Chapter 3

Isabella remained by the roadside. Though her eyes were red and swollen, she could no longer shed a single tear. Suddenly, a group of thugs staggered over. "Hey, miss. Why are you crying all alone here? Did your boyfriend dump you?" The others snickered along. "Yeah. You cried so sadly. Let us play with you. We promise we'll cheer you up." They surrounded Isabella, grabbing her arms to drag her away. Inside the car, Adrian suddenly slammed on the brakes. Samantha asked curiously, "Do you know that woman?" Annoyance and a pang of heartache warred in his eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he replied in a low voice, "No." With that, he resumed driving. But as he passed Isabella, his gaze met her red-rimmed eyes. The instant their eyes met, Isabella's heart skipped a beat. She watched helplessly as Adrian drove away, her heart sinking with a pain that made her feel almost paralyzed. But she had no time to dwell on it because the thugs were already pulling her into the depths of the woods. She struggled desperately and screamed for help, only to be met with a vicious slap across her face. Blood instantly trickled from the corner of her mouth. Her vision swam with black spots, and she collapsed to the ground. The thugs weren't finished as they dragged Isabella deeper into the forest. The skin on her exposed arms and legs was scraped raw by sharp stones, leaving a trail of shocking bloodstains on the ground. While enduring the excruciating pain, Isabella searched frantically for anything she could use as a weapon. Finally, her fingers closed around a rock. As one thug leaned over her, she smashed it into his head, leaving a bloody gash. But she was alone. Even with a weapon, how could she possibly overpower several grown men? Soon, Isabella's strength gave out. The thug she'd injured picked up a rock and hurled it at her. Blood streamed down her forehead, clouding her vision. The last thing she heard before losing consciousness was the sound of fabric tearing. When she woke up, she was staring at the familiar ceiling of her bedroom. Seeing her awake, Adrian, who had kept vigil by her bedside all night, immediately grasped her hand. "Babe, you're finally awake. Thank goodness I got there in time. Are you hurt anywhere else?" Her scattered gaze slowly focused. Isabella blinked with effort, her eyes meeting Adrian's worried ones. Her heart and nose ached, and tears instantly welled up. "Adrian, shouldn't you explain yourself?" She bit her lip, her voice emerging hoarse and ragged. Meeting her accusing gaze, Adrian pressed his lips into a thin line, his eyes dark and unfathomable. "You should understand the gap between us. As the heir to the Sterling family, I could never marry a wife with no status or background. "Samantha is the Monroe family heiress. I need to marry her, but that doesn't mean I intend to end things with you. Don't worry. I won't let her find out about you." Looking into his serious gaze, Isabella was momentarily stunned. Fighting the pain in her throat, she asked persistently, "Then, what am I to you? Your mistress?" Even though she had already decided to leave, she needed to hear it from him. "Labels don't apply to what we have, babe. You just need to know that I love you," Adrian said gently, reaching out to stroke her cheek. Isabella turned her head away. Hearing that, she felt like she was pulled down by a huge boulder. She turned back to him and said flatly, "I don't want to be someone else's 'mistress.' So, let's end this." Adrian's expression instantly hardened, his gaze turning sharp. He pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Don't make a big deal out of this. I've already said that even if I get married, it won't affect what we have." His tone was casual, his expression mild, yet the possessiveness in his eyes burned more intensely than ever. Seeing the stubborn defiance in her eyes, Adrian raised an eyebrow with a captivating grin. "It seems you're not ready to accept reality yet, babe. In that case, I'll just have to persuade you the old-fashioned way…" With a click, he pulled off his belt and tossed it aside. Realizing his intent, Isabella struggled wildly, but he easily pinned her wrists. No matter how she fought, it was useless. "Get off me!" "Stop struggling, babe. I don't want to hurt you." With that, he lowered his head, his lips capturing hers in a deceptively gentle kiss. "Don't leave me…" Adrian whispered in her ear, his voice laced with a sickly possessiveness. The sound of tearing fabric filled the room. Isabella closed her eyes in agony.