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21– Adaline
Last Updated:
2025-04-10 05:43:48
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To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 22– Adaline
The muffled echo of my name in my head wakes my mind up. But my eyes are still closed, limbs a little sore as I shift on the bed. But this doesn’t feel like my bed at all. It’s too restrictive… a little softer than my bed.“Adaline,” I hear again and feel a hand roaming my body. I jerk up with a gasp, blinking rapidly to adjust my eyes to the bright sunlight filing in through an open window. I plant my face inside my palms and scrub aggressively, groaning. I really need more sleep. When I look up again, I realize I’m still in my mother’s office. Kate is staring at me with a mocking smile, a brow curled up. “Your limbs are sore, aren’t they?” She clicks her tongue. “That’s why someone like you shouldn’t be sleeping on a couch.”“Someone like me?” my voice is groggy.She nods. “You’re a rough sleeper, Adaline. You need a really big space to survive the night without breaking yourself in half.”I snort out a laugh. “Shut your mouth.”“Come on,” she chuckles. “You need to freshen up a
Last Updated : 2025-04-11To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 23– Adaline
One… two… three… Seconds tick by, and yet, dad is yet to say anything. All he’s managed to do is steady his breathing, lick his lips, and blink. I don’t know why he’d react so oddly to this. Kate has been more like a daughter of this family. He always has been responsible for her even though they rarely see each other. This shouldn’t be difficult. “You have to say something, dad,” I say, calling back his mind to present. “Or… are you having a heart attack?”A small smile dents the corners of his mouth, his head shaking. “Why?”I inhale a deep breath. “Well… for one, she’s already like a sister. And I want her to take up our last name, so life will be a little easier for her.”“Life is already very easy for her,” he tells me matter-of-factly.“Because I’m here.” I counter. “You don’t even know the girl exists. You don’t ask about her except it’s necessary, you don’t—”“Why would I ask about her when it’s unnecessary? I provide for her, that’s all that matters.”I shake my head. “So
Last Updated : 2025-04-11To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 24– Adaline
His arms are tight around me, really tight. I can barely breathe with the way he’s squeezing me into himself. “I’m sorry, Ada,” Michael whispers, his voice pleading. The man is infuriating. He doesn’t like to talk to me, but knows how to show his vulnerability whenever he thinks I might leave him. I don’t think this is healthy at all.My face is pressed against his chest, my shoulders shaking as the sobs I've been holding back finally break free.“You really got what you wanted, didn’t you?” I cry into his chest.“I’m sorry,” he murmurs again, his voice trembling, making my heart clench. His breathing comes in shallow bursts, brushing against my ear warmly, sending tiny shivers down my spine. I hate him for making me feel this way.How is it even possible to be this angry, this heartbroken, and still have my stomach flip at the sound of his voice? How can I ache for someone who I’m supposed to be angry with? I clench my jaw, trying to hold myself together. My resolve hardens. I p
Last Updated : 2025-04-12To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 25– Michael
It’s been years since I’ve been in here. I cannot remember the last time I was in Rebecca’s office, watching her behind her desk while she barked orders at her workers—and sometimes screamed at me when I got things wrong. But today, I’m here again, with her daughter who is now my wife.It brings back memories—the memories I love to hold onto, and the ones I’ve been trying so hard to forget. It was in this office that I became Rebecca’s right hand man. It was in this office that she told me I could be independent, work for myself. It was in this office that the sniper who took her life stood and fired a shot that sent a bullet straight into her head. And I was so fucking late. So being here… I don’t know how it makes me feel. But Adaline wants to be here and I don’t know how to say no to her. “Are you sure it’s okay that we’re in here?” I ask her, hoping to god she changes her mind and takes us somewhere else instead. I can see that Adaline doesn’t want to be in here as well. B
Last Updated : 2025-04-12To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 26– Michael
“Adaline?” The door creaks as I push it open, walking into what I suppose is her room on hesitant steps. “Are you in here?”There’s no response. I walk further into the room, my eyes sweeping across the space. Adaline has the same taste as her mother.White everything—from the walls, to the sheets, to the curtains. And anything that is not white is either beige or black. Classy and mysterious.“Adaline?” I call out again, refocusing my mind on why I’m here. There’s still no response but I can hear the shower running. The door leading into her closet is open, so I take that as an invitation and step in.One step. Two steps. “Adaline?”When she doesn’t respond, I stop in my steps, a scoff leaving me. Smart girl. She’s luring me—into her bathroom.Fine, if that’s the game she wants to play, then I’ll oblige her.Anticipation pulses like a roar in my head as I wrap a hand around the door knob, twisting it slowly, taking my time with it so she feels exactly how I feel.Desperate.Needy.T
Last Updated : 2025-04-13To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 27– Michael
It’s been long minutes since I returned to Jameson’s office and quite frankly, steering my mind away from Adaline’s bare ass splayed on that island has been a hassle.And all I’ve done since coming in here is chug one glass after another of scotch.Jameson, although matching my reckless drinking pace, has been staring at me with narrowed eyes, seemingly wondering how my mood went sour after I went to meet Adaline.I groan and slam the glass down on the table for the… I don’t know, I’ve lost count.“You’re in a mood,” Jameson points out, taking a slow sip of the remaining drink in his glass.His eyes are already hooded, but the man is just as stubborn as his daughter. “You think?” I ask.He lifts his shoulder in shrug. “Just saying, my man. What happened?”“What happened is that your daughter is an infuriating woman. I’m this close to admitting she’s too much for me to handle.” I bite out, a growl in my voice.Actually, what I mean to say is that his daughter is beautiful, so beautifu
Last Updated : 2025-04-13To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 28– Adaline
I’m done packing my bags—just the necessary things I’d be needing for my stay at Michael’s. I don’t know how long I’ll be there before I have to come back home, but I’m sure I won’t be lacking anything.If there’s anything I need, Michael can sort it out.I zip up the box and stand in front of the mirror, adjusting the sleeves of my dress and smoothing out the fabric. My fingers twitch slightly with nervousness as his words echo in my mind.The things he wants to do to me, how he wants to do them… I inhale a deep breath, shaking my head to rid myself of such thoughts before focusing on styling my hair.The door creaks open behind me.I glance toward it, half-expecting Michael to walk in and tease me about taking too long.But it’s not him.It’s Kate.“You look happy,” she says with a soft smile, stepping inside and closing the door gently behind her. “Happier than you were yesterday…”I nod, my lips curling faintly. “Yeah… I took your advice and spoke to Michael about how I feel. And
Last Updated : 2025-04-13To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 29– Adaline
It’s almost noon, and I can’t say my day has gotten better.From the moment I woke up—after just a few hours of sleep that can be considered “adequate,” yet somehow still exhausted—with a splitting headache, to now, sitting in my mother’s art room, pretending to work on a piece… nothing has changed, everything has just been going downhill.I haven’t made a single decent brushstroke. My eyes aren’t even on the canvas—they’re fixed outside the window, watching the rain pelt the ground aggressively. Of all the days, it chose to rain today.The rain had better wash away this worry of mine before I completely crash out.My fingers shake around the brush, making it slip from my hand for the millionth time today, falling straight onto my shorts and staining them red. A low groan rumbles in my throat and I collapse back into the seat, slouching and pushing my lips out into a pout. My jaw clenches hard. My teeth feel like they’re grinding to dust.This isn’t how I envisioned my day.But it’s
Last Updated : 2025-04-13
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To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 41– Michael
“Caleb?”“Yes, ma’am?”“I’m in a relationship with Michael now.”“I’m happy for you ma’am.”My heart is swelling with the kind of happiness and pride I didn’t think could ever be possible. Firstly, because I’m in a relationship with Adaline Black, my wife, my woman. This feels wrong on all levels—watching her beam with joy about being in a relationship with me out of choice when I know she has been my wife for months. And all it’ll take to make her see it, is to show her marriage certificates with her signatures on them. Secondly, my Adaline isn’t shy to tell everyone who wishes to hear about our ‘new relationship.’First, she called Kate. Then when Caleb arrived to drive us back to the city on my order, that’s the first thing she’s telling him. And she’s so jumpy.This is a happy Adaline.I love the happy Adaline. “Baby?” she calls out, looking up at me. Me?Baby?Oh… God help me. My head falls back and my throat vibrates with a groan before I can stop myself.Caleb snorts and I
To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 40– Adaline
“She is so clingy,” I say, stroking the dog’s back as I stare at Michael who just finished answering a call and is advancing towards the bed I’m lying on with Joy. “Like there’s no sense of boundaries.” The mattress is still on the floor and placed close to the glass window where there’s a make-believe waterwall falling off rocks. Michael chuckles softly, standing over me. “She loves you, and she’s been trained never to leave your side.” I purse my lips. “How is it possible to train the dog for me without me being present?”“Because dogs are smart. And Joy is extremely smart,” he says with pride, kicking off their shoes. “Can I join you?”“Of course,” I tell him with a smile, patting the empty side of the bed, “bad I’m not sharing the blanket.”I glance at him, but he’s got that lazy grin on his face as he lowers himself to the bed with a sigh. “Come over here, I want to hold you.”My brows shoot up, my heart fluttering as I ask, “Why?”“Because I want to hold you… keep you warm, f
To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 39– Michael
Did I fuck it up?I think I moved too fast?I shouldn’t have asked for a kiss too soon… Fuck me.My hands are shaky as I punch the code into the electric key, scanning my thumbprint. The lock clicks and I open the door with a shaky breath. I’m greeted by quietness. It still smells like wood and stone in here, proof that this place is untouched. I’ve barely been here since the construction workers finished with it, because the intention wasn’t to use it now. This was meant for later. For our peace.I guess now is later. My fingers hover on the doorknob a second longer, then I turn and head back to the car.Adaline is sitting still in the front seat, her hand running gently through the kitten’s fur. She doesn’t look up when I approach, but she knows I’m there. She always knows. I open her door quietly, like I’m afraid even the sound will startle her.Or maybe I’m afraid she’d yell at me for trying to kiss her. I don’t know… all of this feels so confusing, too difficult for even a ma
To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 38– Adaline
Michael is holding me tight, too tight, his muscles tight, heart beating erratically where my head is resting against his chest. “Michael?” I murmur, my voice muffled against his bicep almost covering my entire face. “What’s wrong?” I feel his head shake as he plants kisses on the top of my head. “Nothing, baby.” Fisting his shirt, I pry him away, shifting back on a step and staring at him with furrowed brows. “You’re here”“I am,” he says in agreement.“Why?” I ask.“Because I missed you and I wanted to spend the day with you,” he answers, immediately crouching down and petting the dog like this is his small way of telling me I shouldn’t be asking any more questions. A small smile tugs my lips as I stare at the man. He’s so big and brooding, but is always afraid of answering my questions, and sometimes even looking me in the eye. And I can tell it’s not because he doesn’t want to tell the truth, but because he’s afraid of my reaction to it.Translation: He’s afraid of me. “You d
To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 37– Michael
I crack my knuckles before gripping my steering wheel with one hand and turning the key in the ignition with the other. The car hums to life. I strap the phone to the holder, watching the beeping red dot on the map as I adjust my hoodie before driving out of the parking lot. I follow Adaline’s trail slowly, keeping my car a few blocks behind her as I watch her stroll the street casually, her head lolling from side to side as though she’s humming to a song. She curls the leash tighter around her wrist, and Joy surprisingly falls into step beside her, behaving well like a perfectly trained show dog.Joy is everything but a show dog. She’s a beast—fucking ruthless in all forms of ruthless. But I made sure she learned to be soft around Adaline, except of course she senses danger. The dog is doing me proud, I can’t even lie. I retrieve a burner phone from the middle console, dialing the only number stored in it. It rings once and Caleb answers immediately. “You have eyes?” I ask him.
To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 36– Michael
Months before now, I would’ve sworn on anything that I am a man of my words. Turns out, I’m not. Not really.Turns out, I have a soft spot for every member of the Daniels family. After I did what a man should do and told Jameson about my feelings towards his daughter and he turned me down, telling me I wasn’t good enough to love her, just good enough to keep her safe from harm, I had promised myself to make him regret the day we crossed paths. I swore I’d take the remaining piece of him and break it into irrecoverable pieces. My plan was simple: Stay away from Adaline for as long as I deemed necessary, appear in her life once more and deposit a stronger seed of hatred and resentment towards her father in her heart. She sees him like her enemy, and embraces me like her only safe option. His hell, my heaven. But I couldn’t even keep that promise. Jameson, apart from being a good friend, my boss’s husband, and business partner, has been a man I’ve looked up to.And when he reached
To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 35– Adaline
When my eyes open, the room is pitch black, but I know it’s morning already. And I don’t remember drawing my curtains close. I slide a hand underneath my pillow and take out my phone. It’s ten in the morning. Groaning, I sit up and drag a hand through my hair as I slowly, lazily climb out of bed and head into the bathroom.After minutes, I come out of the shower, a towel wrapped around my head, another around my chest. I’m walking towards my closet when I hear a soft bark. Wait… a bark…Oh shit! I own a dog.And a kitten!God help me!I run out of the room, guilt already clawing up my chest for starving my new babies barely twenty four hours of living with her. “Joy!” I shout, my voice halfway to panic, heart thumping loudly. “I’m sorry, baby! I didn’t mean to forget you!”I swear, I’ll gut Michael for putting me in this position. Her barks are awfully steady and happy for a dog that should be growling for food. I follow the sound down the hall leading into my living room. Then I
To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 34– Adaline
I’m waiting outside the company building, beside my father’s car as I wait for him to round up his brief meeting with his secretary and drive me home. My apartment isn’t very far from the family’s estate. Dad initially refused my request of moving in on my own, but when I threatened him with going to my grandmother from my mother’s side and giving up the career path he chose for me, he finally agreed with the condition that he drives me to and from work. I’m scrolling endlessly on my phone when I hear his approaching footsteps and the click of the car as the driver unlocks it. I stare up from my phone, my eyes meeting Dad’s for a brief moment. He simply eyes me as he rounds the car, climbing in—that’s all the acknowledgement I get from him.Someone is in a mood. I climb in and settle at the edge of the seat, still scrolling on my phone. The energy isn’t really helping my already frayed mind. I steal a glance at Dad, rolling my bottom lip between my teeth and nobbling for a moment
To Hate, To Love, And To Wed 33– Adaline
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”Then I walk out. And it’s not because I’m over him. But because I need to get away from him before the tears brimming my eyes start streaming down my face and he sees the effect he has on me. I run into the rest room, and lock myself inside one of the toilets, unbuttoning my shirt as I gasp, chasing my breath. I tell myself that Michael is not here. That was just a brief moment of mental relapse. But who am I kidding. He was there. He is here. Tears wet my cheeks and I wipe them off, sniffing while I gently slam my head into a wall until I’m able to calm my racing mind. And by the time that happens, my thirty minute lunch break is already over. Frustration is a little word to describe how I feel as I rush to the company cafeteria and get a coffee before rushing back to my office. I bring the cup between my lips, taking a slow sip as I open my office door and step in. My brows knit. My eyes narrow. And I stop dead in my tracks.What the…Mich
