Chapter 71: Out, Anna
The drive back to the condo is painfully silent, no music, no conversation.
Only the hum of the engine and the occasional tightening of Adrian’s grip around the steering wheel.
Nyra sits beside him, glancing over every now and then. His face is unreadable, but the muscle in his jaw hasn’t stopped twitching since they left the mansion.
She doesn’t ask him anything yet, doesn’t try to comfort him-- just sits silently next to him, offering her presence.
When they finally pull into the parking garage, Adrian kills the engine and exhales loudly, running a hand through his hair.
Then he turns to Nyra, still watching him quietly. "I’m sorry you have to see me like this. I just-"
"It’s fine." Nyra sighs. "I understand. Let’s just end everything now."
Hand in hand, they go into the apartment building together. The receptionist at the front smiles when she sees Adrian, but even looks happier to see Nyra with him.
They do have some fans after all..
"You’re back for good!?" she asks with a knowing smile.
Nyra scratches the back of her neck. "Something like that.." She holds Adrian’s hand tighter. "Soon."
"Okay, good luck." She calls out behind them, watching their backs until they disappear behind the elevator doors.
When they reach their condo, they find Anna already waiting outside the apartment door, arms folded across her chest.
"So..." she says with a forced smile. "Are we really doing this?"
Adrian unlocks the door without looking at her. "Get inside."
She drops her hand, the usual pitiful expression plastered on. Always playing the victim.
"Adrian, please. We’ve been together for years. You’re seriously throwing all that away because of some stupid pictures?"
He doesn’t even look at her. "I’m throwing you out because you lied."
"They’re taken out of context!"
"The pictures of you kissing him in his car are out of context?" Adrian scoffs. "Do you even hear yourself?"
"You slept with my sister!"
"I’m not stupid, Anna. Those pictures were taken before you even knew that." He pulls Nyra closer. "Besides, it’s not the first time you’re cheating on me."
Nyra’s eyes widen. She hadn’t even known that. They always seemed like the perfect couple.
Adrian kisses his teeth. "Stop embarrassing me and just get inside."
That finally wipes the sad look off Anna’s face. Realizing there’s no way out, she storms into the apartment.
"You know what?" she snaps. "Fine! If this is what you want, then fine!"
She disappears into Adrian’s bedroom, slamming the door hard enough to shake the walls.
Nyra winces at the loud sound.
Adrian simply walks into the kitchen, pours himself a glass of water, while Nyra looks around at the house they once shared.
There’s blankets and pillows on the couch, making it obvious Adrian has been sleeping in the living room all these weeks. She feels guilty, guilt and immense respect that despite her absence, he left her room untouched.
Five minutes later, the bedroom door bursts open. Anna drags two suitcases behind her with far more force than necessary.
She deliberately knocks over one of Adrian’s framed photographs on the hallway table, and the frame shatters.
"Oh," Anna sighs like she didn’t do it on purpose. "I’m sorry, my bad."
Adrian’s patience finally reaches its limit. "Don’t."
Anna raises an eyebrow. "Don’t what?"
He steps in front of her, tall Alpha frame towering over her, making Anna look much smaller.
"If you’re trying to provoke us before you leave, save your energy."
She laughs bitterly. "You really changed fast. After everything you promised, you still ended up picking my sister. You’re so damn pathetic."
She shoves past him, the resentment evident in every move, as she yanks the second suitcase toward the door. This time deliberately bumping into Nyra.
She stumbles back slightly, but Adrian manages to catch her before she hits the back of the couch.
"Don’t fucking play with me right now, Anna!" He bellows. "Touch her one more time, and I’ll rip your hand out, I swear to God, Anna."
Anna rolls her eyes. "Oh please, she’s already won." She gestures dramatically between the both of them. "You got the Alpha, the title. The bond."
"I didn’t even want any of this!" Nyra retorts. "And unlike you, I’m not a conniving person!"
Anna barks out a laugh, instead of feeling offended at the insult. "Liar. Keep telling yourself that. You’ve wanted my life since we were kids. I see the way you look at us when I’m with Mom and Dad."
"You know what..." She shoots both of them a look of pure contempt before Nyra can respond. "...honestly, you deserve each other. Two self-righteous hypocrites pretending you’re better than everyone else."
Adrian loses the last shred of patience. He rips the condo key from Anna’s hand, grabs the final suitcase, and throws it into the hallway so hard it crashes against the opposite wall.
Then he grips her by the upper arm, marches her straight to the front door, and pushes her outside.
"Don’t ever make me see your face at my doorstep again."
"Fuck you, Adrian!" She flashes a middle finger at them. "I swear to God you’ll regret this. You’ll both regret treating me like-"
Adrian slams the door in her face before she can finish her sentence, and locks the door.
Then he leans against it, closes his eyes for two seconds. After months of having to deal with her drama, it feels exhilarating finally being free.
The exhale he lets out is so loud, Nyra almost laughs. Almost.
---
Anna remains standing alone in the hallway after that. For several long seconds, she simply stares at the closed door.
Then her sad expression turns into pure, consuming hatred.
"Nyra thinks she’s won," she whispers, smiling bitterly, eyes pinned on her luggage scattered on the floor. "But if that whore thinks I’m going down alone, then she doesn’t know me at all."
Pulling out her phone, she scrolls to a number she hasn’t dared call in weeks.
Her thumb hovers for only a second before she presses it. The person on the other side answers almost immediately, like they’d been waiting.
"Yes, they kicked me out." She tells the person on the other side. "Fuck him, I know that."
After that, she is quiet for a few seconds, letting the other person speak. Then she nods in agreement, smiling viciously.
"Yeah, I think so too. I think it’s time we ruined Adrian Blackwood’s life for good."