Nikolai was perched on the edge of the bed, his head lowered and his figure hunched. His posture was far from relaxed. There was shattered pieces of glass on the floor, and a crimson pool of spilled wine. An air of despair enveloped the room. Something was wrong - Adira noticed. Nikolai wasn't looking good. She closed the door behind her, but stood far from him. "N... Nikolai?" She called carefully. He lifted his head slowly and looked at her. That moment, Adira's skin prickled with fear at the look in his eyes. What? "You're coming from your father's place, huh?" His voice was dangerously low. "Your father's sick, and you're coming from his place?" His eyes were inflamed and reddened, the sight of them alone frightened Adira. His tone... he sounded suspicious. Was he aware of her encounter with Lancelot already? Did Lancelot tell him? But why? How? Nikolai stood up with his phone, advancing towards her. She found herself taking a reflexive step back. At that point, she didn't know what he had running through his mind. She was trying to find her words when he unlocked his phone and thrust the screen into her line of sight. She squinted her eyes to have a glimpse of what was being shown to her, and the moment the image became clear, her heart jumped into her throat. What the hell?!! Those were pictures of her and Lancelot in... bed! At the same apartment she just left. She was stark naked, lying on Lancelot's chest while he took the selfie. A text was attached to it, and it read: 'Adira has always been mine. I just felt you should know now.' No, no. This has to be a dream. Nikolai swiped, another picture appeared, showing the moment Lancelot was walking into the apartment. He swiped again, and it showed her going into the apartment - voluntarily. That bastard had someone take pictures of them?! He wanted it to seem like she was having an affair with him? Nikolai lowered his phone, his eyes looking more hurt. Adira was startled. She's never seen him this way before, not even on the night he found her with Jared. "N...Nikolai, it's not what you think..." Her breath was shaky. "It's not?" He huffed. "What else could I possibly think, Adira? It's been two years already, two years since that bastard divorced you. Yet, you still can't get over him?" "No! I AM over Lancelot! I'm telling you, those pictures are a mistake. You need to let me explain." "Damn it!" Nikolai turned around, and with a loud grunt, he smashed the phone against the wall. "You told me I could trust you!" He couldn't suppress his yells any longer. I get it that you've loved Lancelot for a long time and chosed him so many times above me, but how can you be this softhearted? How can you go back to him after everything he's done? And how can you throw yourself at him knowing fully well we do get intimate?" "This has never happened before." Adira shook her head. "I... I swear, Nik, it's all a setup. Lancelot called me over to that apartment. He..." "Seriously? You told me your sister called and your father was sick, Adira! You told me you were going to see him, but it was all a lie!" "T... That was because I needed to come up with a lie. Lancelot had someone in the mall that was ready to shoot you if I didn't..." "Can you listen to yourself? Someone was ready to shoot me? In public?" "Yes! I did this to protect you. I had to follow his instructions and I..." "That's enough!" His voice was louder this time, it shut Adira up at once. Tears burnt the corners of her eyes, her vision was becoming blur.Nikolai's chest rose and fell heavily, his hands fisted beside him. Rage shimmered in his eyes, Adira could see it was taking him a lot not to lay his hand on her. "I thought you were different. Decent. I may have watched you for a long time, but I definitely missed this part of you. You should've never given me access to your body when your ex-husband was still rocking it." A tear dropped to Adira's cheek, her eyes mirrored with shock. "You think I'm lying?" Her voice was soft and broken, she pointed at herself. "I did this for you, risked my life for you. And you dare stand there and accuse me of being a slut? I hate Lancelot so much, and you know it. You were here when I took revenge on his family!" "Or perhaps, you took revenge 'cause you wanted Jardine away from him. You never got over him, Adira. Admit it!" "I did!" There was stunned silence. Another tear had slipped to Adira's cheek again. "I know you can be irrational when angry, but why can't you believe me?" She sniffed. "Because I've lost all trust on you. The mere thought of you letting him touch you irks me so much, and makes me blame myself for thinking you loved me." "Nikolai..." "This argument is pointless! Ten days from now and the divorce papers will be easy. You'll finally get your freedom so you can go share your body with whoever you wish to. I'm out, Adira. Out." Adira's jaws twitched. She bit her insides to stop herself from whimpering out. She never thought it was possible to feel such amount of pain, they stabbed her heart countless times. Nikolai started towards the door, but she stopped him. "I'll leave." She stood in his way, her sore eyes on the floor. Her voice was firm but still had echoes of pain in them. "This is your house, your family. I have been the outsider all along. So, I'll leave." Another tear dropped to her cheek, but she didn't look at him. With her bag and phone still in her hands, she walked out of the room, hearing the echoes of her pain through the chambers of her soul.