“WHAT?!”The coffee cup in Deviana’s hand nearly slipped when Lila, her best friend and colleague, shoved her phone toward her. On the screen glared a fresh gossip headline: “CEO Adrian Spotted Spending the Night at a Luxury Hotel with Leviana.”Deviana’s face turned pale. Her hands trembled, her eyes refusing to believe.“This… this can’t be true. Impossible…” she whispered, but even to her own ears, the words sounded fragile.Lila bit her lip. “I know this hurts. But the rumor is everywhere. Everyone in the office is talking about it.”Deviana covered her mouth with her hand, trying to control her ragged breathing. Her heart pounded so violently it felt like it would burst. Images of Adrian and Leviana—sitting together in a hotel lobby, then vanishing upstairs—swirled in her mind.“No… he told me he’d changed. He said…” Her voice cracked, eyes welling with tears.---The studio door suddenly burst open. Adrian appeared, his face drawn with exhaustion, but his eyes immediately locked
“Adrian… wait.”Leviana’s voice was soft, yet carried an unmistakable weight as Adrian was about to step out of the hotel conference room where they had just finished a business meeting.Adrian turned, his face already etched with fatigue. “What now, Leviana? I need to go. It’s late.”Leviana gave a faint smile, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she closed the distance between them. She stood far too close, making Adrian exhale heavily.“Why are you always in such a hurry when it’s me?” she whispered, her eyes piercing into his. “You know I didn’t come back just for business, don’t you?”Adrian frowned. “Leviana, don’t start this again.”“I’m only being honest.” Her fingers brushed his arm lightly, as if by accident. “I can’t pretend anymore. You were once my love… and I won’t let you just walk away now.”Adrian pulled his arm free. “I can’t, Leviana. I’ve already hurt Deviana too much. I won’t make the same mistake again.”Her expression sharpened even as her forced smil
“Adrian! Stop calling me all the time, Vanessa!” Adrian’s voice rose as his phone buzzed for the umpteenth time that night.He threw the phone onto the table, breathing hard. Before he could calm himself, the apartment doorbell rang sharply. Adrian hurried to the door and found Leviana standing there in a striking red dress.“Adrian, we need to talk.” Leviana’s gaze was sharp; her thin smile cut like a blade.Adrian snorted. “You too? I’ve had enough of this.”Leviana stepped inside without waiting for permission. “If you don’t listen, you’ll regret it. You know I never joke about these things.”Adrian clenched his fists. “You’re both trapping me. Vanessa with her cries, you with your ambition. Do you think I’m a puppet?”Leviana looked at him with glittering eyes. “I only want you back, Adrian. Everyone knows we were the perfect pair. Don’t tell me your heart still belongs to Deviana.”That name tightened Adrian’s chest. He turned away, trying to avoid Leviana’s stare. “I don’t want
“Adrian! Do you think I’m playing?!” Leviana’s voice rose, cutting through the silence of Adrian’s living room that night.Adrian rubbed his face roughly, pacing back and forth. “Leviana, I’m exhausted… don’t start this now. I just got home from the office.”“Exhausted?” Leviana sneered, folding her arms. “You still love Deviana, don’t you? That’s why you can’t answer me honestly.”Before Adrian could reply, his phone rang. Vanessa’s name blinked on the screen.Leviana looked on with contempt. “Answer it. I bet that fragile woman is whining again, begging you to rescue her.”Adrian hesitated, then swiped to pick up. “Hello?”Vanessa’s voice was panicked and thin, dripping with dependence. “Adrian… I can’t breathe. Everyone hates me. Please don’t leave me. I… I could die if I’m alone.”Adrian closed his eyes. “Vanessa, calm down. I will—”Leviana slapped the phone out of his hand; it nearly hit the floor. “Enough! How long will you let these two women strangle you? You don’t even have
“Adrian, stop calling me!”Deviana’s voice trembled, yet it carried firm resolve as she answered the incoming call. Without giving Adrian a chance to respond, she pressed end call. Her breathing grew unsteady, her chest aching every time she heard that name.The phone rang again. Adrian’s name flashed on the screen. Deviana gripped the device tightly, then slammed it onto her desk with a harsh movement.“Enough!” she whispered to herself, eyes reddening.From the small sofa in the corner of the studio, Lila looked at her with concern. “It’s him again?” she asked softly.Deviana gave a short nod. “He never stops, Lila. I’ve made it clear—I don’t want to see him.”Lila stood, walked over, and placed a hand on Deviana’s shoulder. “You have to stay firm. Adrian only brings pain, Dev. You’ve suffered enough because of him. Don’t let him back in.”Deviana buried her face in her hands. “But why does my heart still tremble every time he appears? Why do I still feel… hope?”“Because you once l
“I won’t let Leviana take you back, Adrian!” Vanessa’s voice rang sharply through the corridor of the luxury hotel, the click of her stilettos echoing as she rushed toward him.Adrian drew in a long breath, straightening his posture. “Vanessa, please—don’t cause a scene here.”Before Vanessa could grab his hand, another voice cut in, smooth and teasing.“A scene? Oh, Adrian…” Leviana approached with a dazzling smile, her black gown swaying elegantly. “I only wanted to greet the man who once let me go too soon. Is that such a crime?”Vanessa turned sharply, her face stiffening. “Leviana! Do you think this is some kind of game? Adrian isn’t yours anymore!”Leviana chuckled softly, her gaze locked unwaveringly on Adrian. “Not mine? Or was he never truly yours to begin with?”Tension rippled through the hall. Several guests at the business gala paused their conversations to watch, whispers beginning to spread.---Deviana stood at a distance, her body frozen. She hadn’t wanted to be here,