Adelina hailed a cab with a wave of her hand, eager to escape the tension that still lingered from her disastrous date. The cool evening air filled her lungs as she slid into the backseat, grateful for the chance to leave the restaurant and gather her thoughts. Her mind raced with the strange encounter she'd had with the man at the table, and though she tried to focus on anything else, her thoughts kept drifting back to the icy cold eyes of the stranger, Lucian.
As the cab sped toward the airport, Adelina's phone buzzed. It was a message from Isla, her best friend, who had just returned from her travels.
"I'm here! Can't wait to see you! Hurry, I'm waiting by baggage claim."
Adelina couldn't suppress the smile that crept across her face. Isla's infectious energy was exactly what she needed. She typed back quickly:
"On my way! Be there in 10!"
The airport was bustling when Adelina arrived, the usual hum of voices and the clinking of rolling suitcases filling the air. She quickly made her way through the crowd, her gaze scanning for Isla. She didn't have to look long before she spotted her—standing near the baggage claim, her luggage by her side. Isla's bright smile lit up the space around her, her dark hair tied up in a messy bun, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Before Adelina could take a step closer, Isla spotted her. Without a second thought, she rushed toward her, and in an instant, the two of them were locked in a tight hug.
"I've missed you so much!" Isla exclaimed, squeezing her. "It feels like ages since we've had a proper catch-up! Ian and I had such an amazing time abroad, but honestly, it's just not the same without you around!"
Adelina couldn't help but laugh as she pulled back, giving Isla a playful shove. "You're always talking about Ian. You're going to make me jealous."
Isla smirked. "I can't help it! He's amazing, and you're still my number one girl, no matter what." She winked before her expression softened. "But seriously, how have you been? I know it's been rough, especially after... everything."
Adelina hesitated, her smile fading slightly. The conversation always seemed to lead back to the painful memories she had been trying to push aside. The betrayal, the lies, the heartbreak—everything that had turned her world upside down.
"I'm doing better," she said finally, her voice steady. "I've been trying to focus on myself, you know? Trying to get back to a good place."
Isla nodded understandingly, but before she could reply, the sudden flash of camera lights erupted near the entrance. Adelina's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes instinctively turned in the direction of the commotion.
At the entrance, there they were—her stepsister, Mila, and her ex-fiancé, Jared, holding hands. They were laughing, their eyes locked together in a sickeningly affectionate way as they whispered to each other, completely oblivious to the stares they were attracting from the crowd. The cameras clicked away, capturing every second of their display.
Adelina's stomach twisted painfully. It felt like someone had just ripped open a wound she had tried so hard to heal. Jared, the man she had once trusted with her heart, was now standing there with Mila, the woman who had betrayed her in the most unimaginable way.
The bitterness in her chest was immediate, overwhelming. She couldn't understand how they could act like nothing had happened, how they could smile and hold hands after what they'd done to her.
Isla, who had been watching the same scene unfold, was the first to speak. Her voice was sharp, laced with anger. "How dare they? After everything they did to you, they think they can just waltz in here and act all lovey-dovey? That's so messed up."
Adelina's jaw clenched. She felt the familiar heat rise in her chest, the same mix of hurt and disbelief that had come over her when she'd first caught them in the act. Mila, her stepsister, had always been so perfect in everyone's eyes, the golden child. But Adelina had seen through the façade—she had seen the real Mila, the one who was willing to betray her to get what she wanted. And now, seeing her and Jared, so casually together, was like rubbing salt into an already deep wound.
"They think they can get away with it," Adelina murmured, her voice low and cold. "Like it was all just a misunderstanding. No one seems to think there's anything wrong with what they did."
Isla's eyes narrowed. "Well, they're wrong. You deserve so much better than them. And you'll show them that, in time."
Adelina nodded, though a part of her still felt the sting of their betrayal. She had always been so trusting, so innocent, but they had shattered that part of her in an instant. Now, she didn't know if she could ever trust anyone the way she had before.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of the situation hanging in the air. The flashes of cameras continued, but they didn't seem to matter anymore. Adelina had lived through the worst of it—being betrayed by those she loved. Now, all she could do was move forward, no matter how painful.
Isla, ever the optimist, wrapped an arm around Adelina's shoulder, giving her a squeeze. "Forget about them. You're here with me now, and we're going to have fun. I won't let them ruin this moment for you."
Adelina smiled faintly, grateful for Isla's presence. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing for sure: no one, especially not Mila and Jared, would control her life anymore.