At His Mercy

Prologue

"Adela, please come home immediately." Elena's voice came harshly over the phone.

"Are you okay, honey?" Before she could even hear that, Adela heard the phone beep. Her phone died.

Elena was Adela's cousin and the only family she had now aside from her husband, since she had given up everything to be with Henry.

Elena returned from studying abroad and asked to stay with Adela since her parents disliked her.

That aside, although she only found out Adela was married to Henry after he dropped her at our house after picking her up from the airport the same day, she adapted to the reality and didn't buffet her like the others did.

"I'll just pay for these and leave, please," Adela told the shop assistant.

"Would you like to know what's happening?" She shrugged and continued. I just wanted to mention that sometimes when you receive certain calls, you may come across information that you shouldn't see or know about. Besides, I thought you wanted to look around for a few more things. The sales rep asked, surprised at her sudden change in decision.

"Excuse me? That is my cousin calling. I wanted to shop, but I really needed to get home immediately." She didn't need to give her any response, but her genuine concern made Adela feel obligated to do so.

""Alright then, I'll calculate your items and give you your check. Please follow me."" She meticulously attended to her, and she left a tip for her.

Adela got home to find the front door unlocked. Tension rose in her heart as she made her way to the sitting room very quietly. If she was going to attack the culprit, she needed to be as quiet and unnoticeable as possible.

Gently, she dropped the bags she carried on the kitchen counter after confirming that the kitchen was a safe place at the time.

She was already too close to her room door to make any calls, and the fear of the damage and delay didn't let her retreat either. She made up her mind to fight them no matter their number. She would rather they took them both to wherever they were.

However, Adela picked up a familiar scent at her door. She was slightly puzzled and braced herself for the worst as she used all of her energy to push the door open when she heard Elena scream.

It took her an eternity before her brain registered the display before her.

Her little cousin Elena was laid there and of all the people on earth to share a bed with, it was Henry.

Yes, Henry, my husband! She thought.

"What is going on here?!" She questioned as neither of them refused to sing the usual anthem.' It's not what you think.'

As if on cue, Henry pulled out his shaft and put on his pants while panting like a deer searching for water.

Adela's eyes grew wide with shock as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Was Henry cheating on me? Did he really betray me with Elena? She thought.

Anger brewed within her as Elena feigned innocence. This was all her plan. The call was very intentional, so she would find out.

"But why Elena?." That was all she could ask.

""I'm sorry, I called because I needed your help. I called you several times. When I couldn't reach you, I called Henry for help, and we accidentally...""

""And he accidentally slipped into you, right? Is that what you want to say? Tell me! Is that even a thing?"" Adela interrupted her because she was already tired of hearing her too much talk.

"I'm very sorry, Adela. I didn't mean for you to find out this way, honestly. I'm sorry, Sis."

Elena said dramatically, and it was clear now what her mother had always warned her about. Her cousin was a devil's servant.

"Oh, spare me that. Jeez...who are you calling Sis? Didn't you know we were related before you decided to share my husband?"" Adela yelled at her.

"Oh, stop it already, Adela," Henry scolded Adela, to her surprise, but she ignored him.

"Just get your things and get out of my house, Elena!" Adela screamed louder, trying to drown the anger that threatened to consume her.

"Please, Adela, I didn't mean for you to find out so soon." She pretended to cry, and it irritated Henry that he immediately rushed to her side to console her like she was some breakable Queen's crown or delicate flower.

Adela let out a sardonic laugh at their display.

"So soon? How long has this been on for?"" Adela asked.

"Yes! Henry and I only found out that we were mates just recently."" Elena's words were a shocker to Adela, and how cruel could the moon goddess be to date her cousin to her husband? She cursed her under her breath for her poor sense of humor.

""Stop it already, Elena, there's no use trying to hide anything anymore. She's going nowhere!"" Henry directed the last sentence at Adela.

""Let's end this already, Adela. I'm tired of this marriage! I can't keep going around with a woman almost twice my age as my wife! I want someone younger, and Elena is a perfect match for that. She's my mate, after all."" Henry's words cut through Adela like a sharp knife, and she lost her balance momentarily.

What was he saying? Adela thought, not believing her ears.

I loved Henry in my life and gave up everything to be with him. My right as the next Luna, my princess lifestyle, my family, and even my father's life, and was this how he planned to repay me? Adela whispered to herself.

Her breathing was irregular, and she clenched her clothes because her chest was very tight as the tears she had been biting back flowed freely down her cheeks like a waterfall.

"Henry, what are you sayin'...?" Adela choked on her own words as she tried to speak with sobs.

Henry left the room and returned with papers in his hand.

"Here. Sign these, we were going to go through this sooner or later, so why delay?"" He deadpanned as he shoved the papers into Adela's hand.

Adela's hands were too weak to hold them for fear of confirming the reality of his words. Her body was already quaking from her uncontrollable sobs, and reality was eluding her. She could see Elena smiling triumphantly through her teary eyes, though her vision was slightly blurred.

""No, Henry, all I ever did was love you wholeheartedly. I gave up too much to be with you! There's nothing else left for me without you! Please...d– don't do this."" Adela said, continuing to cry like a little child.

"Henry, please,"" She pleaded, tightening her grip on his arm. "You can't leave me. I gave up everything for you. Please, don't do this."

He twisted out of her grasp, his eyes flashing with a coldness she had never seen before. "You gave up nothing," he spat. "You're nothing but a burden."

The words stung like a whip across her face, and she bit back the sob that threatened to escape her throat. She didn't give him anything? This house is hers, and the companies he's running are all hers. This was his house now. As a matter of fact, she had already signed all the property she had left in his name when she left home. She couldn't explain to him all she gave up to be with him because her identity as the late Alpha's daughter was still unknown to him.

One thing was for sure, Adela knew Elena would never tell him who she was for fear that he would leave Elena for her, but she wasn't ready to tell him. She wanted to lead a normal love life not dependent on her status as a princess.

He hadn't exited the main door when Adela heard his footsteps again. ""Maybe he changed his mind and was willing to give us a chance once more. It was stupid to think of a second chance after what she had just seen, but what's life without him?"" She stood on her feet and met him halfway down the corridor.

"Henry...!" Adela cried, grabbing hold of him before he could reach for the door.

""Please don't leave me. You are all I've got. No family, no friends, please Henry.""

As if he didn't hear that, he tried to pull away, but she held him tight, her nails digging into his skin as she fought back tears.

"You're all I've got, and you know it." She sobbed, her voice cracking with despair. "You said you loved me and would never leave me, remember? You, please..."" she paused as the words wouldn't flow. She then lowered her forehead to his feet.

"One more thing," he spoke, and she looked up at him with her teary eyes.

""What did you give up, huh? Just sign the paper before we return. I give you two days to get out of my house before I return." With that, he stormed out, and Elena trailed behind him."

It was like a dagger pierced through Adela's chest. There was a searing pain coursing through her entire body. She knew rejection hurt, but she never thought she'd have a first-hand experience.

Henry had left the building, but the pain of his words lingered behind, tearing at her sanity. She had no one with her now, nowhere to go either.

The thoughts of her uncertainty evoked another downpour from her eyes, and she didn't hold back as she remained right there staring at the door of Elena's room, where her love had been betrayed.

She remembered how he always told her that he loved her and wouldn't give up on their love even if he found his fated mate, but now the tables seemed to have turned, or maybe she seemed to have swapped seats with Elena.

All Adela had been herself to sulk away in pain as she blankly stared at the letters boldly written on one of the sheets.

'DIVORCE AGREEMENT'