The Wife — CHAPTER TWELVE

"love is a drug, can be used and abused"

The bed felt like a bush of roses with prickly thorns tearing at her skin.

Adriana tossed around, shivering as her sleep became a plagued nightmare.

Sweats drenched the bed and her grunts and pleas for help went over the top.

"No!" She suddenly shrieked getting a breakthrough from the demon.

Nathan got in as quickly as he could and joined her at her bedside.

His room was opposite Adriana's.

"It's alright." He pacified her, clutching her tight in his arms.

Adriana's fingernails bit into his skin like pine needles but he hardly cared. Her soft skin touching his, intoxicating.

"What the hell are you doing?" Adriana demanded when she came around.

She was as of before a scared child waking from a bad dream but now, her bossy demeanor had returned.

"I thought..."

"Leave my room," Adriana ordered.

There was one problem though, Nathan did not want to leave.

"I will if you tell me what you were dreaming about?"

Adriana sent him a deadly gaze.

The words of her father echoing in her head.

Get to know him!

"A bad dream about my brother."

The topic caught Nathan's attention swiftly as he grabbed the office chair that was once his closer and sat rapt with attention.

"What happened?"

"He was blaming me for still keeping you alive."

Nathan didn't miss the sarcasm. Was she joking? Or could it be true?

"From what you've told me, I believe your brother is haunting your dreams only because you haven't let him go."

Adriana turned sour.

"Says the fellow responsible for his death. Tell me, Nathan, how do you sleep at night?"

"With a light drink and homework. You know my sister died right?"

"What!"

Nathan could not believe her, she had been studying him for years and he had mentioned Aurora's death once or twice to Thomas. The was no way they would miss that.

"I hardly believe that!"

"That a monster had a sis?"

Adriana didn't answer. She could sense the hurt in Nathan's voice.

Don't get close! Adriana remembered.

"What was her name?"

"Aurora."

"I've always wanted to name my daughter that," Adriana revealed.

Nathan and her shared a puzzled expression before she burst into a laugh.

"My mother wanted to name her daughter that so bad but Adrian followed and it's believed we must share identical names," Adriana said using her fingers in an exaggerated manner.

"Maybe you would have been nicer if you were named Aurora. Maybe you would have forgiven me."

"Good people don't last you know. I can tell your sister was good."

The statement said wasn't sarcastic, Adriana's face suggested so but it still hurt like hell. The hole Aurora left had not been sealed up and maybe it would never be, Not when every damn thing reminded him of her.

"I never knew you did charity."

At last, a lighter conversation

"I don't call it charity. I love helping the less privileged. My sister never had kids before she died and her husband left her for dead. Her only solace was the orphanage. She treated that like her one and after her death, I promised myself I would take care of them."

Nathan felt a warm soft hand creep over his shoulder. Turning to where the hand came from, he saw Adriana's reassuring smile comfort him. He nervously returned the favor, a grin. Adriana's rainbow turned upside down, her disapproval returned. She was really fighting an internal battle.

"My father cut their budget."

"What!?" Nathan yelled getting up.

"Calm down psycho. I'll talk to him today. He must have gotten it all mixed up."

"I don't think so."

Adriana knew he was right. As much as she hated to admit it, her father was a scheming bastard. She only hoped this time, her instinct was wrong.

***

"They are Orphans father! How can they be a detriment to the Enterprise. You are literally swimming in millions and more comes in every year." Adriana ranted, banging her hand on the desk wildly.

"What's all the fuss about?"

Adriana couldn't believe him. He thought the sufferings of orphans as nothing.

"Orphans father."

"Okay, if they really need the money they can come to me."

"What!"

What did her father plan to gain from this? Attention?

"Father, this is unlike you."

Thomas rocked his chair gently, keeping his gaze at his daughter.

"Is he getting to you?"

"Who?" Adriana had to ask, despite knowing very well who he meant.

"Don't play stupid! It really doesn't suit you."

Adriana gave her father a grimace before replying,

"He's not getting to me but maybe this power is getting to you. All we wanted was to make Nathan suffer but will you ever forgive him?"

"When I began this Enterprise with Nathan, we were supposed to be partners, Co CEO but No! He betrayed me. He's getting what karma wants him to have."

"You're slowly becoming just like him. It won't be long before Karma comes knocking and I won't be there to watch you suffer when it comes in."

Adriana went for the door, she couldn't bear seeing her father so monstrous. She only hoped he didn't drown in his newfound luxury.

***

A call came in. Nathan reached out for the chiming phone.

Claire.

She hadn't been around today, Nathan remembered.

Maybe she was calling him to say why.

He picked up the call.

"Hello, Are you Mr Nathan?"

The question was puzzling. Claire wouldn't ask such a funny question. What was going on?

"Y-es."

"Mrs Claire left your number for us to call before she shot herself."

"Is she ok?"

Nathan's head panged.

What stupid thing did you do Claire!

"I'm afraid No." The man solemnly replied.

The already damaged phone fell to the floor harder this time because Nathan slammed it hard on the wall.

No! No!

He had gone there.

Adriana jumped in, her face furrowed with worry.

"Is anything wrong?"

Nathan fell to the tiled floor, cold and hard like his miserable life.

"Why did she take her life?"

"Who!?"

"CLAIRE!"

Adriana's voice went on holiday almost immediately. She remembered that girl. The girl who was instrumental in getting the papers signed.

It was no wonder why she would decide to take her life.

Her guts felt empty and unimaginable pangs surged from within.

She has been the cause of it all.

"Nathan?" Adriana whimpered walking to him with great difficulty. Her body felt numb.

"Stay away from me!" Nathan yelled out when her hands came to close.

"You killed her and I did too! If o-nly I made the right choice."

"I have lost people too Nathan...I didn't know she wild go this..."

"Ahe wouldn't take her life for betraying a friend. Some of us might live with that guilt but others are not that strong... She wasn't."

"I know how you feel-"

"Do you? I don't think you've ever cared for anyone apart from your pathetic self."

"Stop Nathan!" Adriana yelled. Hot tears pouring out from her lids while she clenched her hands to her ear to block out his vile words.

"I won't stop! If you've ever cared for anyone, you wouldn't have done that to someone like her?-"

Stop! Adriana lunged for Nathan slapping him repeatedly but it was of no use. He grasped her hands firmly, no damage done.

"I wish you live well with that guilt Adriana. It would be gone by tomorrow anyway."

The door closed, so did Adriana's bravery. She sobbed.

Not because someone died but because of the words Nathan sent her.

I am not a monster! I am not a monster! Arrghh! I am a monster!

Who was she fooling, she was a monster! She was the one who pushed her brother down the window, angry that her father never showed up to her performance. All this year's she had blamed Nathan but maybe it was her.

Maybe it had always been her.