Unmasking the Heart

Adrian's footsteps echoed through the hospital's sterile corridors, his arms still cradling Joi's battered and unconscious body. Her skin was pale, and her breathing shallow, each rasp sending a fresh wave of anger coursing through him. Ruby trailed behind, limping slightly, his small body trembling with fatigue.

"Get me a stretcher now!" Adrian's voice thundered through the hallway, his rare urgency galvanizing the nurses into action.

A stretcher was wheeled over in seconds, and Joi was carefully laid down. Ruby let out a small whimper, attempting to jump onto the stretcher with her.

"Alexander," Adrian commanded, his voice sharp. "Take care of the dog. Feed it, get it hydrated, and have a vet examine it immediately."

"Yes, boss." Alexander gently picked up Ruby, who growled weakly but relented when Adrian gave him a quick glance.

Adrian's cold gaze followed the stretcher as it disappeared into the emergency room. The doors shut, leaving him alone with his thoughts. His jaw tightened as he leaned against the wall, fingers drumming against his crossed arms.

---

The hours dragged on like years. Adrian remained rooted in place, his piercing eyes locked on the glass window of the treatment room. Inside, doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to clean Joi's wounds, set up IV drips, and stabilize her vitals.

Alexander returned sometime later, his suit slightly rumpled, a report in hand.

"The dog's fine now," Alexander said quietly. "He's fed, bathed, and resting. A vet said he'll make a full recovery."

Adrian didn't turn or respond, his attention fixed solely on Joi.

"She'll make it," Alexander said softly, sensing the tension radiating from his boss.

Adrian's expression remained unreadable, but his fingers clenched briefly before relaxing.

---

By midnight, the doctors finally delivered their prognosis: Joi was stable but would need time to recover. Exhaustion etched across his face, Adrian entered the dim hospital room. Joi's frail figure looked even smaller against the sterile white sheets, the bruises on her face stark in the dim light.

Adrian sat down beside her, his hand hovering over hers. He hesitated, his cold exterior cracking just enough to reveal a flicker of warmth, but he pulled back, retreating into his guarded shell.

"You're safe now," he murmured under his breath, his voice barely audible.

Adrian rose hours later, his expression hardening as he turned to Alexander. "Where is Anna?"

"She's at the warehouse," Alexander replied. "Tied up, watched, and exactly as you ordered."

Adrian's lip curled slightly. "Let's finish this."

The warehouse was dimly lit, shadows pooling in the corners like silent witnesses. Anna was slumped against a metal chair, her once-pristine appearance now a distant memory. Her wrists were raw from the bindings, her lips dry and cracked. Despite her weakened state, she managed a defiant glare as Adrian entered the room.

"Adrian," she rasped. "You've gone too far."

Adrian didn't respond immediately. His cold, unrelenting gaze bore into her as he closed the distance between them.

"You starved her," he began, his voice dangerously low, "beat her, tried to break her. For what? Jealousy?"

Anna let out a bitter laugh, blood staining her teeth. "For us, Adrian! For everything we could've been if she wasn't in the way!"

Adrian's hand snapped out, the slap echoing through the room. Anna's head jerked to the side, her cheek blooming red.

"Us?" he hissed, leaning closer. "There was never an 'us.'"

Her breath hitched, but she quickly masked it with anger. "You'll regret this. You don't know what she's hiding—"

Adrian cut her off, his voice colder than ice. "Three days. No food. No water. The same suffering you inflicted on her." He turned to Alexander. "Make it happen."

"Yes, boss."

Anna's protests turned to screams, but Adrian didn't look back as he exited.

There days later, Adrian's car screeched to a halt outside the sprawling Smith mansion. Alexander stepped out first, dragging Anna from the backseat.

Her once sharp features were now marred by bruises, dirt smudging her face. Her disheveled hair hung limply, and her body trembled with exhaustion.

In her tattered state, she looked worse than Joi had when Adrian found her, and yet, there was no pity in his eyes.

The front door opened, revealing Mr. Smith, his face tightening at the sight of his daughter's condition. His wife appeared behind him, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.

"What… what is the meaning of this, Adrian?" Mr. Smith demanded, his voice barely holding back his fury.

Adrian ignored the question, stepping aside as Alexander unceremoniously dropped Anna at her father's feet. She crumpled to the floor, too weak to stand, her groan muffled by her swollen lips.

"She's your problem now," Adrian said coldly. "You might want to find a doctor."

Mrs. Smith rushed to Anna, cradling her in her arms. Tears sprang to her eyes as she looked up at Adrian. "How dare you treat our daughter like this! She's loved you for years, and this is how you repay her?"

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly, but his tone remained detached. "Ask her what she did to Joi before you talk to me about love."

Mr. Smith's anger boiled over. "You ungrateful bastard! Do you have any idea what our family has done for yours? We saved Catherine's life! And this is how you repay us—by brutalizing our daughter and throwing her back like trash?"

Adrian remained impassive, his icy gaze fixed on Mr. Smith. "I don't owe you or your daughter anything. Whatever loyalty you think you earned doesn't justify what Anna did."

"Reginald will hear about this!" Mr. Smith shouted, his voice trembling with barely contained rage.

Adrian turned to leave, his tone cutting. "Feel free to tell him. I don't care."

Without another glance, he walked back to his car, climbed in, and drove off, leaving the Smiths to deal with Anna.

It had been three days since Joi was admitted to the hospital, and she still hadn't regained consciousness. Adrian visited every day, though he kept his emotions tightly in check, never showing any outward sign of concern. Instead, he spent his time monitoring her vitals, checking in with the doctors, and ensuring Ruby, her dog, was well cared for.

Meanwhile, Anna's condition deteriorated after Adrian left her with her parents. Unable to bear the sight of her suffering, the Smiths rushed her to the hospital later that day. The doctors confirmed she was dehydrated, malnourished, and suffering from multiple bruises

In the sterile, tense atmosphere of the hospital, Mr. Smith's voice reverberated through the halls. "Get me Reginald!" he barked into his phone. "I want him here now!"