CHAPTER 021 ISADORAS POV 9:00AM Wasthereanyneedforthisstupidclock?IgrumbledasIslowlygotup,rubbingmyeyes.Thealarm wasmeanttowakemeupanhourago,butitfailedmiserably.I/stretchedmyarmsabovemyhead,feelingtheslightacheinmybackbeforedragging myselfoutofbedandintothebathroom.
Toiletflush.
Itookmytoothbrushandbeganmy morningroutine,brushinginslowcircularmotionswhilestaringatmyreflectionin themirror.Myhairwasamess,myskinlookedabitdullmaybebecauseIstayeduptoolatelastnight.Afterspittingoutthefoam,Irinsedmymouthandsplashedcoldwateronmyface,lettingoutasmallsigh.Steppingoutofthebathroom,Inoticedthatoneofmymaidshadalreadybroughtmyusualmorningorangejuicewith ginger,just asIrequestedeveryday.Igrabbedtheglass andtookasip,lettingthecoolcitrus flavorwake upmysenses.
Afterafewminutesofstretching,Ihoppedontomytreadmill,settingthespeedtoacomfortablewalkingpace.Myfeetmoved rhythmicallyasIstaredblanklyatthewallinfrontofme,mythoughtsdrifting.
Adrian.
Ihadntheardfrom him.
Iworkedoutforafullhour beforesteppingoffthetreadmill,slightlyoutofbreathbutsatisfied.Withoutwastingtime,Iheadedintothebathroomforashower.Thehotwaterrelaxedmymuscles,washingawaythesweat.Bythe timeIsteppedout,steamfilledtheroom.Iwrappeda towelaround mybodyandwalkedtowardmyvanitytable,toweldryingmy hairasIpickedupmyphone.
-1checkedmymessages.
StillnothingfromAdrian.
I frowned,tappingmyphoneagainstmypalm.Ihadsenthimamessageyesterday,yetthere wasnoresponse.Mypatiencewaswearingthin.
I tried callinghim.
Ring…Ring…Ring… Noanswer.
Successfullyunlocked! phuccessfullyun Inarrowedmyeyes, grippingmyphone tighter.avoiding mycalls again? Itossedmyphone ontothe table,frustrated.Sincethenightweslepttogether,hehadbeenacting distant,andIdidntlikeitonebit.
1/4 CHAPTER021 Ijusthopeyoudidntusemelikeasexdollthatnight,Imutteredtomyselfas Ipickedupmy comb,running itthroughmydamphair.Imnotsomethingthatpeopleuseanddispose of.

Iscoffed,shakingmyhead.IknowImagem.
SomepeoplemightthinkmyrelationshipwithAdrianistoxic,butIdontcare.Ivebeenthroughworsefarworsethanthis.
Asmalllaughescapedmylipsasoldmemoriessurfaced.
WhenIwasseven,mymotherconstantlycomparedmetoourneighborsdaughter.
Lookhowwellmanneredsheis.Lookathowgracefullyshecarriesherself.Youshouldlearnfromher! Thosewordstormentedme daily.
Backthen,Iwasatomboy.I lovedplayingbasketballandrunningaroundwithboys,andIdidntcareaboutdressesor makeup.Iwasrough,wild,andfullofenergy.IcanstillrememberthenumberofarmsInearlybrokeduringschoolfights.
Butmymotherhated it.
Shewantedmetobejustliketheneighborsdaughterpoised,delicate,obedient.
ButIrefused.Ilovedmyselffor whoIwas.
Thatwasuntiltheday shetoldmesheregrettedgivingbirthtome.
Ithinksomethinginmeshattered thatday.
Afterthat,Idideverythingtobecometheperfectdaughtershealwayswanted.Ichangedmydressingstyle,abandonedmy tomboyhabits,andlearnedpropermanners.WhenIturnedfifteen,Istartedexperimentingwithmakeupandbeautyroutines.Eventually,Iperfectedmyappearance.
Butfocusing onmyself,andmaking myselfthisbeautifulcamewithaprice,mygradesfromschoolandcollegewereallbad,butthat wasjustthebeginning.
BythetimeIwasinhighschool,Iwasthegirleveryguywanted.

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But Iwasntinterestedinanyofthem.
NotuntilthedayAdrianwalkedintomy life.
Irememberitsoclearly.Myparentsbusiness partnerswerecomingover,andImadesureIlookedmyabsolutebest.Iworemyfinestdress,andmybestshoes,andstyledmyhairperfectly.
ThenIsawhim.
Adriansatonthecouch,carelesslyscrollingthrough hisphone,lookingcompletelyuninterestedinhissurroundings.
Hedidnteven lookatme.
2/4 CHAPTER021 Andthatwaswhatdrewmetohim.
Hewasthefirstguywhodidnt fallatmyfeet.
Mrs.Westwoodtook alikingtomeimmediately,thinkingIwasawellmanneredyounglady.ButAdrian?Hebarelyacknowledgedmyexistence.AdrianandhismomstartedcomingquiteoftenandAdriandidntspeaktomeuntilhismomofficiallyintroduced us Littlebylittle,westartedtalking.
Ithoughtwehadaconnection.
Iwassurehefeltthesameway.
Theneverythingchanged.
TheworstdayofmylifehappenedwhenAdriansparentsdiedandasmyparentsbiggestinvestorsourcompanyslowlybegantocrumble.
Wewerentleavingthelavishlifestylewe onceusedtolive,thingsweregettingtight.

Thatwaswhenmymother cameup with abrilliantidea.
MarryAdrian.
IfImarriedAdrian,hecouldtakecareofour family.Hehadthewealth,thepower,thename.AndIlikedhim.
AndIwascertainhelikedme,too.
So,onthedayIplannedtoconfessmy feelingstohim,Igothitwiththemostpainfulbetrayalof mylife.
Adrianwasgettingmarried.
TothatslimydognamedOlivia.
IstillrememberhowmanybottlesofwhiskeyIdownedthatnight,tryingtodrowntheunbearablestingofheartbreak.
Tneversawitcoming.
How?Why? Hegavemeallthesigns.Hewantedme.Thensuddenly,hemarriedanotherwoman.
Itdidntmakesense.
Maybe Oliviausedsome kindoftrick.Maybeshemanipulated him.Maybeshewasholdinghimdowninthat,marriagewithsomething.
ButIwasntgoingtogiveuponhim.Irefusedtogiveuponhim.Ididntcareifhewasmarried.I didntcarehow longittakes.
Iwasgoingto haveAdrian, 3/4