CHAPTER 4
Adrian
I could barely focus on anything these past two days. My mind kept circling the same thing; how to explain everything to Elena without hurting her more than I already had, and how to make sure she wouldn’t walk away from me.
“You okay, man?” my colleague asked, giving my shoulder a light tap.
I blinked, realizing I had spaced out right in the middle of discussing the plant layout for the new site.
“Yeah,” I said, clearing my throat. “Where were we?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Something’s off. You’re never this unfocused.”
“Just… dealing with something,” I admitted.
“Family?” he asked carefully. “Is Elena okay? Her due date’s still a while away, right?”
I shook my head. “She’s fine.”
He nodded slowly, but I could tell he didn’t fully buy it. Before he could push further, someone called out from the doorway.
“Mr. White, excuse me. The Board is requesting your presence in a meeting regarding the Illinois hospital project.”
I checked the time. It was already past five. I was supposed to be home earlier. I needed to talk to Elena and fix things before the distance between us grew any wider.
I exhaled, steady but edged with frustration. “Alright,” I said. “Let’s go.”
The meeting with the Board dragged on far longer than I’d expected, each discussion stretching into the next until time slipped through my fingers.
By the time I finally stepped out, the entire floor had gone quiet.
Most of the lights were off, the office already settling into its after-hours silence.
I gathered my things quickly and headed for the parking lot.
On the drive home, I tried calling Elena—once, twice, three times—but every call went straight to voicemail. Each unanswered ring twisted something tighter in my chest.
I gripped the wheel harder.
All I could do was hope she would already be home tonight.
— ? —
Elena
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay over tonight?” Avery asked again, her worry painfully genuine.
I shook my head softly. “It’s okay, Avery. I’m fine.”
“Promise? If anything happens, call me. Right away.”
“I will. Thank you, Ave. And please say hi to Judy for me.”
Her expression wavered, clearly reluctant to leave, but her taxi was already waiting outside. I had to reassure her again before she finally stepped out of the house.
When the door closed behind her, silence filled the living room. I cleaned up just to keep my hands busy, hoping that if I stayed occupied long enough, maybe my mind wouldn’t drift back to Adrian’s betrayal. But it did. Over and over again.
Then I heard it, the familiar sound of a car pulling into the driveway.
Adrian.
Panic shot through me, irrational but sharp. I wasn’t ready to see him. I wasn’t ready to look at the man who broke me... because some part of me still loved him too much, and I was terrified that seeing his face would make me forgive him easily.
I hurried upstairs, almost stumbling as I made my way into our bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed, back against the headboard, trying to steady my breathing.
Then I heard the front door open. Every sound felt amplified—footsteps, keys, the soft click of lights. My chest tightened, a sharp, aching squeeze.
The doorknob turned.
Adrian stepped inside, stopping when he saw me sitting on the bed. A flicker of relief crossed his face, so quick it almost went unnoticed—followed by something tighter, more uncertain.
“You’re home...” he said quietly.
“Were you expecting me to be gone?” I asked.
Adrian didn’t answer right away. His jaw tightened, his eyes flickering with something raw before he finally said, “No. I was afraid you wouldn’t be home.”
Then he stepped closer, only to stop abruptly.
“Elena...” His voice sharpened. “You’re pale. Have you eaten anything today?”
I didn’t answer. Honestly, I didn’t feel hungry at all. All I felt was emptiness, a quiet kind of despair, wishing this was all just a bad dream.
He exhaled. “Let me order something for you,” he said quietly. “Please... don’t skip dinner.” He stepped toward the door, pausing briefly. “I’ll be back.”
He didn’t wait for my reply. He slipped out of the room quietly, closing the door with a soft click.
Silence washed over the room again. I stared at the empty doorway, trying to hold back the tears that suddenly threatened to spill.
Why was he still like this?
Why was he still gentle, still worried, still here?
If he cared this much, why did he ever let things get this far?
A fresh wave of pain hit me so sharply it stole my breath. I pressed a hand to my chest, then slowly lowered it to my belly. My child—our child—rested there, innocent and unaware of the mess around her.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, voice breaking. “I should’ve taken better care of you today.”
A few moments later, Adrian stepped back into the bedroom carrying the dinner he’d ordered. I looked at him with empty eyes, but the moment he saw the tears spilling down my face, his expression changed completely.
“Elena...” he whispered.
He placed the takeout quietly on the nightstand beside the bed, then moved closer and sank down in front of me.
I didn’t respond.
“I’m sorry, Elena,” he murmured, taking my hands gently in his. “I know there’s nothing I can say that will make it right. But I regret hurting you. Every second of it.”
“I don’t understand,” I breathed, my voice trembling. “I thought we were happy. I thought I was enough.”
“This is my fault,” he said hoarsely. “I’m the one who stopped being grateful. I’m the one who failed you.”
Something inside my chest snapped. “I hate you, Adrian,” I choked out, tears blurring everything. My voice broke despite how hard I tried to hold it together. “I hate you so much.”
His jaw tensed, but he didn’t let go.
“I hate you for making me feel like this. I hate you for putting me through so much. I hate you. I hate you!” My fists hit his chest, weak but full of pain.
He didn’t stop me. Instead, he pulled me into his arms.
“It’s okay, Elena,” he said softly against my shoulder, his face buried near my neck. “You can hate me. You can be angry at me.”
His arms tightened around me, desperate and trembling. “Just don’t leave me,” he whispered, voice breaking in a way I’d never heard from him. “Please. I can’t live without you.”