LOGINAdrian I knew the moment Vivian arrived. She had something up her sleeve. Not because she walked into my house like she owned the place, her head held up as she smiled at those who exchanged pleasantries with her, but because the tail I put on her had reported something disturbing Vivian Hawthorne had met with my sister-in-law privately not long after the invitation was sent out With me married, and not to her, Vivian had no more reason to suck up to Nathan's mother Which only left one possibility, they were plotting something And whatever it was I'd find out So I sent someone to keep an eye on her. Emily was still accepting congratulations when Daniel approached me near the bar. He didn’t look at me directly. Just stood beside me like any other assistant waiting for instructions. “Sir,” he said under his breath. “Miss Vivian has met privately with Mrs. Carter...again” I didn’t react outwardly. Nathan’s mother. Of course. “How long ago?” “Twenty minutes.” “And?” “T
Emily The reaction spread across the ballroom like wildfire. At first it was whispers. Then murmurs. Then the quiet, polite applause that high society used when they weren’t quite sure what they were supposed to feel. But it didn’t take long. People adjusted quickly. They always did. One by one, guests began approaching Adrian and me, their expressions brightening with perfectly practiced smiles. “Congratulations, Mrs. Carter.” “What a beautiful couple.” “You and Mr. Carter truly suit each other.” “I always thought the two of you would make a wonderful match.” The same people who congratulated me for being perfect for Nathan were now congratulating my marriage to another as the perfect match I nearly laughed. Not at them. At myself. For years… Years… I had been terrified of these people. Terrified of their whispers. Their opinions. Their judgments. I had bent myself into the perfect shape they expected, desperate not to offend them, desperate not to give them an
Emily Adrian’s mansion had never been open to the public. Not once. For years it had stood like a quiet fortress at the edge of the city—elegant, intimidating, and completely off limits to the curious eyes of high society. Which was exactly why nearly everyone had accepted the invitation. The mysterious Mrs. Carter hosting a party there was already shocking enough. But the opportunity to step inside Adrian Carter’s private residence? That alone guaranteed a full house. By the time evening arrived, luxury cars lined the long driveway leading to the mansion gates. Men in tailored suits. Women in elegant gowns. Every influential family in the city seemed to be present. Some had come out of curiosity. Others out of calculation. But most of them were there for one reason. To see Mrs. Carter. The woman who had managed to marry Adrian Carter in secret. Inside the mansion, the ballroom glowed under soft golden chandeliers. Music drifted quietly through the air as guests ming
Vivian The moment I saw the invitation, I knew. I didn’t need proof. I didn’t need confirmation. I didn’t even need to think about it. It was Emily. My fingers tightened around the desk as I read the elegant lettering again. Mrs. Carter requests the pleasure of your company… Mrs. Carter. The title alone sent a wave of whispers through the entire city the moment the invitations began circulating. Adrian Carter was married. The most sought-after bachelor in the entire social circle had married someone in complete secrecy. No ceremony. No announcement. No warning. And now suddenly— There was a Mrs. Carter hosting a party. The news had spread like wildfire. But unlike everyone else scrambling to guess who the mysterious woman might be… I already knew. Emily. It had to be her. Who else would dare do something like this? Who else would be bold enough to hide behind a title instead of revealing her name? My nails dug into the phone as anger bubbled inside my chest. “
Emily I woke up before Adrian. That alone felt strange. For a few seconds I simply lay there, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above the large bed, trying to remember where I was. Then everything from the previous night came rushing back. The dinner. The confrontation. The courthouse. The marriage certificate. Adrian’s voice calling me his wife. My gaze shifted to the man sleeping beside me. Adrian rarely looked relaxed, even in sleep. There was always a certain tension in the way he carried himself, as if he was always alert, always calculating. But right now, his breathing was slow and steady, his expression calm in a way I rarely saw. One arm was draped across my waist. Possessively. Like even in his sleep he had no intention of letting me go. A faint smile tugged at my lips. Carefully, I lifted his arm and slipped out of bed. Adrian shifted slightly but didn’t wake. Good. Because I had things to do. By the time Adrian woke up an hour later, I was already sitt
Emily For a moment after I kissed him, Adrian didn’t move. It lasted only a second. But I felt it. That brief pause where he seemed surprised that I had made the first move. Then his hand tightened at my waist. And the hesitation disappeared. His mouth moved against mine slowly at first, almost cautiously, like he was savoring the moment. But the restraint didn’t last long. Adrian deepened the kiss, drawing me closer until there was barely any space between our bodies. My back instinctively pressed against the door behind me. His hand slid up my spine, fingers spreading against my back as if anchoring me there. I felt the heat of him even through our clothes. “You started this,” he murmured against my lips. I lifted an eyebrow slightly. “And?” “And you might regret it.” My heart skipped. “That sounds like a challenge.” A faint smile curved his lips. “It’s a warning.” I didn’t step away. Instead, I slid my hands up his chest slowly, feeling the firm lines of muscl
EmilyI didn’t hear from Adrian the entire next day.Not a message, not a call, not even one of those short, possessive little notes that usually had me reading and rereading them until my chest ached.He must still be angry.I wanted to call him so badly. I wanted to ask questions, explain myself,
Emily I hadn’t thought about it. Not really. Amidst the panic, the fear, the humiliation of walking into that pharmacy and whispering my situation to a stranger… amidst Adrian’s calm voice and steady reassurance… I had not truly contemplated what I would do if there
AdrianShe wasn’t ready.I’d known that the moment the silence stretched on the line, heavy and uncomfortable, the moment she failed to give the answer I hadn’t explicitly asked for but had been waiting to hear anyway.She was engaged. I had known that from the start.Still, I’d taken her. Made her
Emily Adrian picked me up from work. As usual, he was discreet. He waited in the underground parking lot instead of pulling up at the entrance like he had the first time we met after work I'd warned him, and I was still surprised he actually listened. The underground parking lot was dim, quie







