Chapter 3
I clutched the small bottle of pills in my trembling hand as I made my way to Alexander's study. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of Dr. Chen's revelation crushing down on me. Five years of lies. Five years of manipulation. Five years of being drugged without my knowledge.
I found him sitting behind his mahogany desk, reviewing documents with that same cold efficiency he applied to everything in his life. Including me.
"Alexander," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "We need to talk."
He didn't look up. "I'm busy, Adriana."
"This can't wait." I placed the bottle on his desk, the plastic container seeming to echo against the wood. "These aren't vitamins."
His eyes flicked to the bottle, then back to me. There was no surprise in his expression. No guilt. Just mild annoyance at being interrupted.
"No," he agreed, setting down his pen. "They're not."
The casual admission stole my breath. "You've been giving me contraceptives for five years."
"I have." He leaned back in his chair, studying me with clinical detachment. "It was necessary."
"Necessary?" My voice rose despite my efforts to remain calm. "You deliberately prevented me from having children without my consent!"
"Let's not be dramatic," he said, as if I were overreacting to a minor inconvenience. "I never intended to have children with a contractual partner."
The words cut deeper than any knife. "A contractual partner? Is that all I've ever been to you?"
"That's all you've ever been," he confirmed, his tone maddeningly even. "A business arrangement. Nothing more."
I gripped the edge of his desk to steady myself. "And Abby?"
Something shifted in his eyes—a softening I'd never seen directed at me. "Abby is different."
"How?"
He stood, buttoning his jacket with practiced precision. "She's carrying my child."
The room seemed to tilt beneath me. "Your child?"
"Yes." A hint of pride colored his voice—pride I'd never heard when speaking of me. "I stopped using protection with her. She's giving me what I want—an heir with the right woman."
---
Three days later, he summoned me to his office again. This time, he slid a legal document across the polished surface between us.
"What's this?" I asked, though the title page made it abundantly clear.
"A formal agreement," he explained, his tone businesslike. "Outlining our new arrangement."
I scanned the first page, my stomach churning as I read the bold heading: "Open Marriage Agreement."
"You want me to sign this?" I looked up at him, incredulous.
"I do." He nodded once, decisive. "It's best for everyone involved."
"Everyone? Or just you and Abby?"
"Don't be childish," he snapped, a flash of irritation crossing his face. "This protects all our interests."
"By making me accept your mistress and illegitimate child into our home?"
"By ensuring you maintain your position and lifestyle." He leaned forward, his eyes cold. "Unless you'd prefer I cut off your allowance and expose you as the penniless nobody you are?"
I felt a chill run down my spine. "What do you mean?"
"Sign the papers, Adriana," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Or find out exactly how quickly I can destroy you."
---
That night, I waited until the house was silent before slipping into the guest bathroom—the only place Alexander never entered. With shaking hands, I pulled out the burner phone I'd purchased days earlier, dialed a number I still remembered after five years.
One ring. Two rings.
"Hello?" The voice on the other end was deeper than I remembered, but instantly recognizable.
"Marcel," I whispered, my voice breaking. "It's Adriana."
There was a moment of silence, then: "Adriana? Is that really you?"
"Yes." Tears welled in my eyes. "I need help."
"Where are you?" His voice was alert now, concerned.
"New York. At the Burke estate."
"I'm coming," he said without hesitation. "Tell me what's happening."
As I began to explain, I heard rustling on his end—papers being gathered, a laptop closing.
"Cancel my meetings," I heard him instruct someone in the background. "All of them. Get the jet ready."
"Marcel, I don't know if—"
"Adriana," he interrupted gently. "I've waited five years for your call. Nothing is going to stop me from coming to you now."
I closed my eyes, leaning against the cool tile wall. For the first time in years, someone was putting me first.
"How soon can you be here?" I asked.
"I'll be on my jet within the hour," he promised. "I'll be your shadow support, whatever you need."
As I ended the call, a strange calm settled over me. Alexander thought he held all the power, but he had no idea what was coming.
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