Too Late for Sorry, Mr. Billionaire (Chasing my Wife Back) novel Chapter 24

**Hands Trembled Before Goodbye — Ryan Ellis 24**

024

The morning sun crept in through the partially drawn curtains, casting a soft, muted gray hue across the room. The soothing sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, where Adrian was busy. Vivian, on the other hand, was already awake, propped up against the headboard of the bed, her posture straight yet her thoughts tangled. She absently scrolled through her phone, her expression serene, but inside, a storm of anxiety brewed.

Suddenly, a ping! A notification lit up Adrian’s phone, resting innocently on the dresser.

Vivian’s heart skipped a beat. Her gaze instinctively shot toward the closed bathroom door, steam curling from its edges. Adrian was still inside, and she could feel the tension tightening in her chest. Reluctantly, her eyes returned to the phone.

A wave of unease washed over her.

“No… don’t,” she whispered to herself, but the gnawing curiosity was relentless.

With a silent resolve, she slid off the bed, her bare feet whispering against the soft rug as she tiptoed toward the dresser. Her eyes flickered nervously back to the bathroom. The water continued to run, a steady reminder of Adrian’s presence.

When she reached the phone, she hesitated, her hand hovering above it as if it were a fragile artifact. Then, in a moment of impulsive urgency, she snatched it up as if it might vanish. She flipped it over in her palm, her thumb hovering over the screen, her heart racing wildly in her chest.

Just one swipe… just one.

But then—

“What are you doing?”

The voice boomed from behind her, slicing through the silence like a knife. Vivian flinched, the phone slipping from her grasp and landing with a muted thud on the dresser. She spun around, her eyes wide with shock. Adrian stood there, a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water cascading down his hair, his expression dark and furious.

“I… I—” she stammered, her words tumbling over each other in a desperate attempt to explain, “a message popped up, so I… I just thought… I should check.”

Her voice sounded small, like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar, guilt etched across her features.

Adrian stepped closer, his jaw set tight, his gaze piercing into her. They were now standing mere inches apart, the air thick with an unspoken tension.

“Don’t you ever… go through my phone again.” His voice was cold, each word sharp and final, echoing in the stillness.

Vivian’s mouth fell open, stunned into silence. She had braced herself for irritation, perhaps even a mocking tone, but this was something altogether different.

“Even my wife,” he continued, his voice lowering yet somehow sharper, “doesn’t invade my privacy like that. It’s a boundary I will not tolerate.”

Her heart felt like it had been squeezed in a vice, the weight of his words pressing down on her. For a fleeting moment, she struggled to breathe. ‘Even his wife…’

“I-I’m sorry,” she managed to stutter, her voice trembling, “I didn’t mean to… upset you. It won’t happen again.”

Adrian didn’t waver, his eyes still locked onto hers with an intensity that felt unforgiving. He bent down, retrieved his phone, and turned away, striding past her without uttering another word.

As he left, the air seemed to chill, the soft sound of his footsteps fading into the distance of the corridor. Vivian stood frozen beside the dresser, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her lips parted in shock, yet no words emerged.

Her heart raced, no longer from curiosity, but from the sting of his reprimand.

***

Fiona was curled up on the seetee, her eyes glued to the scattered lecture notes that lay across her lap. She had just returned from classes, fatigue pulling at her, but determination kept her focused on catching up. Instead of heading straight home, she had made a stop at Vivian’s apartment. Her instincts told her something was off; Vivian had been missing from class not only today but also the previous Friday.

The creaking of a door interrupted her thoughts. Vivian emerged from her room, phone clutched tightly in her hand. The sharp beeping of repeated dialing filled the air, but it was clear that whoever she was trying to reach was not picking up. Frustration etched deep lines on Vivian’s face. After yet another unanswered ring, she hissed in exasperation, her shoulders slumping as she collapsed onto the sofa beside the television.

“What’s going on?” Fiona asked, her tone calm but laced with concern.

That single question was all it took to unleash Vivian’s pent-up emotions. She turned to Fiona, her words spilling out in a rush.

“Honestly, I don’t know what’s wrong with Adrian,” she said, her voice a mix of worry and indignation. “Because I checked his phone, he’s now acting like I committed a crime! Telling me his wife never does that.”

Fiona blinked, taken aback. She closed her notebook slowly, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Girl, you went too far.”

“Huh?” Vivian’s head snapped up, her brows knitting together in confusion.

“Yes,” Fiona replied firmly, “why would you even think that was okay?”

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