CHAPTER 003 OLIVIASPOV Adrian didntcomehomethatnightandIwasntcomfortablesinceIknewheleftwithHER.Iwaited inbed,staringattheclockashourspassed.Midnightapproachedandstill,therewasnosignofhim.
Washespendingthenightwithher?Was Adrianreally cheatingonme? Mychestfelthollow,thesilenceofthehousetauntingme.Sleeprefusedtocome,soIsatup,huggingmyknees,wonderingifIdevertrulymatteredtohim.
Thenextmorning,IdecidedIcouldntwaitaround inthehouseforhimanymore.Ineededtoseehim,totalktohim,togettoknowwho Dorawastohimevenifitmeantfacing hisangerorindifference.
Ididntcareanymore.
Itoldmyselfthiswasmyrightashiswife,evenifheseemedtoforgetthatfact.
Iarrivedathisoffice,myheart poundingasIapproachedthedeskofhissecretary,achubbywoman namedRita.Shelookedupfrom hercomputer,her expressionneutral.
Good morning,Mrs.Westwood, shegreetedpolitely,thoughhertone wasquitedifferent.
IneedtoseeAdrian,Isaid,my voicecalmdespitethe stormbuildinginsideme.
Ritahesitated,herfingersplacedonher keyboard.Imsorry,maam,butMr.Westwoodhasgiven strictinstructionsnottobe disturbed.
Mycheeksflushed with embarrassment.Icouldfeelthehumiliationcrawlingupmyspine.Sheknew Iwashiswife,yetshestilldeniedmeentry.
ThisisthehumiliationIconstantlyhavetoendureeversinceImarriedAdrian.
Please,Isaid,lowering my voice.Itsimportant.
Herlipspressedinto athinline.ImafraidIcant,maam.Mr.Westwooddoesntwanttoseeanyonerightnow.
BeforeIcouldrespond,thedoortoAdrians officeswungopen.MybreathingstoppedforamomentasIsawhimstepout,hisdeep laughfilling the hallway.
Hewasntalone.
Walkingbesidehim wasDora,her heels clickingconfidentlyagainst the marble floor.
What wasshedoinghere? Adriansexpression wasthesame asherslight,carefree,sounlikethecold maskhe worearoundme.

Iremainrooted tomyspot,unsure whethertostayorwalkaway.Theywerelostinconversation, their voiceslowbutfilledwith warmth.I wonderediftheysaw me or 1/4 CHAPTER003 werepretending nottohave.
Whentheyreachedthelobby,AdrianturnedtoDorawithasmile.
Illseeyoulater,hesaid,histoneeasy and familiarlikehowhetalkedtomebeforeour marriage.
Doraleanedcloser,brushinga hand againsthisarm.
Dontforgetaboutourplans.
Whatplans? Henodded,hissmileunwavering.
Asshewalkedoff,hereyesdartedtomeforabrief moment,herlipscurvingintoaknowingsmirkbeforeshedisappeared intothe elevator.
Myhandsclenchedintofists,myknuckles turningwhite.Adrianturnedtoheadbackinto hisoffice,butIsteppedforward,blockinghispath.
Adrian,Isaid,myvoicebarelyaboveawhisper.
Hestopped,hisgazecoldasitsettled onme.
What areyoudoinghere?heasked,histonedevoidofanyemotion.
Icameto talk,Ireplied,fightingthe angerinmy voice.Whydidntyou come… Notnow, hecutme off,signaling to Ritawithhis hand.Makesureno onedisturbs me.
Ritasteppedforward,herpresence creatingadistancebetween us.
But…Istarted,onlyforhimtoturnandwalkbackintohisoffice,thedoorclicking shutbehindhim.
Thehumiliationburnedlikefireinmychest.Ididntargue further.Icouldntkeeponembarrassingmyselftherewasno point.Imade mywaytothecargarage.
My marriagewassupposedtobemyshield,mysafeplace,but here,itwasnothingmorethan abadgeofshame.
Inthe dimlylitgarage,IspottedDora standingbyhercar, herposturerelaxedasshewaited.Whenoureyes met,her smirkreturned,sharperthistime.

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Youlookupset,shesaid,hertonedrippingwithmockconcern.Roughday? Iignoredher,walkingto mycar,butshesteppedinfrontofme,blockingmypath.
Youknow,Olivia,shebegan,hervoicesweetbut laced withvenom,youreallyshouldnt clingtoamanwhoclearlydoesntwantyou.Its…sadandpathetic.
Itoldmyself tocalmdown,Irefusedtolether seemypain.Istheresomethingyouwant?Iasked,keepingmytoneassteady asIcould.
Shelaughed,asoundthat mademychesttighten.I justthought Idgiveyousomegirlyadvice.
I clenchedmyfists,bitingbacktheurgetolash out.Areyoudone?Iasked,butdidntwaitforherresponse..
2/4 CHAPTER003 AsIopened mycardoor,herpartingwordsreachedme.Youre fightingalosingbattle,Olivia.Youshouldknowwhentoquit.
Idrove homein silence,her wordssettling overmelikeadarkcloud.
Thatnight,Adriandidntcomehomeearlywhichhadbecomearoutineeversincehecamebackfromhissupposedbusinesstrip.
AndIknewitwasbecauseofDora.
Curiositygotthebestof me,andIfoundmyselfwalkingtowardtheoneplaceAdrianhadforbiddenmetoenter hisstudy.
Ihadastrong feeling thatImightfind somethingtherethatwouldrevealmoreaboutDoraandherrelationship withAdrian.
Ihesitatedinfrontofthedoor,my pulse racing,but Dorassmug smileflashedinmymindandI foundmyselfbreakingtherulesIhadnt broken inthreeyears.
Whilegoing throughhis drawers,Istumbled uponanold,slightlywornoutphotographthatmade myheartbeatslowandfrozemeinplace.
Itwasapictureof young Adrian,aprettywomanholding himclose ,whomIassumedtobehis motherbecauseofthe resemblanceandmyparents,allsmilingatthe camera.
Everythinginmescreamedconfusion.Whyweretheytogether?Howwasthispossible? Myparents neverseemedtoknowAdrianwhen I first introducedhim tothem,andevenAdrian never mentionedknowingmyparents.
Myheadwasfilledwithdifferentquestions,eachoneaddingtotheheadachethatwasstartingtobuild.
WhyhadntAdrianmentionedknowingmy parents?Washehidingsomething fromme?Orwasthere something myparentshadkeptfromme? Iwassnapped backtoreality whenIheard thedoor click opendownstairs.Myheartleaped,andIquicklyshovedthe photograph backinto thedrawer,myhandstremblingasIhurriedbackto thebedroom.

Adrian walkedinwithoutaword,andthe roomwasfilled withthestenchofalcohol.Istoodawkwardly bythebed,unsurewhethertospeak orremainsilent.
Withoutwarning,he closedthedistancebetweenus,hishands grippedmywaist.
I hatedthewaymyheart leaped,IknewIshouldhavepushed him,yelledathim,or betterstill slappedhimbutIfoundmyself yearning formore.
Myheart thumpedfasteras hekissedme,hismovementshungrylikealionthat had beenstarved fordays.
Adrian,Iwhispered,buthesilenced me,pulling mecloser andundressingme.
3/4 CHAPTER003 I knewIshouldntenjoyitbutIdid.
That night,hetouched meforthe secondtimeinthreeyears.
Iremembered thefirsttimewewereintimateamonthagohewasdrunkandtonighthewasalsodrunk.
I knewwhatitmeantbutIdeceivedmymindintothinkingthatitwasahopethatthings mightgetbetter.
Thenextmorning,Adrianacted asifnothinghad happened.Hestoodby thedresser,buttoninghisshirtwhileIlayinbed,watchinghim.
Goodmorning,Igreeted,a blushcreepingupmy cheeks.
He didnt respond,hisfocuswasonhistie.
Adrian,Isaidsoftly,sittingup.Aboutlastnight… Heturnedtome,hisexpressioncold.
Whataboutit? Ihesitated,unsurehow tointerprethistone.I…Ijustthought… Dontoverthink it,heinterrupted.Isent somemoneytoyour account.Consideritpaymentfor yourservices.
Hiswordshitmelikeapunchtothegut.My lipsparted,butnosoundcameout.
Withoutanotherglance,hegrabbedhis briefcase andleft,leavingmesittingthereinstunned silence.
Tearsblurredmyvision asI clutchedthesheets,myheartbleeding.
WasthiswhatIhadbecome?Aservicetobe paidfor? 4/4