Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 41 - Chapitre 50

　　Emily lay on his side, the soft hush of the evening wrapping around the room. The shadows on the ceiling shifted gently as the breeze moved through the curtains.　　She hadn’t spoken in a while.　　Adrian, lying beside her, finally broke the silence.　　“You’re still awake,”he said quietly.　　Emily hesitated.“I’m just…thinking.”　　“About?”　　She turned her head slightly, catching the faint outline of his profile in the dim light.“Us,”she admitted, voice barely audible.　　For a beat, he didn’t respond.　　Then—“I see.”　　“I mean…”she searched for the words.“It’s just…things feel different now. We’re still pretending, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like pretending.”　　Adrian’s gaze remained steady, though his voice dropped just a touch.“It doesn’t feel like it to me either.”　　Her breath caught, her heartbeat fluttering in the silence that followed.　　Then he shifted slightly, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair from her cheek. His fingers lingered, soft and warm.　　She shifted sli

　　“I thought about it.”Adrian’s voice was low, his jaw tight. His gaze dropped for a second, shadowed with something unreadable.“But after five years…I still can’t watch her end up with someone else.”　　His mother’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing. Not yet.　　Adrian exhaled, slow and steady.“It was at that summit in Geneva. I overheard Mike—bragging to someone about how, once they were married, he’d have Emily transfer all her shares to him. Said it was for her own good. So she could stay home, stop worrying about work.”　　He gave a bitter smile.　　“Like she was just some pretty accessory to keep on a shelf.”　　His mother’s silence deepened. There was no judgment in her face, only calculation—and perhaps, the faintest trace of sympathy.　　“I asked Lila,”Adrian continued,“and she told me they’d already argued over it. Emily didn’t want to give up her work, her independence. But Mike didn’t care.”　　His gaze lifted, sharp again.　　“There’s a saying in business—timing

　She wanted to ask Adrian what style he liked—what kind of design he imagined wearing every day.But the question caught in her throat.What if he hadn’t meant it?　　And what if he’d just said that to pacify his mother?What if he didn’t care?　　That thought dropped into her stomach like a stone.　　Adrian’s mother stood from the sofa with a soft smile,announcing that she needed to rest and recover from jet lag.“Your father will arrive tonight,”she said,stretching slightly.“We’ll have dinner together,all of us.”　　Emily nodded and watched her disappear down the hall.　　She turned to go upstairs,already reaching for the railing—when Adrian’s voice stopped her.　　“Don’t you have something you want to ask me?”　　She paused,glancing back at him.“About the wedding rings?”　　He arched an eyebrow,as if amused by her hesitation.“Mm.&

Their expressions shifted almost instantly.“What is it?” Emily asked, watching them trade sharp glances.Adrian’s mother frowned, turning the phone so Adrian could see. “Some celebrity nonsense.”Adrian’s brows furrowed as he read the screen.“Apparently a well-known actress posted a photo of me on her social media,” he said, voice flat.Emily blinked. “You?”He turned his phone to show her.It was a candid shot—Adrian’s profile, taken from across a restaurant terrace. The caption beneath it read:The view here is amazing.Her fans had already flooded the comments.“Is that your boyfriend?”“That’s Adrian Blackwood from E International!”“When did this happen?!”Emily stared, then let out a short laugh. “You don’t even know her, do you?”Adrian shook his head. “Never met her.”“Well… I mean, that was the day we got married,” Emily added lightly. “So unless sh

The dinner ended in quiet elegance.Once the last course was served and the champagne glasses had been cleared,the restaurant’s staff and security subtly swept through the premises,ensuring the media had dispersed.　　Emily and Adrian exited through the private entrance,the air outside cool and still.They walked toward the car,her heels tapping softly against the stone tiles.Just as the driver opened the door—　　Click.　　Adrian paused.　　His hand instinctively found hers.He leaned in,voice low near her ear,“Someone’s still here.Camera.”　　Emily’s heart skipped.“Seriously?”　　He looked over his shoulder with a faint smirk.“Seems like someone’s determined.”　　Then,without warning,he turned back to her and said lightly,“Well,it’s what married couples usually do after dinner,isn’t it?”　　Emily blinked—“Do what?”　　Before she could react,he leaned in.　　The kiss wasn’t rushed.Wasn’t for show.　　It was slow.Intentional.The kind of kiss that made time blur at the edges.　　Emily’s heart gave a