He had not finished recovering from the news of her father's death and she threw a more shattering news to him;
He could not believe his ears;
''What do you mean? ''
He asked; turning to face her; his eyes red and his face pale; Tiana seeing his expression could not bring herself to go on; she wailed;
''Talk to me, what do you mean by saying that you belong to another man? I don't talk to you for five months and you're already in the arms of another man? ''
''NO!! '' Tiana blared, trying to justify herself;
''Then what is it! What do you mean by saying that you belong to another man? ''
Adrian was almost shaking from the pain; his heart was thoroughly broken; he had not contacted her because of his final medical exams; and as soon as he was through he came back and see her before his graduation, but when he arrives, she tells him this?
''Father owed many people; and one of them is his Boss who is the CEO of Howells Corporation. ''
Tiana paused as she waited for him to comprehend what she just said;
''You mean, he owed his boss too? The same one he said that is very heartless? ''
Tiana nodded; ''He wanted to pay off his gambling debts, so he went to his boss for money because his creditors were on his neck; his boss lent him the money, and he promised to pay back by working for him but when he got home, we didn't know that he was thinking of gambling again, in case he could double the money, but luck wasn't on his side and he lost the whole money;
He died from shock knowing what his boss would do to him if he found out;
But his boss found out and came for I and Gwen; we didn't have such money, so we promised to do anything to pay off the debts, there was no way we could have thought he wanted a mistress; we were of a very low status to be wanted by a person of such prominence; but he told us that one of us would have to be his mistress and I couldn't let Gwen suffer, so I went in her place…''
''No No, why? How could you do this? Don't you care about my feelings? Tiana, how could you do this to me? ''
''Adrian, I couldn't let anything happen to Gwen, she's my sister, and it's my responsibility to ensure her safety!'' Tiana cried, trying to defend her actions;
''But there's a way out, Adrian, '' She said, stretching her hand to touch him but he pulled his hand away;
''He's gay. The CEO of Howell corporations is gay; he cannot touch me. ''
She said and Adrian's eyes shot at her; they were just rumors but at that moment, she knew she needed to tell him something. SHe could not lose him.
''Gay? I've seen that man on TV; he's nothing close to gay, Tiana! '' Adrian said with rising anger;
''And so what? You're still his mistress; someone as beautiful as you, you can turn a gay, straight! ''
Tiana shook her head; her hands trembling; she imagined a life without Adrian in it, and she knew it was not worth living; so she immediately threw her arms around him;
''Please! Give me five months; I think he'll release me after five months, please! ''
She cried, she really loved him and if he left her now; she didn't know how she'll cope with life.
Adrian's body was stiff for a moment before he loosened up and hugged her back;
''Tiana, how could you do this? What if he never lets you go? What are you going to do? ''
Adrian asked; pecking her head; Tiana froze; he was correct; Nicklaus had only said that she had to be alive for five months, but he mentioned nothing about letting her go after the five months were over; the more she thought about it, the more afraid she became; she quickly shook the thoughts away.
He would surely have no use of her then; besides even if he would need a wife for public distraction, it was not someone like her with zero background. People like him married their likes.
''Adrian, he'll let me go, he won't have any use of me anymore and I'll come to you when this is over. ''
She kissed his cheeks as she waited for him to accept her request;
''Tiana, you know I love you and I will do anything for you? ''
Tiana nodded immediately; her beautiful eyes clouded with tears; Adrian wiped them with his thumb;
He could not afford to lose her, not for anything.
''I'll wait; even if it takes five years, I'll still wait for you, as long as you promise me you'll come back to me? ''
Although he said that; something within him knew that she might not come back to him.
Tiana nodded and hugged him again; ''I promise, I love you Adrian. '' she said; breathing in his scent she had missed for so long.
''I love you too, Tiana. '' They hugged for a while before Tiana remembered that he didn't contact her for five months;
''Yes, why didn't you call or text for five months?'' She asked; her eyes widening;
''I was writing my exams; I just finished my final papers yesterday, and I hurried back to see you, because I've missed you so much. ''
Tiana's heart warmed by his statement; she loved the way he thought about her;
''I missed you too; I thought something had happened to you~ ''
She hugged him again; they discussed other random things before Adrian left.
After he had left; Tiana waited for a while before she stepped out of the house; the guards were looking at her suspiciously but she said nothing to them; she walked to the backside of the car and entered with a straight face.