Chapter 5 (Unwelcomed guest)

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 you up close, I must say — pictures don’t do you justice. You look breathtaking! Awwn, Evie is so lucky to be your wife.”

Adrian smiled again, nodded slightly, and gestured toward the dining area.

“The food’s getting cold,” he said simply, leading the way. Clara followed behind him, leaving Evelyn to quietly trail after them.

At the dining table, Clara talked nonstop, especially about how she’d do anything to have a man like Adrian.

“I can’t believe you ended up marrying your childhood sweetheart,” she said to Evelyn, who only managed a faint smile.

“Adrian acted like he’d never like you back in school,” Clara added with a tone Evelyn couldn’t quite define. “Who would’ve thought he’d end up marrying you?”

“It’s fate, I guess,” Evelyn murmured, keeping her gaze fixed on her plate.

“I intend to stay here for a while,” Clara announced suddenly. “Evelyn looks like she’ll be needing company since this mansion is far too big for just the two of you. And you, Adrian, hardly stay home because of work. I wouldn’t want my dearest friend to feel lonely, not even for a moment.”

Evelyn froze, unsure if that was good news or not. I’m still trying to build my relationship with Adrian… I can’t afford any distractions, she thought to herself, preparing to politely decline.

But Adrian spoke first.

“That’s not a bad idea,” he said, glancing at Clara. “You two could catch up on old memories.”

Evelyn’s heart sank.

---

The next morning, Adrian left early for work after breakfast. Evelyn and Clara spent the morning in the garden, chatting and enjoying the calm breeze.

“He’s handsome,” Clara teased, her eyes glimmering with curiosity. “But he’s… quiet, isn’t he?”

Evelyn laughed softly, masking the ache in her chest. “He’s just reserved. It’ll take time.”

Still, she noticed it too — the way Adrian’s smile never quite reached his eyes when directed at her, the way his gaze, sharp and commanding, never softened when it met hers.

And though Evelyn loved him deeply, a small whisper inside her heart asked, Am I married to a stranger?

That night, long after Clara had gone to bed, Evelyn lay awake staring into the darkness. Somewhere down the hall, Adrian’s study's room light was still on. The faint hum of his footsteps echoed through the quiet mansion — distant, steady, and unreachable.

For the first time, she realized the walls that separated them weren’t made of stone… they were built from silence.