

 

Adrian

I blink at my phone screen, mouth hanging open as Stella’s name flickers into darkness. Stella has never hung up on me before. I scoff and look around in disbelief before turning back to the screen.

Go find someone else with your money.

Stella’s words repeat on an endless loop inside my mind. Why is she acting like she didn’t marry me for my money? What happened to the gold digger I used to know?

Has she somehow decided that the money I have given her is enough? Or did she find someone else to provide that luxury for her?

My stomach falls, face suddenly feeling heavy. The car Stella got in earlier was a luxury SUV. I recognized the car’s logo in a heartbeat, knowing that it is one of the most expensive brands to buy from.

For the past five years, Stella has remained at home or in the hospital. She doesn’t have a social circle to rely on nor does she have anywhere else t



Third-Person POV

Clara’s blue eyes connect with a woman that stands behind her. The woman is dressed in an extravagant gown, one that makes Clara’s look cheap and poorly made. It’s a deep red color and it compliments her skin tone and slender figure.

Behind her stands five men in all black suits. Their masks reveal parts of their face but underneath them, it is alarmingly clear that the five men are devilishly handsome.

Stella’s hazel eyes stare at Clara from behind her mask with a look of distaste. By changing her return ball into a masquerade, she is able to keep her identity a secret from those who know her and from the people who don’t. She looks Clara up and down, shifting her weight to her back foot.

Clara’s face goes red, matching the shade of her ruby lipstick. She turns her gaze away, the champagne glass tilting in her hand. She scans the nearby area and notices Adrian sta



 

Adrian



My feet hesitate when I hear the low hum of the engine. I can’t tear my gaze away from Stella’s shaded appearance in the window. She doesn’t meet my gaze as the car drives by me.

Did Stella actually defy me? She always listened to me in the past, what changed?

I snatch my phone from my pocket and take a picture of the car’s license plate before it turns around the corner, disappearing from my sight. Quickly dialing a number, I press my phone to my ear, unable to look away from where the car was last seen.

“I have a license plate number I need you to investigate for me,” I snarl into the phone right when they answer.

“Yes sir. Please text the license plate number to the phone number you called and I will get on it immediately,” the person on the other end of the line readily agrees. I hum in response and end the call, sending the photo over without another word.

I slowly walk back to my car, staring at Stella’s name in the messaging app. Her name burns into my eyes. It mocks and taunts me.

I open up Stella and I’s messages. Scrolling through the chat, I look at all of the messages her sent me. Was her kindness all one big front?

My thumbs hover over the screen. They twitch, ready to type in a message to tell her to come back to me but I’m unable to push any of the buttons. Anxiety and pride chew at the back of my brain, slowly pushing me over the edge.

I can’t text her first. It’s bad timing and I’m too on edge to say anything rational to her.

Minutes pass. The car remains parked in the parking lot. I watch people move in and out of the hospital, waiting for a message back from the investigator.

My phone vibrates in my lap. I immediately bring the phone to my ear, grunting as a greeting.

“You fucking set me up with the plate number! Don’t contact me for a job ever again!” The investigator yells over the phone. I open my mouth to respond but he ends the call.

Pulling it away from my face, I text his number but the text messages don’t go through. A red exclamation point sits beside my messages.

Did he block me?

I groan, irritation warming my chest. I slam my fists into the steering wheel and look to the street where Stella disappeared, shaking my head.

Who did Stella leave with? What has she gotten herself involved in?



Stella

Sebastian looks outside the car window, his eyes narrowed on Adrian’s growing body. He shifts to open the door but I place a hand on his shoulder.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“I’m going to teach him a lesson,” Sebastian growls. I pull him back into the seat and shake my head.

“It’s just an argument between husband and wife. Please don’t stir up trouble,” I breathe out.

His eyes darken, a flicker of ice flashing across his eyes. We sit there for a few moments. He slowly nods and turns back to the steering wheel, knuckles white.

I turn and look at my brothers who sit in the back of the car. I study their faces, memorizing the details that the television wasn’t able to capture.

Behind me sits Silas, Luca, Matteo, and Dominic. Sebastian, the third eldest, sits behind the wheel. All are the biological sons of the Obsidian Pact Godfather while Sebastian is the only adopted one. He’s the strongest candidate to take over the mafia leadership when our father passes.

“Let us buy you gifts for coming home, Stella,” Dominic calls.

“Yes! You deserve nothing but the best,” Luca adds.

“It’s okay! I’m happy to return to my family,” my eyes gloss over and tears threaten to fall from my eyes.

They stare at me with sorrowful eyes and regret written all over their faces. It pains me to see them like this.

“If we were around when you were younger, you wouldn’t have been taken from us. We could have saved you from all of the suffering you went through,” Matteo says.

“You can wish for anything you want, Stella. If you want the moon, we’ll get it for you.”

My wish? It would be to go back to the old days where I worked with them as hacker. The love I felt from them then will make me feel whole again.

“I want to return as a hacker,” my words surprise them at first but they all nod, agreeing to my wish.

Determination strengthens my body. I can’t let Clara and her parents win by having me sign Adrian and I’s divorce papers but I also can’t rely on his money anymore. I have to support myself through my hacking skills.

I can’t accept any money from my brothers either. All I want from them is to be a family again. I thought Adrian would be able to give that to me but I have never been more wrong.

“How about we host a ball to announce your return?” Sebastian piques my interest. “We can announce that our princess has returned to us. Anyone who tries to go against you goes against us and the rest of the Obsidian Pact.”

My brothers all lean in, nodding as I wade through the hesitation in my mind. My face scrunches up, eventually nodding after a few seconds of contemplation.

The car stops in front of a mansion. Outside the house stands and older couple. I get out of the car and the woman immediately rushes to me.

“Stella? Is that you?” She gushes, pulling me into her arms. I instinctively wrap my arms around her, warmth and unease spreading throughout my chest.

This is vastly different from my life with my adopted family. Can I trust it?

“Our daughter has returned!” The man smiles down at me, pulling us into a hug. My five brothers attach themselves, engulfing me in a tight embrace.

A laugh flies from my lips as they welcome me home. The woman, who is my biological mother, walks me inside, holding my hand. We go up the stairs as my father tells the boys to go do their jobs.

“We’ve been waiting for you for a long time,” my mother smiles. She guides me down a hallway and opens up a door. “Go inside and rest. You must have had a long day.”

“Thank you,” I nod and smile at her, giving her one last hug before she leaves.

I close the door behind her and sit on the nicely made bed. I grab my phone from my pocket. The Lock Screen is filled with numerous missed calls and messages from Adrian. He’s…never done this before, it’s shocking.

His name flashes on my screen, my phone vibrating from his call. My heart skips a beat. I press the green button and bring the phone to my ear, biting my bottom lip.

“Stella? Who did you leave with?!” Adrian’s voice is sharp, angry.

“It has nothing to do with you,” I shoot back, voice cold. “What do you want?”

“Come home immediately. You need to rest after your surgery.”

Adrian’s words surprise me. Is he actually showing concern for me?

“In a few days, I need you to accompany me to an important banquet. Your complexion can’t be pale.”

There it is. There’s the Adrian I know.

I remain silent, not interested in the way he treats me.

“The banquet will be held on Saturday. I’ll send the details soon.”

“I can’t go. I have plans.”

“I’ll pay you to go with me,” Adrian remains stern.

“Go find someone else with your money,” I hang up the call.

There’s a knock at the door. A person with a clipboard enters the room. We smile at each other as they approach.

“I’m in charge of organizing your ball! I was wondering if there was any place in particular that you would like it to be held at?” They ask, prepping their pen in their hand.

“I would like it to be held at the Belova Hotel on Saturday please.”

“The Belova Hotel? But that place is below your status!”

“I think it will be best to us to keep a low profile, yes?” I lean in with a smile. They nod in return, scribbling down the details I gave them.




Adrian
I blink at my phone screen, mouth hanging open as Stella’s name flickers into darkness. Stella has never hung up on me before. I scoff and look around in disbelief before turning back to the screen.
Go find someone else with your money.
Stella’s words repeat on an endless loop inside my mind. Why is she acting like she didn’t marry me for my money? What happened to the gold digger I used to know?
Has she somehow decided that the money I have given her is enough? Or did she find someone else to provide that luxury for her?
My stomach falls, face suddenly feeling heavy. The car Stella got in earlier was a luxury SUV. I recognized the car’s logo in a heartbeat, knowing that it is one of the most expensive brands to buy from.
For the past five years, Stella has remained at home or in the hospital. She doesn’t have a social circle to rely on nor does she have anywhere else to run off to. Her life has revolved around me and the surgeries she’s had.
Stella has to be throw

#Chapter 7 - On His Mind