Neon Lies

Since my family lost our fortune, Fiona had been plotting to push me out, aiming to pair Adrian up with someone more suitable.

At that moment, I was playing right into her hands.

I hung up and trudged through the rain-soaked streets for hours, finally reaching my doorstep.

However, the moment I stepped in, I was greeted by moans, the kind that made my heart sink. I froze, peering through the gap in the door.

Macie was by Adrian's side, tending to him in ways that made my heart race. The second he spotted me, Adrian yanked her up and tossed her onto the bed with a force that left no room for doubt.

I tried to bolt, but my legs were like lead, refusing to budge—an all-too-vivid first glimpse of Adrian's wild side.

Once they finished, Macie, all limp and spent, got up and accepted the card Adrian handed her.

"Mr. Jones, you're the best," she said, gushing.

Adrian gave her a patronizing pat. "Happy? Then scram. The missus has been eyeballing us from the doorway the whole time."

Macie shot me a defiant look, then snuggled up to Adrian again. "Just don't forget me, Mr. Jones," she said in her sugary voice.

Macie shouldered past me on her way out, sending me sprawling to the floor.

I crashed down, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Adrian loomed over me, tilting my face up to his. "Liliana, this little scene? It's nothing compared to the hell I went through. Remember the divorce papers I got in jail?"

I was drowning in tears, but I had to try one more time. "Adrian, I swear I didn't know about those papers. It was my mother—"

He cut me off, voice like ice. "Your signature was on them. Don't play dumb."

We had been through that a million times over three years. My explanations never stuck, and I was done trying.

I brushed my tears away. "If you hate me that much, I'll just take my mom and go."

Adrian's grip on my fingers was like a vise, his jaw set in a hard line. "Liliana, forget about leaving. You're going to stay with me forever and make up for your past mistakes!" he hissed, dragging me up the stairs and throwing me into the attic.

It was his go-to move whenever I dared to talk about divorce or leaving him.

Trapped in the attic, I was supposed to sit and think about what I had done wrong until I dropped the whole leaving idea.

However, I would not let him trap me this time.

In the dead of night, my phone rang. It was the hospital. "Mrs. Jones, Mr. Jones has stopped all treatments for your mother. With her condition, she might not make it through the night."

I begged the hospital to keep treating my mom.

The nurse sounded torn. "Mr. Jones owns a big part of the hospital. We can't ignore his orders."

I got the picture. I hung up and dialed Adrian right away.

The phone seemed to ring forever before he picked up.

"Adrian, you have to start my mom's treatment again. She's in a coma and can't last a second without the ventilator..." I pleaded, panic rising in my voice.

Loud music thumped in the background as Adrian's voice came through—emotionless and merciless. "Consider this a lesson for trying to leave."

"I was wrong, okay? I won't talk about leaving ever again, just please..."

Then I heard it—soft, suggestive sounds from his end. "Mr. Jones, don't stop..."

The line went dead. When I tried again, no one answered.

In a frenzy, I grabbed whatever I could from the attic and slammed it against the door lock. I did not know how long I was at it, but eventually, after my hands were covered in blood, the lock gave way, and I kicked the door open.

I had just won my freedom and raced to the hospital as fast as my legs could carry me. However, fate was cruel, and I arrived just moments too late. My mother had passed away, her eyes closed to the world forever.