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Collateral Hearts
publish date:
2026-03-21 05:19:20Collateral Hearts
Adrian refused to believe silence could be real.
He paced his office, tension coiled tight beneath his tailored composure, irritation sharpening with every second that Miranda remained unchanged. Still. Controlled. Unresponsive.
“She could have begged,” Adrian muttered.
Richard looked up from where he sat, unimpressed. “Begged?”
“I don’t know,” Adrian snapped. “She always tried to please me. If she loved me—really loved me—she would have fought this. She would have tried to stop it.”
“And you don’t think,” Richard replied carefully, “that she stopped because she finally stopped hoping?”
“That’s not it,” Adrian shot back. “If she loved me the way she claimed, she wouldn’t be acting like this.” He turned sharply. “She wants this. That calm? That countdown? She’s waiting for eight days so she can take what she’s entitled to and leave.”
Richard frowned. “The woman I saw last night wasn’t calculating. She was shattered.”
“That’s because I beat her to it,” Adrian said coldly. “I ended it before she could.”
He stopped pacing, jaw tight. “Why else would she read our divorce headlines to my face like market updates? Like she wasn’t the one being dragged online.”
“Or,” Richard said quietly, “like she’s exhausted.”
“That’s sympathy talking.”
“No,” Richard replied. “That’s observation.”
Adrian scoffed. “You didn’t see her this morning. She made breakfast. Took off my shoes. Gave me hangover medicine.” His lips curled. “Like a dutiful wife. Like always.”
Richard’s gaze sharpened. “And that bothered you.”
“Yes,” Adrian said without hesitation. “Because it’s fake. She’s maintaining appearances until the contract ends.” His eyes darkened. “Which means she’s planning something.”
“Don’t be delusional.”
“I’m not,” Adrian snapped.
Richard stood, moving closer. “What exactly did you expect her to do after you humiliated her in front of the entire country?”
Adrian’s eyes flashed. “I didn’t humiliate her.”
“You announced your divorce at your anniversary party,” Richard said flatly. “You blamed her. You paraded your ex like a trophy.”
“It was her plan,” Adrian replied sharply. “She wanted to do it to me. I just got there first.”
Silence followed.
“You wanted control,” Richard said. “You got it. But don’t pretend you didn’t burn her alive to do it.”
“She signed the contract,” Adrian said coldly.
“And you’re hiding behind it.”
Adrian’s lips thinned. “You’re taking her side now?”
“I’m stating facts,” Richard replied. “You already won. You got your revenge. Let her go.”
Adrian exhaled through his nose.
“You keep saying she didn’t beg because she didn’t love you,” Richard added. “Have you considered she stopped begging because she finally understood you never would change?”
That landed harder than Adrian expected.
He turned away, fists clenched. “She’s waiting for her share. That’s all.”
Richard shook his head. “In eight days, she’ll get it. Whether you like it or not.”
“No,” Adrian said sharply. “I can’t.”
Richard studied him. “Then answer me this.” He paused. “Are you in love with Miranda?”
Before Adrian could respond, the office door opened.
Vivian stepped inside without waiting for permission.
Impeccable. Composed. Dangerous.
Richard blinked. “Is that Vivian?”
“Hi, Richard,” Vivian said smoothly, as if she belonged there.
Richard whistled lightly. “You look incredible. Time’s been generous to you.”
Adrian’s stare cut sharp. “What are you doing here?”
“I brought lunch,” Vivian said brightly. “Your favorite.”
“Did I ask you to?” Adrian replied flatly.
Richard rose. “I’ll give you two space.” He paused at the door, eyes on Adrian. “Boiling fury,” he murmured, then left.
The door shut.
Adrian turned back to Vivian. “Why are you here?”
She hesitated. “I came to see you.”
“That’s not an answer.”
Her brows drew together. “After last night, I thought—”
“You shouldn’t,” Adrian interrupted. “Don’t assume anything.”
Vivian stiffened.
“Let’s be clear,” Adrian continued coolly. “I didn’t announce my divorce for you.”
Her lips parted. “You introduced me. You called me—”
“My first love,” Adrian finished. “A fact. Not a promise.”
Color drained from her face. “Then what was last night?”
“A score,” Adrian said. “With my wife.”
Vivian stared. “So you humiliated both of us for revenge?”
“You came back on your own,” he replied. “I didn’t invite you.”
Her voice trembled. “You let the world believe…”
“I let them believe what they wanted,” Adrian said. “That’s how power works.”
“So there’s nothing?” she asked softly. “After everything?”
“There is no us,” Adrian said. “Not now. Not ever.”
Vivian recoiled.
“Then why bring me into your marriage?” she demanded. “Why use me?”
The question hung in the air.
Adrian thought of Miranda.
Her stillness.
Her calm.
Her refusal to break.
Something dark settled into place.
Maybe indifference wasn’t the end.
Maybe it was a challenge.
“I wasn’t using you,” Adrian said at last. Then, without hesitation, he added, “But I can.”
Vivian’s breath caught. “Adrian?”
He stepped closer, voice low and decisive. “Do me a favor.”
Her pulse jumped. “What kind of favor?”
“Let me use you” Adrian said coldly.
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Adrian’s phone buzzed sharply against the polished surface of his desk. He didn’t need to look to know who it was.“Vivian,” he said, voice low and deliberate.“Adrian,” Vivian’s tone was clipped, sharp with annoyance. “Miranda disobeyed me.”A slow, dark smile curled at the corner of his mouth. “Disobeyed you?” he repeated, amusement and malice blending seamlessly. “Yes, and I’m going to deal with her for embarrassing me.” “Do whatever pleases you. Handle it.” Adrian responded casually, like Miranda is not his business. “Handle it?” Vivian echoed. “You mean…?”“I mean exactly that,” Adrian cut her off. “She’s there to perform, to obey, to endure. You make sure she does. Publicly, privately… whatever you like.”“Yes, Adrian,” Vivian said, her voice steady. “I’ll take care of it.”Adrian hung up before she could add another word. “Sir,” his assistant showed him a picture on the tablet. In the image, Miranda is on the floor, her hand under Vivian’s heels. “It made it to the news. Pe
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The phone rang just as Miranda settled with her coffee, the sunlight cutting across the living room in sharp, almost cruel lines. She frowned at the display.“Good morning, Mrs. Cole,” said a clipped, overly cheerful voice. “This is Marissa, Adrian’s assistant. I’m calling about this afternoon’s fundraising gala.”Miranda straightened. “What about it?”“Well… Mr. Cole won’t be able to attend. Something urgent has come up. He… he asked that you represent him instead. He insists.”Miranda’s hand tightened around the cup. “He what?”“Attend… on his behalf,” Marissa said nervously. “He didn’t give me the details, only that he expects you there. Dress code, protocol, the works. Everything as if…”“As if I were Adrian Cole’s wife?” Miranda finished, her voice sharp. “Marissa, Adrian would never allow me to go to an event in his stead.”“Well…” Marissa hesitated. “He did say…“I’ll call him myself,” Miranda cut in, her tone final. She ended the call before Marissa could protest and dialed Ad
Divorced At Dawn: The CEO Who Begged Too Late Collateral Hearts
Collateral HeartsAdrian refused to believe silence could be real.He paced his office, tension coiled tight beneath his tailored composure, irritation sharpening with every second that Miranda remained unchanged. Still. Controlled. Unresponsive.“She could have begged,” Adrian muttered.Richard looked up from where he sat, unimpressed. “Begged?”“I don’t know,” Adrian snapped. “She always tried to please me. If she loved me—really loved me—she would have fought this. She would have tried to stop it.”“And you don’t think,” Richard replied carefully, “that she stopped because she finally stopped hoping?”“That’s not it,” Adrian shot back. “If she loved me the way she claimed, she wouldn’t be acting like this.” He turned sharply. “She wants this. That calm? That countdown? She’s waiting for eight days so she can take what she’s entitled to and leave.”Richard frowned. “The woman I saw last night wasn’t calculating. She was shattered.”“That’s because I beat her to it,” Adrian said cold
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