Sophia’s eyes blazed as she rolled up her sleeves, stepping toward the clerk with a scathing look. “Excuse me?” she spat, her voice low but dangerous. “How dare you talk to us like that—with that cheap perfume wafting off you? You really think you’re something here?”I reached out, putting a hand on her arm to try and diffuse the tension. “Sophia, let’s not—she didn’t mean it like that.”The clerk crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, not backing down an inch. “Oh, I meant every word,” she said with a smirk. “You clearly don’t belong here. So, maybe you should take your little… daydream of ‘fancy’ elsewhere.”My patience snapped. I straightened up, matching her cold stare. “And what exactly makes you think we can’t afford anything in this store?”She gave a dismissive laugh, looking us up and down with a haughty smirk. “Please. You two look like you’d max out a credit card just trying to buy one accessory here.”Sophia scoffed, completely outraged, her fists clenched at her sides. “
After finally selecting three dresses, Sophia and I made our way to the changing rooms with arms full. The first one I tried on was a deep red satin gown that clung in all the right places and flowed gracefully as I moved. The moment I slipped into it, I knew it was something special. It hugged my curves and shimmered under the boutique lights, catching Sophia's eye immediately.She let out a low whistle. "Girl, that dress was made for you. I swear Adrian’s jaw will drop when he sees you in that."I glanced in the mirror, struck by how the fabric seemed to make my skin glow. “You really think so?” I asked, striking a little pose with a laugh.“Absolutely. Trust me, the man’s not going to know what hit him,” Sophia said, nudging me with a grin.Feeling encouraged, I tried on the second dress—this one an elegant emerald green with a subtle slit up the side and a flattering neckline. I stepped out of the dressing room, and Sophia’s jaw actually dropped this time.“Okay, that’s it,” she d
I couldn’t help but wonder what Adrian might be thinking as he gave me that mischievous look, his eyes glinting with amusement. He leaned back, arms crossed, and asked again, “So, what exactly are you planning to offer me?”I laughed nervously, feeling a mixture of playful excitement and curiosity in his gaze. “What do you want, Adrian?” I asked, trying to gauge what he was hinting at. “You’re already one of the wealthiest men in the city. What could I possibly give you that would actually please you?”He shrugged, his smirk widening as though he knew exactly how to keep me on edge. “That's for you to figure out,” he replied smoothly, his tone carrying that ever-present teasing quality. “But you’ve still got some time before the event. Surprise me.”I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes with a smirk of my own. “How about… a lap dance and a kiss?” I teased, raising an eyebrow as I watched his reaction carefully.He chuckled, a deep, rich laugh that was both amused and challenging. “Is t
Gregory chuckled, his eyes glinting with a hint of malice. “No need to rush,” he said smoothly. “Knight Enterprises is in… good hands.” His gaze slid over to Jordan, who was standing nearby, smugly adjusting his cufflinks, as if he were already in Adrian’s shoes.Gregory’s attention snapped back to Adrian. “By the way, Adrian, don’t you think the wheelchair might… attract attention? What would people say if, let’s say, a bolt came loose?” His smile widened, clearly enjoying his attempt to undermine Adrian’s confidence.I clenched my fists, anger simmering. Adrian’s grip on the armrest tightened, but he remained silent, his eyes fixed firmly on Gregory. I couldn’t let him stand there and take it.“You know, Gregory,” I said, stepping forward, my voice steady, “maybe you should be more concerned about your son’s actions than Adrian’s wheelchair.”Gregory’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. “And who exactly are you to speak to me like that?” he sneered.I met his g
Bethany leaned in closer with a sigh, looking at me warmly. “Well, don’t keep me waiting too long. I’ll be expecting good news soon!” she teased, before a man in a suit approached her and whispered something in her ear.She gave us both a quick smile. “Duty calls, it seems. You two enjoy yourselves. But not too much fun, all right?” With a wink, she left.Adrian looked over at me, still red in the face. “I’m so sorry about that. My mother’s… she gets like this when she’s had a bit too much to drink.”I laughed. “Don’t worry. I actually like her.”He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, she’s only being nice to you because she wants a grandchild. Trust me, she can be… intense. She usually doesn’t warm up this fast.”I smirked. “Well, at least she’s a little better than my stepmom, Vivian.”That made him laugh, and the tension melted from his face. “You know, my parents were both strong-willed. When my father was alive, they’d argue constantly. He was strict, always about business.” Adrian paused, a
As Adrian stood up, a collective gasp swept across the room, the shock and amazement unmistakable on every face. For a moment, there was absolute silence, as if everyone was holding their breath, trying to comprehend what they were witnessing. And then, the applause began, a low rumble that quickly grew into a roar of admiration and astonishment. People clapped, cheered, and even rose from their seats, unable to contain their excitement at seeing Adrian stand for the first time in what felt like forever.The whispers and murmurs of admiration became a hum in the room, each voice adding to the chorus of praise and disbelief. The crowd buzzed with excitement, even after Adrian carefully sat back down. It was as though he had ignited a spark, a beacon of hope and inspiration, and the energy in the room seemed almost electric. As guests returned to their seats, still casting glances Adrian's way, they resumed their drinks and conversations, but the admiration in their eyes lingered. I cou
After we were done, we slipped into the limo and settled into the seats, I couldn’t shake the words Adrian had said back there, the ones about family and everyone in the room being important to him, but most especially the ones about me—dis I really meant so much to him?. I kept replaying them in my mind, wondering if he really meant them or if it was just a part of his public performance. With everything going on, it was hard to tell. Part of me wanted to believe every word he said, but I couldn’t ignore the nagging doubt in the back of my mind. Was it genuine, or was he just selling an image?Adrian seemed to pick up on my silence. He glanced over, studying me for a moment before asking, “What’s on your mind?”Startled, I quickly pulled myself out of my thoughts. “Oh, nothing,” I said, trying to sound casual. “I was just…thinking about how awful Gregory can be. He always has some agenda, doesn’t he?”Adrian raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk forming as he settled back into his seat.
Our server came by, and we ended up ordering an assortment—mini sandwiches, fries, a milkshake, and a slice of chocolate cake that looked like it could solve any problem in the world. Once the food started arriving, I didn’t hold back, finally letting myself enjoy every bite. Adrian watched me with an amused look, shaking his head as I reached for a fry. “You really were hungry, huh?” “Hey, you said it was a snack night. Might as well enjoy it,” I said, shrugging and popping a fry into my mouth. He chuckled, taking a sip of his own drink. “I can’t argue with that.” We talked about everything and nothing, sharing stories and laughing as we ate. I told him about a few embarrassing childhood moments, and he shared a story about sneaking out as a teenager, getting caught, and having to do all the chores for a week as punishment. It felt natural and easy, like we’d known each other for years. At one point, I noticed a bit of whipped cream on his lip from his milkshake and laughed,
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