//Ch 7//

[Adrian Cole]

I clutched Isabella’s phone tightly, watching her walk away dressed in this stunning gown that made her beauty stand out even more. She was a sight to behold. I sometimes found it difficult to focus when she was around. But her looks weren’t the reason I fell in love with her.

She was this shy girl working two part-time jobs when we met in college. She didn’t like talking to new people, and she was fiercely guarded by a best friend who threatened to give me a new asshole if I bothered her friend. But I was smitten. I couldn't stay away. 

She was intelligent, funny when she opened up, and she laughed with this cute snort that always made me feel like I’d done something right.

I wasn’t sure why she was so upset tonight, and I’m usually good at noticing these things. I stared at the phone in my hand, finally turning it over to get a look.

My heart sank into a pit in my stomach. There I was, exiting Viva La Pasion with Olivia. Fuck, I hadn’t told her my ex came back. I didn’t think it was important, but I should have known secrets never last in this nosy city.

Damn it. She must think horribly of Olivia. But it wasn’t her fault. I invited her out to lunch, then we got lost talking, then after that I drove her to her place… she asked me to stay for coffee. Then from there we went out again.

I was the one who lost track of time.

Damn, damn. Shit. A scary thought flirted into my mind. There was someone else I hadn’t told about Olivia’s arrival, and he was back in the city as well.

ETHAN!

He’s going to kill me. He’s going to fucking kill me.

I’ll handle him tomorrow. Right now, I need to apologize to Isabella.

I bolted into the house and straight for our bedroom.

Isabella was being tended to by two maids. My heart felt a wave of sadness as I noticed her injured hands.

What happened? Was she attacked?

Fuck, this is on me for not being there. I got her texts. I just… It’s rude to text someone when you’re spending time with another person. So I didn’t think it’d hurt anyone if I didn’t text her back.

But what if there was an emergency and she couldn’t get through to me?

“My love,”

She stared up with something in her eyes that I’d never seen before. Anger. Isabella is not the type to get angry. In fact, I’ve never truly seen her angry. I’ve seen her sad, happy, slightly upset, but never full-blown anger.

This was new.

But wasn’t she being irrational? This photo means nothing. I just had lunch with an old friend whom I used to date. There’s no reason for her or the people of Aurelia to turn this into a bigger deal.

I would never get back with Olivia. She broke my heart, I’m married, and I’m not a moron.

Can’t I get a little credit?

Thinking about it bothered me so much that I decided it was best to leave Isabella to cool off. As my wife, she should know better than to believe everything online. Yes, I missed her family dinner, but it was just one dinner. I’ve been there for hundreds. There’s no need for her to blow a fuse and act like I committed a crime.

Can’t I eat with friends without telling her just once?

I tossed her phone onto the bed next to her and left the room. But not before muttering, “We’ll talk later.”

I didn’t want to stay in the house. The maids were all looking at me like I was dirt, especially the head of staff. This elderly woman who practically helped my mother raise me. She shook her head, disappointment etched on her face.

They’d all seen the photo. It was pretty clear from their reactions that they also thought I was the type to cheat on my wife.

Wow. I don’t even get the benefit of the doubt.

After all I’ve done to show I’m a good man, all it took was one picture posted by an irrelevant gossip column for me to be seen as a douchebag. And the caption was horrible. I’m not divorcing my wife. I love Isabella. I love her to the point of being obsessed.

I got back into my car and sped off. Deciding to go to someone who might be angry but would never doubt me.

Ethan.

He lived on the other side of the city, hours away in a two-story penthouse. Surely he would be smarter than Isabella.

Turns out, I was wrong.

“What kind of moron are you?” He asked the second I got to his floor. His look was just as annoying as the maids'.

“I can explain. Olivia came back a few weeks ago, and she only reached out last night.”

“So that’s why you walked out on Isabella?” His accusatory tone irked me. I shoved his shoulders, refusing to get into a screaming match until I was inside his home.

Ethan doesn’t yell. He switches his tone when he wants to convey emotions, but that’s the most you’re going to get out of my friend when he's upset. This was no different. He was disappointed, and he wasn’t about to hide it.

But he also wouldn’t scream.

“You and Isabella are driving me insane. And the whole damn city of Aurelia needs to mind their fucking business. I am a grown man. I can hang out with friends without it being such a big fucking deal. There’s no need for people to act like I’m about to divorce and cheat on my wife. Especially you, Ethan. Give me some fucking credit. I wouldn’t jeopardize that for a woman who left me—”

Ethan shook his head, which was the most effective way to shut me up. He walked past me, heading straight for his kitchen, where some documents were lying on the marble countertop.

“You can say whatever you want, Adrian. But no man in their right mind walks out on his wife on the most important night of her life.”

My jaw ticked as it tightened. “It was one event, Ethan. Isabella has thrown a million. I hadn’t seen Olivia in years. I just wanted to talk. Get the closure I never got.”

“That's the excuse you’re going for? Didn’t you tell me Isabella’s father died from lung cancer?”

That’s true. And I understand that the event was for lung cancer… why is he even bringing this up?

“This isn’t about that night. It’s about tonight. Isabella is angry at me for missing one dinner with her family. And you’re upset because I was seen with Olivia. She used to be your friend too.”

Ethan snickers in disbelief. His fingers brush through his hair as his eyes fix on the papers he’d most likely been working on before I arrived.

“Of course, Adrian. You’re right, and everyone else is wrong. I’m sure you told Isabella your ex was back in town. I’m sure you had the common decency to tell your wife and best friend that the woman who drove you to almost drink yourself to death was back in your life. Closure?” he snorted. “I know you, Adrian. You’re a bad fucking liar. Let me make this clear. If you fuck around with Olivia—”

I slammed my hands against the counter. “I will not do such a thing. For fuck sakes, Ethan—”

He cut me off, continuing like I hadn’t said anything. “If you get into another mess with her, I won’t pull you up this time. Whatever you choose to do with Olivia is your business. You’re a grown man. Do whatever you like.”

That dismissive tone only made me angrier, but I could tell he was done talking. He’s supposed to be my best friend, and he’s acting like I was suddenly a stranger simply because I spent time with Olivia.

She used to be his friend too.

I think. Or had he just tolerated her for my sake? Who knows, but I will not be bullied by him or my wife into thinking I did something wrong. They’re overreacting, and I won’t reward their behavior.