She wasn’t Wring
Adrian’s POV
Tears welled in her eyes. “Why are you yelling at me? Over something so small? Adrian–we just got engaged, and this is how you treat me?”
“She was just–just Selene,” she said, her voice rising. “She was nobody. Why can’t I throw away a nobody’s things? I’m your fiancée. I’m Mrs. Vale. Isn’t that what matters?”
I stared at her for a long, bitter second. “Nobody?” I said, the word like ash in my mouth. “Selene has done more for this family than most who carry its name. She is not a nobody to the Vales. Not now. Not ever. Do I make myself clear?”
Elara blinked rapidly, like she couldn’t quite process what I’d just said. Her voice came out thin, trembling at first–but she quickly found her edge.
“Adrian, you chose me. You told your father to get Selene out of the Vale casino entirely. So why are you throwing all of this on me now? Why are you acting like this is my fault?”
And she wasn’t wrong.
It was me. I had made the choice. I picked Elara. I was the one who stood before my father, pride stinging, and demanded Selene be removed–like she was just some burden I didn’t want to see anymore.
And yes–Elara humiliated Selene at our engagement party. But I was the one who gave her the power to do it.
I let her.
I turned to Elara. “Where did you throw her things?”
She blinked. Didn’t respond.
I stepped closer, voice cold. “I said–where the fuck did you put her things?”
Her lips trembled. “The recycling site. Near Retoup Road.”
That was all I needed to hear.
I turned, already halfway out the door–when I felt her hand on my arm Her grip was tight. Desperate.
“Elara-
“Adrian,” she whispered, her voice cracking as her eyes filled. “Are you really going to leave all of us here–just to go chase down Selene’s stuff? You told me you loved me. Is this how you love someone?”
Maybe once, I would’ve softened. Maybe a week ago. A day ago.
But now? After knowing the truth? All I felt when I looked at her… was disgust
I yanked my arm out of her grasp “Did I say I loved you? Yes. And you said you loved me, too. But tell me–was your version of love always this twisted? To lie to me? To use my past against me? To make me believe in something that never happened?”
A flicker of something passed through her eyes–shock, quilt, maybe both “I do love you!” she cried. “I would’ve done anything for your
“Yes, anything,” I said flatly “Except tell the damn truth
Her voice rose to a near scream “Don’t walk away from me, Adrian! I swear, if you leave now, I-*
“You’ll what?” I cut in my voice sharp as steel “Don’t forget, Elara–we’re not married. We’re engaged. You are not Mis Vale
yet. Don’t threaten me.”
She wasn’t Wring
+25 BONUS
She flinched.
I didn’t stop. “And if you think Selene is beneath you, let me remind you–at this point, you’re no better than her. In fact, you might be worse.”
Her knees gave out, and she dropped into her seat like her spine had vanished.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I’m sorry, Adrian. Mr. Vale. Mrs. Vale. I crossed a line…”
I didn’t even spare her a second glance as I turned and walked out the door.
All I could think was- If I hurry… if I’m lucky… maybe I can still get Selene’s things back.
C
By the time I reached the site, the worker had just begun loading the day’s recycling into the back of his truck.
Then I saw them- A few boxes, stained but intact, with the Vale casino crest faintly stamped on the sides.
“Hey!” I called out, striding toward him. “Those boxes–can I have them back? My assistant threw them out by mistake.”
I handed over a few crisp bills. He gave a nod, and I hauled the boxes out myself.
They looked clean enough on the outside. But when I opened one- The stench hit me first.
Someone had dumped trash inside. Deliberately. Banana peels. Coffee grounds. Crushed containers pressed into silk. A perfume bottle leaking onto photographs.
Her clothes. Selene’s things.
I fumbled through the mess, hands trembling as I pulled out soaked notebooks, ruined fabric.
And then–something delicate. A small, dust–smudged ballerina figurine.
My breath caught.
1 remembered this toy. It was the first gift I’d ever given her. A mechanical music box.
I hadn’t even known what to get her–but I’d seen it in a window, and something about the way the ballerina spun reminded
me of her.
And she’d kept it.
Until Elara threw it out with the rest of her.
My grip slipped. The ballerina slipped from my hands and hit the concrete.
Shatter
“No-”
I dropped to my knees, desperately trying to piece it back together.
The head had snapped off The base had cracked. Tiny pink limbs lay in jagged fragments across the pavement.
And then, among the wreckage, I saw it- A note. Folded small. Yellowed at the edges.
I picked it up It was in her handwriting I knew it instantly
I want to marry Adnan
Just that Sumple. Honest Pure
My throat closed. My vision blurred
Selene…
You did marry me. In our last life, you were miJDE
And 1 ruined it
I mistrusted the wrong person I harmed my back on the one who had always stood in front of me
In this life. I lost you Again.
But maybe, maybe that’s a kind of survey
Maybe you’re better efff. Maybe the loving me, not wasting your years on someone like me–maybe that was your escape
↑ your tendom
You deserved better. You always ifid
