LOGINEveryone had only one thing to talk about...., Mrs. Stone. The trending topic on every billboard, Magazine, TV show, Newspaper, practically anything that carried news.
HEADLINE: ADRIAN STONE HAS TAKEN IN A WIFE, LOCAL BAKER GIRL, VIVIAN LANE. Vivian read on one of the billboard pictures Stacy sent to her as they face timed while Adrian was out. "So you argued with this guy, and he thinks the best punishment is to marry you?" Stacy mused. "It's not a good thing." Vivian sighed. "What do you mean it's not a good thing. This man literally caters to all your needs." Stacy practically yelled. "I have been here just a week, Stace." Vivian rolled her eyes as she picked up a cupcake. "Besides, he has been barely home because of all the business meetings and press conferences he has to attend to. With him in this house, it is absolute chaos. We have to share a room." Vivian groaned. "Are you in your right senses?? Do you know the difference of good and bad at all? You got forcefully married to a 6 foot billionaire...." "6 foot 1...." Vivian corrected. "Even better. Who is barely home, Is every girl's dream man and literally gave you a credit card without a max limit? Your dad is in Dubai with a billion dollars and is being treated for the diabetes you couldn't treat for over 3 years? And you are complaining? I wish I had gone to that party and argued with him." Stacy laughed. Vivian laughed, too. "But I don't love him." Vivian sighed. "Look, this marriage won't last forever if you do not want it to...." Stacy said. "I'm listening....." Vivian knew Stacy had an idea. "All you basically have to do is save up a lot of money from Adrian into your old bank account. Make him invest in you, and you get estates and companies with your name attached to them. Then, the big show stopper is when you have a kid with him. That kid is going to have his name, and he is going to inherit every single thing Adrian owns. Then, you ask for a divorce after the kid is born. Simple." Stacy said. "That is genius, Stacy....." Vivian cooed. "It's genius,but it's going to be so freaking difficult. How are you ever going to convince him to have a kid with you, and he is probably going to do something to your dad if you pull a fast one on him." Stacy said. "Oh, it's hopeless." Vivian said. "What's hopeless." Adrian said, walking into the room. "Ugh, not you again." Vivian said. "Is that Adrian....? I wanna say hi." Stacy yelled. Vivian face palmed herself. How could she have forgotten to hang up. "Who is that?" Adrian asked as he took off his jacket. "None of your business." She said with a frown. "Don't let me limit your cell phone privileges." He warned, coming closer. "You can do that?" She said, a little unsure. "Wanna bet?" He smirked. "I hate you." She said, shoving the phone in his face. "This is my best friend, Stacy." "Hey, Adrian. Do you by any chance have like a hot best friend that might be interested in a certain blonde with Hazel eyes....." Stacy was trying to advertise herself. "She seems...., um..., nice." Adrian said in a sarcastic tone. "Okay....." Vivian hung up. "You guys have met now. So, no privileges being shrivelled." She faked a smile. "I'll see about that." He said as he looked at his face in the mirror. "I was so happy when you were away... Why'd you have to come today." She said. "I didn't miss you either. All the things I went out to do had to do with you, so I don't think I am quite thrilled about that." "Had to do with me?" She asked. "Everyone wants to know how we met and 'fell in love' apparently." He put the fell in love in quotes. "That's disgusting. How do they believe we are in love." Vivian scoffed. "The pictures." He said. "I was trying my best not to vomit all over as I looked at you that day." She said. "Were you though? Or were you trying your best not to cum all over me instead." He said moving closer to where she stood. "No, I wasn't. I have very good control of my body." She lied. He walked towards her as she moved backwards and hit the wall. "Do you want to test that theory??"He said with a smirk.Adrian Cross was losing his mind.And for the first time in his life, he couldn't do a damn thing about it.It had been almost twenty-four hours since Vivian left their house, and he still had no idea where she was.No address.No location.No message telling him she was safe.Nothing.He had called her so many times that he had stopped counting. He had sent messages, left voicemails, and even tried calling from his office phone when she stopped answering his personal number.Every attempt had ended the same way.Silence.His wife had disappeared from his life, and he was sitting in his office watching it happen."Call Stacy again."Daniel, who stood in front of his desk holding a tablet, slowly raised his head."Sir, I've already tried.""Then try again!""I did. Her phone goes straight to voicemail."Adrian slammed his palm against the desk."Then call her from another number!""Sir—""DO IT, DANIEL!"Daniel fell silent.For several seconds, the only sound in the office was Adrian's
Adrian barely slept that night.Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Vivian sitting on their bed with tears running down her cheeks, looking at him as though he were a stranger.I don't know you anymore.Her words had followed him everywhere.He had heard them while pacing his study. He had heard them while calling Daniel to demand updates on the investigation. He had even heard them when he finally went upstairs and found Vivian lying on her side, facing away from him.He had wanted to hold her.He had wanted to explain everything again.But what could he say that he hadn't already said?Someone was deliberately destroying his marriage, and no matter how many times he insisted that the messages were lies, the evidence kept getting worse.First, the pictures.Then the recordings.Now, a claim that Shannon had been pregnant with his child.Adrian rubbed his face and glanced at the clock.5:38 a.m.He hadn't slept for more than an hour.Beside him, Vivian shifted slightly beneath the c
Adrian Cross had never hated his office more than he did that morning.For three days, his life had revolved around the same scandal. Every time his legal team made progress, another photograph appeared. Every time his security team traced a lead, it seemed to end with an anonymous account or an uncooperative source.Someone was determined to destroy his marriage.And Adrian was running out of patience."Tell me you have something useful," he said, staring at the man seated across from his desk.His head of security, Daniel, placed a folder on the table."We've traced some of the original photographs to two accounts. Both were created recently, and the people behind them used methods that make identification difficult. We're still investigating.""Still investigating?" Adrian repeated coldly."Sir, whoever did this knew what they were doing. The photographs were taken from different angles, and some were released hours apart. Whoever has them may have been following you for a while."
The sound of the front door opening made Vivian sit up.She had been staring at the same spot on the bedroom wall for almost twenty minutes, trying not to look at her phone. It hadn't stopped buzzing since the scandal broke, and every time the screen lit up, she felt a fresh wave of anxiety wash over her.She had eventually switched it off.She couldn't take another headline.Another photograph.Another stranger telling her what was happening in her marriage.The door downstairs closed."Vivian?"Adrian's voice.She closed her eyes briefly.He was home.A few seconds later, she heard his footsteps coming up the stairs. They were quick, almost hurried, and she could tell he was looking for her."Vivian?""I'm upstairs."Her voice came out quieter than she intended.The footsteps grew louder.Then Adrian appeared in the doorway.He was still wearing his work clothes, but his tie was loose, and his hair looked as though he had run his hands through it several times. His expression change
Adrian Cross was having a good morning.For once, he had woken up without his phone ringing beside his head. He had eaten breakfast with his wife, kissed her forehead before leaving the house, and promised to return early enough for dinner.More importantly, he had actually meant it.He wasn't going to spend the entire day buried in meetings. He wasn't going to sit in his office until midnight while Vivian waited for him at home. And he certainly wasn't going to allow another business emergency to steal the little time he had finally decided to give his family.His family.The thought still felt strange sometimes.But in the best possible way.Adrian stepped out of the elevator on the executive floor, adjusting his cufflinks as he walked toward his office."Good morning, Mr. Cross.""Morning.""Good morning, sir.""Morning."He greeted his employees without slowing down, carrying the same calm expression he wore every day. His security detail followed a few steps behind him before sto
For the first time in weeks, Adrian woke up without reaching for his phone.It was a small thing.Almost insignificant.But for a man who had spent the last several weeks checking emails before his eyes were even fully open, it was practically a miracle.His phone was on the bedside table, vibrating every few seconds.Emails.Missed calls.Messages from his assistant.A reminder about a meeting scheduled for nine in the morning.Another reminder about a meeting scheduled for eleven.And a message from his chief financial officer asking him to review a document before the afternoon.Adrian ignored all of them.Instead, he turned his head toward the woman sleeping beside him.Vivian was curled up beneath the blanket, her hair spread across the pillow. One hand rested beneath her cheek, and the other was tucked comfortably against her stomach.She looked peaceful.Adrian smiled.He couldn't remember the last time he'd woken up and simply watched her sleep without feeling the immediate ne







