“You don’t mean that,” Adrian's voice, usually calm and calculating, cracked with a desperation I hadn’t heard before. “Clara, we don’t have to do this.”
I met his gaze, unflinching. “We do,” I said firmly. “Let’s part ways, Adrian, after the separation, we’ll both find our own happiness and you can stay with Sophia, where you’ve always belonged.”
His face shifted—anger, regret, maybe even a touch of shame flickered through his eyes. But deep down, we both knew the truth. He would never choose me over her. The connection between him and Sophiawasn’t something I could compete with. I was just an intruder, an outsider in his perfectly curated world.
Keeping my voice steady, I added, “She’s waiting for you, Adrian. Don’t keep her waiting.”
His shoulders sagged, but he didn’t fight me this time. He simply nodded, though his eyes hardened with something dangerous beneath the surface. “Fine,” he said quietly. “For your happiness, Clara. I agree.”
“No,” I replied with a bitter smile. “Not for my happiness—for yours.”
I turned on my heel, stepping into the street. A car approached, and I flagged it down without sparing Adrian another glance. The driver pulled over, and I slid into the back seat.
Adrian called after me, “Aren’t you coming back in my car?”
I didn’t bother to answer. Instead, I told the driver to go.
As the car sped through the city streets, I could sense Adrian’s eyes burning into the back of my head, his presence heavy even though I refused to look back.
The driver, a middle-aged man with a thick New York accent, glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “Rough night, miss?” he asked.
I sighed, my thoughts already drifting. “Just get me home.”
The skyline blurred into a wash of neon lights and towering glass buildings as the car wound through the bustling streets. My mind was elsewhere, focused on the suitcase waiting for me in my penthouse. Once I was there, I could pack the last of my things and leave—disappear from this life I had been trapped in for too long.
When I arrived at my building, I moved quickly, heading straight to my penthouse. I grabbed my clothes and other essentials. None of it mattered anymore. I wasn’t the same woman who had married Adrian. That woman was gone.
I was about to turn off the lights when there was a knock at the door.
My heart lurched in my chest. I knew who it was before I even opened it.
Adrian stood there, shirtless, his tailored trousers hanging loosely around his hips, with a bottle of red wine clutched in his hand. The city lights behind him cast deep shadows over his broad shoulders. His usually composed face was twisted into something darker, more dangerous.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice sharp.
“We’re still married,” Adrian said casually, swirling the wine. “I thought we could have a drink together.” He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to brush my waist.
I jerked away, instincts on high alert. “What are you trying to do, Adrian?”
His lips curled into a strange smile. “What’s wrong, Clara? Didn’t you complain to my parents about how you’ve slept alone for five years? Tonight, I thought I’d make it up to you.”
I crossed my arms, stepping back to keep distance between us. “I don’t need anything from you,” I spat. “Stay away from me.”
Adrian’s smile faltered. His eyes flashed with a predatory glint, his voice dropping lower. “We’re still married, Clara, there is no law that says a husband can’t sleep in the same bed as his wife?”
I stared at him, heart pounding. This wasn’t about love or reconciliation. This was about control and I'll be damned if Iet him do this to me.
“ I know what you’re doing, Adrian” I said coldly. “You want to keep up appearances. Isn't that right? As long as we’re married, you can still be the perfect son, the perfect CEO in the eyes of the world. But behind the closed doors, I’m just a tool and you’ll still be able to run to Sophiawhenever she calls.”
His expression darkened. He knew I was right, and the truth stung him like a fresh wound.
I took a deep breath. “But that ends tonight. I won’t be your pawn anymore.”
