Too Late for Sorry, Mr. Billionaire (Chasing my Wife Back) novel Chapter 11

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**Hands Trembled Before Goodbye — Ryan Ellis 11**

VIVIAN found herself transfixed by her phone long after the conversation with Adrian had concluded. Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitant to sever the connection, as if the mere act of letting go might erase the warmth of their exchange. Just moments ago, her face had been illuminated by a radiant smile, laughter bubbling forth as Adrian confessed he missed her too. His voice had wrapped around her like a soft blanket—casual yet infused with a charm that made her heart flutter. But now, with the call ended, the light in her eyes dimmed, her smile fading into something inscrutable, concealing an emotion buried beneath layers of practiced restraint.

Sadness flickered in her gaze, a faint but undeniable presence lurking just beneath the surface, like a shadow that refused to dissipate. She detested this feeling, the bittersweet ache that clawed at her chest each time she remembered that Adrian wasn’t truly hers—not entirely, not openly.

In a moment of impulse, her hand twitched, and she tapped her phone back on. The screen illuminated her face with a cool glow, casting a soft light on her features. With a sense of determination, she navigated to her gallery, scrolling through the images until she found what she was searching for—photos she had saved from her social media, snapshots of Amelia, Adrian’s wife.

The moment Amelia’s face appeared on the screen, Vivian’s heart tightened, a wave of emotions crashing over her, nearly overwhelming her composure. Jealousy surged within her, accompanied by a bitter resentment and an aching longing she fought desperately to suppress. Her expression darkened, the corners of her lips pressing together as if each image taunted her very existence.

“Perfect little Amelia,” she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur, cracking under the strain of her emotions. She zoomed in on one particular photo: Amelia at a charity gala, radiating elegance, her smile effortless and her posture poised. Amelia possessed a beauty that demanded admiration without effort, a magnetism that drew people in without uttering a single word. Vivian was acutely aware of this, and so was Adrian.

Her grip on the phone tightened as a storm of thoughts raged within her. Why did it have to be Amelia? Why her of all people?

Vivian’s eyes glimmered, not with tears, but with a fierce fire, sharp and consuming. She reached for the wine glass beside her, her manicured fingers curling around the stem, lifting it slowly as if performing a ritual. She took a long sip, her gaze fixed on the glowing screen, the red liquid swirling within the glass, mirroring the turmoil rising in her chest.

Each picture felt like a dagger, Amelia’s smile a cruel reminder of all that Vivian could not claim. Adrian belonged to another woman; he returned home each night to another bed. No matter the sweet whispers shared in the dark, no matter how tightly he held her, he still wore another woman’s ring on his finger.

Vivian exhaled shakily, leaning back into the plush velvet chair that cradled her. The apartment was silent, the faint hum of the city outside muffled by the thick curtains she had drawn hours ago. The air was tinged with the scent of wine and expensive perfume, yet it felt suffocating.

Her mind drifted back to Adrian’s voice, the promise that he would see her soon. But promises… promises felt hollow. She yearned for more. She deserved more.

Setting the glass down gently, she fought against the urge to hurl it against the wall. Her nails tapped rhythmically against the back of the phone as she scrutinized Amelia’s picture once more. Slowly, almost reluctantly, a bitter smile crept onto her lips.

“You think you have won,” she murmured softly to the image, her tone laced with venom. “But you don’t even realize how close you are to losing.”

With a deliberate motion, she let the phone slip from her fingers onto the table, the screen facing up, Adrian’s name glowing like a lifeline she was too afraid to sever. She stared at it, her heart caught in a tumult between love and fury, devotion and desperation.

Pouring herself another glass of wine, the sound echoed sharply in the stillness of the room. As she brought the glass to her lips, a silent vow formed in her mind. One way or another, she would not remain in the shadows. She had invested too much, sacrificed too much, waited far too long. If Amelia believed her position was secure, she was gravely mistaken.

With another sip, her eyes narrowed, her heart racing with the weight of her resolve. She didn’t know how or when it would happen, but one thing was clear: Adrian would be hers. Completely hers.