me alive?"

Ashton continued to follow the spot where my eyes were looking.

I groaned at his behavior. "Stop. It. Now!"

"I'm trying to find out if you're still my Mabel,"

What did Ashton call me? Didn't he at least feel sorry for me, by making my pulse quicken by saying something like that?

"Because obviously after getting to know Adrian, you're not her anymore. I barely know you," Ashton added with a humorless laugh.

Ashton left with me still sitting stiff and dumbfounded by his words. I didn't like him thinking that, because I was still the same Mabel. And I still liked him. But why did I not feel this feeling completely for him anymore? Usually I felt a scratch every time Ashton left. But now, I had the urge to check on someone's condition instead. I even thought about Adrian when I was with Ashton.

I quickly grabbed my phone, thinking Adrian might had been trying to reach me. But all I found was a history of missed calls without his contact name in it. He didn't tell me his condition. I gritted my teeth in annoyance. Why do I really want Adrian to tell me what he's going through? What's wrong with me?

The rain outside was still very heavy, along with my growing anxiety.

I called Adrian several times, and as usual he didn't pick up. Since what happened yesterday, I was sure he would do this to me again. He would walk away from me like I didn't exist and we never knew each other.

I was scared of rain, even the roar of it made my guts shrink. But the worry in my chest at that time actually made me tired. I had to check if Adrian was okay or not. After all I knew how brutal Ashton could be when he fought.

I was desperate to go to Adrian's mansion. It's a crazy thing I did once again. Using my father's favorite car, I drove there through the pouring rain.

I was glad Adrian was home, but what I didn't know was how he got so mad at me.

"Get out of here, Mabel!" Adrian ordered me curtly.

"Did I do something wrong?" I tried to solve the problem if I did something that irritated him. "I came here fighting my fear of rain just to check on you. And this is what I got from you? For God's sake, I care about you."

"Stop caring! I don't want your pity," Adrian snapped then.

I saw Adrian only had a wound on the bridge of his nose, and the rest of his face was in good condition. I guessed I was wrong to think Ashton was brutal, it turned out to be the other way around.

Adrian only used a towel to cover his manhood. He was shirtless, and his hair was wet. I couldn't balance my focus while talking to him as my eyes continued to focus their gaze on the hard muscles in his lower abdomen.

Adrian looked at me with hatred. Something was really hurting him, and it had something to do with me. "Just tell me if I did something wrong,"

Adrian clenched his sharp jaw.

"Yesterday we were fine. Are you sorry you told me so much?" I was just guessing.

"Yeah, I regret opening up all of that to you." replied Adrian with a cold look. "I wish I never told you that. Because you're just another person and a stranger in my life. I was so stupid for starting to trust you,"

At that moment the defenses and fortresses that guarded my heart fell.

I told myself that Adrian's words shouldn't affect me, but they were even more depressing than Ashton's before.

"But I don't regret knowing all that," I replied, still not deterred. I was going to show Adrian who I was, and how strong I became. His snaps wouldn't mean anything to me.