Arabella felt her whole body go numb for a moment.

Maybe she'd read it wrong. Maybe.

She closed the note...then opened it again. But the words didn't change.

Adrian really wrote those words. She knew his handwriting well so there was no mistaking it.

Arabella tilted her head back, forcing herself to hold back the tears.

Maybe this was just another drunken mistake. After all, he had a lot to drink that night at the party.

But when she continued to open one page after another, her heart sank deeper into the bottom of her belly.

Adrian had kept a record of every flirty word he said to her...and then laughed it off as a joke.

Everytime he held her hand and felt butterflies in his stomach.

Every time his gaze lingered on her a little too long.

And every time he bought her gifts because they reminded him of how beautiful she was.

More tears pumped out of Arabella's eyes, as she realized it wasn't all just in her head.

The words that made her heart flutter, the touch that gave her butterflies...they were all deliberate.

She wasn't confusing things. Adrian was really seducing her...making her fall for him.

And when she did...he panicked and tried to create a distance.

He even knew the moment she realized she'd fallen for him. Something Arabella still wasn't sure of.

Arabella's memory replayed to the eve of her high school reunion party years ago when he interrupted a dance she was having with a male friend.

Adrian had noticed Arabella being uncomfortable and intervened at the perfect time...so perfect that Arabella wrapped her hands around him in what felt like the warmest hug ever.

It had caused quite a stare back then, but everyone knew how protective of her Adrian was, so they didn't talk about it.

Maybe it was the way her heart thudded louder than ever that gave away her feelings?

But somehow he knew right then and there she'd fallen for him.

Her tears dropped on the pages, each drop soaking the paper as her hands trembled by the edge.

She could still remember how he stopped coming home for the small holidays from his law school...and how he started to ignore her calls.

Arabella covered her mouth as a choked sob threatened to escape her.

"Serena asked why I call Arabella 'Petals.' I lied, said it's a sibling thing. Truth is, I've memorized every mark on her skin. She's my sister, for God's sake. I'm trying so hard to love the right person. I keep failing. I'm sick."

Just when she thought nothing more could surprise her, she opened to the next page. It was about their one-night stand.

He wasn't drunk that night.

"I told everyone I was too drunk to remember. Told Serena it meant nothing. Told myself it was a mistake. But I remember everything. Every sound she made. Every time she said my name. It was the best night of my life, and I let her think she seduced me. I'm a coward."

Arabella's hands shook.

He knew. He'd always known.

Arabella's throat clicked as she swallowed, the words blurring for a moment before she blinked them back into focus.

A hollow ache settled beneath her ribs, spreading slowly and cold as she read the last lines on the page, "I love Arabella, but dirty feelings will ruin my family."

"I can not disappoint my Father. I can't love. I will never love her...because I can't protect her. Serena will have to do."

Arabella let out a shaky exhale, the kind that sounded more like defeat than breath. "This...this is what he calls love?"

She let out a humourless laugh that did nothing to the sting as she wiped her face off.

There were still so many pages left to read. Probably about the pregnancy, the forced marriage and everything in between.

But she was done crying over an asshole like him. Now it was time to leave, so at least Axel could come back home.

Since he was adamant that she had to leave before he brought him back, there was no doubt he had someone keep an eye on her.

But before she dropped the book, she picked up a pen and scribbled something on the last page; words he'd find later, when it was too late to take back what he'd done.

As she dragged her small suitcase down the living room, she met Catherine sitting on her wheelchair in the center of the room.

When she reached her front, she stopped, looking at her with deep sadness, "As you might already know, I have finally divorced your son."

"I give up my child to fulfill your happy family fantasy."

Catherine scoffed, rolling her eyes. She'd already heard about the divorce so it wasn't news to her, "Don't think you're doing us a favour, Arabella. You owe us this."

"I took you in wholeheartedly, but as soon as you were old enough, you bit the hand that fed you. So don't play victim around me." she said, leaning back with a maddening smirk, "It's disgusting."

"I'm playing victim?" Arabella muttered, a laugh slipping out, sharp, disbelieving, entirely humorless. "So what do we call you who weaponize your immobility against me every single time?"

Catherine's brows creased with fury. Arabella was talking back now? How dare she.

"If you had just let Dad drive in peace...If you hadn't started arguing about HIS decision to change HIS will..." Arabella's voice broke as the memories of that night flashed in her face again.

The shouting. The arguments. The sudden break fail. The crash. Blood. Darkness.

"...maybe Dad would still be with us now."

She'd been in the back seat, silent, as Catherine railed against Victor's decision to change his will in Arabella's favor. The shouting escalated. Victor turned to respond.

He never saw the truck.

The impact through the driver's side killed him instantly. Arabella and Catherine survived.

And Catherine had spent five years making sure everyone believed it was Arabella's fault.

"You..." Catherine cut in sharply, but that was all she could do. She didn't have any words to counter her.

Ms. Shaw who was just walking into the living room thought to defend her boss, "How dare you speak to madam..."

Arabella shot her a cold glance, forcing her mouth shut, but she didn't have words for her. Didn't have time to waste on her.

She wiped off her tears, facing Catherine again, "Making me take the blame might have eased your guilt...but I've had enough. Now is your turn."

"Keep enjoying the attention and control you have over Adrian because of your condition, but stop making him hate Father, because we both know neither of you deserve him." She dragged her suitcase away.

Catherine's eyes were bloodshot, jaws clenched and fingers digging furiously into the iron railings of her chair.

Yet she had no words to defend herself.

Arabella suddenly stopped as she reached the doorway, looking back at the big mansion that held both her happiest and saddest memories.

Her gaze darted back to Catherine even as hot tears blurred her vision.

"As of today, I have paid my debt to this family for raising me."

Her voice broke even as she tried hard to hold back her pain, "I-I...might never understand why you suddenly hate me so much after all the love we shared in all those years."

"But..." she paused again, wiping off her tears, speaking more steadily this time, "I will come back. To take everything that belongs to me."

For once she could swear she saw tears in Catherine's eyes, but maybe it was just her blurred vision.

She turned away, restraining her tears with all her might as she walked out of the mansion. The one she once called home.

Arabella had to cover her mouth to hide her uncontrollable sobs as she walked along the pedestrian.

This is where it ends. The love. The hate. The pain. The guilt. The humiliations.

She looked back again, even though only the top balcony of their house was barely in view.

"I will come back for you Axel. I promise."

She pulled out her phone and began moving the money-splitting it across accounts Adrian couldn't access, accounts she'd set up before but didn't use.

$5 million. Her escape fund. Her revenge fund.

Her new beginning.

In her heartbreak, she had forgotten to book a cab and it was rare to find wandering cabs in such a high society area.

Luckily for her, a cab drove out of the estate, stopping before her. She didn't hesitate and entered.

"Oasis Hotel." She said as she pulled out her phone and started to make her reservation.

She planned to stay in the hotel for the night while she booked a ticket.

When she raised her head, she noticed the driver had passed the intersection leading to the hotel.

She looked back through the window to be sure before she spoke up, "Hey, I think you missed the lane.

No response.

Arabella adjusted to her seat and spoke again, "Hey Mister, is there another route you plan to follow?"

Still no response.

A cold dread washed through Arabella's body. But she didn't want to show it.

"Stop the car!" She ordered.

But the driver didn't.

"Stop the car or I will call the police." Arabella threatened.

Finally, the car slowly came to a halt.

Arabella attempted to step out of the car but it was on central lock.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?" Arabella panicked but the driver maintained his silence, searching for something in his pocket.

Arabella quickly dialed 911, threatening, "The police will..."

Her voice trailed off to a mumble as the driver suddenly turned, pressing a cloth to her face.

Arabella struggled, her mind going through the identity of her possible abductor. Adrian? Serena? Catherine?

Her mind scrambled for a reason until everything slowly went dark.

"Wake up." A tap on her cheek. Then another, harder.

Arabella's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar ceiling. White. Sterile. The thick smell of disinfectant burned her nose.

She tried to lift her hand to her face. It wouldn't move.

That's when she felt something biting into her wrists.

"W–what is this place? Who are you?" Arabella questioned, attempting to stand up, but again, she couldn't move her legs.

She looked down at herself, only then did she realize her legs and arms had been strapped on the table before her like some criminal in an interrogation room.

Her dress was gone as she was now wearing a plain white gown. Hospital gown.

Arabella panicked, "What's going on here? What do you want from me?"

The lady who was standing before her-middle-aged, tired eyes, nurse's uniform-sighed, running her hand through Arabella's hair gently, "You are so beautiful, I wonder what drove you crazy."

Arabella angrily moved away her head, her heart thumping wildly in her chest as fear crept into the depth of her soul, "What is this place? Who the hell hired you to do this? Adrian?"

"This is the Havenbrook Psychiatric Hospital, Ms..." The nurse paused looking at the name written on the form in her hand, "Ms. Elena, You've been admitted here." The Nurse explained slowly like she was talking to a child, "I am Nala, your personal nurse and I am here to assess your current condition."

Arabella's eyes widened in disbelief, "Elena? Who the hell is that? I am Arabella. Arabella Sterl..." She paused, realizing she had no relationship with that name now, but the nurse mistook it for memory shortage.

"I understand Elena. We've been told you have a memory issue and keep taking on people's identity. But don't worry, we are you to reset your memory." Nala said with an evil smirk dancing on her lips.

Arabella's lips trembled as she realized she was doomed, but she tried to compose herself. This was a mental hospital, so every aggression she showed could be confused for a mental problem. The best option she had at the moment was to borrow the Sterling one last time.

"Nala, I promise you I am not crazy. I am Arabella Sterling. Daughter of the Sterling Law Group. You can check it online."

Even though they had long dissolved her adoption, it was never made public so that detail was still somewhere on the internet. Or so she thought.

Nala raised a brow, her eyes drifting between the file in her hand and Arabella's face.

Arabella's heart thudded violently, as she hoped Nala would give her the benefit of doubt and just check the internet.

"First you claim to be the mother of his child, and now his sister?" She sighed, shaking her head. Nala made a note on her chart. "Honestly, does it look like I care? As long as she pays me well, I will tolerate your gibberish forever."

Arabella's heart sank as hot tears rushed up her eyes, "She? W-who is she?"

Nala looked at the file again, then replied, "Your sister."

Arabella let out a humorless chuckle as more tears poured, "I have a sister now?"

"Don't tell me you've forgotten me, sweet little sister?" Serena's voice echoed from the door as she walked into the room, heels clicking the floor loudly.

"You?" Arabella gasped, eyes widened in disbelief.

Serena glanced at the nurse and commanded, "Excuse us."

Nala attempted to leave but Arabella yelled loudly, "Please just check the internet. You will see it."

Serena smirked, pulling out her phone showing off the screen, "You mean this internet?"

On it was an article that had been issued the previous day.

The title clearly read, "The Sterling Family has no daughter."

Arabella's fist clenched so hard her knuckles turned white. It's barely 24 hours since the divorce and Adrian couldn't wait to publicly get rid of her?

Nala left while Serena pulled a chair and sat just meters away from Arabella.

"You know ever since I called you crazy, I've always wanted to see how this white gown would look on you." Serena started, admiring her freshly made acrylic nails nonchalantly, "I won't lie though, you make anything look beautiful."

Arabella screamed at the top of her lungs, the veins of her neck throbbing as she lunged at her. But the strong chains held her back. "I have divorced him now, haven't I? You've taken everything. What more do you want from me?"

The corner of Serena's lips curled up in a disdainful smirk, shrugging her shoulders, "Everything?"

"Can you ever give back everything you owe me?"

Arabella's brows creased in confusion. She tried to look back into their past when they were kids. Nothing.

Aside from Adrian, she's never taken or even attempted to take anything from her.

Hot tears streamed down her eyes as she stared at her, Serena's smile making her skin burn as she cried, "What did I ever do to you?"

Serena chuckled loudly but she didn't look satisfied...didn't even look like someone that just won everything.

"As for your son..."

"Don't you dare touch my son, you psycho!" Arabella roared, bouncing on her seat, barely able to contain her anger.

Despite the restraint on her movement, Arabella shook so hard, her chair moved closer, startling Serena for a heartbeat, "If you touch a single hair on his head, I will kill you!"

Serena tried to hide the chill that ran down her spine with Arabella's threat, as she stylishly pulled her chair back, trying to bring back her composure.

"Don't worry about Axel. I will treat him well, after all, I don't plan on having a kid of my own." She reassured her.

Arabella swallowed hard, dropping her gaze as she tried to regain the strength she'd exhausted. Her fingers trembled, blood smearing the place where her skin met the restraints.

"Please...please let me go." Arabella begged, how voice was weak. Defeated. "I will never show up again."

That boosted Serena's ego, her confidence returning fast, her smile running wide, "Don't worry. I already made sure of that."

"That's why I changed your name? Even if anyone remembers you, they will never be able to find you, just like your mother..." Serena caught herself a little too late.

Arabella's eyes widened, a chill running down her spine, "M–my mother? How do you know about my mother?"

For all she knew, her birth mother died in prison. At least that was what Victor could uncover before his sudden death.

Serena bit the inside of her lips, avoiding a direct glance at Arabella as she picked her purse ready to leave. "You don't have the luxury to worry about anyone."

Just then the door creaked open and the head psychiatrist of the hospital, Dr. Sebastian walked in, with Nala behind him.

"Ms. Smith, I rushed over as soon as I heard you came by yourself." Dr. Sebastian greeted.

Serena took in a deep breath as she rose, giving one last disdainful look at Arabella before turning to face them.

"Torture her until she actually loses her mind. Then I will have my father give a huge donation to your hospital." She instructed, striding towards the door.

"Thanks, thank you, Ms. Smith." Dr. Sebastian replied, years of corruption etched in his brows.

Just as Serena reached for the door, Arabella managed to speak, "Serena, can you at least tell me what I ever did to offend you?"

Serena's hand hovered over the doorknob for a while, then she turned back walking towards Arabella.

When she was close enough, she leaned in, whispering into her ear with a smile, "If I tell you, I will have to kill you."

"But I don't want you to die just yet."

She strode away, her laughter echoing around the room long after she left, every sound, piercing Arabella's broken heart.

Adrian woke up with a splitting headache as he rubbed his palm through his face before slowly opening his eyes.

He lay awake on the bed in the private bedroom within his office.

Bottles of booze lay on the floor by the bed as he had spent the past two days since Arabella left getting drunk and just being utterly miserable.

"Mr. Sterling." Gavin's voice came through the door. "The fraud case meeting is early tomorrow. You still haven't touched the files."

Adrian groaned, sitting up. "I'll handle it overnight."

He stretched his aching muscles, even though he'd barely done any strenuous work to get him so tired.

It felt like his mind was in a fog as he couldn't tell what was weighing him down.

Maybe he missed her?

He scoffed at the idea, dismissing it as fast as it came.

But when his phone buzzed and he picked it up, he realized the last thing he was staring at before he dozed off was an old picture of Arabella.

"Fuck!" He groaned.

As much as he hated it, he found himself staring at the picture a little too long again.

It was the picture he'd taken of her on her college graduation day.

Her smile was bright, open. She looked so young there, sunlight catching in her hair, joy radiating from her face...a smile that had slowly disappeared from her face over the years.

It shouldn't have surprised him to see how much of her brightness had dimmed over the years, but somehow it did.

As if he could pretend he didn't know what he did to drain the light from her eyes...what he did to tighten her smile into something cautious, then erased it altogether.

He suddenly slipped the phone into his pocket, inhaling sharply as he forced himself not to think too deeply into how he treated her over the years.

He wasn't looking for redemption. In fact he did everything just to make her leave. Forever.

But now that she was gone, why did it suddenly hurt?

He stood up and walked towards the large window overlooking the city from the 4th floor.

"You better live a good life, Petals." He mumbled partially to himself and partially to the wind that blew a lone tear down his cheek.

His phone buzzed again in his pocket, jolting him back as he quickly wiped off the tear and reached for it.

Another missed call from Serena among several other notifications.

He typed a short text, "Let's talk in the office tomorrow. I have an important case to prepare for. Take care of Axel."

He made to clear the notification bar, but something caught her attention.

An "Important" email from an unfamiliar sender.

The name caught his attention and he eventually opened it.

The email was brief, straightforward.

***

Hi,

This is an urgent reminder that the contents of your vault at EverGuard Secure Storage are scheduled for release. Please collect your items before 11:59 PM today, or arrange payment for an extension to avoid the items being discarded.

Thank you for your immediate attention.

Best regards...

***

He arched a brow in confusion because he'd never used the company's services before.

Surprisingly, this wasn't their first email.

When he checked the CC, he realized the message was forwarded to both him and his father.

His hands tightened around his phone as he realized his father might have included his email in the contact info.

He checked his phone.

6:30pm.

He sucked in a deep breath as he walked out of the bedroom to start reviewing his case file.

But as the hour went by, he couldn't stop himself from thinking about the email.

"What could be in the safe?" his mind constantly questioned.

When he checked the time again, 8:47pm. Less than four hours before the deadline.

He grabbed his jacket and car key, giving into his curiosity as he drove off.

When he arrived at the office, he was made to fill a few paperworks and a small fee before they handed over the key to him.

"Let us know if you wish for an extension," The vault operator said as she walked away after showing Adrian to the vault.

Adrian was hesitant, taking a few seconds to brace himself.

His relationship with his father had strained ever since the news of Arabella's pregnancy.

He felt like he was a disappointment. A sick perv who preyed on his own 'sister.'

And when his father forced the marriage, he thought it was just damage control. After all, his Dad cherished the family name a lot.

He stopped looking into his Dad's eyes since then...avoided him even.

And suddenly he was dead. Adrian felt guilty.

He needed closure. And maybe this was it.

Eventually, he opened the vault.

A bunch of files laid tired inside the vault. It'd been years, but they looked neat and perfectly in good shape.

Adrian's hand trembled around the edges of the paper as he held them.

'What are these?'

He wasn't sure what he was going to find, but he braced himself for disappointment.

He sat up on the floor to support his numb legs, his back relaxing on the vault as he finally opened the file.

By the third page, hot tears were already blurring his vision.

Inside the file were detailed documents on a secret case his Dad has been working on.

The Wrongful Arrest of Isabella Greene.

Arabella's real mother.

His heart thudded wildly in his chest.

All the secret meetings with Arabella, the lengthy phone calls, the hushed conversation that made his mom believe Arabella had been scheming for the company shares were nothing but innocent case readings?

His Dad was just trying to find her family?

When he got to the last page, it was Arabella's adoption nullification papers.

The date...Adrian's eyes widened.

His Dad had actually nullified her adoption three months before the one night stand? Before his secret feeling even became public debate. Why?

A note fell and with much hesitation, he picked it up reading through it.

***

Damn! I died before I could discuss this with you?

***

As he read the first line, a lone tear trickled down his eyes.

This line alone meant he was anticipating his death. But why? Could it not be a simple accident as they had always thought? Or was it just instinct?

***

I must have been a terrible father not to notice how you look at her. I saw your diary, son. You're not sick. I'd say you're brave even. Loving someone 'forbidden' is never easy. I'm sorry for making you feel that way. So I have nullified her adoption. She's not your sister anymore.

I just feel horrible that you don't find me worthy enough to open up to. You used to tell me everything. How did we become like this?

That aside, can you do me a favour? Look into this case file. It might lead to a dead end, but that innocent girl deserves to know her family if they are still alive.

Just be discreet. The people behind this case might be more dangerous than I anticipated.

Promise me you will protect her at all costs, but drop the case if it gets too risky.

No matter what, you will always be my son. I love you.

***

Adrian curled into his fetal position, each line hitting with the slow, sick weight of a punch he never saw coming.

It should have felt like relief-proof that he wasn't a disappointment to his father.

But all Adrian felt was pain. A raw, twisting ache that settled under his ribs, refusing to loosen.

For over five years, he'd hurt Arabella for his own guilt. Covered it up by calling her a gold digger. And now even tore an innocent mother and child apart just to hide his own shame.

And now his father just told him he wasn't wrong for loving her.

The guilt was instant and suffocating. He'd let his father down horribly.

But maybe he still had a chance. To redeem himself. To get Arabella back. To create their happy family. The one his father always envisioned.

He hurriedly grabbed his phone and dialed Gavin's number.

It rang once. Twice.

"Find Arabella." His voice shook but his resolve was firm. "I don't care what it takes. Find her. NOW."