Worship Him

7. Adam

7

ADAM

I stride through the aisles of Gourmet Grove, the upscale grocery store I rarely frequent. I don't usually do my own grocery shopping, but today I have some time to kill and I usually enjoy the food from here.

The scent of fresh produce and artisanal bread fills the air. My fingers brush over perfectly stacked pyramids of vibrant fruits, selecting only the best.

"Excuse me, sir," a store employee interrupts. "Can I help you find anything?"

"I'm good," I reply, waving him off.

I pluck a container of strawberries from the display, inspecting each one through the clear plastic. Satisfied, I add them to my basket.

Next, I move to the avocados, gently pressing each one to test for ripeness.

As I round the corner into the next aisle, I freeze. Destiny. She's here, mere feet away, completely oblivious to my presence.

But she's not alone.

There's a stroller. A baby stroller.

I feel my face growing hot, my throat tightening.

My mind races, processing the scene before me. She leans over the stroller, her lively curls falling forward as she coos at the infant inside.

It's a girl, from what I can see – tiny, dark-skinned, with a tangle of dark hair peeking out from beneath a pale pink hat.

"Who's mama's little princess?" Destiny whispers, her voice carrying in the quiet aisle. "Yes, you are. You're so perfect, cupcake."

She reaches into the stroller, adjusting a blanket. "There we go, all cozy. Now, let's see if we can find those organic puffs you love so much."

A woman passing by smiles at the mother and baby. "She’s adorable," she comments.

"Thank you," Destiny replies warmly, beaming with pride.

She pushes the stroller forward, completely engrossed in her task. I duck behind a display, watching as she passes by.

Glancing between the stroller and the items on sale, she stops in front of a shelf, carefully selecting a few jars of baby food. She holds each one up for the baby to see, narrating her choices as if the infant understands every word.

"Look, cupcake! Carrots today. And maybe some pears for dessert?"

Destiny's entire world has narrowed to that stroller and its precious cargo. She doesn't notice the other shoppers giving her indulgent smiles. Doesn't see me, lurking at the end of the aisle, unable to tear my eyes away.

My mind races, leaping to conclusions faster than I can process them. She must have cheated on me. It's the only explanation that fits. I clench my jaw, holding back the anger flaring through my body.

It makes sense—she was too quick to agree to the divorce, too willing to walk away from everything we built together.

I grip the basket tighter, the strawberries and avocados now forgotten.

"Hey, you gonna buy those or what?" A voice behind me jolts me back to reality.

I turn and see an elderly man waiting for me to move. "Keep 'em," I mutter, dropping the basket and striding out of the store.

The automatic doors barely have time to slide open before I'm through them. My car chirps as I unlock it, yanking the door open with enough force to make the hinges groan.

My phone feels heavy in my hand as I dial my lawyer's number. The line rings twice before he picks up.

"Adam, what's up?" he asks.

"We need an immediate court date," I say, my voice icy and controlled despite the bubbling fury in my chest. "I just found out Destiny has a baby. A baby she’s been hiding from me."

"Wait, what?" He sounds taken aback. "Are you sure?"

"I saw her myself," I snap. "Pushing a stroller with a baby girl inside. Cooing over the child like only a mother could."

"And you think?—"

"She must have cheated on me," I cut him off. "That’s why she agreed to the divorce so easily."

There's a pause on the other end. "Adam, this complicates things."

"No shit," I mutter. "Use this information to dissolve any stakes Destiny has in my company. I don’t want her benefiting from something she jeopardized."

"Alright, but we need to tread carefully here," he cautions. "If we make accusations without solid proof?—"

"I don’t care," I growl. "Get me that court date."

"Okay, okay," he concedes. "I'll push for it immediately."

I end the call and toss the phone onto the passenger seat. My knuckles are white against the steering wheel as I stare out at the busy parking lot, people around me oblivious to my turmoil.

The thought of Destiny with someone else during our marriage churns my stomach. I can’t believe she’d do this to me—to us.

My mind flashes back to moments we shared—our wedding day, late-night conversations about our dreams, plans for a future together.

All tainted now by her backstabbing.

I need to clear my head before I allow my emotions to cloud my decisions. The engine roars to life, matching the fury coursing through my veins.

Destiny. With a baby.

The image burns in my mind, mocking me. How long had she been lying? How long had she been playing me for a fool?

I peel out of the parking lot, tires screeching. The world blurs around me as I drive, my mind a whirlwind of rage and betrayal.

One thing's for sure: this isn't over. Not by a long shot.

The road stretches out in front of me, a blur of asphalt and yellow lines. My mind is spinning as fast as the wheels of my car.

I pull up to a secluded spot just outside the city. The place where Destiny and I shared our first kiss. It's a clearing by the lake, surrounded by tall, swaying trees. Back then, it felt like a sanctuary.

Now, it feels like a graveyard for all the illusions I had about us.

I step out of the car, gravel crunching under my feet. The air is crisp, filled with the scent of pine and earth. I lean against the hood and stare at the water, remembering that night.

"Adam, this is beautiful," Destiny had said, her big, brown eyes wide with wonder as she took in the moonlit lake.

"Not as beautiful as you," I had replied. Her smile lit up the night more than any moon ever could.

That was the moment I knew I wanted her forever.

“Forever,” I mutter to myself, kicking a stone into the brush. What a joke.

I sit on a fallen log, staring at the spot where we shared our first kiss. It was perfect—too perfect, in hindsight. She was radiant, full of dreams and passion. And now? Now she’s a liar with secrets.

I shake my head, feeling a wave of disgust. How blind was I? How could I not see what was right in front of me?

I walk to the edge of the lake, picking up a stone and skipping it across the surface. The ripples remind me of how one lie can spread, affecting everything in its path.

"Cheating on me," I mutter to myself, clenching my fists. "With who? When? How long?"

The memories play out in my mind like a twisted movie reel. All those late nights she said she was working on her clothing line. All those business trips that seemed to come out of nowhere. And I bought it all because I trusted her.

"Stupid," I spit out, hurling another stone into the lake with more force this time. "So damn stupid."

But I'm not here to wallow in self-pity. I'm here to plot my next move. No one makes a fool out of Adam Ryder and gets away with it.

I stand up and pace back and forth, unable to stay still. My mind races with plans for revenge. She won’t get away with this—not after everything we had.

"I’ll destroy her,” I vow quietly to myself. “She’ll regret ever crossing me."

I return to my car, tired of this place and its memories.

Returning to my home feels like walking into a tomb. The grand foyer is eerily silent, the air heavy with the absence of what used to be.

I stride past the empty living room, its pristine furniture mocking me with memories of happier times. The whiskey decanter in my study beckons like an old friend.

I pour a generous glass, savoring the amber liquid as it burns down my throat. I sink into the leather chair, the creak of old leather echoing in the stillness.

I stare at the family portrait on the wall—Destiny and me, smiling like idiots. What a joke. I take another sip, letting the alcohol warm me from the inside out.

My thoughts drift to my company. It’s been a hell of a year, clawing our way back from that PR nightmare. But we’re getting there. Once Destiny is no longer a partner, I can focus fully on restoring our reputation.

She’s been stalling the divorce, dragging it out with her lawyer’s help. But now, I have leverage—the baby she kept hidden from me. The thought ignites a fresh wave of anger.

I imagine her face when she realizes I've found out. The shock, the guilt—she deserves every bit of it. She thought she could hide this from me? Not a chance.

"Out of my life," I mutter to myself, swirling the whiskey in my glass. "Out of my company."

I picture the boardroom without her shadow hanging over it. The relief it’ll bring to finally cut ties completely. No more shared decisions or awkward meetings.

My phone buzzes on the desk, pulling me out of my thoughts. It’s an email from my lawyer—details about an upcoming meeting. Perfect timing.

I skim through it quickly before tossing the phone aside. We’ll push for that court date and use every trick in the book to expedite this mess.

The sooner she’s out, the better.

Leaning back in my chair, I let out a slow breath, feeling a grim satisfaction settle over me. Destiny thought she could play me, but she underestimated just how far I'd go to protect what's mine.

One last sip empties the glass, and I set it down with finality. Tomorrow begins a new chapter—a chapter where Destiny has no part in my life or my company.