CHAPTER FIFTEEN: King Solomon and the Storm

ADELE'S POV

Since Celeste moved in, the house hasn’t just changed. It’s stopped breathing.

Silence fills every room like smoke. I drift through it like a ghost, forgotten and fading.

The untouched breakfast tray on my nightstand is starting to smell.

I haven’t eaten in two days. I haven’t cried either.

I just... stopped.

The days bled into the night, and I hated that I missed him.

Julian.

The man who shattered everything but still felt like safety.

I still searched for his shadow in every creak.

God! What does that say about me, craving comfort from the man who shattered me?”

He brought her back, not because he loved her, but because he didn’t trust me.

And worse? He didn’t ask. He just did it. Like I wasn’t even there.

I'm trapped here. My days are punctuated by bed rotting and doom scrolling on tiktok.

I need to get out, but not with Celeste pacing the halls like a lioness guarding her stolen kingdom.

Julian vanished into boardrooms and late night meetings, leaving his chaos behind.

I groaned and slipped off my robe. A sharp sting bloomed across my lower back.

When I reached for it, the skin was raw, tender like it had been scraped.

Oh no no. Not again!

I turned my back to my mirror and craned my neck to see. The angry red mark materialised on my hip, stretching out to the skin just above my bottom.

I'd been sleepwalking again.

Which part of the house did this to me? I tried to remember, but my brain was disconnected from my body.

I stepped into the shower and let the hot stream massage my body, ignoring the burning sensation on my back.

Surely it can't be that bad. But it is.

Sleepwalking and self harm are deadly twins. Julian must never see this.

Why am I thinking about him again?

I put on my gym shorts and a singlet and shoved in my earpods, letting the bass mute the chaos inside me.

Even the devil himself won't stop me from taking some air.

It's my house too!

******

Adele crossed the hallway cautiously.

Her inner energy was shot. All she wanted was air and a peaceful run in the yard.

Celeste wasn't in sight. That felt off.

She would have peeked into the hallway and thrown Adele's energy off with a roll of her eye or a snide comment.

Today was different. Quiet.

Even the butler wasn't in sight.

Adele considered making a cup of coffee before her run, but that would summon Celeste from whatever hole she crawled into.

Adele counted her steps downstairs and was almost at the door when something crossed her mind.

Julian's office door was slightly ajar. But Julian wasn't home yet.

He always kept that door locked.

Her eyes widened in realisation and her skin itched to run back upstairs, but she stopped herself.

Checking an open door is not enough reason to sprint up the stairs and wake the sleeping storm.

The unlocked door could just be the wind. Celeste wouldn't go that far.

She closed the door behind her gently and stepped onto the pathway when Julian's car pulled into the driveway.

Avoiding Julian for the past few days was easy. He was always at work so it didn't matter anyway.

But he's here now. That threw a wrench in her peaceful afternoon plans.

The driver greeted her warmly and moved swiftly to open the back seat.

Julian stepped out of the vehicle. His dark shades glinted in the sunlight as did his skin. He held a black binder in his left hand and his buzzing phone in his right.

His shirt was three buttons down, revealing his chest, glistening with traces of sweat. His suit hung loosely on his shoulder.

Adele's breath caught and she stayed rooted to the spot, earpods blasting Selena Gomez's ‘Shameless’.

Heat bloomed in her cheeks when those shaded eyes locked on her. She was angry, but dear God! He was hot!

“Excuse me, Mrs Hawthorne” the butler muttered nervously behind her.

She was in the way.

She moved shyly and ducked her head, preparing to jog right past Julian. Her body wouldn't win this time.

She either moved too slowly, or he moved too fast.

Their bodies collided and she almost lost her balance. An earbud escaped her right ear and fell into the grass with a noiseless thud.

Julian held her steady, a small smile forming on his lips.

“We can't keep bumping into each other like this”

Adele's anger rose.

“Back off, King Solomon” she wiggled out of his arms and dropped to her knees. Her fingers dug into the grass, feeling for the lost earbud.

Julian bit his inner cheek for a moment, watching her. Clearly his opening joke sank like a stone.

She hated him.

He could feel it. It confused him–how this woman could hold so much hate and…the look in her eyes when she saw him again. Like he was the answer to her silent prayers.

He crouched and tried again.

“King Solomon?” He breathed.

Adele muttered something under her breath.

“You know I can't hear you if you don't say it to my face, My love”

She flinched, fingers curling around the earpod like it could protect her.

“Don’t call me that.” Her voice was low, dangerous. “Not ever.”

She jogged off. She may have missed him, but not with that cocky attitude.

The music blasted her ears, drowning out everything she was feeling. Adrenaline rushed through her and she broke into a half run.

The big black gates materialised in the distance. If she could just reach it and keep going, she would finally be free.

Free from Julian and Celeste and the unusual feelings building up inside her whenever Julian glanced her way.

She was almost there. She could smell the sweet scent of cut grass and the heat of the sun on her back, pushing her. Urging her on.

She skidded to a stop at the gates. They rolled open automatically. She stood in the gap, her feet glued to the tar.

Leaving meant ditching everything she worked for. Her mother's treatments. Her connection with Julian, albeit shaky.

Her crown would be lost, worn by the overzealous ex wife of her husband.

No. Leaving would mean losing everything. And she'd be damned if she let some tall, perfect redhead waltz in and take her place.

She made a deal, and there were no take backs.

Her music stopped, but the silent hum of an engine filled her ears.

She turned towards the sound, and there it was.

Julian. In the driver’s seat. Watching. Waiting.

The door opened slowly. He stepped out like the storm she wasn’t ready for.

He counted his steps and stopped at her side.

Her heart fluttered. She blinked as his arm brushed hers and fought the impulse to lean into his strong body.

Silence punctuated the air as they stared into the distance.

She said nothing. Her breath came in short raspy beats and she silently cussed herself for running too fast.

Had he been watching her the whole time, trailing lazily behind her in his car?

She didn't know if he was caring or borderline psychotic.

He spoke first.

“I did something stupid.

I let her back in. And now I’m standing here, praying you’ll still look at me the same.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. If she had a dollar for every stupid thing he had done…

Adele didn't speak. She was tired of talking.

Julian lowered his voice.

“Please say something.”

What did he want her to say? ‘I forgive you for bringing your ex wife into the house without consulting me first ‘ or ‘ I'm not your real wife, so you can do whatever you want ‘

She'll be lying to herself if she said there weren't any sparks between her and Julian.

“What do you want me to say, Julian?”

“Anything. That you understand why I did it and you forgive me. I'm carrying so much guilt here”

“As you should “ she murmured and Julian heard it.

He placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her around.

“Look”, his chest heaved “I didn't think. I landed too hard and broke everything. But I can fix it.”

“How, Julian?” Adele shrugged him off, frustrated and tearful. All people do is make promises that they can't keep.

He promised to keep her safe. Her brother promised to stay in his room that night.

Promises, promises.

Julian clasped his hands in front of him and sighed, his back to her.

Adele felt guilt wash over her. Julian was right. She should forgive him. He's not the problem. Celeste is.

Her thoughts drifted to her childhood home in the heart of New York City, to when her parents would have arguments and make up with cookie dough ice cream immediately after.

Out of curiosity, she asked her dad for the secret to a healthy marriage and he said “You and your partner against the problem, not you against your partner”

If only it was so easy. She raised a limp hand and pressed her palm gently into Julian's back.

Her heart pounded in her ears.

'Me and him vs the problem, Adele. Always remember that.'

Julian turned around, breathing heavily. He took her hand in his ever so delicately and pressed it against his chest.

His heart thudded violently like a raging storm, and Adele wished she could reach in and hold his broken pieces together.

‘It's not love, Adele. You just care about him.’ her inner voice echoed and she held on to the conviction as she leaned into his hard body, wrapping her hand around him.

Julian froze for a second. Then his strong arms wrapped around her like she was the lone anchor in a perilous sea.

She purred, feeling her anger seep away with each second. He rested his chin on her head and closed his eyes.

“I'm so sorry.”

A small smile tugged at Adele's lips and nostalgia filled her lungs.

“Wanna get ice cream?”

“I'll get whatever you want,” he murmured, burying his nose in her hair. She smelt of pines and cinnamon with a splash of mint.

She pulled back and held his hand,half dragging Julian to the car.

“What are we getting?” Julian asked as he pressed the start button.

She drummed her fingers against the dashboard excitedly.

“Cookie dough” she said softly, almost like a promise to herself.

Julian gave a small nod, confused but oddly quiet, like the name meant more to her than just a flavor.