The CEO's broken vows

Adrian left his villa that night and headed to his office. He had created a private space there that looked almost like a bedroom — a study corner, a sizable bed, a wardrobe, and even a small wine cellar. It was his safe space — the place he escaped to whenever his grandmother’s nagging became unbearable or when he was too tired to return home. Sometimes, he spent weeks there without setting foot in his house. That night, he came straight here after leaving home on his wedding night. He felt deeply uncomfortable sharing the same space with Evelyn, his new wife — though he couldn’t quite explain why. He remembered growing up with her, spending most of their childhood side by side. He had always protected Evelyn, almost like an older brother. At first, it was because his grandmother had asked him to look after Evelyn and Isabella. But over time, it became a habit — an instinct. His protectiveness grew so strong that people began to whisper he might be obsessed with her. So, what we

Clara couldn’t hide her excitement the moment she spotted Adrian walking into the living room with Evelyn.“Adrian!” she exclaimed, running straight into his arms.Evelyn had expected Adrian to push Clara away — to act distant, like he always did with her — but to her dismay, he did nothing. He didn’t hug Clara back, yet he didn’t push her off either.A pang of pain tugged at Evelyn’s heart. She could only smile bitterly at the thought that Adrian could be touchy with anyone, just not her.“Oh my gosh! You’ve really changed!” Clara gushed, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at him. Adrian smiled faintly in response.He smiled? Evelyn’s breath hitched. It had been ages since she last saw Adrian smile. The sight of it stirred something in her, almost bringing a smile to her own lips — until she remembered that the smile wasn’t meant for her, but for someone else.“I’ve heard so much about you,” Clara continued, “with your pictures dominating every business news and magazine. But seeing

By day, Adrian was everything the world worshipped — the perfect CEO. His company stood tall like a monument to success, its glass walls reflecting his brilliance and authority. He was young, ambitious, and untouchable. Everyone who spoke of him did so in admiration.But what they didn’t see was the man behind the mask — the one whose eyes revealed nothing, whose voice carried no warmth.Evelyn would sit at the dining table every evening, dressed beautifully, her hair done just the way he liked.“How was your day?” she would ask softly, her voice carrying more hope than words.He would look up briefly, offer a short nod, sometimes a single word — sometimes not even that — and then retreat into silence.There were no arguments, no harsh words. Only the cold, heavy distance of indifference — and that hurt more than hatred ever could.At night, Evelyn would lie beside him, her gaze fixed on the ceiling while he turned his back to her. The silence between them was louder than any fight. S

“I intend to visit my family today,” Evelyn said softly, watching his expression carefully. Adrian, who had just lifted his cup of coffee, paused midair. His eyes flickered toward her—cold, unreadable—as if deciding how much her words should matter to him. Then, without a word, he set the cup down and leaned back in his chair. “Do whatever you want,” he finally muttered. The brief flicker of hope in Evelyn’s eyes dimmed instantly. Still, she managed a small nod and forced a polite smile. “Thank you,” she murmured, lowering her gaze to her plate. Breakfast passed in silence. Evelyn ate quietly while Adrian scrolled through his phone, the only sound in the room being the gentle clinking of cutlery. When he finally stood, she looked up instinctively, but instead of leaving for work, he simply walked to the window and stared out into the distance. “Will you be back tonight?” she asked hesitantly, her voice fragile in the vastness of the dining room. Adrian didn’t turn. “I don’t kno