The Price of Love
Adrian didn't let go of Celeste's hand the entire ride home.
His fingers were tight around hers, knuckles pale from the pressure.
Celeste sat quietly beside him, her heart still hammering against her ribs.
She could still feel the ghost of Lucas's hand on her wrist, the look in his eyes when Adrian barged in.
But more than anything, she could feel the weight of her own mistake—the weight of almost walking away from the one man who never stopped fighting for her.
She turned to Adrian, her throat tight. His jaw was clenched, his eyes straight ahead, but she could see it—the war inside him. Rage. Fear. Relief.
And pain.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking.
Adrian's gaze flickered to her, his eyes unreadable. "For what?"
"For doubting you... for believing them."
His hands gripped the wheel harder. "You had every reason to. I should've told you everything sooner. I should've protected you better."
Her chest ached. She reached over and squeezed his hand, grounding herself in him, in the heat of his skin and the steadiness of his pulse. Adrian was real. What they had was real. And no lie could ever take that away again.
Just as a fragile peace began to bloom between them—
The storm was already breathing down their necks.
—
Somewhere across the city...
Lucas sat in the backseat of a sleek, black car, his jaw bruised and swollen, an ice pack pressed lazily to his skin. The city lights streaked past the tinted windows, but he barely noticed.
"She still went back to him," he muttered.
Beside him, Emily sat in silence, lips tight with restrained fury.
"I gave her every reason to doubt him," Lucas sneered. "We orchestrated everything perfectly. The fake messages. The photos. The rumors. The fake assault on you."
Emily finally spoke, her voice cold and sharp. "You were too soft."
Lucas turned to her, eyes glinting. "Not anymore."
Emily raised a brow. "What are you saying?"
He smirked, slow and venomous. "It's time we stop playing nice."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"She made her choice. Now... it's my turn."
—
Adrian and Celeste arrived home past midnight. The air was heavy, like the night was holding its breath.
Celeste stepped into the shower first, trying to scrub away the panic, the guilt, the fear. But the water couldn't wash away the images burned into her memory—Lucas's betrayal. Emily's lies. Adrian bleeding from his knuckles.
When she emerged, Adrian was sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, rubbing his temples like he was trying to will the world into silence.
She walked over and sat beside him, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders. She gently rested her head against his shoulder. "We're okay now... right?"
Adrian turned to her, eyes softening as he cupped her cheek. "Yeah. We are."
Celeste smiled faintly, her eyes fluttering shut as he leaned in to kiss her—
The sound of shattering glass pierced the air like a scream.
They froze.
Then—
The bedroom door exploded open.
Celeste screamed, stumbling back.
Lucas stormed in. His eyes were wild. A gun glinted in his hand.
Adrian immediately jumped in front of Celeste, shielding her with his body. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Lucas's voice was calm. Too calm. "You weren't supposed to win, Adrian."
Adrian's muscles tensed. "Put the gun down. Now."
Lucas stepped forward. "I gave her a chance to leave you. I tried to be patient. I tried to let her see who you really are. But she was too blind. Too stupid."
His eyes flicked to Celeste. "You made me the villain. Me. When all I ever did was love you."
Celeste's heart pounded against her ribs. "Lucas, please. You don't have to do this."
"Oh, but I do," he murmured. "Because you chose him."
Adrian shifted, preparing to act—but Lucas was faster.
The gunshot ripped through the air.
Adrian's body jerked.
Celeste screamed.
"No! No, no, no—Adrian!"
He collapsed to the floor, a gasp torn from his lips. Blood spread across his shirt like a blooming flower.
Celeste dropped beside him, hands trembling as she pressed them to his chest. "Stay with me! Oh God—Adrian, look at me. Look at me!"
Lucas stood still, breathing hard, the gun lowering slowly. "That bullet was meant for you, Celeste.You know, if I can't have you, no one else will.But your hero couldn't help himself."
Her blood turned to ice.
"You're a monster," she whispered.
Lucas tilted his head. "You should've chosen me. I would've loved you right."
Before she could react, Adrian reached for her wrist, his grip weak but deliberate.
"Ce...leste..." His voice was barely audible. "Don't let him win..."
Tears streamed down her face. "Don't talk, Adrian. Please, just hold on. You're going to be okay, you hear me? You have to be okay."
Adrian managed the faintest smile. "Told you... I'd never let you go..."
Then—
Flashing red and blue lights flooded through the windows.
Lucas's expression shifted. He glanced toward the hallway.
Emily's voice came through a small earpiece in his ear. "They're here. You need to move."
Lucas backed toward the shattered window. "Guess this is goodbye."
Celeste shielded Adrian with her body, fury burning in her chest. "If you run now, you'll only make it worse."
Lucas smirked. "Too late for redemption, sweetheart."
He climbed out the window and vanished into the night just as the police burst into the room, guns drawn.
But Celeste barely heard them.
All she saw was Adrian.
Blood. So much blood.
His face pale, his breathing shallow.
"Adrian," she sobbed, cradling his face. "You promised me forever. You can't leave me. Not now. Not when I finally found you again."
His lips twitched, the barest ghost of a smile. "Not... leaving," he whispered. "Just... resting."
Then—
His eyes fluttered shut.
His body stilled.
And Celeste shattered.
"No!" she screamed. "ADRIAN! Please, stay with me!"
Paramedics rushed forward. Officers shouted. The room was chaos.
But in Celeste's world—
There was only silence.
Only blood.
Only him.
She cradled Adrian's face, her tears falling onto his cheeks. His skin was cold. Too cold.
"No," she sobbed. "No, no, no—Adrian, don't you dare."
Her voice cracked as she shook him gently. "Why do you keep doing this? Why do you keep almost dying on me?!"
Her scream ripped from her chest like it was torn from her soul.
"This is the second time, Adrian—the second time I've almost lost you for good!" Her hands trembled as she pressed them against his bleeding chest. "How many times do I have to watch you bleed for me before fate decides it's enough?"
Her throat tightened, words choking in between sobs.
"Stop being my hero," she whispered brokenly. "Stop trying to die for me. Just live. Live for me, Adrian."
She clutched him tighter, her forehead resting against his. "Please... please, don't leave me. Not like this. Not now. I just found you again. I just started believing again."
"Stay," she begged, voice barely audible. "Just... stay."
Adrian's lips barely moved.
"Always," he breathed.
And then his body went still.
Celeste let out a cry so full of pain it pierced the room like a blade.