Chapter 5

Briar’s POV

I finally made up my mind.

Atlanta to Inglewood by road will take me two days to reach. But it is the best option for me. I cannot afford to have my movement tracked by Adrian. So taking a plane is off the table. I need to disappear as quietly as possible.

This would be my first long drive on my own and far away from home. The first time I did it was when I clocked twenty and I desperately wanted to rebel against my mother. I had driven out of Atlanta and was nearing Cleveland when my car stopped. I had no idea what went wrong with it. The only person I could call was my mother. Since then, I never contemplated running. But this time, I am very prepared. No matter the obstacle I might encounter. I will not return to this house.

I texted my mother for the last time. Telling her not to worry about looking for me. She has done more damage to my life than anyone can imagine. And I can no longer stand her manipulation. Letting out a deep sigh, I put the phone down to avoid getting tracked and grabbed my bag. A small bag that no one would be suspicious of when I get into my car and drive off.

As I headed for the door, I halted in my steps. Looking around the house that I have called my home for almost a year. I suddenly felt the urge to say one last thing to Adrian. I know we will never see each other again because I will never set foot in Atlanta until my life is over. So it might be closure if I speak my mind for the first time.

With that in mind, I stomped towards his study. Even though it is the weekend, he is still working.

“What do you want this time? I hope you are not about to start with that divorce nonsense again?” He questioned the moment I stepped in.

I clung onto my back, trying to keep my breath steady. “I just want to know why?”

Adrian arched his brow. “Why what?”

“Why would you go this far to marry me when you don’t want me?”

“Oh goodness!” He huffed, rubbing his forehead. “Do you always have this much free time to talk nonsense?”

“Answer me!” I screamed, lips quivering as the tears overpowered me. I couldn’t do anything to stop them from falling. “You know, I can’t seem to understand what this crazy game of yours is about. Long before I even had a close contact with you, I have loved you, Adrian. You were my first crush and love since I was sixteen and got lucky to attend a party hosted by your parents. You were twenty-one and looked like a god. It felt like a dream come true and a miracle when I learned that I was going to be married to you. Do you think I was desperate to be whisked away? I only thought my fate was good to be put next to you. And you didn’t hesitate to treat me like trash.”

“Treat you like trash? How did I do that? Didn’t I respect you? Do you lack anything? After everything I have done for you and your mother, you still aren’t satisfied.”

“It is not about your money! I never asked you to do anything for my mother or me. Stop using that as an excuse!” I bellowed. “Do you not understand anything beyond vanity? How do you not realize that my heart is for you? You claim not to have disrespected me? What then are you doing with Isadora under our roof?”

Adrian flared his nose. “I have warned you to stop with the stupid narrative. Isadora is my friend!”

“She is your ex-lover, you liar!”

“Briar….” He growled.

The tears flowed nonstop, but I wasn’t going to back down. “You had the audacity to bring a woman you once loved into my home and allowed her to disrespect me. Yet you run to her side at every cry of discomfort. I am carrying your child, for goodness sake. Doesn’t that matter to you?” I sobbed.

Something shifted in his face, like remorse. “Briar, listen…..”

I cut him short. “I don’t care anymore. You are not deserving of the love anyway. I am the stupid one forever wishing things might be different. You can live your life as you please. Do whatever you want!” I sniffed, stomping towards the door.

Just as I stepped out of the study and walked a few feet away, a cold splash hit my face, dripping down my shirt. I gasped in effect.

“Oops! I didn’t see you there. I think I know why my belly hurts now. The garbage was coming.” Isadora giggled wickedly.

I huffed, dusting off the water. My first thought was to walk away, but I felt the urge to say one last thing to her. “Don’t you feel miserable?” I inquired.

“What did you just say?”

“I didn’t speak gibberish. Aren’t you disgusted by the life you have chosen? Living every day of your life to put someone else down just to prove a point. That is misery on display.”

“And what would someone like you know about that? Seeing how you are begging to be in a place you aren’t wanted, isn’t your life pathetic?”

I bite down on my tongue, inhaling sharply. “You must be quite a delusional person. Even when the cards are spread out in front of you, you still choose to believe in your own words. Anyway, you can have him. I hope you are as happy as a kite when he eventually puts a ring on your finger. You look like you might need it.”

“You bitch!” She raised her hand to hit me.

“Don’t even think about it.” I snarled, stepping up to her. She shrank back immediately. “Try to raise your hand at me again and I will make you live with regrets. Rubbish!” I kissed my teeth, walking away with a fiery determination this time.

I got into my car and drove at top speed, fighting back the tears that filled my eyes. My heart raced crazily as I gripped the steering wheel hard until my knuckles turned white. This is it. I am finally walking away from the toxicity and selfishness. I won’t have any regrets moving forward.

I will change my identity and no matter how hard they try, they will never find me. Despite how reassuring my future sounds, my heart aches and the tears wouldn’t stop falling. I can’t believe all the dreams I had with him have ended in this light. I allowed someone under serving to preoccupy my heart.

I reached the highway, driving with more intensity as my eyes were blinded with tears. I want to be as far away from the city that has been my home for over two decades as I can.

All of a sudden, the steering wheel became stiff in my hand. I tried to ease off the accelerator but the car began swerving into other lanes. I tried to get off the road to avoid colliding with the cars coming towards me. But it seemed useless, every attempt failed. It swerved onto the left so hard just as a large truck was coming. My hands shielded my belly instinctively.

The next thing I heard was a loud crash with metal crushing. The car bounced off the road with my head bumping side to side until I felt darkness envelope me.