09

The ride back to the penthouse was a blur of red taillights and muffled groans.

With Adriana sitting hunched in the backseat beside Antonio, her face pinched as wave after wave of cramping slammed through her. She bit her lower lip hard, refusing to let tears fall in front.

Eros watched her quietly, his hand hovering near hers but never quite touching. He didn’t know what to do with the version of her—the strong, sharp woman now folded in pain beside him.

“Can you walk?” he asked gently as the car came to a stop outside the penthouse entrance.

Adriana nodded weakly and stepped out. Eros followed close behind, his hand instinctively hovering near her back.

But Adriana only made it a few steps before stopping short. She froze mid-stride with her hand gripping the side of her hip, as another spasm hit—harder this time. She couldn't help but let a small sound escape her lips.

Eros was at her side in a second. Without a word, he swept her off her feet again.

“You’re being dramatic,” Adriana murmured faintly, her voice tight from the pain.

“No. I’m being practical,” Eros replied, his gaze steady on her face as he carried her inside.

By the time he gently lowered her onto her bed, Adriana was already breathing easier—at least for the moment.

“I can take it from here. I only need to take my meds from the drawer,” she whispered, adjusting herself against the pillows.

Eros didn’t budge. He stood vividly beside her bed, his arms crossed. “You could barely walk five feet. What do you want me to do? Watch you crawl to your drawer?” He asked, making Adriana give him a half-hearted glare.

“The pill I do take every month is right in the middle compartment of the drawer,” she eventually gave in.

Eros turned to the drawer without comment and then paused briefly. “Every month?” he repeated, glancing back at her.

“Yes, Eros. My menstrual pain is every month,” she muttered, trying to sound firm, despite the pain.

Just then, another wave struck her mid-sentence, and she gasped, folding into herself.

Eros noticed this and retrieved the meds quickly, before stepping to the mini fridge for cool water.

He opened the bottle for her, holding it out along with the tablet. “Here,” he said, his voice low but gentle.

Adriana took it without meeting his eyes. “Thank you,” she murmured, and swallowed both the pill and her pride.

Eros nodded once and turned to put the items back, but didn’t leave.

As Adriana lay on her bed with her eyes closed, she suddenly felt the bed dip, and her eyes flew open.

“What are you doing?” she asked, turning slowly to face Eros, who had stretched out beside her by propping himself on one elbow, while watching her.

“Taking care of you. I didn’t know you go through this every month,” he said simply.

Adriana’s heart thudded awkwardly in her chest at his words. “You wouldn’t know. You stopped noticing things like that after I gave birth.” She replied softly.

Silence followed, as Eros’s expression flickered with something—regret, maybe. But it was gone as fast as it appeared when Adriana pulled herself up with effort, and winced slightly.

“If you may excuse me… I need to change out of this dress,” she said.

“You should be resting,” Eros said, also sitting up.

“I just need to undress. The drug always works, so please, Mr. Carer—kindly leave.” Adriana cooed and stood slowly, with her hand still on her stomach.

Eros raised both hands in mock surrender, a wry smile twitching at his lips. “Alright, alright. Message received.” He said, and stepped out of the room without another word.

The next morning, the scent of vanilla pancakes drifted into the hallway, mingling with the faint aroma of fresh coffee.

As the kids sat side by side at the dining table, Hardin poked at a pancake with his fork while Tessa hummed to herself as she chewed.

Eros also sat across from them and continued to quietly sip his coffee while glancing between the kids.

Minutes later, Adriana walked into the dining room. Just like she hadn't felt waves of pain the previous night, she appeared looking fresh and glowing.

“Morning, my beautiful darlings.” Her voice carried a softness that made both Hardin and Tessa look up instantly, their faces lighting up at the sight of her.

She bent down and pressed warm kisses on their cheeks, her brown curls brushing their faces. “Did you both sleep well?” she asked.

The two kids nodded eagerly, their mouths too full of toast and eggs to speak. Tessa offered a wide, syrupy smile, while Hardin gave a slow thumbs-up, mid-chew.

Adriana laughed lightly and turned to Eros, who had been watching the whole scene from across the table, with a coffee cup in his hand.

“Good morning… and thank you for last night,” she said as she took the empty seat beside him.

Eros set his cup down gently, his eyes never leaving her face. “Don’t mention it, wifey. How are you feeling now?”

Adriana gave a short, appreciative nod. “Much better. The pain’s gone.”

“Good.” He uttered, his voice low and genuine.

He wanted to say more, a lot more. But the kids were still munching happily, and the moment wasn’t right.

So, he waited right after the plates had been cleared and the dishes taken away by the maids.

With his back leaned in his seat, he suddenly clapped his hands together with a grin. “Alright, I’ve got a surprise for you two.” He announced.

“A surprise? What is it, Daddy?” Tessa asked happily.

“You’re going to love this,” Eros said, tapping her nose lightly.

“Daddy’s enrolling you both in school today,” he declared.

“Yay!” Tessa squealed, jumping in her seat.

Hardin gasped dramatically. “No way!”

“Yes way, sweetheart.” Eros said, laughing.

“Wow! Daddy just said, "Sweetheart!” Hardin blurted, looking stunned.

Adriana burst into laughter, and even Eros couldn’t help but join in. Hardin wore a smug little smile, clearly proud of his observation.

“Don’t act so surprised, grumpy guy. I’m full of surprises.” Eros said, leaning over, and ruffled his hair.

“So…you’re registering them?” Adriana asked.

“Of course,” he replied smoothly.

Just then, Tessa tilted her head. “Can we go now? I want to wear my pink butterfly dress!”

Eros smiled. “In a minute. Let Nanny Mary help you both get ready.”

As soon as the kids scampered off toward Mary’s door, Adriana turned to Eros, folding her arms with a curious expression.

“Well, look at you,” she said, arching a brow. “All of a sudden, you’re playing the good dad.”

Eros smirked, leaning back in his chair. “And soon… the good husband,” he added.

Adriana rolled her eyes at him and said, “You’re impossible.”

“But charming,” Eros added with a wink, and before she could retort, his tone shifted.

“Listen, I’ve been thinking, we should launch a new company here. Together.”

He suggested, making Adriana’s brows furrow. “A new company?” she asked.

“You’ll be the CEO, obviously,” Eros said with a shrug. “We’ll keep our current businesses running, but this will serve a purpose,” he continued.

Adriana tilted her head, suspicious. “And what purpose would that be?”

Eros leaned forward, his voice calm but firm. “To make this fake marriage look real. A united front, in business and in life. That’s what will make people—especially him—believe we’re unbreakable.”

Adriana’s gaze darkened slightly. She knew exactly who ‘him’ was.

“I don’t care about proving anything to Antonio,” she replied.

“I know. But he still needs to see it. And so does everyone else,” Eros said softly, followed by silence.

Then, Adriana nodded slowly. “Alright. But the office must be close to the kids’ school. Five minutes max. Like I had in Australia.”

“Done, I’ll handle it,” he said with a smile.

"I'll go get the kids now. You should rest a little more,” he added.

“I’m now fine, Eros. What if you register my kids under your name?” Adriana replied, her eyes narrowing at him.

“Not interested in that,” Eros said, flashing her a grin, and with that, he walked off before she could argue more.

One week later, right In the dim, modern bedroom of Antonio’s high-rise penthouse, soft jazz played from hidden speakers, wrapping the room in a sensual hum. Abby emerged from the bathroom, her skin still glistening from the shower.

Having dropped her towel on the floor, she climbed bare into bed behind Antonio, and wrapped her arms around his bare torso.

Without hesitation, she began to press kisses along his back, trailing up toward his neck. “Mmm. You’ve barely looked at me all week. Don't you miss me?” she muttered.

But Antonio didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on the distant city skyline beyond the massive glass windows. The lights sparkled below like scattered diamonds, but they didn’t interest him. His mind was somewhere else, on someone else—his one and only long-lost Adriana.

He could still picture her glowing in that crimson gown, standing beside Eros, with her head tilted toward him in the way she used to tilt it toward him.