066
THE night air outside seemed calm, but inside the mansion, a storm was quietly brewing. Adrian had arrived. home earlier than usual, and for a while, everything seemed perfect. Dinner had been a quiet, intimate affair, candles flickering softly on the dining table, the clinking of cutlery and glasses punctuating the gentle conversation. Vivian had been radiant, her laughter filling the room, the baby bump beneath her blouse visible as she leaned toward Adrian to feed him a bite from her plate.
After the meal, Adrian had barely managed a few words before collapsing onto the bed. Vivian had chuckled softly at his exhaustion, understanding that the hours of board meetings, calls, and planning had drained him. She excused herself for the bathroom, washing up and changing into something comfortable, the soft fabric of her nightdress brushing against her skin. Stepping into the bedroom, she climbed under the covers, slipping next to him. His steady breathing soon lulled her toward sleep, or it should have.
Her peace was shattered by a sudden beep. Then another. And another. She stiffened, glancing at the nightstand. Adrian’s phone, lying innocently beside him, lit up repeatedly. She turned her head to him, he was out cold, oblivious. The way he was sleeping made her stomach tighten with both affection and rising suspicion. Quietly, she stretched her hand toward the phone, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface. She knew his password, after all, she had been the only woman in his life besides the fleeting past, and now, she was his wife. A few taps later, the phone unlocked, and the screen opened directly to his W******p DM.
Vivian froze. Four messages blinked back at her from a contact named ‘Sugar Baby.’
*Last night was mad… you are addictive.*
*I can’t wait to feel your lips again.*
*Let’s do Friday and Saturday… I already booked the suite.”
*Can’t wait to see you again pappy, miss you much.*
Her head reeled. She felt as though the room had tilted violently, and for a moment, the bed beneath her seemed to sway. The world crashed down in a terrifying spiral. Her right hand went to her mouth as her eyes widened in shock. The nausea that often accompanied anger and disbelief hit her instantly, and her heart hammered so fast she thought it might burst through her chest.
Her gaze darted to Adrian, still asleep, unaware of the storm gathering next to him. Vivian’s fingers trembled as she grabbed the phone again, her mind racing. This wasn’t just a message, it was proof. Proof that the man who had promised her a home, safety, and love, the man who had brought her into the mansion as his wife, was betraying her.
“Adrian… Adrian,” she hissed, slapping his arm sharply. The contact of her hand against his shoulder finally stirred him.
“Huh? What is-?” He blinked awake, rubbing his eyes, clearly groggy.
“Damn! What is it?” he muttered, still half-asleep, voice rough
Vivian shoved the phone toward him, her chest heaving.
“What is this?” she demanded, words sharp and deliberate. He blinked, still drowsy, cleaning his eyes before focusing on the screen.
Adrian frowned.
“What are you doing with my phone?” he asked, sitting up and dropping it back onto the nightstand.
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Vivian’s voice rose, trembling with rage.
“Don’t ask me what I’m doing with your phone! So, you brought me here, wifed me, and now you make me look like a fool? Do you know what this does to me?” Her breathing hitched as tears threatened.
He shrugged lazily, looking anywhere but at her.
“Do you want to end up like Amelia?”
Vivian froze mid-breath, two hands cupping her mouth in shock.
“Huh? You… you want to make the same mistake Amelia made?” Adrian shifted, turning his gaze away from her, nonchalant and infuriatingly calm. 1
“I thought… I thought you loved me! I thought I was your peace! That is what you told me!” Her voice cracked, the mixture of betrayal and anger thick in the room.
He said nothing. The silence was worse than any words she could have spoken. Vivian’s fists clenched.
“Adrian… this! This is what you do? After everything? After everything you promised?”
Her voice rose again, shrill with frustration and disbelief.
“How can you do this to me? To us?” She slapped him lightly on the arm, almost instinctively, as if contact could make the reality tangible.
He moved casually to the other side of the bed, picking up a pillow. Vivian lunged toward it instinctively, but Adrian simply stepped away, leaving her to grasp at empty air.
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