CHAPTER 021 ISADORA'S POV " Was there any need for this stupid clock ? " I grumbled as I slowly got up , rubbing my eyes . The alarm was meant to wake me up an hour ago , but it failed miserably . I / stretched my arms above my head , feeling the slight ache in my back before dragging myself out of bed and into the bathroom . Toilet flush . I took my toothbrush and began my morning routine , brushing in slow circular motions while staring at my reflection in the mirror . My hair was a mess , my skin looked a bit dull - maybe because I stayed up too late last night . After spitting out the foam , I rinsed my mouth and splashed cold water on my face , letting out a small sigh . Stepping out of the bathroom , I noticed that one of my maids had already brought my usual morning orange juice with ginger , just as I requested every day . I grabbed the glass and took a sip , letting the cool citrus flavor wake up my senses . After a few minutes of stretching , I hopped onto my treadmill , setting the speed to a comfortable walking pace . My feet moved rhythmically as I stared blankly at the wall in front of me , my thoughts drifting . Adrian . I hadn't heard from him . I worked out for a full hour before stepping off the treadmill , slightly out of breath but satisfied . Without wasting time , I headed into the bathroom for a shower . The hot water relaxed my muscles , washing away the sweat . By the time I stepped out , steam filled the room . I wrapped a towel around my body and walked toward my vanity table , towel - drying my hair as I picked up my phone . -1 checked my messages . Still nothing from Adrian . I frowned , tapping my phone against my palm . I had sent him a message yesterday , yet there was no response . My patience was wearing thin . I tried calling him . Ring ... Ring ... Ring ... No answer . Successfully unlocked ! phuccessfully un I narrowed my eyes , gripping my phone tighter . avoiding my calls again ? I tossed my phone onto the table , frustrated . Since the night we slept together , he had been acting distant , and I didn't like it one bit . 1/4 CHAPTER 021 " I just hope you didn't use me like a sex doll that night ," I muttered to myself as I picked up my comb , running it through my damp hair . " I'm not something that people use and dispose of . " I scoffed , shaking my head . " I know I'm a gem . " Some people might think my relationship with Adrian is toxic , but I don't care . I've been through worse - far worse than this . A small laugh escaped my lips as old memories surfaced . When I was seven , my mother constantly compared me to our neighbor's daughter . " Look how well - mannered she is . Look at how gracefully she carries herself . You should learn from her ! " Those words tormented me daily . Back then , I was a tomboy . I loved playing basketball and running around with boys , and I didn't care about dresses or makeup . I was rough , wild , and full of energy . I can still remember the number of arms I nearly broke during school fights . But my mother hated it . She wanted me to be just like the neighbor's daughter - poised , delicate , obedient . But I refused . I loved myself for who I was . That was until the day she told me she regretted giving birth to me . I think something in me shattered that day . After that , I did everything to become the perfect daughter she always wanted . I changed my dressing style , abandoned my tomboy habits , and learned proper manners . When I turned fifteen , I started experimenting with makeup and beauty routines . Eventually , I perfected my appearance . But focusing on myself , and making myself this beautiful came with a price , my grades from school and college were all bad , but that was just the beginning . By the time I was in high school , I was the girl every guy wanted . But I wasn't interested in any of them . Not until the day Adrian walked into my life . I remember it so clearly . My parents ' business partners were coming over , and I made sure I looked my absolute best . I wore my finest dress , and my best shoes , and styled my hair perfectly . Then I saw him . Adrian sat on the couch , carelessly scrolling through his phone , looking completely uninterested in his surroundings . He didn't even look at me . 2/4 CHAPTER 021 And that was what drew me to him . He was the first guy who didn't fall at my feet . Mrs. Westwood took a liking to me immediately , thinking I was a well - mannered young lady . But Adrian ? He barely acknowledged my existence . Adrian and his mom started coming quite often and Adrian didn't speak to me until his mom officially introduced us Little by little , we started talking . I thought we had a connection . I was sure he felt the same way . Then everything changed . The worst day of my life happened when Adrian's parents died and as my parent's biggest investors our company slowly began to crumble . We weren't leaving the lavish lifestyle we once used to live , things were getting tight . That was when my mother came up with a brilliant idea . " Marry Adrian . " If I married Adrian , he could take care of our family . He had the wealth , the power , the name . And I liked him . And I was certain he liked me , too . So , on the day I planned to confess my feelings to him , I got hit with the most painful betrayal of my life . Adrian was getting married . To that slimy dog named Olivia . I still remember how many bottles of whiskey I downed that night , trying to drown the unbearable sting of heartbreak . Tnever saw it coming . How ? Why ? He gave me all the signs . He wanted me . Then suddenly , he married another woman . It didn't make sense . Maybe Olivia used some kind of trick . Maybe she manipulated him . Maybe she was holding him down in that , marriage with something . But I wasn't going to give up on him . I refused to give up on him . I didn't care if he was married . I didn't care how long it takes . I was going to have Adrian , 3/4