Chapter 44: Chapter 44

It was like I was getting stabbed with a thousand knives after what Mabel said. She even said that she loved me using the past tense.

"One last time, Adrian. This is my last question. Are you really using me as Ashton's weakness?"

"Mabel, you haven't given me a chance to explain yet!"

"Answer me, Adrian!" Mabel's tone rose again. "I just need an answer right now. So just say it and let my heart break,"

I never wanted to lie to Mabel. Never in my life did I intend to do that. That's why with shortness of breath, I mustered up the courage to nod.

The fire of anger in Mabel's eyes died out, but it revived other fires.

"I'm sorry. It was like that at first, but over time things changed. My love for you isn't one of those lies. I really fell in love with you," I kept hoping Mabel would understand by looking for some other explanation that would make her regain her trust in me. "Do you remember when I said there was something I wanted to tell you, but waited until the time was right? It was about this. I meant to tell you,"

No matter how I explained, Mabel didn't seem to care anymore. She just nodded, and I knew she wasn't paying attention to what I was saying. Her face turned deathly pale with a forced smile. "I think this is the end of whatever ever existed between us,"

"No, Mabel. After what we've been through together how could you end it so easily?" I was at the end of feeling hopeless.

"This is best for you as well as for me," Mabel emphasized a smile accompanied by tears running down her cheeks. "You want to know the truth, Adrian? The fact that all this time and even now I still sincerely love you. Saying goodbye is not easy for me, but this is very painful. I question everything, including your love for me. Even though you said that there were no lies from your love, but I became afraid. My trust in you is no longer there,"

"Mabel, wait a minute." I tried to reach Mabel when she was about to leave me. "At least give me one chance to win your trust back,"

"Just let me go, Adrian." Mabel continued to walk away from me.

"Mabel, please. Don't you remember your promise? You promised you would never leave me!" I lost myself then. My world fell to pieces when the only love that remained in my heart decided to walk away from me. My chest was tight, my heart was broken.

Mabel stopped and turned. With a sad look she said. "I failed, Adrian. I failed to keep my promise. I'm sorry,"

"No," I pleaded. "I can't go on without you, Mabel. Please come back,"

"You once said you would leave me if I asked you to. And I know you are the type of man who keeps his word. So I ask you to do that. I want you to leave me, Adrian."

Mabel's words reminded me of that day; the day I said I would only leave when she asked me to. That made my mouth instantly lock up, stopping to explain everything. I remembered I said that and she was right that I would always keep my word. Slowly she turned her back on me and walked away, but my feet didn't even take a step to reach her. I hold still in my place without doing anything to her departure. There was something worse than a broken heart, it seemed, seeing the only hope and enthusiasm for life go away without warning, suddenly and just like that.

There was no turning back, even to correct past mistakes, other than regret. If I had known from the start that I would be brought to my knees by Mr. Castello's daughter, then I wouldn't have approached her just for revenge for that past mistake. If only I had known I would hurt Mabel and myself for it, I would have chosen to back down from the terrible plan my grandfather and I hatched. Everything was out of my control. Once again my life was filled with regret. I was sick of it.

I was sick and tired of my life at the same time. There was nothing beautiful in it, but sadness, sorrow, and emptiness in it.

I just smiled for a moment my legs were powerless to support my body standing, making me fall down instantly. It was the worst day in the history of my life. Everyone I believed in would not leave me, left. Is it because I'm cursed? Is it because of the many sins I have committed? Or is it because I am the problem?

"Adrian!"

My head was spinning, not realizing that Daniel was already walking towards me.

"Mabel went alone, and you're here? Everything works as it should, right?" asked Daniel, clearly alarmed by what he had witnessed.

"Help me up," I said softly as I asked him to hold out his hand for me.

Daniel did as I asked and asked no further questions.

"Everything is going as it should," I said quietly, not at Daniel, but at myself. "I'm tired, Dan. How long will life have to punish me by taking the people I love?"

Daniel just patted my shoulder. He understood what had happened even without a long explanation. I was glad he didn't ask any further.

Life went on even though it was the umpteenth time I wanted to give up. Even my grandfather knew what was going on, but couldn't take a step that he normally would whenever I was in trouble. Nothing could save me from this empty feeling. The days went by without Mabel, and I swore it was really hard to go through. Every time the clock ticked, it seemed so long to me. I just wished the day would end soon.

It had been a few days that I hadn't slept, finished many bottles of alcohol, and smoked cigarettes to destroy myself. Not much different from what I did after I lost Selena for good, but the loss I felt this time was even worse. I had hurt Mabel's feelings and trust; it made me feel like a really bad guy.

Enjoying a cigarette, I heard a knock on my door. I wasn't in the mood for any bad news that had hit some of my sources of money recently, so I ignored it. But apparently whoever knocked was stubborn and kept on knocking. I swore that if there was any bad news about the failure of the new bar I was about to open, I wouldn't hesitate to press the trigger of my gun.

"Come in," My voice boomed in the room.

When I thought it was one of my men, instead Daniel with his trademark smile came in.

"How are you, brother?" Daniel greeted casually, coming closer to my table. "I didn't need to knock, I knew. But your bodyguards said you're on your period and they made me have to knock. They suck,"

I put my cigarette butt in the ashtray. "There's no one else you can mess with, Dan?"

Daniel visited me every day, only yesterday he was absent.

"No one, but you." Daniel said while making a cute expression.

"Drop that expression," I ordered with annoyance.

"Actually, my arrival this time is different from before. There is one thing that has been bothering me these past few days,"

"Then I should care about it?" I left my seat to head to the window, only to get a sight that made me miss Mabel again.

"You have to care because this concerns you too. After the breakup, you became different. You even neglected some of your duties and forgot what you had to handle,"

My hands clenched, not with anger at Daniel's words, but anger at how it was all true. I shouldn't be blaming my men for my couple of bars that nearly went bankrupt.

Sighing, Daniel continued. "I don't want to turn to the old page again, so I'll just say it. Have you forgotten about Anthonio Blake and Rainy?"

I was too busy fixing my heart to get back to how it was that I forgot I still had things to take care of, including ending the life of Anthonio Blake and anyone else who had contributed to him.

"Sorry for my impudence, but I asked some of your men to find out how Mabel found out all the truth. And I'm sure you know who did it, Adrian. They have even now left city like fugitives. You have to finish them,"

I turned around with a nod. "Of course,"

If it was true that Rainy and Anthonio had leaked my secret, then there would be no mercy for them. So far I had acted patiently for all their mistakes, but again they were looking for trouble with me. There was no mercy for the last time.

"Yesterday I heard Ashton is also looking for their whereabouts," Daniel added.

Mentioning Ashton, I felt like I had been beaten by him. I was sure now that he was with Mabel; there for her through this difficult time. I was jealous, very much.

"The police are joining the search, this will be easier."

"I know one thing I need to do, Dan." I explained for a moment smirking at what I was thinking.

Anthonio had been so blinded by his love for Rainy that he was so stupid as to accept all her bad wishes, even though she clearly never even respected his feelings and frankly wanted Ashton. How could Anthonio be so damn stupid?

As if reading my mind, Daniel shook his head. "You can't hurt his family, Adrian. They are all relatives of your family. Your grandfather will definitely condemn your actions if it's true what you think. You can't ruin the relationship between these two families just because of something stupid Anthonio did,"

What Daniel was thinking was right, but it sounded cowardly. My family was the most feared mafia in city, which meant we had no equal. What Antonio did was wrong, so I would do whatever I could to make him come and fall to his knees before me even if it had to ruin the relationship between our two big families. The most important thing was my self esteem and my family's esteem. He had trampled on the pride of the Moretti family.

"I don't care anymore, Dan. Antonio should have thought about the consequences before doing bad things to the people I love. But no, he instead continued all that without thinking about the good relationship between our families. Just like what he did, I will also do whatever I want and get rid of anyone who gets in my way now."

Daniel just smirked back. I could tell he agreed with my crazy thinking even though at first he pretended to be a nice guy. We both knew we weren't good men, and we never pretended to be one other than just wanting to be good for life.

"You know I'm always on your team, Adrian."

"Before I launch my attack on the Blake family's main storehouse, I need you to help me out with one thing."

"And what is that?" Daniel's eyebrow rose.

"I heard Mabel has been frequenting the orphanage down by Cornelia Street lately. I need you to accompany me there in disguise," I said as Mabel's face came to mind. I missed her smile and wanted to see her in person to cure my longing.

Daniel nodded. "Should I take Miranda with us?"

"You're still in contact with her? I'm surprised," I smirked seeing Daniel's expression tense.

"What? No. I was just saying,"

At least there was Daniel who made my heavy day feel a little lighter. He really was my best friend so far.