Chapter 6

Yulia's POV

After hanging up the phone, I was locked in the villa's storage room.

This was Chloe's idea.

She said I had caused her to fall down the stairs and must be punished by staying in this lightless, waterless storage room for two days.

Adrian agreed.

He carried Chloe and rushed to the hospital. Before leaving, he ordered the bodyguards to comply.

The storage room was dark and damp. I curled up in the corner, shivering from cold.

The door opened and light streamed in.

Chloe walked in and closed the door behind her. In the darkness, only the sound of her heels clicking on the floor remained.

She crouched down, grabbed my chin, and forced me to look up.

"Do you feel wronged?"

Before she finished speaking, a slap landed hard on my face.

A buzzing sound-the world went out of focus, sweetness exploded in my mouth.

The blow knocked me sideways to the ground, but she shook her hand as if disgusted.

"That slap was on behalf of Adrian."

She sneered and lifted her foot to grind down on the back of my hand. "Remember your place."

I lay on the ground dry heaving, unable to vomit anything, only physiological nausea and overwhelming despair.

Chloe looked at my miserable state with satisfaction and turned to leave.

The high fever and infected wounds gradually blurred my consciousness.

In my daze, I felt a pair of strong arms lift me up.

Someone gently wiped my face, applied medicine to my wounds, and gave me water and medication.

That person leaned by my ear and called my nickname in a tone I'd never heard before-heartbroken and regretful.

"Yulia... Yulia..."

I didn't dare open my eyes, afraid this was just a dream.

But I knew in my heart that person was Adrian.

In his heart, there was still a place for me.

Just then, Adrian's phone, left nearby, rang.

He walked to the side to answer. It was Chloe calling.

"Adrian, I think I'm pregnant! I haven't had my period for over a month. We finally have our own child!"

Chloe's voice was bright, breathless with excitement.

"I already picked out names. Adrian Jr. for a boy, Yulia Jr. for a girl. What do you think?"

Adrian Jr. Yulia Jr.

We'd chosen those names years ago, back when we were still in love and the future still felt ours.

This memory cut through me like poison.

Adrian was silent for a long time. Then, dazed, he answered. "Okay."

"I'll come to the hospital right away."

After hanging up, he turned and met my open eyes on the bed.

But he said nothing. He turned and walked out.

The door closed.

I slowly closed my eyes.

He had new hope, a new family, a new future.

And I could finally die. With nothing left to hold me here.