Flashbacks, the wounds of the past 3

7 years ago:

"You are working for her, aren't you?"

"It's not like I want to, I fear her. But look, I may have pretended to help you find your biological family and had Caroline act like your sister, except the fact that she really is your sister."

"I had to ask for Simon's help to trace back your birth. It was hard, but we had been looking into it ever since we met. I really do care for you, and that's why I'm telling you this. When it's all over, I will book you a flight and you can go somewhere and make a life."

"That's enough." Adriana stopped her.

"Please leave. I would love to tell you how much of a coward you are, but I'm just the same. She has us all by the guts, anyway. I really hope whatever she has held against you is worth it." Adriana told her and sent her out.

They were in her new apartment since her roommate's life was in danger as well, she had to move out.

She didn't want to pull her into this mess.

When Olivia left, Adriana sat down on her couch and poured herself some water.

She looked at the time and sighed, thinking about last night.

The people beside her were in Briana's scheme all along. Since the very first day.

Adriana had met Briana a year ago when Noah and she were still dating. She had accidentally heard something she shouldn't have, and things were peaceful after that.

Except because she failed to see the scheme she was walking into.

Everything had been planned, her married life, all of Noah's business trips. Her so-called friends.

The people she had met who she gave her trust to, the people she loved.

All of them, one by one she found out of their lies and betrayal.

It hurt, she felt like Briana was toying with her, and yes she was.

She was already waiting to see who else would betray her next.

With a deep breath, she placed her hand on her stomach.

Adriana was tired of crying and bawling her eyes out.

She had no tears left to cry, no more help to scream for, no more dreams to fight for. The only clarity she could see in this dark moment was the life in her belly.

The only thing she needed to get through this.

That Briana wanted her to divorce Noah, it was so obvious. But Briana didn't want her to do it now, she wanted to watch her suffer first.

She might not know that Adriana is aware of that fact, and also the guards outside watching her every move. Even so, it didn't matter, is not like knowing so would help Adriana in any way.

Just one wrong decision and Adriana would lose her life and her child's. She was walking in a thin thread and she did not know what she should do.

She could have been naïve and gotten herself into this mess, because of her plan to reveal the truth. Adriana had awareness as a last result, and it was one of her weapons.

Maybe she was taking advantage because of her naiveness but Adriana had intelligence. She was too smart to not see Briana's attacks coming her way and that gave her enough time to build an invisible shield around herself so that she would be prepared.

And just when Briana thought, she was broken and lost Adriana would make a run for it and disappear.

It was scary but staying and enduring was her last resort. She had tried negotiating herself out of it.

The secret is taken to her grave for her life, that was the deal she offered.

But you know the response she got?

"Yes, you will take that secret to your grave. I'll make sure of it. But before that, let's have some fun!"

That and the creepiest smile she'd ever received.

And Noah? He was out of the question. He didn't know a thing, all he could probably think of is his wife's betrayal.

Using her skills at emotionally manipulating people, Briana covered up all the clues Adriana left for him.

It was so suffocating because she was literally screaming for help and no one would notice.

When she saw the incoming call, she flinched.

"Give up, Noah. It's the 300th time today. Just give up... please." She begged, watching the missed calls pile up.

…..

Present:

When Adriana saw light again, all she could do was cough.

She couldn't open her eyes or talk, all she did was cough for 3 minutes straight.

When she could finally regain her senses, she felt something in her arm. She frowned, realizing she is on an IV drip and in a hospital bed.

"You're awake. I'm glad your nightmares are your past. This will help you concentrate on your goal and our purpose of working together. So never disobey my orders again. When I request something, I expect you to listen to me and do it like I asked you to." Sanders didn't waste a single moment and told her straight away.

"If you do that simple thing, I will follow my end of the bargain. I promise this won't happen again."

Holding her head, Adriana groaned. "Since when have your promises been fulfilled?" She asked, looking up at Sanders.

Sanders exhaled, "I swear to you this will never happen again. I just hope it becomes a lesson and that you learn it."

"Lesson?" Adriana sat up, groaning in pain.

Despite the pain, it brought her to laugh at the top of her lungs, she couldn't help it.

Sanders is a sadist. And an absurd man whose actions can't ever be justified. The most important person in his life is himself. A wicked demon she had involved herself and still regrets doing so.

He looked at her with an indifferent expression, not bothering to walk up to her and help her up.

"I will be back, I need to make sure the antidote works well before I leave."

"Make sure it works fast. Your presence irks me." She closed her eyes and took deep breaths in.

She was barely conscious and holding it together, only to find this man in front of her reminding her of how much she hates him.

If only she could erase him from her life. She wished she had that ability.

"You were broken. You were nothing when I found you, and yet you still speak to me like this. It makes me want to leave and let you suffer for a few more days." He laughed contently and walked out of the hospital room.

Adriana sighed, forgetting to ask how long she had been unconscious and where her children were.

But how could she ask? Every second knowing he exists was agony for her.

She heard the doors open and watched doctors and nurses run in.

"Madam, we will get you into an excellent condition before your family can visit you, please lay back down."

"Out." She told them in a bitter, freezing tone she rarely used.

"Ma-"

"Out. Leave. Scram." SH head never used this tone to them or any of her other subordinates. Even when she was angry, her tone always reeked of calmness. Almost as if she had everything in her control.

Except, right now it was anything but the ladder.

She watched their deadpanned expressions, as their feet rooted to the ground.

"Now." She gave them one last chance and they all rushed out of the room, closing the door after them.

When they were finally gone, she closed her eyes and gripped onto the bed sheets until her knuckles turned white.

"Don't." She warned herself.

"Don't."

Before she knew it, she was sobbing and had filled the dead silence of the room with her uncontrollable song of painful cries and heartache.

She couldn't stop it, she did her best. She really did.

It was so hard, but all she needed was to cry at this moment.

It sucked to realize how perfectly Sanders worked his usual trick on her.

She was once again focused on her goal and determined to not get distracted.

And she also knew exactly what Sanders was referring to. He would definitely do far worse if he saw her around Noah again and let her emotions get the best of her.

But she couldn't promise anything. She's human, and humans yearn for each other.

Just the thought of not seeing him ever again made her chest burn.

She survived these years knowing she would one day talk to him again and see him.

But with Sanders right behind her trail, all she could do was stay far away or else she would be distracted and Sanders hates distractions the most.

She had never yielded to someone, but Sanders could be her greatest enemy or her strongest ally. For her sake, she chose the ladder.

Despite her hatred for him, she knew he was right. The path she had chosen was revenge, and she could not allow herself to fail and forgive because of love.

If love could truly overcome anything, she would have not fallen into the deepest depths of darkness, pain, and misery.

If love were truly the most amazing thing, a person could experience she wouldn't be sitting in this bed, completely heartbroken.

If love could truly heal any wounds, her scars wouldn't be so wide open and fresh despite all the time that has passed since she received them.

If love could truly do anything, she wouldn't have so much hatred in her heart.

What did love get her? She had trusted in it and looked where that got her.

Once she had believed in all these fantasies about marriage and love, but now she had experienced the cruelty of life. She had woken up from silly dreams and would not trust in them again.

Never.

She would never.

Never again.

Love was a risk she would never take again. No matter how hard it may be she would not be blinded by its charms again. This did not mean she wasn't going to allow herself to love. She simply wanted to make sure, that she would not trade love for stupidity.

And this was a vow.