Countdown to "I Do" novel Chapter 6

**Midnight Roads Unseen by George Orwell**
**Chapter 6**

As the auction commenced, Adrian, with an air of reckless abandon, purchased nearly every item that caught Isabella’s fancy, pouring out an extravagant sum without so much as a fleeting thought for the cost. The thrill of the moment seemed to envelop him, a man lost in the allure of his own generosity.

Not too far away, Ella sat, her gaze fixed on them with a storm brewing in her eyes. A dark cloud of resentment lingered around her, thick enough to cut through the festive atmosphere.

When Isabella excused herself to the restroom, Ella seized the opportunity to follow, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and vindictiveness. She locked the door behind her, a smirk curling her lips as she approached Isabella. “Isabella, feeling triumphant today, are we?” she taunted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Do I really need to remind you?” she continued, her tone sharp as a knife. “Adrian only feels pity for you; love is a foreign concept in his heart when it comes to you.”

Ella’s eyes narrowed, and she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “He probably still doesn’t know the truth, does he? Remember that time you were pregnant? You were already three months along, and it was me, wailing and throwing a tantrum, insisting I couldn’t bear to see another woman bear his child. It was then he handed you those abortion pills without a second thought. And just a short while ago, when my kidneys were failing, he didn’t hesitate to sacrifice your kidney for my sake.”

She paused, savoring the moment, then added with a cruel smile, “And let’s not forget that incident on the bridge. He pretended to despise me, but it was all a ruse to push you into peril.”

Ella straightened up, her confidence swelling. “No matter when or where, as long as I need something, he’ll always come running to me.”

With a sickly sweet tone, she leaned in even closer, relishing the moment. “Isabella, my dear, you’ve completely lost this game.”

Ella had anticipated that her words would shatter Isabella, that she would crumble into a heap of despair. The thought of seeing her rival break down was tantalizing, a twisted satisfaction that fueled her venomous words.

But to her utter astonishment, Isabella maintained her composure. The calmness on her face was like a still lake, unruffled by the storm around it.

Turning off the faucet, Isabella looked up at Ella, her expression unwavering. “Are you finished?” she asked, her voice steady.

Ella was taken aback, momentarily frozen in disbelief.

Isabella dried her hands with deliberate slowness, her tone unyielding. “I don’t care.”

The thought of leaving this place behind exhilarated her. She would soon be free.

Ella’s disbelief morphed into anger. “How can you not care? Isabella, you—”

Her accusation was abruptly halted as her own hand flew up, delivering a sharp slap to her own face, the sound reverberating in the small restroom like a gunshot.

“Smack!”

Before Isabella could process the bizarre scene, Adrian burst through the door, panic etched across his face. “Isabella! What on earth are you doing?!”

Startled, Isabella stumbled backward, her lower back colliding painfully with the sharp edge of a decorative table. A jolt of pain shot through her, momentarily blurring her vision, and she felt warm blood trickle down from her temple.

But Adrian’s gaze was not on her; it was fixed on Ella, his voice icy as he moved to help her up. “Haven’t I already compensated you? Why do you still feel the need to torment Isabella?”

Ella, tears streaming down her cheeks, covered her face. “Adrian, please, don’t blame Isabella. It’s all my fault—”

His expression was grim, and without another word, he scooped Ella into his arms, turning away from Isabella.

As he carried Ella, she glanced back at Isabella, a triumphant smile dancing on her lips, relishing her perceived victory.

Isabella was left standing alone, leaning against the restroom wall, laughter bubbling up uncontrollably until tears streamed down her cheeks.

Adrian’s voice was chillingly calm, cutting through the tension like a knife. “If I don’t have a baby with her, she’ll find someone else, and I can’t bear the thought of that.”

“And what about Isabella?” Julian nearly shouted, his anger palpable. “How can you do this to her?!”

A heavy silence fell between them. After a moment, Adrian replied lightly, “I’m already planning to marry her, aren’t I? Isn’t that enough?”

Isabella stood frozen, her fingernails digging into her palm as she processed his words, each one a dagger to her heart.

The argument reached its conclusion, with Julian storming off in a fit of rage, unable to convince Adrian of the gravity of his actions.

Adrian turned to leave as well, and on a sudden, inexplicable impulse, Isabella followed him, her heart pounding in her chest. She watched as he entered a suite, the door not fully closed, leaving a sliver of space for her to witness the unfolding scene.

Through the crack, she saw Adrian pinning Ella to the bed, unbuckling his belt as he leaned down to kiss her, his voice a low, husky whisper. “Ella, let’s have a baby.”

Ella giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck, her laughter ringing in Isabella’s ears like a cruel mockery. “And what about Isabella?”

For a brief moment, Adrian’s movements faltered, but he quickly regained his composure. “She won’t find out,” he replied, his voice devoid of any concern.

Isabella stood there, frozen in place, quietly recording the entire scene on her phone, her heart a barren wasteland.

This time, she didn’t shed a single tear.

For when your heart is dead, the capacity to feel pain slips away, leaving only an emptiness that echoes in the silence.