05

How did you get here?” Eros' voice came out barely above a breath, his hand still clutching the door handle tight.

“Well, since you haven’t changed your head of house workers, getting in wasn’t that hard.” Natalia said in a cool voice and tried to take a step forward.

But Eros' towering frame blocked the entry, his expression unreadable.

“At least let me come in and settle down so we can talk,” she muttered, and for a brief second, her eyes softened with something that looked like regret.

But Eros only stared at her like she was a ghost from a life he’d buried.

“Why are you here, Natalia?” He asked in a voice now loud and sharper.

Natalia huffed, and then her hands flailed slightly in surrender. “Okay, fine. A month after our divorce, I realised I made a mistake. A terrible one. I called…texted… you ignored every attempt. I’ve been waiting for you to return to Australia, Eros. I was wrong, I admit it. “I want you back, Eros Rodriguez.” 

Her voice cracked out like a desperate prayer, her eyes shimmering with sincerity or perhaps desperation. 

Seconds ticked by as she waited for Eros’ response, but he neither flinched nor uttered a word.

“Please say something,” she whispered.

Finally, Eros looked up and met her gaze. “It’s too late, ex-wife,” he uttered, his voice calm and cold. 

“What do you mean?” Natalia blurted out, her breath wavering.

“Come in,” Eros said, stepping aside for her. 

As the two words escaped his mouth, her face lit up for a second until she stepped inside, and her gaze landed on Adriana’s figure on the bed, with her shiny brown hair all over the pillow.

Eros walked in behind her, his tone brisk. “That’s my wife; she’s currently craving. I’d rather focus on her than on conversations that should’ve happened two years ago.”

He declared, making Natalia’s face fall. She blinked in disbelief, then looked from him to Adriana and then back to him.

“It’s just two years, and you're married, Eros? I thought you were head over heels for me?” She trembled out, anger noticeable in her voice.

“I promise you, you’ll regret ever turning me down for someone like her, Eros Rodriguez,” she uttered bitterly and stormed out, with the door slamming hard behind her. 

With just Eros and Adriana left alone, Adriana turned to him with a small laugh and sat up. “That was… quite a performance,” she muttered.

Eros smirked before speaking, “Seems like we’re both haunted by exes. The only difference? Yours hasn’t come crawling back yet.”

“How lucky for me,” Adriana replied, rolling her eyes.

“I haven’t asked… What is the baby craving?” He said from a distance.

Adriana blinked, her hand instinctively on her belly. “I think… pancakes with strawberry syrup and scrambled eggs. And maybe pickles.”

“Noted. I’ll get the chef working,” Eros responded curtly and pulled out his phone to dial the chef’s number.

So far, Adriana continued to live in Eros' mansion peacefully, as the weeks bled into months, then years.

According to plan, she stayed not just as Eros’s public wife but also as a woman who built her already booming business brick by brick till it outstandingly excelled across five different countries. 

It was already five years, and she had all she wanted, except her revenge on Antonio.

Although, for a long time, her fake marriage with Eros had become so complicated and confusing. Yet, she stayed, along with her two kids.

“Mommy’s home!” came the excited voices of her five-year-old twins as she stepped through the front door, returning from the office.

Hardin and Tessa ran toward her, their arms wide open.

“My sweet darlings”, Adriana said, kneeling to gather them both in a hug.

After the warm greetings, they settled at the dining table with their notebooks. Adriana watched them tackle their calculations, a smile across her lips.

“What’s your final answer to question six, Hardin?” Tessa suddenly asked and poked at her brother’s math page.

“Why don’t you find out tomorrow in class?” Hardin replied smugly and shut his book.

Adriana chuckled, resting her chin on her hand as she watched them bicker like miniature adults.

“Let me see your notebook, Tessa,” she said, and Tessa handed the note over shyly. 

She flipped through the pages shortly, then smiled. “You got it right, baby girl. I told you—you’re just as smart as your brother. You’ve just got to believe in yourself,” she said, her hazel eyes gazing deeply into her blue ones with love and affection.

“Okay, Mommy,” Tessa whispered, her cheeks suddenly pink.

Just then, the front door opened, interrupting them.

“Hi, Daddy!” The twins both chorused as Eros walked in side by side with a woman dressed in a barely-there outfit.

“Hey, pumpkins,” Eros replied, bending to kiss them both on their cheeks before walking past Adriana.

“Is that another one of Daddy’s workers too?” Hardin asked, frowning, as they watched Eros' arm wrapped around the unknown lady's waist while they ascended the stairs.

“Yes, darling,” Adriana replied briskly as she diverted her attention back to them.

“Now, why don’t you two put away your backpacks and get ready for dinner?” She added, standing up.

The twins both nodded and scurried off.

As soon as they disappeared, Adriana let out a tired sigh and headed upstairs.

Just when she pushed open the door to her bedroom, she stopped upon seeing Eros waiting.

“Hey, wifey,” he drawled.

“What are you doing in my room, Slutty Man?” she asked coolly, while walking toward the shelf to drop her office bag.

“Aren’t you at least happy to see me?” Eros teased and sauntered toward her until only a foot separated them.

Adriana turned, arms crossed. “What do you want, Eros? Don’t keep your little escort waiting.”

“I got an invitation. From Antonio,” he suddenly uttered in a serious tone, making Adriana's brow arch.

“First time he’s reached out in five years. Apparently, he’s launching a new project… I’m pretty sure he wants to show off—rubbing whatever success he has in my face. Which is why we’re going.” He emphasised.

“To California?” Adriana asked softly, her head tilting.

“Yes, to California. Revenge calls wifey,” he muttered, with a smirk.

“So... till when do I and the kids have to prepare?” Adriana asked, her gaze locked on his face.

“We’ll leave tomorrow evening. The event is the following night. And just so we’re clear…”

“...we’re going as a couple,” Adriana finished his sentence.

“Exactly! Pack accordingly, Mrs Rodriguez. It’s going to be quite a show…” He said, turning, and walked out.