One week later, it was my father's funeral.The rain poured steadily as I stood there, barely registering the preacher's words. Friends and distant relatives milled around, offering their condolences, but their words blurred, muffled by the ache numbing me to everything around.Just then, I caught sight of Jordan whispering something to Naomi. She leaned into him, letting out an exaggerated sob as she clung to his arm. The display was sickeningly transparent, she was obviously doing that to make me feel jealous, and I clenched my fists, I had to admit, I did feel jealous. But it wasn’t about them. It was about what Naomi had—someone standing by her, even if it was twisted and superficial. Meanwhile, I had...no one. My father was gone, Adrian wanted nothing to do with me, and Vivian had been distant from the start.As if on cue, a family friend approached, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Are you holding up, dear?" she asked kindly, her face full of pity.“Not really,” I admitted
Jordan’s face went pale the moment he saw Adrian. His smug grin vanished, and his arm instinctively loosened around Naomi.Adrian’s voice broke through the murmurs, calm yet commanding. “Is there a problem here?”I couldn’t hold back the excitement in my voice. “Adrian! I… I didn’t know you’d actually make it!”He looked at me with that familiar intensity. “You’re my wife. Of course I’d be here.”I caught the look of utter disbelief on Jordan and Naomi’s faces, and I had to fight the urge to smirk. Adrian’s gaze shifted to them, his expression hardening.“No one bullies my wife,” he said, his tone dripping with warning. He glanced at Jordan and gave a slight, knowing smile. “Or have you already forgotten what happened last time you tried to disrespect me?”Jordan visibly stiffened, his face losing any last hint of bravado. He gave a quick, fearful nod, then grabbed Naomi’s arm, yanking her away without another word.Once they were gone, I turned to Adrian. “Thanks… but I had it under c
As we pulled up to the Knight estate, the entrance glowed warmly in the evening light. Adrian’s driver helped him back into his wheelchair, and I followed closely as we headed inside. Once we entered, a maid greeted us and led us to the dining room, where an impressive spread awaited us—dishes beautifully arranged on delicate plates. My stomach grumbled at the sight.We took our seats, and my eyes immediately landed on a bowl of risotto. “Oh my gosh, risotto! That’s my favorite!”Adrian gave me a soft smile. “I know.”I looked at him, stunned. “Wait—how did you know that?”He glanced away, as if it were no big deal. “I might have done a little digging. You’ve had a rough day, and I thought something familiar might cheer you up a bit.”The gesture was unexpected, and a warmth crept up my cheeks. “Thank you,” I murmured, genuinely touched.As we ate, Adrian mentioned, “Oh, by the way, I’ll be resuming work tomorrow.”“That’s great!” I said, smiling.“Yeah, finally getting back into the
Before I could even reach for it, Harper snatched up the black card from the floor, her eyes wide with disbelief as she examined it. "How on earth did you get this?" she demanded, her tone dripping with suspicion. "Only five people in the city have access to a card like this."I frowned, irritation flaring up at her audacity. She really thought she had the right to judge me? I snatched the card back, slipping it securely into my bag. "I'm holding it for a friend," I replied coolly, not bothering to explain further. "And now, if you don’t mind, I have work to attend to."I didn’t wait for her response. Wrapping an arm around Sophia, I steered us both away from Harper, who was still gaping in shock. Once we were out of earshot, Sophia let out a stifled giggle, and I couldn’t help but join in, the absurdity of Harper’s reaction giving us both a good laugh."Can you believe her face?" Sophia whispered, still snickering. "But hey, since you’re married to the Adrian Knight, you should total
Adrian looked taken aback, then let out a low chuckle. “Me? Really?” He smirked, clearly amused. “Well, that’s an ego booster.”I laughed, feeling the tension ease a little. “Yeah, don’t let it go to your head. She’s just… let’s say, a bit over the top.”“Well, if it’s that unbearable, why not just quit?” he asked, giving me a thoughtful look.I shook my head, smiling. “It’s not my job—I hate Harper, not my Job. Plus, Sophia works there too. She makes things bearable, so quitting isn’t really on my radar.”He leaned back, crossing his arms, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “Still, it’s not like you need to work. The Knights are… well, let’s just say we’re pretty comfortable financially. And when this marriage ends, you’ll get a hefty severance package.”I paused, surprised by his honesty. “That’s… really thoughtful of you,” I replied softly.His words about the divorce stung a little more than I’d expected, though I tried to shake it off. I forced a small smile, saying, “Thanks, but
Adrian watched me, his gaze softening a bit. “It’s strange. You seem to care more than most people I know.”“Well,” I shrugged, slightly flustered by his intensity. “I know what it’s like to deal with entitled jerks. And you don’t deserve that kind of hassle, not from your own family.”His expression softened, and he nodded. “Thank you. Most people don’t get it.”"Well, what about your mom?" I asked, hoping to shift the mood a little. "What does she think about all of this?"Adrian's face darkened, his eyes flickering with something I couldn’t quite place. He sighed, leaning back in his chair as he seemed to weigh his words carefully. "That's... a whole different story. She has her own ideas," he muttered, almost to himself, shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of the thought. Then, with a quick shift in his posture, he straightened up, his face regaining its usual composure. "But enough about work and family issues. I actually brought you here tonight for something important.
The night had gone smoothly, and soon enough, we found ourselves back at the house. We settled in the kitchen, chatting softly, the comfortable silence of the late hour wrapping around us. I watched as Adrian’s face softened, his usual guarded expression slipping just a little. He seemed more relaxed tonight, almost like the weight he usually carried had eased, even if only for a moment.I glanced at him with a grateful smile. “Thanks again for the dinner. I really had a wonderful time.”He smiled back, a faint glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He shifted slightly, looking down at his legs, and something about his expression changed, becoming more thoughtful, almost distant.I watched him in silence, noticing the way his gaze lingered on his legs, as if he were lost in thought. Then, almost as if he hadn’t planned to say it out loud, he murmured, “I’ve started to feel some sensation in my legs.”I blinked, momentarily taken aback. “Wait… serio
With a quiet determination, I helped Adrian back to his room, wheeling him carefully down the hall. Once there, I steadied him as he transferred to the bed, mindful of his still-tense expression. He leaned back, avoiding my gaze for a moment, then sighed.“Listen, I’m… sorry,” he murmured, a faint hint of frustration still lingering in his tone. “I lost my temper out there. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”I nodded, offering a small smile. “It’s okay, Adrian. I can’t imagine how tough this is for you.”He seemed relieved, the tension in his face softening a little. I pulled the bedsheet over him, making sure he was comfortable before stepping back. “Goodnight,” I whispered.He looked up, his eyes warm but weary. “Goodnight.”I returned to my room, already feeling the weight of the day pulling at me. I slipped into my pajamas and was just about to get into bed when my phone rang, the sudden sound piercing the quiet night. Glancing at the screen, I saw an unknown number flashing. Hesitati
I stared at the divorce papers on the table, the words blurring as tears pooled in my eyes. My hand trembled as I held the pen, my mind screaming for me to stop, to question Adrian one last time. But I knew it wouldn’t matter. His cold, detached expression was all the answer I’d ever get.“Sign it,” Adrian said, his voice sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.I searched his face for something—anything—that would tell me this was a cruel joke. But he avoided my gaze, his eyes fixed on the floor. That small, cowardly act only broke me further. I clutched the pen tighter, my nails digging into my palm as I forced myself to write my name. Each stroke felt like a dagger slicing through my soul.Clara laughed, the sound grating on my already raw nerves. “Finally,” she sneered. “Now you can stop pretending you’re something you’re not, Lana. The pity act was getting old.”I wanted to scream at her, to claw at that smug smile on her face, but the words wouldn’t come. My throat burne
Lana's POVI woke up feeling like the weight of the world was pressing down on my chest. My eyes opened slowly, but everything around me felt too heavy to process. The exhaustion from the past few days had soaked into my bones, leaving me drained, both physically and emotionally. I tried to sit up, but the tightness in my chest made it impossible to focus. Every thought was a reminder of how wrong everything had gone.I forced myself to get out of bed, my legs shaky beneath me. The house was quieter than usual, almost as if it was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. When I stepped into the living room, I saw Evelyn sitting on the couch. Her face was pale and drawn, looking sickly, as usual. She was sitting there, hands clasped tightly together, looking as if she might collapse at any moment. It was the same act she had been pulling for days now, and honestly, it was starting to make me sick.Clara was standing next to her, arms crossed, that smug expression still plas
Adrian stormed out of the guest room where Clara had been lurking, his chest heaving as his thoughts spiraled. The moment Lana’s tear-streaked face flashed in his mind, his fist slammed into the nearest wall with enough force to send a jarring pain up his arm. He barely noticed it. The physical pain was nothing compared to the ache gnawing at his heart.“What have I done?” he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with regret. Every word he had hurled at Lana replayed in his head like a cruel echo. Her hurt, her tears—it was all his doing.Clara approached him cautiously, her expression soft and calculated. She placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to soothe him. “Adrian, don’t do this to yourself,” she said sweetly.Her touch ignited a fire in him, but not the kind she wanted. Adrian shrugged her hand off with a venomous glare. “Don’t you dare,” he snapped. “Don’t you even think for a second that I’m doing this for you. I’ll never be with you, Clara.”Clara blinked, startled by h
Adrian’s words hit me like a truck. I stared at him, disbelief written all over my face. “Divorce?” I managed to choke out. “Why?”He crossed his arms, his expression cold and unreadable. “Because this marriage was a mistake,” he said flatly. “We should never have been together.”I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. “What are you talking about? We’ve been through so much. Why are you saying this now?”“I don’t love you, Lana,” he said, his tone sharp and emotionless. “I never did. I only went along with this because my mother arranged it while I was in a coma. And let’s not forget, we needed an heir.”I staggered back, my heart pounding. “You’re saying you used me?”Adrian’s gaze didn’t falter. “It’s not about that. Now that I’m awake and healthy, there’s no need for this charade. I can have a child with someone I actually care about.”“Is it because of Clara?” I whispered, tears streaming down my face.He didn’t answer.“Adrian,” I pleaded, my voice trembling. “I
I sat across from Sophia in the small break room, my hands gripping a cup of lukewarm coffee. My thoughts were all over the place, the events of the morning replaying in my mind on an endless loop. Evelyn’s words, Clara’s smug smile, Adrian’s silence—everything felt like a knife twisting in my chest.“So, what happened?” Sophia asked, leaning forward, her face full of concern.I hesitated, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Evelyn wants Adrian to divorce me,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “She even said Clara should stay in the house with us.”Sophia’s jaw dropped. “What?” Her voice rose, and I flinched. “That woman has some nerve! And Clara? Don’t even get me started on her.” She crossed her arms, fuming. “If I were there, I’d have dragged her out of that house by her hair.”Despite everything, I managed a small smile. “Thanks, Sophia. But it’s not that simple.”“Why not?” she demanded. “Lana, you’re his wife. You have every right to fight for your place in that ho
I couldn’t believe what was happening. My fists were clenched as I faced my mother. “Why are you doing this, Mother? Why are you trying to destroy my marriage?” My voice was steady, but the anger bubbling beneath was hard to contain.Evelyn sat calmly, her gaze icy. “Destroy your marriage?” she repeated mockingly. “Adrian, this isn’t a marriage. It’s a business arrangement. You’re the one forgetting that.”I felt my jaw tighten. “I haven’t forgotten anything. You were the one who insisted I marry Lana. And now you want me to throw her away like she’s nothing?”“Yes!” Evelyn snapped, standing. “Because I never intended for her to stay! She served her purpose, and now you can move on. Clara is who you belong with.”Clara was sitting off to the side, her arms crossed, watching with a satisfied smirk. That only made my blood boil more. “Clara? Clara has no place here. I want her out of this house!” I pointed toward the door. “And for the last time, I’m not divorcing Lana!”Evelyn’s face h
I couldn’t breathe. Evelyn’s words echoed in my mind, over and over, like a cruel melody I couldn’t escape. “You will divorce Lana.” The way she said it, so cold and final, as if I were nothing more than an obstacle. I felt the ground beneath me give way. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces, and I couldn’t stop the tears from spilling down my cheeks.Adrian took a step toward me. “Lana, please—”“Don’t!” I snapped, backing away from him. The anguish in his eyes mirrored my own, but I couldn’t trust it. Not now. Not after hearing what I just heard.“Lana, it’s not what you think,” he tried again, his voice desperate.I shook my head furiously, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. “Not what I think? I just heard your mother tell you to divorce me, Adrian! And you just stood there. You didn’t fight for me. You let her say it like I’m nothing!”“That’s not true—”“Stop lying!” I screamed, my voice breaking. The pain was too much to bear. I couldn’t stand to be in that hous
Adrian's POVThe moment Lana stormed off, I turned to my mother, my blood boiling. "What the hell is this, Mother?" I demanded, my voice sharp. "You know I’m married! You were the one who insisted I marry Lana, so why are you doing this now? Why are you making things worse?"my mother leaned back in her chair, completely unfazed by my outburst. She picked up her teacup and took a leisurely sip before finally meeting my gaze. “Exactly, Adrian. I arranged this marriage, and I can decide who stays in this house. Don’t forget, it’s a contract marriage.”Her words hit me like a slap. “Contract marriage?” I repeated, stunned. “Are you serious right now? Lana is my wife, not some pawn in your games!”Evelyn sighed, setting her teacup down delicately as if we weren’t in the middle of a life-altering conversation. “Adrian, let’s not be dramatic. Lana doesn’t even have a ring. The marriage was never meant to be permanent. I only arranged it because I thought you were going to die in that coma,
The morning light seeping through the curtains made my head pound even more. My entire body ached, and as I blinked, trying to clear my blurry vision, I realized I wasn’t in my apartment. The bed was too large, the sheets too soft, and the faint scent of Adrian’s cologne lingered in the air.I turned my head and found him sitting beside me, his face etched with worry. “You’re awake,” he said, his voice soft.I groaned and tried to sit up. “What happened?”“You fainted last night,” he replied. “I brought you here. Lana, I—”I held up a hand to stop him. “Save it, Adrian. I don’t want to hear it.” My voice was sharper than I intended, but the hurt from last night still burned inside me.“Lana, I didn’t do anything with Clara,” he began, leaning closer. “She came to my office uninvited. Whatever you saw—”“I saw enough!” I snapped, cutting him off. My heart ached, but I refused to let him see just how much it hurt. “Why do you even care? Isn’t this what you wanted? To get between my legs