Chapter 4
Elena woke the next morning with swollen eyes.
She dressed quietly and went downstairs. The house was too silent again. She ate breakfast alone, the food tasteless in her mouth.
Adrian was gone before she even woke. No word, no note. She tried to smile to herself, whispering, “It’s fine, Elena. This is the life you chose.”
---
Later that day, as she walked into the garden, she froze.
A woman was standing by the fountain, her long red dress shining under the sun. Her face was perfect, sharp, proud, and her lips curved in a cruel smile.
“Elena, right?” the woman said, her voice dripping with mockery.
Elena didn’t answer. Her chest tightened. She already knew who this was. Melissa. Adrian’s ex.
Melissa stepped closer, her heels clicking. “So you are the one Adrian married? I can’t believe it. He left me for you? You look so… ordinary.”
Elena stayed calm. She didn’t want to show weakness. “Yes, I am his wife,” she said softly.
Melissa laughed loud. “Wife? Don’t fool yourself. Adrian doesn’t love you. He never will. You are just here because of a contract. Everyone knows it.”
Elena swallowed hard. Her hands trembled, but she forced her face to stay still. “I know what this marriage is. You don’t need to remind me.”
Melissa smirked. “At least you are not completely stupid. But tell me something—do you even know why Adrian left me?”
Elena looked up, silent.
Melissa’s smile widened. “Because I cheated. Yes, I cheated on him with someone better, a celebrity everyone adores. And guess what? He still loved me. Even after all that, he couldn’t stop looking for me. So what do you think? Do you think a broken woman like you can ever replace me in his heart?”
The words stabbed Elena deep. She almost lost her breath. But she lifted her chin and whispered, “Then why are you here? If you were enough, you wouldn’t be standing in front of me now.”
For the first time, Melissa’s smile cracked.
---
Just then, Adrian walked into the garden.
His eyes landed on Melissa, cold, sharp like ice.
“Melissa,” he said flatly. “What are you doing here?”
Melissa turned sweet at once. “Adrian, I just came to see you. I miss you.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened. “You have no right to miss me. You threw everything away the day you climbed into another man’s bed.”
Elena froze at his words. So it was true.
Melissa’s smile trembled. “Adrian, that was a mistake. You know I was young, foolish. But look at her—” she pointed at Elena, “she can never give you what I gave. She can never be me.”
Adrian’s eyes burned. He stepped forward, standing in front of Elena. His voice was cold but firm.
“She doesn’t need to be you. And I don’t want her to be you.”
Elena’s heart jumped.
Melissa stared at him, hurt flashing in her eyes, but she quickly covered it with anger. “You will regret this,” she hissed, and stormed out of the garden.
---
Elena stood frozen, her chest tight. She wanted to thank Adrian, but her lips couldn’t move.
Adrian turned to her, his face unreadable. “Don’t think I defended you because of feelings. I only did it because I hate betrayal. Remember the rules of this marriage. Nothing more.”
He walked away without looking back.
Elena closed her eyes, holding her chest.
Her tears threatened to fall, but she whispered to herself, “Don’t cry, Elena. Not here. Not now.”
But deep inside, her heart whispered another truth—
*Maybe, just maybe, he was not as cold as he wanted her to believe.*
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