Chapter 3

"You have a lot of audacity coming here." 

The hallway echoed with Adrian's chilling and sharp voice, sending a shiver down my back. I suddenly stopped, my hand freezing on the doorknob to my apartment. Adrian was the person I most wanted to avoid out of all the people. 

I hadn't seen him in days since we had a fight at home and I found out about his affair with Stephanie. However, he suddenly showed up in the corridor of my apartment, casually standing by the wall. He looked like the man I had previously admired - tall, with perfectly groomed dark hair, and sporting the identical cocky smile that I once found charming. 

Now it only makes my skin crawl.

"I can’t recall inviting you, Adrian," I stated with contempt, trying to keep my voice composed. "What brings you here?" 

He casually drifted from the wall and strolled over to me, his hands casually tucked in his pockets, as if we were long-lost friends reuniting. As he approached, my anger intensified. I felt outraged by his audacity to appear after his past actions. 

"Calm down, Shania," he remarked with a frustratingly casual tone.“I just wanted to talk. We didn’t exactly finish our conversation the other day.”

I clenched my jaw, unlocking the door and stepping inside. “There’s nothing to talk about. You and I are over. Go be with Stephanie. You’re better suited for each other.”

I tried to close the door behind me, but Adrian shoved his foot in, forcing it open. 

His eyes gleamed with a sinister intensity as he stated, "You believe you can simply leave without consequence? It doesn't operate that way, Shania." 

I stepped back, sensing my heart beating rapidly in my chest as he forcefully barged into my apartment. "You have no power to control the circumstances. That privilege was taken away when you had relations with my sister!" 

A sneer contorted Adrian's face as he forcefully closed the door. "That is an issue that you must deal with. You always think you’re the victim. Poor Shania, the perfect wife who did everything for her husband and never got anything in return. Get over yourself.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. How had I ever loved this man? How had I ever thought he was the one? My eyes narrowed, rage simmering just below the surface. “I’m filing for divorce, Adrian. We’re done.”

Adrian let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. “You think it’s that easy? You really think you can just walk away from me, take my name, and run? We’re still legally married, Shania. I own you.”

My blood turned to ice. Adrian's words were filled with malice, conveying a strong sense of danger. His previous tendency towards power and control had escalated into a more extreme level of manipulation in his present actions. 

Sensing the gravity of the situation, I immediately positioned myself defensively, trying to soothe myself by regulating my breathing. "I refuse to respond to you," I said through gritted teeth.

"You have deceived me, Adrian. You lost any right you had over me the second you slept with Stephanie.”

He moved closer, his eyes locking onto mine, daring me to look away. “You’re still mine, Shania. As long as we’re married, you belong to me.”

As I prepared to argue, the words faded away on my lips when a knock was heard at the door. Adrian abruptly halted and redirected towards the door, his eyes conveying irritation. 

"Are you expecting anyone?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. I chose not to reply. I rushed to the door with a pounding heart, eager to find any reason to escape from Adrian. I opened it and gasped when I saw who was standing there. 

Stefan

His gaze quickly met mine, causing time to momentarily stand still. The tension between us sizzled in the air, and I could sense the warmth spreading in my cheeks. Stefan was wearing his typical elegant suit, looking authoritative and very imposing in his demeanor. 

Not only his looks surprised me, but also the expression in his eyes. A combination of worry and an unidentified feeling. “Is everything alright, Shania?” Stefan’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, as if he sensed the danger in the room.

Adrian scoffed from behind me. “Who the hell is this?”

I turned slightly, my body acting as a barrier between the two men. “This is none of your business, Adrian. You need to leave.”

Adrian narrowed his eyes while approaching, looking at Stefan with suspicion. "Ah, now I understand the situation. Have you already started to move on? This is the essence of the situation. You’re trying to replace me.”

Stefan's face stayed emotionless, his teeth gritted as he moved closer, his gaze fixed on Adrian. "Your presence is no longer desired here," he calmly mentioned, with a hint of danger in his voice. “I suggest you leave.”

Adrian let out a bitter laugh, glaring at Stefan. "And who in the world do you think you are? Do you believe you can enter here and dictate my actions? Shania is still my wife. This is between us.”

"Not anymore," Stefan stated calmly, his voice as strong as metal. "If you're smart, you'll leave immediately." 

Adrian appeared ready to react angrily for a brief moment, but Stefan's cold look caused him to pause. 

He took a step back, showing contempt towards me before quickly walking away. He spat, “It’s not finished, Shania. You will feel sorry for doing this." 

I remained silent as Adrian angrily left the apartment and slammed the door. As soon as he left, I exhaled nervously, feeling my body shake with the adrenaline. Stefan stood, observing me closely, his gaze softening a bit as the room's tension relaxed. 

"Are you ok?" he inquired, speaking softly. 

I nodded, but I didn't have the confidence to talk. My hands continued to tremble, while my heart beat rapidly in my chest. Everything seemed to be falling apart too quickly. Stefan stepped closer, his presence grounding me. He mentioned quietly that I should not have to handle him by myself alone and also offered full assistance in a polite voice. "If you require assistance... I am available." 

I looked into his eyes, trying to find the honesty in what he said. Stefan was an enigma to me - a man with his own agenda, his own mysteries. At this moment, he was the sole obstacle blocking me from the chaos Adrian had caused. 

"I confess I'm unsure of what to do," I whispered softly. “I believed I could manage it, but Adrian is determined not to give up.”

Stefan’s jaw clenched. “Shania, you don't need to deal with this by yourself. I can ensure he stays away from you in the future.”

His voice sent a shiver down my spine due to its intensity. His speaking style had a comforting yet unsettling quality that made me feel safe and uneasy simultaneously. 

However, what is the price? What did Stefan really want?

"I'm grateful for your protection," I said cautiously, "but what's in it for you?" 

His eyes became darker, and I briefly wondered if he would remain silent. Next, he moved nearer, speaking in a quiet and threatening tone. “Shania, you are aware of my desires. We have already talked about it. I will keep you safe - and also your child. However, in exchange, I require you to take into account my proposal. “

The gravity of his words weighed on me, and I acknowledged with a sinking sensation that my life was slipping out of my grasp. Adrian's deception and Stefan's proposal made everything more complicated. I found myself right in the midst of everything. 

I nodded in a slow manner, not able to rely on my voice. Stefan looked into my eyes for a while, then he moved away, his face showing no emotion. 

"Take your time to think," he stated. “But not too much time. You know where to find me.”

With that, he turned and left, leaving me standing alone in the apartment, the weight of the decision pressing down on me like a storm about to break.