Chapter 5: Rebound

"How's the bride-to-be? Excited?" Grace asked brightly as she walked into Noelle’s house, practically bouncing with energy. "Tomorrow’s going to be the best day of your life!"

Noelle didn’t answer right away. She sat still on the couch, absently running her finger around the edge of her engagement ring. Her smile was faint and forced.

Grace dropped onto the seat next to her, oblivious. "And right after the wedding is the Stars Gala! Everyone’s going to be talking about the stunning Mrs. Blackwood!"

But Noelle’s mind was already elsewhere. Her suitcase was packed, hidden in the closet. She wasn’t going through with the wedding. But before she left, there was one thing she needed to do.

“I heard Adrian’s working on something big,” she said quietly.

Grace blinked, thrown by her flat tone. “Uh, yeah... it’s a major project. Everyone’s talking about it.”

“Can you take me there?”

Grace hesitated. Something felt off. Noelle seemed distant, detached.

“Of course,” she said finally, trying to smile. “Whatever you need.”

As they walked outside, Grace watched Noelle nervously twist her ring.

“You sure you're okay?”

Noelle glanced at her. “I’m fine.”

But she wasn’t. Grace could see it.

—

When they arrived, Grace parked and gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll walk you in.”

Inside, the building buzzed with activity. Glamorous people moved everywhere. Noelle kept her eyes low, hands clasped in front of her.

They rode the elevator in silence. Grace watched her friend’s face, but Noelle’s expression was unreadable.

“You’re really quiet,” Grace said gently.

Noelle didn’t answer. Her head was spinning.

Then the elevator doors opened. Camera flashes exploded. Assistants barked instructions. The noise jolted Noelle from her thoughts.

Grace froze. Her eyes widened. “Oh God... Noelle, don’t—”

But it was too late.

Noelle saw everything.

Adrian. Shirtless. Reclined on a velvet couch.

And Bianca draped over him, her fingers on his chest, her legs tangled with his. A perfect picture of intimacy.

Noelle gave a soft, bitter laugh. She gently pulled Grace’s hands away from her face.

“It’s fine,” she said, though her voice strained. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Really. It’s okay.”

It wasn’t.

Adrian wasn’t acting. The way he looked at Bianca—it was real. Soft. Unguarded. A look Noelle thought was hers.

Grace scrambled to explain. “Noelle, I didn’t know they’d be shooting something like this—”

“It’s his job,” Noelle interrupted, her voice eerily calm. “He’s just doing his job.”

But inside, she was breaking.

Adrian had promised her once—no intimate scenes. Nothing that could hurt her. But now he held Bianca like she belonged to him. Like nothing had ever changed.

Noelle stared at her ring, twisting it with trembling fingers.

Grace’s voice was low. “Noelle…”

Noelle gave her a faint, empty smile. “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

But she wasn’t. And they both knew it.

Grace finally broke the silence. “That woman... Bianca. She’s Adrian’s ex.”

Noelle didn’t react. She already knew.

Grace went on. “Adrian’s father was... dangerous. A mafia don. He ran a black market, auctioned women. Everyone feared him. Adrian grew up in that world... and for a while, he liked the power.”

She hesitated. “Then he met Bianca. They were together three years. Back then, she wasn’t famous. She was just ambitious. And Adrian? He was her golden ticket.”

“But when she learned the truth about his family, she ran. Went abroad. That’s when Adrian changed. He became an actor—to prove he could be someone better. Someone she could love again.”

Noelle said nothing. The words hit like knives.

He hadn’t changed for her. It was always for Bianca.

Grace's voice softened. “But he loves you now. I know he does.”

Noelle didn’t respond. She stared ahead, face calm but eyes hollow.

It didn’t matter anymore.

She wasn’t the love of his life. Just the one who came after.