Chapter 5
Adrian’s eyes were unreadable. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but I was out of options.
“I can help you steal those contracts from Ethan. I’ll work myself to death for you if I have to.”
“Just promise me you’ll return what belonged to Morrison Industries, and I’ll do whatever you need.”
I stared at Adrian desperately, terrified he’d let me down too.
Right now, he was basically my only shot.
The silence stretched on forever. Finally, he slowly nodded.
“Deal. We’re partners.”
I couldn’t waste another second. After leaving the hospital, I went back to our apartment.
I shredded every photo of us and burned everything that reminded me of him.
I grabbed my stuff and left the miscarriage report right on his pillow where he’d see it.
Then I called a reporter. Promised them the scoop of a lifetime about Cross Industries.
I was in Adrian’s car heading to the news station when Ethan called.
He sounded all cheerful.
“Babe, I missed you. Wait at home for me-brought you those pastries you love.”
I laughed, but it came out hollow.
“Let me guess-you bought them for someone else first?”
He paused, then sighed like I was being difficult:
“Someone said they were good, so I grabbed you some. Why would you think that about me?”
I let out a long breath.
“Ethan, you forgot. I’m allergic to chestnuts.”
“But thanks anyway. I got you something too – left it on the table. Don’t wait up. Turn on the news. You’ll see me soon enough.”
Less than eight hours since Emma’s big debut, and the reporters were still running on pure caffeine.
But when they saw the massive stack of “Heart of True Love” sketches I was holding, everyone suddenly got their second wind.
A basic fashion show might trend for a day, but cheating and plagiarism? That’s front-page gold.
Staring straight into the live camera, I laid it all out. Four years of blood, sweat, and tears on this one piece. Every sketch, every late-night revision, every tiny detail that made it mine.
Including the little lightning bolt hidden on the back clasp.
My signature. A reminder of the night I met my soulmate.
Ethan and I didn’t meet after my parents died. We first crossed paths when I was fourteen, during a lightning storm.
Seems like all my most intense memories with him happened in the rain. I’ll never forget how terrifying that lightning was that night. But maybe that’s what made his arrival feel so magical.
It was during a family trip to visit some old graves. I accidentally got separated from my parents. Found myself alone on this empty
cliff as dark clouds rolled in.
Rain and thunder crashed together like demons screaming. I was running around terrified, then stepped wrong and went over the edge. My body twisted and fell like a broken rag doll.
I don’t remember when I passed out – everything was a blur. All I know is someone found me and carried me out of there.
“Am I dead?” I mumbled.
His voice was so soft: “Not yet.”
I caught flashes of his face through the fog.
“What’s your name?”
“Ethan Cross.”
That moment stuck with me for years.
That’s why I stayed through all his bullshit. Every time he hurt me, I made excuses. His family’s probably making him do this. He’s under pressure. He needs the Whitmore money.
I wasn’t blind to the changes. Ever since Emma came back from Europe, Ethan’s been somewhere else mentally. I could feel it.
That’s why I was so desperate to have his baby. When I found out it was twins, I couldn’t wait to tell him.
I refused to believe he’d stopped loving me. I thought maybe a baby would change his parents’ minds. Maybe we’d finally have a real shot together.
Those two tiny heartbeats became everything to me.
Until I heard what he really thought.
All my dreams shattered when reality hit.
#
Now I’m sitting here on live TV, explaining every detail of my design while dissecting those memories and throwing them away.
I kept my voice flat:
“It might not be ‘spectacular,’ but it’s mine. I created every piece of it.”
O
“If Emma can do better, I’d love to see it. But stolen work will never belong to her.”
Camera flashes were going off like crazy, almost blinding me.
My phone kept buzzing. I kept ignoring it, too.
I turned to look at Adrian and forced out a smile.
“I must look like a complete mess right now.”
Adrian shook his head and gave me a small smile back.
