Adrian's POV

"Don't show me your face ever again."

"Was I so much of a horrible person back then that you hate me to the point of hurting me in the worst possible way one could ever hurt me?"

"I'll never forgive you for that. Never."

"It saved me from the additional heartache I would've had if I really loved you."

"I wish I had died that day with my parents."

"I regret the very day you came into my life."

I slammed the glass on the mirror, breaking both of them into thousands of pieces. Those words kept repeating in my head, haunting me every second of the day. I looked at the broken pieces of glasses on the floor, feeling the similarities between them and my heart.

It was Monday morning and I had spent the entirety of last night trying to drown myself in my drinks. I wanted to get rid of those words spoken with so much hurt and hate by the very person I loved more than anyone else.

I remembered that day in the courtroom when she had a panic attack. I had never been so terrified than I was in that moment. My self loathing only grew after witnessing the consequences of my actions.

I didn't want to attend the party last night. The fact that her friend invited me meant that she hadn't told her at what I had done. My mind told me countless times to stay back, not to attend the party because I won't be able to hold myself back but I fell weak to my heart's desires. My soul longed to be near her, my eyes longed to see her, my arms longed to hold her and my heart longed to beat once again in her presence.

When I saw her looking so beautiful, I wanted to take her in my arms and kiss her right then and there. And when she was in my arms, albeit unwillingly for the dance cut off short by my stupidity, I saw how much I'd hurt her. Her eyes held a deep sorrow in them. The eyes that used to sparkle everytime she looked at me or rolled them at me now held a hollowness in them. She had tried to conceal them, but up close, I could see dark bags around her eyes. And I was the cause. I was torn between wanting to pull her in my arms and kill myself for causing her pain.

As if I hadn't caused enough problems already, I had to be an idiot and ask her how she was. I thought I had endured every pain there was by hurting her, but her words made me feel that I was yet to hit the rock bottom.

"I wish I had died that day with my parents."

"I regret the very day you came into my life."

She'd spoken these words with so much pain that it felt like my heart was once again cut open and been smashed into pieces. There had never been a moment I hated anyone more than I hated myself then. I wanted nothing more than to tell her the truth just to have those eyes looking at me for once without any hurt or hate in them but I held myself back with an immense willpower.

I thought back to my conversation with Eva last night. She'd stopped me just when I was about to exit after Eve left me standing on the dance floor with my heart bleeding at her words. Eva had called me then.

"Wait!"

I turned back and saw Eva running towards me. It immediately caught my attention. "Bubbles? What's wrong? Did something happen to Eve?" I asked in alarm.

She finally stopped in front of me and folded her arms against her chest, narrowing her eyes at me. "Yes, something has happen to my sister. And I want to know what. You tell me, what did you do to her?"

Her words made some of the tension leave my body but then came the shame. I couldn't even look into her eyes anymore. I didn't speak so she pressed on.

"Did you cheat on her?" She asked angrily.

"No! I'd never do that!" I replied forcefully, disgusted at the slightest notion and hurt that she'd think I'd do that to her sister. But I knew I had no room to speak since I'd done worse.

Eva looked at me closely, as if trying to discern if I was telling the truth. She scowled once again. "If you didn't cheat on her, then you must have done something more terrible than cheating. I don't know what you've done, because you're clearly not going to tell me and neither is my sister. For some reason she's still trying to protect your reputation in front of us but I don't care. I don't care what you've done because I know you have hurt her deeply. Mr. Stone, I have only ever seen my sister have terrible nightmares during the first few months after she woke up from the accident. Even then, they've never been as bad as last night. She lied to me that she's fine but I know she isn't. She hasn't been sleeping at all, and it's all your fault. Didn't you give me your word that you'll never hurt her?"

I remembered that day of her surgery when Eva had wanted to speak with me alone. She'd known even then that I was Eve's Addie. Eva had made me promise to take care of her sister and never hurt her. I closed my eyes as I realized I'd broken so many promises to keep one.

She scoffed when I said nothing. "I thought you were a good one, Mr. Stone. I trusted you with my sister but all you've done is hurt her. I won't forgive you for this." She stormed off just as fast as she had come.

I let out a wry smile at the reminder of how very similar both the sisters were. They were fiercely protective over each other and very adamant on calling me Mr. Stone when they were angry. I sighed, the pain returning once again in my heart at the memories of all the times she'd call me by my last name, of how I'd finally managed to get her to call me by my name. How happy I was when she finally started opening up to me, started trusting me. The trust I'd completely shattered now.

Suddenly, there was a knock on my door. I didn't have the energy and tell whoever it was to go away. The intercom buzzed and more knocks sounded on the door but I ignored them all, hoping that they would go away. I was relieved when the knocking finally stopped.

I got a call then. I immediately picked it up after seeing the caller's id. "Did you find anything?" I asked as soon as I picked up.

"No, sir. We tried ever-"

I hung up without listening anymore and hurled the phone to the wall. I ran both of my hands through my hair in frustration. Everything I tried seemed to end up in a dead end. I couldn't think of anything anymore. I was beginning to give up. My resolve was weakening after seeing what I had done to her.

The door to my penthouse suddenly burst open and I watched as Nate walked in with a huge delivery box. He dropped it down in front of me before delivering a solid punch on my jaw. I did'nt so much as flinch, tje effects of alcohol had numbed the physical sensations. I only wished it could numb this feeling of self-loathe and inner pain as well.

"What the f*ck is wrong with you man?! Don't you think you've done enough already? You have taken away everything from her! You even included me in this evil scheme of yours. Now tell me why you did everything." He yelled, making me wince as my head started pounding at the loud voice.

I ignored him at looked at the delivery box. "This was on your door." Nate explained as he followed my eyes. I said nothing. Nate bent down and pulled out a note attached to the box. He laughed out loudly as he saw it.

"Woah. There's a big picture of shit and look what's written! This is you, Mr. Stone, you backstabbing cheater! I thought you were a Greek God but you turned out to be a snake. I hope you rot in hell. Damn, whoever it is, they must be real angry with you, man. Let me see if they've left a name." He flipped the note over and made a choking sound. "Oh. It's her. Leah Brooks, Assistant to and ONLY responding to MS EVELYN WHITE. You'll never be my boss. Wow, I never thought that airhead woman would ever have the guts. Oh, there are some colorful words as well. Hmm... she knows a lot of curse words, more than I do. Interesting."

I jerked upright on hearing these words. If Ms. Brooks had sent this, then it must be... I hurriedly began to rip the packing. Once I saw the contents inside, my already broken heart was further shattered into millions of pieces. I let out a cry, holding my head on my hands, beyond caring that Nate was witnessing this.

She had returned everything back. I took out the photo frame I'd sent her while she was in Paris, the one where she was sitting on a swing as I stood behind her. The frame had been broken- probably when Nate dropped it- and I ran my hand over it, feeling nothing when the broken glass cut my hand making it bleed. I saw the stuffed unicorn I'd given her and held it. It had her scent. I closed my eyes and sobbed like a little boy, holding the toy close to me. "Oh, what have I done? I'm so sorry, Eve. I... I'm so so so sorry."

I felt a hand on my shoulder. Nate sighed. "Ad, man, you're a mess. It's clear that you're hurting as much as her. Why don't you tell her everything and pull yourself as well as her out of this misery? Call her now and tell her everything."

I shook my head. "I can't."

Nate stood up angrily. "Okay, I've had enough of this. You are going to tell me everything now. I've been left in dark for too long now. I need to know what happened that made you forge her signature and take away everything from her?"

I paid no attention to him as I fingered the decaying petals of white rose. She'd kept them all- every card, every rose and every single takeaway box. I felt my heart clench at the possibility that she might have loved me a little bit before I spoiled everything.

Nate spoke again when he realized he was being ignored. "So you're not going to spill it, are you? Fine, do it your way then. I'm going to call Eves right now and tell her what a mess you are and what you have done." He lifted up his phone and unlocked it.

This got my attention. "Nate, don't be stupid. Put it down. She can't know."

He didn't budge. "Then tell me. Tell me or else I'll hit the call button." He threatened, his finger close to the call button with her name displayed on the screen.

I sighed in defeat. "Fine, I'll tell you. Just put the phone down."

He looked at my face for confirmation before putting his phone away in his pocket. "Great. But before that, take a shower and put something on your hand! You look and smell disgusting."

I sighed but obeyed him. A few minutes later, I was somewhat freshened up and sitting on the couch with Nate seated across me. He handed me a cup of coffee and I took it gratefully. Before starting, I warned him, "Nate, you need to swear that not a word leaves your mouth. No one can know about this." He nodded and I began, thinking of that day when I was so happy waking up with her in Paris, unaware of the things that awaited me.

That morning two weeks ago, Paris

I woke up to the sound of my alarm ringing and immediately turned it off, not wanting it to disturb the peacefully sleeping person beside me. I looked at her face for a long time. She looked so beautiful even when she was asleep. One of her arms was beneath her head while the other flung loosely over my chest and my beating heart. For the millionth time, I thought of how fortunate I was to have this amazing woman in my life.

I kissed her softly before slowly waking up and getting dressed. I felt irritation building upon me at the thought of being away from her once again. It grew when I realized I had to return to my office, grab the file I had stupidly forgotten to in my haste to see her and then fly to London once again.

I went to the bed and softly kissed her forehead, making her wake up. She hugged me so tight, as if she was as reluctant to let me go as I was. She asked me to stay a little longer but I couldn't because of my stupidity. If only I'd brought the file with me, I could've saved a few hours. I finally managed to get my legs working to move out of the room. But before I could take a step away, I returned back and kissed her with everything I had. It didn't feel right to me somehow, it felt as if I wouldn't get to hold her this way ever again and I desperately held onto her, trying to rid the thoughts out of my mind.

I reached my office after agonizing hours of missing her so much. I missed her the moment I stepped out of the hotel she was staying on and the yearning only grew along with the distance between us.

I met some surprised faces of my employees as I walked towards my office. No one must have been expecting me to arrive so soon. Little did they know I hadn't gone to London at all. I smirked inwardly at memory of last night, how blissful it felt to hold her in my arms again and fall asleep with her.

I noticed the empty assistant desk outside my office and remembered what Eve said last night about seeing my ex assistant here in the office. I made a mental note to get the details about this later and walked inside my office. What I saw there surprised me.

My father was sitting on my desk as an old man sat in front of him. The old man was signing some papers as my dad searched something. Both of them startled and looked at me in horror when I entered.

"What's going on here?" I asked.

"A-Adrian? You... you were in London, weren't you? W-why did you return so fast?" Dad spoke with a trembling voice. I looked at the man who had also gone shell shocked upon seeing me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him inconspicuously trying to hide the papers he had been signing.

I walked towards him, not bothering to reply to my father. "What is it that you have there?" I asked in a calm but deadly voice.

"N-nothing! We... M-Mr. Stone...that is... your father, I mean... he and I are about to invest on something so... w-we were d-discussing about it." He stuttered, hiding the papers behind his back.

I looked between him and the papers and extended my hand towards him. "An investment? Interesting. What is it about? I'm sure I can give my advice as well."

The man did not give the file right away so I commanded harshly. "Give me that file, old man or the consequences won't be good."

The man alternated his gaze between my father and me before finally letting out a resigned sigh and handing me the file.

I felt anger unlike anything else building upon me on reading the words written there. "What is the meaning of this?" I asked to both of the men present here. None of them spoke.

I stormed towards where my dad was standing. "Dad, what the f*ck?! What do you think you're doing?"

"Language, Adrian." Dad admonished me lightly but I couldn't see anything other than the guilt in his eyes.

My eyes flashed. "I don't care about the f*cking language dad! All I want to know right now is what the f*ck do you think you're doing by signing Eve's company over to some Oliver Martinez! Does she know what you're scheming here in my office?"

Dad winced at my tone. "Adrian, we had to do this. Please try to understand."

"No, I don't want to understand! I've seen enough! Dad, I never thought you would turn out this way. Didn't you always say that Eve is a daughter to you? Is this how you show your love to your daughter? By taking the very thing she values the most in the world? What did this man offer you that you don't already have, dad? It can't be money you're after. So what is it? Did you cheat on mom and are know being blackmailed?"

"Mind your language, Adrian Isaac Stone! Not a word more from your mouth." Dad was equally angry now. It was the first time I'd seen him so angry and a part of me felt guilty for insinuating that he wasn't a faithful husband but I didn't care about anything at the moment. All I could feel was pure anger at what they were trying to do.

I opened my mouth once again but stopped when a new voice spoke for the first time. "Allow me to explain everything." The old man gave me a grim smile when I looked at him sharply. "Let me introduce myself first. My name is Oliver Edward Martinez, Evelyn's maternal grandfather."

I stilled at his words. Eve had always held her grandparents at high regards. She always spoke fondly of him. I couldn't believe that her grandfather was the very person trying to betray her.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "How can I know you're telling the truth?"

He nodded as if expecting this and rummaged through his pockets before taking out two photos and handing them to me. The first one looked like it was taken many years ago. There was him and another woman, likely his wife standing on either side of a beautiful woman I immediately recognized as aunt Lily, Eve's mother. The next photo looked like it was taken some years ago. There were older versions the couple and aunt Lily was replaced by a younger Eve. She was smiling slightly at the camera as the couple had their arms around her.

I placed the photos on the table and leveled the old man with a hard look. "You call yourself her grandfather and yet you dare to hurt her this way? She thinks so highly of you and your wife, and you repay her with betrayal? What do you need, money? Tell me how much and I'll give them to you. Did you even kill your own daughter and son-in-law for money?"

The old man face flushed with rage just like my dad's had and I felt like I'd spoken out of the line again. But I shrugged it off as he spoke next. "I ask you to mind your language, young sir. I might be old and poor but I have a dignity. You are disrespecting me by suggesting such a disgusting thing but I will let this go because the situation doesn't look so good. But I assure you, I'm only doing this to protect my granddaughter."

It was my dad who spoke next. "Adrian, when I found out that Eve was alive and that her parents, Nick and Lily were no more, I remembered the paper of will Nick had entrusted me with before he moved away. He had allocated all his property to his daughters equally and had asked me to keep it safe and give them to the girls at their right age if anything happened to him and his wife. He was supposed to return back after some years, he had even called to let me know he might be returning that month but he never did. I searched a lot but couldn't find anything about him so I thought he had moved to a new place until I met Evelyn.

When I learned of the accident, I immediately knew it was planned. Nick's brother Dylan had been threatening his family for money ever since Nick started being successful. That was Nick's only fear- that his brother would someday hurt his family. He had to move away frequently to avoid his brother's attacks. So I knew that the car accident wasn't a coincidence. Everything was planned. But unfortunately for Dylan, the property papers were with me- he didn't even know that. No one but Nick, Lily, your mother and I knew of this.

I tried investigating about Dylan but my attention was caught when you mentioned the server of Eva's as well as our company being infiltrated at the short intervals. I began to keep tract of every transactions in Eve's office, fearing that Dylan had found her. That day, when you brought her home to meet us, I wanted to tell her about her father's will and give her the money but I got an urgent call from the man I'd asked to tract the transactions. I found out that a large sum of money had been deposited into her account without her knowledge and removed immediately after to some other account. It was done in such a way that Eve wouldn't be notified of the transaction but the bank statement would be there. So if anyone were to look, it would look like Eve had been playing with the money, illegally transferring them to her account and then to some new account so as not to raise suspicion.

I wanted to speak her about this many times, but couldn't find an opportunity to. Then I realized that her knowing this could be dangerous because Dylan was capable of anything. So I tried to search him myself. I remembered Lily's parents and approached Oliver to tell him about everything and ask him if knew about Dylan."

The man- Mr. Martinez took over from there. "When Daniel told me this, I knew without a doubt that Nick's brother was behind it all. I had my doubts when I found out about the accident, remembering Lily's fears for her daughters but decided to not press any charges because I was afraid he would hurt my granddaughters. It looked like he thought they were dead along with their parents and he didn't know about us so we were safe.

But when Daniel told me about the transactions, I knew it was Dylan. He was scheming this plot to have my granddaughter arrested so that he could take over Nick's property as the closest kin. He must have found out about the will somehow. My bet is that he doesn't know about Eva since Eve has kept her information well hidden.  So I decided to transfer the ownership of the company in my name. So that when the audit comes, I'll be the one arrested."

I held on the desk for support as the information was too much for me to take in. My heart filled with dread at the thought of something harming her. I looked at my father and Mr. Martinez who seemed to be waiting for my response.

I let out a small laugh and raised an eyebrow at the old man. "Mr. Martinez, you've managed to prepare the ownership document. But do you honestly think that your granddaughter is so naive to sign anything without reading them first?"

He opened and closed his mouth as if just realizing of the possibility. "I think you should just tell her everything and proceed from there on. She has the right to know about everything that happens in her company." I said. I could imagine the pain she would feel if she finds it out later.

Mr. Martinez shook his head furiously. "No! We can't let her know under any circumstances. I know she won't sit idly if she finds out about this, and her actions can cause Dylan to make his attack. I can't risk that. I've lost my daughter, my son-in-law who like more than my son to me, the two girls are all we have left for family. I can’t risk anything with her. Mr. Stone, I need your word that you won't tell her anything."

I clenched my jaw at his words. As much as he made sense, I didn't like the thought of hiding anything from Eve. She had taken so long to trust me and I didn't want us to go back to square one if I kept her in dark about this. I thought long and hard before tearing the document in my hands to pieces.

Both of the men looked shocked at my actions and I answered their questioning gazes. "I'll do it. Draw another document indicating me as the owner. Transfer the company in my name."

"Adrian..." Dad started but I ignored him. I walked closer to Mr. Martinez and spoke. "Eve thinks the world of you. She won't be able to handle the betrayal. Let me do this, she might be able to handle it better if it were me betraying her instead of the one she calls her family." My voice broke at the end as I thought of what I was about to do. I was about to shatter her trust so that there wouldn't even be a square one for us anymore.

Mr. Martinez nodded after a long time. As if on cue, my phone rang. It was her. I was about to receive it when Mr. Martinez spoke. "Is it Evelyn?" I nodded.

"No, don't pick up the phone." I narrowed my eyes at him. "You... you need to make her hate you if you are to do this. Make her think that you've only wanted the company all along. She won't believe otherwise. I know I sound heartless and this is too much to ask of you after what you're about to do, but I speak as a father who couldn't protect her baby girl. I don't want to lose my granddaughter as well. Please, Mr. Stone, promise me, that you won't speak to her, won't tell her anything."

I turned away from him feeling the burning sensation in my eyes. I couldn't even begin to imagine what I was about to put her through. I was beginning to wonder if all this was worth it but knew the answer immediately.

If it keeps her safe, anything would be worth it.

I nodded. "I promise." The irony wasn't lost on me how I'd broken the promise I'd made her only last night. I looked at the promise ring on my finger that we had exchanged only a few hours ago and thought of how I was going to dishonor it.

My nails dug on my flesh as I clenched my hands into tight fist to gather up the courage to speak.

"I will make her hate me."

Mr. Martinez looked at the ring. His eyes were moist with tears. I could feel the same in mine but held them back. "She has told us a lot about you, you know? And you're exactly as she described. You love her more than words can explain."

My heart jumped at his words. "She... she has talked about me?" I asked in a small voice filled with hope.

He smiled a little. "She has. And I've never heard her sound so happy. She was actually planning to bring you to meet us once she returned from Paris but... I think that's not to be now." He completed sadly.

I looked down and nodded. "Oh." The feeling of despair was growing within me, eating my insides. I felt like I was helplessly watching my world crumble around me with no means to stop it.

He kept on speaking, unaware of my inner turmoil. "I always thought Lily did well in choosing Nick. And now, I think my Evelyn had done the same. You're a good man, Adrian Stone. I'm glad she has you in her life. I can't thank you enough for what you have decided. And I'm deeply sorry for everything."

He walked out after nodding to my dad who had been standing silently in until now. He walked towards me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Adrian, my boy, I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. I didn't want to worry you. As much as I hate to think what you'll have to endure the coming days, know that I'm terribly proud of you, my son."

I shook my head at him. "Don't be, dad. I'm about to break the biggest promise of my life and hurt the person who matters the most to me. I'm about to commit the greatest sin in my dictionary."

*

"Damn. That's a lot to process. I need a stronger drink." Nate commented and grabbed a drink before handing one to me, which I wisely refused. "So that means, you broke your promise to keep a promise?"

I shrugged, not wanting to speak further.

Nate spoke again. "What are you going to do now? Have you found who is behind all this? It must be the uncle, of course. But do you know of his whereabouts? We might be able to stop this if we find him."

I heaved a sigh in reply. "I have people trying to reach him but they haven't found anything yet." I said in frustration, running my hands through my hair once again.

I heard a ping and saw that my phone was blinking. It was somehow able to survive even after I'd slammed it against the wall earlier. I moved towards it and picked it up. There was a new text. A chill ran up my spine after reading it.

Nate must have sensed my stiff posture for he asked, "What is it?"

I turned to him, my body still tense.

"It seems that Eve's uncle Dylan died four months ago."

---

Alright, I'm sorry for another cliffhanger but I promise to give you an update real fast. I'm trying my best to complete this book soon so you guys are probably going to receive updates on every day or two! So stay tuned and keep commenting please?

Also, drop a vote if you like the chapter!