Before the End

For the first few days after that night, Adrian barely stayed at home. He would leave early and return at odd hours, sometimes remaining in the house for only a short while before heading out again.

 At first, Sera tried not to pay much attention to it. She told herself that he was simply busy, especially with everything happening around CIG Holdings. The company had been through a difficult period, but there had also been noticeable progress in recent weeks, enough for her to believe that Adrian's constant movement could simply be connected to the work that came with getting the company back on steady ground. 

Still, as the days passed, his absence became harder to ignore. Whenever he returned, there was always somewhere else he needed to be, something else demanding his attention, and before Sera could even get used to having him around again, he would be gone. 

She found herself watching the entrance whenever she heard a car pull into the compound, hoping that perhaps this time he would stay longer, perhaps things would somehow become different. She still loved him despite everything, and somewhere deep inside her, there remained that foolish little hope that the man she had married might eventually look at her the way he once had, or at least realize that she was still standing there, waiting for him to remember the life they had built together. 

But each passing day made that hope harder to hold onto.

Celine, meanwhile, seemed completely unaffected by the tension hanging over the household. She moved through the house with an ease that only made Sera more conscious of her own position.

 There were moments when Celine would speak about her pregnancy, mention something she had eaten, complain about a particular smell, or casually talk about the things she had been advised to avoid, and each time, Sera would quietly remove herself from the conversation. 

She had made up her mind that she would not tell Adrian about her own pregnancy. Not now. Not when he barely stayed long enough to look at her, and certainly not when the woman carrying his child seemed to have become the center of his attention. She had no idea how long she could continue carrying the secret alone, but for now, she chose silence. 

One afternoon, while walking through the hallway, Sera noticed Celine approaching from the opposite direction. She immediately shifted slightly to the side, intending to walk past without stopping. She had no desire for another uncomfortable conversation, and the last thing she wanted was to give Celine an opportunity to provoke her. But just as Sera was about to pass, Celine reached out and caught her lightly by the arm.

“Sister, are you really going to walk past me without even greeting?” Celine asked, her lips curving into a small smile. Her voice sounded almost playful, as though she were genuinely surprised by Sera's behavior, but there was something beneath the sweetness of the word that made it difficult to mistake her intention.

Sera looked down at the hand around her arm before slowly raising her eyes to Celine's face. “I didn't realize I had to stop you every time I saw you.”

“Of course you don't have to,” Celine replied, releasing her arm. “I just thought that since we are family now, we could at least be civil with each other.” She paused, studying Sera for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. “Actually, I've been thinking about something lately. I don't know if I should say it, but since we're sisters, perhaps you won't take it the wrong way.”

Sera almost laughed at the choice of words. “Then say it.”

Celine folded her arms loosely across her chest. “Have you ever wondered why everything seemed to go wrong after you married Adrian? I'm not saying you caused any of it, of course. I'm only looking at the situation from the outside. 

His company was already going through problems some time ago, and everyone knew CIG Holdings wasn't doing as well as it used to. Then, somehow, things started changing.” Her smile widened slightly. “The company has been making progress again. They have secured major opportunities, investors are paying attention, and from what I've heard, they've even landed a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars. That's not something that happens every day.”

Sera's expression changed almost imperceptibly. She had known that CIG Holdings was improving, but she had not realized the extent of the progress.

 Celine seemed to notice her reaction and continued, her voice remaining deceptively gentle. “And then there's the baby. After everything Adrian has been through, he finally has something to look forward to. A child of his own. It must mean a lot to him.” She tilted her head slightly, as though she were considering Sera's situation with genuine sympathy. “Maybe that's why he's hardly ever home these days. Perhaps he's simply trying to put everything in order.”

Sera remained silent for a moment, absorbing the information. The mention of the contract caught her attention more than she wanted to admit. If CIG Holdings had reached that level of progress, then perhaps Adrian's constant absence really did have something to do with the company. Maybe she had been overthinking it. Maybe he was simply caught up in work and everything that came with the company's recent breakthrough. The thought gave her a strange sense of relief, even though she knew it did not explain everything.

“So that's what you think?” Sera finally asked.

Celine gave a small shrug. “I'm only saying it might be the reason. You know Adrian. When something concerns his company, he can become completely consumed by it. And now that things are finally looking up for CIG Holdings, perhaps he doesn't want to take his eyes off the opportunity.”

Sera looked away briefly, her fingers tightening against the fabric of her dress before relaxing again. “Then maybe you're right. Maybe that's why he hasn't been around much.”

Celine smiled. “I'm glad you see it that way, sister. I wouldn't want you worrying unnecessarily.”

The word came again, soft and affectionate on the surface, but Sera could hear the faint edge beneath it. She forced herself to return the smile, even though her chest felt strangely heavy. “I wasn't worried.”

“Of course,” Celine replied, her smile remaining in place. “You wouldn't want to be.”

Sera said nothing. She simply stepped past her and continued down the hallway, leaving Celine behind. But with every step, the thought of Adrian's absence followed her. Perhaps it really was the company. Perhaps the progress CIG Holdings had made was demanding more of his time than she had realized. 

For the first time in days, Sera allowed herself to believe that maybe his distance had nothing to do with her, and that perhaps, once everything settled down, he would finally come back home and look at her the way she had been desperately hoping he would.

One evening, after several days of barely being home, Adrian finally returned while the house was still quiet and settled. He stepped through the main entrance with a dark folder tucked beneath his arm and several papers held in his hand, his jacket hanging loosely over one shoulder. 

The past few days had been different from the usual rhythm of the house. He would return late, spend a short time inside, and leave again, rarely giving anyone enough time to sit with him and have a proper conversation. That evening, however, he seemed less hurried.

 When he entered the parlor, he found Celine sitting comfortably on the sofa, and the moment she noticed him, she put her phone aside and stood. “You're finally home.” She walked toward him and wrapped her arms around him, and Adrian returned the hug before gently pulling away. 

Celine looked at his face and smiled. “You've been avoiding this house.” Adrian gave a tired laugh. “I haven't been avoiding the house.” “Then you've been avoiding me.” “That isn't true.” She touched his arm lightly before looking down at the folder he was carrying. “So, how is the progress going?”

Adrian glanced at the documents before placing them on the table. “It's going well. The lawyers are taking care of things, and there's nothing you need to worry about.” 

Celine watched him for a moment. “You've been dealing with them for days.” “Some things take time.” “And everything is still moving?” “Yes.” That was all he offered, and Celine did not press him. 

Instead, she sat back down and patted the space beside her. Adrian joined her, leaning into the sofa with a tired expression. “You know, I've been wondering when you were actually going to sit down with me,” Celine said. 

“Every time you come home, you're already thinking about the next thing.” Adrian looked at her. “I'm here now.” “For how long?” she asked with a teasing smile. “Long enough.” She smiled back, then rested her hand over her stomach. “I'll take that.”

For a while, they sat together without saying much. The quiet felt more natural than it had in the previous days, and Celine seemed content simply having him there. She eventually began talking about the baby, telling him about the things she had recently been told to avoid and how strange it still felt to have to think about another life with every decision she made. 

Adrian listened without interrupting, occasionally answering when she asked him something. “I still can't believe how quickly everything has changed,” Celine said, looking down at her stomach. 

“There are days when I wake up and remember that I'm going to be a mother, and then I start thinking about everything that comes with it. The food, the appointments, the things I shouldn't be doing anymore. It's a lot.” Adrian nodded. “You'll get used to it.” Celine smiled. “Maybe. But I don't want to get used to doing everything without you.” 

Adrian turned toward her. “You're not doing everything without me.” “Sometimes it feels that way.” Her voice softened, and she rested her head briefly against his shoulder. “I know you've had a lot happening lately. I just miss having you around.”

Adrian reached for her hand. “I'll be around more.” Celine lifted her head and looked at him. “You promise?” “I'll try.” She smiled. “I'll take that.” Her fingers remained intertwined with his for a moment before her eyes moved toward the staircase. 

“Although, I don't think Sera has been seeing much of you either.” Adrian's expression changed slightly. “Where is she?” 

“Probably upstairs.” 

“In her room?” Celine nodded. “Most of the time.” 

Adrian looked toward the stairs, then back at Celine. “Has she been like that all week?” “Pretty much.” Celine paused before adding, “She comes down sometimes, but she doesn't stay long. She's been very quiet.” Adrian's gaze remained fixed in the direction of the stairs. “Did she say why?” “No. I asked her once if she was okay, and she told me she was.” Celine shrugged. “Maybe she doesn't want to talk.”

Adrian was silent for a moment. “Have you two been getting along?” Celine gave him a small look. “I'm trying.” “That's not what I asked.”

 “And I answered.” She smiled slightly, then added, “I don't have a problem with her, Adrian. She's the one who keeps her distance.” Adrian looked at her carefully. “You don't need to make everything about her.” “I'm not.”

 Celine's expression became softer. “I'm just saying that she seems unhappy, and you should probably speak to her.” Adrian leaned forward and picked up the folder from the table. “I'll talk to her.” 

“Tonight?” Celine asked. 

He looked toward the stairs again. “Maybe.” “She'll probably be happy you came looking for her.” 

Adrian said nothing.

Celine watched him rise from the sofa, the folder still in his hand. “You're taking those upstairs?” she asked.

 “Yes.”

 “You're going back to work?”

 “No.” He glanced at the documents. “I just need them with me.” She nodded, then smiled. “All right. Go and talk to your wife.” Adrian gave her a brief look before turning toward the staircase.

 As he climbed, the house became quieter around him. He reached the upper floor and walked along the passage toward Sera's bedroom, the folder held firmly at his side. 

When he reached her door, he stopped. The door was closed, and there was no sound coming from inside. He stood there for a moment, looking down at the documents in his hand before lifting his eyes to the door again.

Inside the room, Sera had already heard him come home. She had heard his voice downstairs, the sound of Celine laughing with him, and the quiet movement of his footsteps across the house. She remained seated on the edge of the bed, her hands resting together as she listened. 

For days, she had been trying to understand Adrian's absence without allowing herself to believe the worst. His attention had been divided, CIG was finally recovering, and there had been enough changes around the company to explain why he was constantly occupied.

 She had held on to that explanation because it was easier than accepting that his distance might have something to do with her. She still loved him, and despite everything that had happened between them, a part of her still believed that if they could sit down and speak honestly, something between them might change.

But Adrian had not given her that opportunity.

He had been coming home and leaving again, carrying those documents with him wherever he went. Sera had noticed them, just as she had noticed the serious expression that sometimes crossed his face whenever he looked through them, but she had never asked what they contained. 

She did not want another argument. She did not want to hear something that might finally destroy the little hope she was still holding on to. So she had stayed quiet and waited, telling herself that Adrian would eventually come to her when he was ready.

Now, for the first time in several days, he was standing outside her door.

Sera slowly lifted her head as his shadow appeared beneath the narrow gap at the bottom of the door. Adrian remained there for several seconds, then finally raised his hand and knocked.

Sera's fingers tightened together.

She looked

toward the door, unaware that the conversation waiting on the other side would leave her with far more questions than answers.