3

I shook my head. “Nothing.” I croaked.

He stepped closer even more, looking worried. “Come on, it can’t be nothing, you’ve been crying.”

I knew Adrian wouldn’t drop it anytime soon, so I lied,

"It's Clara," I whispered, my voice breaking.

He furrowed his brows. “Your foster mother? The one who’s been in a coma since the car accident?

I nodded. "The hospital called. She's getting worse. They said... they said she might not make it."

For a split second, I saw relief flash in his eyes.

Then it was gone, replaced by fake sympathy.

"Oh, Elena." He stepped forward, pulling me into his arms. "I'm sorry. I know she means a lot to you."

My skin crawled at his touch. The hands that had murdered my babies, were now holding me, and comforting me.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to claw his eyes out.

But I forced myself to stay still, to let him hold me.

"Adrian?" Celeste's voice called from the doorway.

Adrian's body tensed up. He pulled away immediately and rushed to Celeste's side.

"Are you okay?" he asked her with genuine concern, not the fake concern he had just given me.

Celeste nodded, smiling. "Yes, I just wanted to know if you've told Elena yet."

Adrian turned to me, and suddenly his entire demeanor changed. His voice was vibrating with excitement.

“Elena, Celeste has good news.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Good news?”

He nodded. “Yes. And I would be throwing a party next week for a big celebration of the good news. I'm inviting all my friends, business partners, investors—everyone important."

I knew what the good news was. The pregnancy. My husband's baby growing inside my sister. And I knew the plans he had for me at that party.

I stared at him. "All these for the ‘good news’?"

"Yes." Celeste smiled sweetly. "Adrian wanted to do something special for me, as we’re all family."

He was throwing a party to celebrate the baby he had created using my murdered children.

"There will be a family dinner tonight first," Adrian continued. "Just us and your parents. But the big party is next week. I've already hired caterers, sent out invitations—”

"I'm not interested," I said flatly.

Celeste's smile faltered. "But Elena—"

"I said I'm not interested."

Celeste’s face dropped, and her eyes watered.

"Elena!" Adrian snapped, his expression darkening. "Your mother and father will be there. They're expecting you."

“I can’t bring myself to celebrate while Clara is dying," I said quietly, the lie rolling off my tongue easily.

"She's old," Adrian said dismissively. "She's lived her life. But this baby—" He placed his hand on Celeste's stomach. "This is new life. Something to be happy about."

My hands clenched into fists at his cruel words. Clara had always treated him like her son, even though I wasn’t her biological daughter. I couldn’t believe that he would be so flippant about her life.

"Don't be selfish," he continued. "Celeste is trying to include you in something important—"

"I said no."

Celeste's eyes filled with tears. "I just wanted us all to be together as a family. But if you don't want to be there..." Her voice broke. "If you hate me that much..."

"I'm just worried about Clara." I replied, turning away from her to continue packing the clothes.

"She wasn't your real mother," Celeste said softly. "She was just—"

"Don't." My voice was cold. "Don't you dare finish that sentence."

Celeste flinched, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. She turned to Adrian. "See? She hates me. I try so hard to be a good sister, but she—"

"Enough." Adrian's voice was sharp. He turned to me, his eyes hard. "You're coming to dinner tonight. And you're coming to the party next week. That's final."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are." He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "You're my wife. You'll attend both events, you'll smile, and you'll support your sister. Do you understand?"

I stared at him. The man that I had loved for eight years. The man who had murdered our children.

"Fine," I said quietly. "I'll come."

Satisfaction flashed across his face. "Good. Dinner starts at seven."

He turned and guided Celeste out of the room, whispering something in her ear that made her laugh.

The door closed behind them.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at the closed door with a glare on my face.

Adrian had no idea of the storm that was coming for him.