Sara's eyes narrowed. "Given Ms. James's arrogance, did something happen between you and my husband?"
Eva only smiled, saying nothing.
She let the silence do the work. Let Sara's imagination run wild.
Under what circumstances would a man take off his watch?
Sara thought of Adrian's habits. He only removed it to shower—before and after sex.
"Ms. James, do you understand the concept of a breakup?" A dry laugh escaped her throat. "It seems when you told everyone at the club 'I only want to be friends,' you were lying."
Eva didn't flinch. "If he had no feelings for me, I wouldn't cling to him."
"But your actions contradict your words. And why do you think he still has feelings? Because of one phone call?" Sara tilted her head, feigning amusement. "Anyone with a shred of compassion wouldn't stand by and watch someone die."
"Since Assistant Navarro doesn't believe me—" Eva raised her glass in a mocking toast, challenge glittering in her eyes. "Let's wait and see."
At exactly five o'clock, Sara arrived at the Harding Group's underground parking garage.
Adrian could neglect her, but she couldn't neglect him. One misstep, and the fragile peace she'd repaired would shatter.
She didn't go up. She sat in the car, waiting.
Because of her former status as his assistant, Sara rarely appeared at the company after their marriage. A Cinderella story of an assistant marrying the CEO looked inspirational on the surface, but behind closed doors, it attracted scorn.
Perhaps being back at her old workplace triggered the memories. Sara's mind drifted to their wedding.
After his breakup with Eva, Adrian had become a machine. Four hours of sleep a night. Every other second filled with high-intensity work until his body nearly collapsed.
Sara, as his assistant, had been the one picking up the pieces.
In his hotel suite, Adrian had asked her without preamble: "I heard you need money."
At the time, Simon was in critical condition after the explosion. Sara had drained her savings and borrowed from every friend she had, but she'd barely scraped together a third of what was needed. She'd applied for a salary advance, never expecting the CEO to notice.
Before she could respond, Adrian dropped the bomb. "Marry me, and I'll give you everything you want."
It hadn't even been twenty days since Eva left him.
Sara stared at him in disbelief. "Why me?"
His answer was cold and concise. "I need a wife."
A transaction, clearly priced. He used her to retaliate against Eva's abandonment. Sara knew this. But with Simon dying in a hospital bed, dignity was a luxury she couldn't afford. Every second she hesitated, Simon's chances of survival dropped.
She didn't think twice.
She couldn't lose Simon. They weren't blood relatives, but they were family.
From proposal to marriage certificate, it took two days. She sold herself into the marriage in a daze.
Back then, she never expected to fall in love with him.
And she certainly never expected that once she did, Eva would return.
A group of people exited the elevator, snapping Sara back to reality.
Adrian was in the center. Sharp suit, commanding attention, standing out effortlessly from the crowd.
The driver unlocked the doors, expecting Sara to get out. She stayed put. The short distance between the car and the elevator felt like an uncrossable chasm.
"Work was hard."
When the crowd dispersed and he opened the car door, Sara had already buried her sorrow. She greeted him with a practiced smile.
Adrian paused, surprised to see her. "When did you get here?"
"Just now." Warmth coated her voice. "Are you working overtime tonight? The housekeeper made dinner—let's go home together?"
He didn't refuse. He barked a few final instructions to his secretary, then slid into the car.
Sara kept to her side, silent and obedient. When he closed his eyes to rest, he hated chatter.
She thought she had memorized all his preferences. After two years, she still hadn't cracked the code to his heart.
Against Eva, she was defenseless.
Even her love had to be hidden, lest he find it burdensome.
"Who did you see?"
The man beside her—who she thought was sleeping—suddenly spoke, his brow furrowed.
Sara froze. "Mr. Harding, why do you ask?"
His eyes opened, expression unreadable. "You never use this perfume."
Sara lowered her head and sniffed. The scent of Eva still clung to her clothes.
A bitter laugh threatened to escape. In the past, he never noticed the details of her life. Now he noticed—because the scent belonged to *her*.
She handed over the watch. "Ms. James came to return something."
Adrian glanced at it but didn't take it. No guilt crossed his features. No panic at being caught in a lie.
"Mr. Harding isn't going to say anything?" Sara half-joked, testing the waters. "You tricked me quite thoroughly. Luckily I'm quick on my feet, or the family at the old residence would have been suspicious."
His lips twitched, devoid of warmth. "If you didn't have that much ability, you wouldn't be 'Mrs. Harding.'"
"You really have no conscience." She smiled to cover the sting.
He truly didn't care about her feelings.
Adrian's gaze sharpened. His voice dropped to a command. "Stay away from her."
"What are you worried about?" Sara asked, genuinely confused. "Afraid I'll be bullied? Or afraid I'll bully her?"
