Chapter 4 Late-Night Conversations

Emily and Lila chatted in the cozy living room for hours, catching up on everything they had missed over the past few months. Lila’s laughter filled the space, her light-hearted comments helping Emily momentarily forget the weight in her chest. Eventually, Lila yawned and excused herself to bed, leaving Emily alone in the quiet of the grand house.

After a long day, Emily decided to take a shower, hoping it would help her relax. The warm water cascading over her skin was soothing, but it did little to ease the storm in her mind. As she stepped out and reached for her phone, a message from Mike lit up her screen.

“You came to the office? Why didn’t you come in? Are you mad again? Stop being so childish, okay?”

Emily stared at the text, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. But she didn’t reply. She locked the screen and set the phone down, leaning back against the cool wall. Her thoughts drifted back to the past two years with Mike. His family had always treated her well, welcoming her warmly, but Mike himself…

Mike’s behavior had always been the issue. The subtle flirtations with other women, the dismissive way he waved off her concerns, the charm he used to smooth over every argument. Emily had tolerated it all, convincing herself that it was just his personality. But now, she wondered if she had been too patient, too forgiving. Maybe it’s time to end this, she thought.

Restless, she left the bedroom and padded down to the kitchen. She brewed a cup of herbal tea, hoping it would calm her nerves and help her sleep. Sitting in the dimly lit living room, she sipped the tea quietly, staring at the intricate patterns on the walls.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone descending the stairs. She turned her head, startled, to see Adrian walking down, a towel wrapped around his waist, his upper body still damp from the shower. His golden hair was wet, droplets of water sliding down his face, tracing a path along his chiseled chest, and disappearing at the waistband of the towel. His defined muscles moved fluidly with each step, and for a moment, Emily froze, unable to look away.

Realizing she was staring, she quickly lowered her gaze and stammered, “I… I’m sorry. I just came down to make some tea. I’ll head back upstairs now.”

Adrian’s deep voice stopped her. “You apologize too much,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “I came down for tea too.” He glanced at the cup in her hand and then added, “Couldn’t sleep?”

Emily hesitated, then nodded slightly. “A little,” she admitted.

He stepped closer, the scent of soap and something clean and masculine filling the air. “Because of Mike?” he asked, his voice quieter now, but no less direct.

She didn’t answer, but the slight tremble in her hand gave her away. Adrian’s gaze seemed to soften, though his blue eyes remained intense, like he could see straight into her thoughts.

“You deserve better,” he said simply, his voice steady and sure.

The words hit her harder than she expected, and before she could stop herself, tears welled up in her eyes. One slid down her cheek, and then another. Adrian didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward and gently pulled her into his arms.

Emily stiffened at first, overwhelmed by the sudden intimacy. She could feel the warmth of his skin against her, the firmness of his muscles, and the steady rhythm of his breathing. He was only trying to comfort her, she knew that, but the closeness left her slightly flustered. She stayed still, barely daring to breathe.

When the embrace ended, Adrian pulled back just enough to look at her. His voice was quiet as he asked, “Feeling better?”

She nodded, though her throat felt tight. “A little,” she whispered.

Adrian walked to the counter and began making tea. Emily glanced at his back—broad, strong, yet carrying an air of calm assurance. She stood there for a moment, unsure if she should stay or go, when Adrian broke the silence.

“Do you still want to marry Mike?” he asked, his tone as steady as ever.

Emily froze, the question catching her off guard. She hesitated but decided to answer honestly. “I don’t want to anymore.”

Adrian turned slightly, looking at her over his shoulder. “With the situation you’re in, it’s not as simple as just saying it, is it?”

He was right. Emily’s shoulders sagged as she thought about everything that tied her to Mike. Her parents had invested her late grandmother’s substantial inheritance into Mike’s company. They owned 20% of the company’s shares, all in Emily’s name. On top of that, she was the company’s lead jewelry designer—almost every piece Mike’s company sold had been created by her. Mike had often tried to persuade her to sell the shares, insisting that it didn’t matter since they were practically family.

Their engagement had seemed inevitable, a natural progression of their intertwined lives and families. The announcement had already gone out, invitations sent to prominent figures in the business world. But now, every fiber of her being told her she couldn’t go through with it. She didn’t love him anymore, and she couldn’t keep pretending.

Emily’s thoughts were interrupted by Adrian’s voice. “I can help you,” he said simply.

She looked up, startled. His blue eyes met hers, steady and unyielding. There was no hesitation in his expression, only certainty.

“How?” she asked softly, her voice barely audible.

Adrian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he placed a steaming cup of tea in front of her and said, “Let’s start with what you want.”

And for the first time in a long while, Emily began to think about what she wanted—not what others expected of her.