Chapter 3

IVY'S POV

Six Months Later

Six months of following his rules.

Six months of pretending to be his wife in public while being nothing more than a stranger behind closed doors.

I had gotten used to the cold silences, the separate bedrooms, and Adrian disappearing whenever Lisa was around.

Or at least, I thought I had.

"Wow, babe. You're so strong."

Lisa's breathless voice drifted from the living room.

I stopped in the hallway.

My fingers tightened around the glass in my hand as I listened to her laugh.

Adrian had invited Lisa over for dinner tonight.

Apparently, I was the only person in this house who hadn't been invited.

For the past six months, ever since our marriage became official, I had felt like a stranger in Adrian's home.

He barely spoke to me.

Barely looked at me.

And tonight, as I stood outside the living room listening to him with his girlfriend, I wondered how much longer I was expected to pretend I was his wife.

Our conversations barely passed the thirty-second mark before they were replaced with awkward silence.

"Adrian, I prepared the bath for you. Would you like to shower now before dinner gets served?" I asked as I stepped into the living room.

Adrian looked up at me.

For a moment, his eyes lingered on my face before he glanced at Lisa.

"Sure."

Then, as if I wasn't even standing there, he leaned over and kissed Lisa on the cheek.

"Wait for me."

Lisa smiled.

I stood frozen.

Adrian finally looked back at me.

"What are you waiting for?"

I blinked. "Nothing."

"Then go."

His tone was cold enough to make my stomach twist.

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.

"Oh, and Elaina?"

I looked back.

He smiled.

"Make sure the water is warm."

My brows furrowed.

"I always do."

"I know." His smile widened. "You're very good at taking care of things that don't belong to you."

My heart sank.

He turned back to Lisa, leaving me standing there.

Lisa giggled softly.

And Adrian didn't even bother hiding his smile.

Lisa turned to face me and laughed.

"You really are his maid," she stated.

"If I'm correct, you're the one from a poor background who couldn't get his parents' approval," I said.

Her face turned a dark shade of red, as she got up and walked towards me.

"Adrian is going to leave you. We just need to get some things sorted before he does, so don't think your spot here is permanent."

I rolled my eyes at her.

"Divorce? He really told you that?"

"I and Adrian are getting married. You're just a placeholder," she said.

I scoffed and walked past her, moving all the way to Adrian's bedroom.

I pushed past his room door and into his bedroom.

In my six months of living here, I could count on my fingers how many times I had been to Adrian's room.

I stopped in my tracks the moment I heard the shower stop.

He's getting out of the shower, and I'm here in his room.

Oh no, he is going to think I am some perverted creep.

I tried to make my way to the door, and that's when I heard him say, "Looking for something?"

With my back still facing him, I said, "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were getting out of the shower now. I was just about to get your clothes ready."

For a split second, I couldn't hear anything.

It felt as though the entire world had stopped.

I could feel Adrian's body heat against me. This was the closest we had been in the past six months.

My insides began to melt as I felt his hand reach for mine.

"Who did this to you?" he asked.

He was talking about the cut on my wrist. I flinched at his touch. No one had ever asked me about this. Although I had done a really good job hiding it all the time.

"You were careless this time. Don't let anyone see that," he stated. "I don't want anyone thinking I'm abusive towards you."

Then Lisa barged in.

I pulled myself away from Adrian quickly.

"She broke one of your rules, Adrian," Lisa screamed as she ran to Adrian's side.

I felt like my head was about to explode.

What was the bitch talking about?

"I saw her going through your stuff earlier today," Lisa stated.

My eyes widened with shock.

"No, Adrian, she's lying," I quickly said.

"Are you accusing my girlfriend of lying to me?" Adrian asked, and I swallowed hard, trying to think of the perfect response to his question.

"I think she was trying to steal money," Lisa stated. "You know how people can get when they get thrown into this kind of wealth."

Lisa laughed and tugged at my hair.

"You are such a greedy woman, aren't you?" Lisa said. "Adrian, I trust you to punish her. She's a pathetic loser."

Adrian angrily opened the door for me to leave, and I turned to him and said,

"Choose, Adrian. Her or me."

His eyes widened before he let out a low, disbelieving laugh.

"And why," he asked, "would I ever do that?"

"Because I'm not a lying, manipulative bitch," I answered.

For a moment, he simply stared at me.

Then he rubbed his chin, a slow, wicked smile spreading across his face.

"Really?"

He took a step toward me.

I held his gaze, refusing to look away.

Another step.

"You actually believe that?"

My confidence faltered.

He stopped right in front of me, lowering his voice.

"That's adorable."

My cheeks flushed as I instinctively took a step back.

He followed.

"You want me to leave the woman I love…" His eyes swept over me. "For you?"

I swallowed.

"I—"

"Tell me, Elaina," he murmured, "what exactly do you think you have that Lisa doesn't?"

I couldn't answer.

His smile widened.

"That's what I thought."

Heat rushed to my face.

"I'm sorry for stepping over my boundaries, Mr. Sterling. It will never happen again."

I turned and hurried toward the door.

"Good," he called after me.

I froze.

His voice carried that same cruel amusement.

"Because I'd hate for you to embarrass yourself like that again."

I stormed out of the room.

Adrian had just humiliated me in front of Lisa, yet...

What was this strange feeling in my chest?

There was no way I was attracted to Adrian Sterling.

No way.