Chapter 3

• Ava sat on the bathroom floor, her body wracked with sobs. She felt like her world had been shattered into a million pieces. The pain was suffocating, making it hard to breathe.
• Adrian walked into their bedroom, the memories of their happiness just hours ago still fresh in his mind. He had held Ava close, kissed her tenderly, and whispered sweet nothings in her ear. But now, everything had changed. The bed, once a sanctuary of love and intimacy, now felt empty and cold.
• Adrian's face twisted in anguish as he thought about Ava choosing her sister over him. He felt betrayed, hurt, and angry. He dialed Ava's number, his hands shaking with rage.
• "Ava, why are you doing this?" Adrian's voice was laced with desperation. "Why are you tearing us apart?"
• Ava's voice was barely above a whisper. "Why are you spoiling everything? Luke has made a mistake, and he should be punished for it."
• Adrian's anger boiled over. "He hasn't done anything! You're just blinded by your loyalty to your sister. You've chosen her over me, over us."
• Ava's voice was firm. "She's my family, my responsibility. You're supporting the wrong person."
• Adrian's words were laced with venom. "Why don't you understand? My brother is innocent. You're just being stubborn and selfish."
• Ava's voice didn't waver. "My decision won't change. I believe my sister."
• Adrian's threat hung in the air. "Then be prepared. You'll pay a heavy price for it. Because I also believe my brother, and I won't back down."
• Ava's words were a dagger to Adrian's heart. "I regret that I loved you," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
• Adrian's anger exploded. He angrily threw his phone across the room, the sound of shattering glass echoing through the silence. He felt like he was losing control, like his world was crumbling around him.
• Ava's sobs intensified. She felt like she was losing everything—her relationship, her trust, and her sense of security. She cried until she had no tears left, her body exhausted, her heart broken.
• The silence between them was deafening, a chasm that seemed impossible to bridge. Both Ava and Adrian were lost in their own pain, unsure of how to find their way back to each other. The memories of their happiness just hours ago seemed like a distant dream, a reminder of what they had lost.
• ****
• Adrian walked into the dimly lit bar, the sounds of clinking glasses and muted conversations enveloping him. He took a seat at the counter, his eyes scanning the rows of bottles behind the bartender.
• "What can I get you?" the bartender asked in a gruff but friendly tone.
• "Something strong," Adrian replied, his voice low and rough. "Something that'll make me forget."
• The bartender raised an eyebrow. "You look like you've had a long day. Whiskey okay?"
• Adrian nodded, and the bartender poured him a generous shot of amber liquid. "That's a Lagavulin 16. Peat-forward, with a smooth finish. It'll knock you off your feet if you're not used to it."
• Adrian tossed back the shot, feeling the burn all the way down. "Another," he said, his voice hoarse.
• The bartender poured him another shot. "Are you sure you're okay, buddy? You look like you're carrying the weight of the world."
• Adrian laughed harshly. "Just a bad breakup. Thought she was the one."
• The bartender nodded sympathetically. "Women, huh? They'll drive you crazy, but we love 'em for it, right?"
• Adrian smiled wryly. "Yeah, something like that."
• The bartender poured him another shot. "On the house. You look like you need it."
• Adrian nodded his thanks, feeling the liquor slowly numbing his pain. He sat there, lost in his thoughts, the sounds of the bar fading into the background.
• The strobe lights of the club painted the nightclub in a kaleidoscope of colors, the rhythmic bass line thumping through Adrian's chest. He'd had too much to drink, the whiskey burning a path down his throat with each swig. His mind swirled with anger and confusion, his thoughts jumbled and incoherent. He'd come here to forget, to drown out the accusations that had been thrown at his brother earlier that evening.
• A soft voice pierced the sound of music and laughter. "Are you okay?" A woman's concerned tone, but Adrian was too lost in his own world to respond. He stumbled, his legs unsteady beneath him, as he made his way toward the exit, the fresh air beckoning him like a siren's call.
• As if sensing his impending fall, a gentle hand wrapped around his bicep, steadying him. He glanced down, his vision blurry, to find a pair of warm eyes looking up at him. She was a stranger, her smile reassuring as she offered her help. Adrian's instinct was to brush her off, to tell her that he didn't need anyone, that he could handle his own demons. But his legs had other ideas, threatening to give way beneath him.
• With a grunt, he leaned into her, allowing her to bear his weight as they moved through the crowd. The scent of her perfume, a sweet floral bouquet, invaded his senses, momentarily distracting him from the tumult in his mind. He mumbled a half-hearted thanks, his eyes still searching for the exit sign.
• Once outside, the cool air slapped him in the face like a wet towel, and Adrian took a deep, staggering breath, his eyes finally focusing on the woman who had saved him from embarrassment. She was petite, with honey-colored hair that cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her smile was genuine, her eyes filled with a warmth that seemed to melt the ice that had formed around his heart.
• "Thank you," he managed to say, his voice gruff with emotion.
• The woman's grip on his arm tightened, and she nodded. "You're welcome," she said, her voice like a melody. "Do you need me to take you home?"
• Adrian hesitated, his thoughts racing. He didn't know this woman, didn't know what her intentions were, but he knew that he couldn't drive in this state. He nodded, his pride momentarily overridden by his need for safety and escape.
• The walk to the car was a blur, the woman's gentle voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. She chatted lightly, keeping the conversation neutral, as if she could sense the turmoil swirling within him. When they reached the car, she opened the door and helped him in, her touch surprisingly firm and capable.
• As she climbed into the driver's seat, Adrian felt a pang of guilt for allowing a stranger to see him in such a state. But there was something about her that made him feel safe, something that whispered through the fog of his intoxication that she wasn't a threat. He leaned his head against the cool leather and closed his eyes, the gentle hum of the engine lulling him into a restless slumber, the weight of his world temporarily lifted by her kindness.
• The drive to Adrian's mansion was a blur of lights and sounds, but he felt the woman's eyes on him, studying him with a mix of concern and curiosity. When the car finally pulled to a stop, the silence was deafening. He fumbled for his keys, his hand trembling slightly, and she took them from him, her touch gentle.
• "Let me help you," she said, her voice a soft caress.
• Adrian nodded, too drained to argue. Together, they stumbled to the front door, her arm around his waist, holding him up as if he were made of glass. With her help, he managed to get inside, the opulent surroundings doing nothing to alleviate the heaviness in his chest.
• He turned to her, his eyes searching hers for a moment, trying to find some semblance of understanding. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with unshed tears.
• The woman's smile was sad, knowing. "You're welcome."