CHAPTER ONE - The Woman He Was Ashamed Of.

Serena’s POV

“You’re embarrassing me again.”

Adrian’s voice was calm when he said it, but somehow, that made it worse.

The entire dining table went silent.

I stood beside his mother with a serving tray still in my hands while heat slowly crawled up my neck. Across the table, several business guests pretended not to stare at me, but I could feel their judgment anyway.

Victoria Laurent sighed dramatically before taking a sip of wine. “Serena, how many times do I have to explain this? Important dinners require staff who understand proper etiquette.”

“I was only trying to help,” I said quietly.

Victoria smiled without warmth. “And that’s the problem. You keep trying too hard.”

A few soft chuckles followed immediately.

I lowered my eyes before anyone could see how humiliated I felt.

Seven whole years in this family, yet I still felt like an outsider every single day.

I carefully placed the tray down and stepped away from the table. “Excuse me.”

Nobody stopped me. Especially not Adrian.

That hurt more than his mother’s words.

I walked upstairs slowly while the laughter downstairs continued faintly behind me. By the time I reached the hallway, my chest already felt heavy.

I stepped into our bedroom and closed the door carefully behind me. The silence inside the room felt strange after all the noise downstairs.

For a moment, I simply stood there staring at nothing. Then the tears came unexpectedly, warm and unstoppable as it slid freely down my cheeks. I walked toward the mirror and stared at my reflection.

Simple cream dress, loose dark hair, minimal makeup. Nothing impressive.

Maybe Victoria was right. Women like me could never belong in a world like theirs.

A vibration suddenly interrupted my thoughts, I looked down at my phone resting near the bed.

My brows pulled together immediately.

Your husband is lying to you.

I frowned.

Another message followed underneath.

Imperial Hotel. Suite 1107. 8pm.

My heartbeat slowed instantly.

The final message appeared seconds later.

You deserve to know the truth.

I stared at the screen for a long moment without moving.

No, Adrian wouldn’t.

But the thought died before it could fully form.

Because lately, I honestly didn’t know what Adrian would or wouldn’t do anymore.

The bedroom door opened before I could think further, Adrian walked in, looking more irritated than concerned. His expression barely changed the moment he saw me.

“You left suddenly,” he said.

I let out a quiet laugh of disbelief. “Your mother insulted me in front of your guests.”

“She was embarrassed.”

“So was I.”

He exhaled quietly and walked toward the dresser. “Serena…”

“No, seriously.” I laughed once, but there was no humor in it. “She called me staff”

“She was trying to save the dinner.”

“By humiliating me?”

Adrian pulled off his watch without looking at me. “You know how these mothers are.”

I stared at him. “That’s your answer?”

His jaw tightened slightly. “What do you want me to say?”

The question hit harder than I expected because years ago, Adrian would’ve known.

I folded my arms tightly. “I wanted you to say something down there.”

Adrian finally looked at me, looking tired now more than angry. “Can we not do this tonight?” His voice unnervingly calm.

“Do what?”

“This.” He gestured vaguely between us. “Every conversation turning into a fight.”

I looked at him in disbelief. For a second, I genuinely couldn’t speak. Then I laughed softly again, hurt this time.

“I’m tired, Serena.”

“No,” I said quietly. “You’re tired of me.”

He picked up another phone from the dresser. Not his work phone. The private one he started keeping face down lately.

I felt cold, I looked away before he noticed the expression on my face.

Maybe I was imagining things, another voice in me whispered “maybe he stopped loving you a long time ago.” That thought made my chest ache.

Adrian eventually disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the room moments later, while I remained standing beside the bed staring at the messages again.

Imperial Hotel. Suite 1107. 8pm.

I should ignore it. That was the reasonable thing to do, but my mind betrayed me immediately.

The late-night meetings, the distance between us, the way he barely touched me and lately, he is overly protective of his private phone. 

I suddenly felt sick.

The bathroom door opened again minutes later. Adrian stepped out wearing dark sweatpants while drying his hair with a towel.

I studied him quietly.

He looked calm and normal, like someone with absolutely nothing to hide.

“Are you still traveling tomorrow?” I asked carefully.

“Yes.”

“For work?”

His eyes lifted briefly toward mine.

“What else would it be for?” 

I nodded slowly. “Nothing.”

Adrian climbed into bed without another word, within minutes, his breathing steadied.

But I stayed awake all night, staring into the darkness beside him. The messages replayed endlessly inside my head.

Maybe I was wrong, maybe grief and loneliness inside this marriage had started twisting my thoughts negatively.

That realization stayed with me the entire next day. I tried distracting myself, I tried convincing myself not to go to the hotel. Several times, I almost deleted the messages completely.

But every time I remembered Adrian’s face the night before, my instinct stopped me.

By evening, I found myself standing outside Imperial Hotel with shaking hands wrapped tightly around my purse.

I hated the horrible feeling sitting in my chest already. Maybe this was all a misunderstanding. Still, my feet carried me toward the elevator anyway.

The elevator doors opened softly onto the top floor. My heartbeat became unbearable with every step toward Suite 1107.

I stopped outside the door, staring at the gold numbers, maybe I should leave.

Then I heard a woman laugh softly from inside and I recognized the voice immediately.

Celeste Whitmore.

My stomach dropped so fast it almost hurt. 

I had heard that voice too many times before. 

At charity galas, at my own dining table just last night while Victoria praised her elegance right in front of me.

I suddenly couldn’t breathe properly.

Then Celeste spoke again.

“When are you finally going to give Serena the divorce papers?”

Everything inside me went still.

There was a brief silence afterward, then Adrian spoke. “The partnership deal was just finalized yesterday.”  His voice sounded tense and defensive. 

Celeste laughed quietly again. “Exactly, the deal is secure now. What’s the point of dragging this any longer?”

I gripped my purse tighter.

Celeste’s voice softened afterward. “Adrian, our families want this, the company needs this. Honestly, the only person still holding onto that marriage is Serena.”

The words hit me so hard, I almost choked on my breath. I suddenly remembered last night at dinner.

The way Victoria smiled at Celeste. The way Adrian barely looked at me but smiled at every flat jokes Celeste made. The private phone. 

I suddenly felt stupid for defending him all this time. For believing exhaustion was the reason he became distant. For still loving him after all the ways he slowly made me feel unwanted inside my own marriage.

My eyes were filled with tears.

How long had I been lying to myself?

Then Celeste spoke again.

“Just end it already.”

Adrian answered quietly, “I know.”

That was it. No hesitation, just two simple words.

My fingers slowly slipped away from the door handle.

I don’t know why that hurt more than hearing he cheated.

Maybe because some part of me kept waiting for him to say my name differently like I still mattered. Instead, he sounded tired like I had become another responsibility he didn’t want anymore.

Inside the suite, glasses clinked softly.

Celeste laughed again, quieter this time like she already belonged beside him.

And suddenly I couldn’t stand there a second longer. My vision had already gone blurry. I stepped backward carefully before they could hear me outside the door. 

Then I looked at the door one last time, like I can see Adrian’s face through it.

"You know what hurts the most?" I whispered shakily. "I would've died for you."