CHAPTER 8 SHE CHOOSE TO DISAPPEAR

BANG!

The gunshot split through the air.

Before Oriana could notice or react, a powerful arm wrapped around her waist had pulled her backward.

The bullet passed through the air, missing her by inches before hitting the stone fountain behind them.

Water exploded into the air.

Screams echoed across the Moretti estate.

"Protect the Boss!"

The mysterious man's armed men instantly formed a circle around him and Oriana.

"Find the shooter," he ordered immediately.

Within some seconds, dozens of armed men disappeared into the darkness.

Oriana stood frozen.

She had almost died.

Someone hadn't wanted to sell her anymore.

Someone wanted her dead.

Her legs couldn't stand anymore.

The stranger caught her before she could hit the ground.

"Easy," he said gently.

She stared at him with her eyes filled with tears and sorrows

"Why are you helping me?"

His face tightened.

"Because I should have protected you long ago."

Before she could ask what he meant, Adrian pushed through the securities and guards.

"Oriana!"

She looked at him.

For the first time in three years.

She saw fear in his eyes.

Real fear.

He reached toward her.

"Are you hurt?"

Oriana took one step backward.

His hand froze immediately.

The silence between them was unreadable.

Then she smiled.

It wasn't a smile of happiness.

It was the smile of a woman whose heart had broken beyond repair.

"You remembered I exist."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Only after someone tried to kill me."

Adrian's face became pale.

"Oriana, listen to me."

She slowly shook her head.

"No."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

"For three years I begged you to see me."

"I begged you to believe me."

"I begged you to protect me."

She laughed bitterly.

"And tonight."

"They sold me."

"They humiliated me."

"They tried trafficking me."

"They tried to kill me."

She looked directly into Adrian's eyes.

"And you were too late."

Every word struck to him like a knife piercing his eyes.

"I didn't know"

"You never wanted to know."

Silence swallowed the garden.

Even Mrs. Vivienne lowered her eyes.

Mateo squeezed his fists.

Livia remained unusually quiet.

Oriana looked at all of them.

"I came into this family with love."

"My parents' memories."

"My dreams."

"My heart."

"You took everything."

She gently removed the wedding ring from her finger.

Adrian's breathing became heavier.

"Oriana."

She looked at the ring for some seconds.

Then. She dropped it.

The small ring landed on a stone with a soft metallic sound.

Yet to Adrian.

It sounded louder than thunder.

"Our marriage ended long before tonight."

She turned away.

The stranger opened his vehicle’s door.

"You'll be safe with me."

Oriana looked at him.

His eyes were sincere.

Protective.

But she slowly shook her head.

"No."

Everyone stared at her.

"I don't know you."

"I don't know who wants me dead."

"I don't know who I can trust anymore."

She stepped backward.

"If I stay with any of you."

"They'll never stop hunting me."

The stranger frowned.

"You're not safe alone."

"Maybe not."

She smiled sadly.

"But if I disappear."

"They will stop looking where they expected that I will be."

Before anyone realized what she intended.

She turned and ran.

"Oriana!" Adrian shouted.

She didn't stop.

The stranger's guards instinctively moved to chase her.

"No."

His command froze every one of them.

"Let her go."

"But Boss"

"She has made her choice."

Oriana disappeared through the broken garden gate.

Barefoot.

Covered in bruises.

With nothing except the clothes on her body.

Adrian tried to follow her.

The stranger stepped into his way to block him.

"You've done enough."

"Move."

"No."

Their eyes locked.

Danger crackled between them.

By the time Adrian suppressed him and ran for Oriana.

The road beyond the estate was empty.

Oriana was gone.

^^^^^^^

She ran until the lights of the Moretti mansion vanished behind her.

She crossed empty roads.

Fields.

Dark woods.

Ignoring the cuts on her feet.

Ignoring the cold.

Ignoring the blood.

She had no destination she was heading to.

Only one promise.

Never again.

Never again would she belong to Adrian.

Never again would she cry inside the Moretti mansion.

Never again would anyone own her.

Hours later.

Just before dawn.

Her exhausted body finally collapsed beside a desolate highway.

Her vision blurred.

Her breathing became weaker.

The last thing she saw.

Was the headlights of a black SUV slowing to stop beside her.

A tall woman stepped out.

Elegant.

Powerful.

White haired.

She looked down at Oriana with unmistakable shock.

Then whispered words that made the unconscious woman's fate change forever.

"My God."

"So, you really survived."

Darkness claimed Oriana before she could open her eyes.