Too Late for Sorry, Mr. Billionaire (Chasing my Wife Back) novel Chapter 20

**Hands Trembled Before Goodbye — Ryan Ellis 20**

Vivian felt as if the ground had shifted beneath her feet when those words escaped Adrian’s lips. For a fleeting moment, she was frozen in place, her gaze locked onto his, desperately searching for any sign of doubt, any hint that he might be reconsidering. But all she found was a steadfast resolve that chilled her to the bone. A scoff erupted from her, sharp and bitter, but it quickly morphed into a hollow laugh, echoing with a sadness that felt deeper than the ocean.

“Wow,” she managed to say, her arms instinctively folding tightly across her chest as if to shield herself from the emotional blow. “So… you don’t even love me?”

Adrian, with a heavy heart, let the neatly folded paper slip from his fingers, landing softly on the bed. He turned fully to face her, his expression calm yet resolute, each word deliberate as it left his lips.

“I love you,” he stated, the weight of his declaration hanging in the air. “But I’m a married man.” He emphasized ‘married’ as if it were a barrier, an unyielding wall that she could not breach. “There are certain boundaries I can’t cross.”

Vivian shook her head vehemently, her hair whipping around her shoulders with the force of her denial.

“Mm mm… no. You don’t love me enough. Because if you did, you wouldn’t make me feel like I’m nothing.” The words tumbled out, raw and unfiltered, as she turned away from him, her face hardening into a mask of defiance. Her shoulders stiffened, and her arms remained tightly folded, a fortress against the pain.

Adrian sensed the distance growing, the chasm between them widening. He stepped closer, closing the gap, his left arm wrapping around her waist with a gentle urgency. He pulled her back toward him, his hand finding its way to her hair, stroking it slowly, tenderly, as if trying to weave comfort into the tension that enveloped them.

“You are not nothing,” he murmured softly, his voice a soothing balm against her turmoil. “You are special.” As he leaned in, his lips brushed against her cheek, hovering close enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath. She rolled her eyes in exasperation, but he pressed on, his tone softening further. “But I’m a married man. We have to be careful. I don’t want to hurt anyone—neither her nor you.”

Turning her head to meet his gaze, she searched his eyes, her voice dropping to a whisper, sharp yet vulnerable.

“So… who am I?”

Adrian’s right hand lifted gently, caressing her chin with his fingertips, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. His voice lowered, almost conspiratorial.

“You are someone special… someone I care about… someone I don’t want to lose.”

In that moment, Vivian felt the walls around her heart begin to crack, the hard exterior softening into a tentative smile, one that she couldn’t help but wear. Before she could rein in her emotions, her lips leaned closer, brushing against his in a fleeting moment of connection. He met her halfway, and they kissed—a sweet, electric moment that felt like both a beginning and an end.

Pulling back slightly, Adrian smirked, a glint of mischief lighting up his face.

“I will get you that latest Samsung I saw screenshotted in your gallery.”

Vivian’s smile widened, illuminating her face with a warmth that seemed to radiate from within.

“Really?” she asked, her voice laced with disbelief and excitement.

He nodded, his eyes sparkling with quiet assurance, and she could feel the joy bubbling up inside her.

“Aww,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. “I love you.” Their lips met again, this time lingering longer, the earlier sadness dissolving into the warmth of his embrace, their connection rekindling the flickering flame of hope.

***

Adrian sat at the dining table, the soft light from his tablet casting a gentle glow on his face, illuminating the features that had once drawn Vivian in. His fingers glided effortlessly across the screen, absorbed in whatever task demanded his attention, his focus sharp yet calm.

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