STEP ASIDE EX-HUSBAND: THE RISE OF LIANA のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 191 - チャプター 200

I should have been focusing on work. I should have been reviewing files, planning the next move, or at least trying to keep my mind from spiraling into thoughts that had no place in a professional office. But all I could think about was her. Camilla.Her name haunted me like a private curse, a secret no one else would ever understand. I’d been careful, disciplined, cold even, trying to maintain the barrier between boss and employee. But tonight, standing outside her apartment building, I realized how weak that control really was.I had seen Ethan leave earlier, noticed the way he looked at her the easy intimacy, the familiarity. And my chest had tightened in a way that made me furious with myself. I wanted to hate him, wanted to tell myself it didn’t matter. But it did.The elevator doors in my building had felt impossibly slow, dragging each floor into eternity. I kept imagining her face, the way she had smiled at Ethan, the way her hands had brushed his without hesitation. That smil

I watched her walk away, the slam of the door echoing in my ears long after she was gone. The sound felt like a verdict, final and cold, and it cut deeper than I thought possible. I stood there for a moment, rooted to the spot, trying to collect myself, but the sting in my chest wouldn’t subside.I had expected anger. I had expected tears. I had even expected her to push me away physically but the sheer finality of her walking away left me breathless. My hand hovered where I’d tried to kiss her, where her palm had slapped me twice, and I could still feel the sting, the sharp reminder of how far I’d been from her, and how far I still was.I should have left, driven away, let her calm down and breathe. But I didn’t. I stayed frozen in the doorway, replaying every word, every glance, every moment we had together her anger, her tears, the way she had looked at me as if I were a stranger who had the audacity to demand her attention after months of absence.I couldn’t stop thinking about h

The call came as I was pouring myself a drink I didn’t need. I had just loosened my tie, the office still clinging to me like a second skin, when my phone buzzed against the counter. I glanced at the screen, half-expecting it to be work, half-hoping it wasn’t her.Instead, it was a name I hadn’t seen in months. Rafael.I stared at it for a moment, jaw tightening, memories surfacing uninvited. Rafael wasn’t just an old friend, he was history. Blood, deals, mistakes buried deep enough that polite society never caught the scent.I answered. “Talk.”A low chuckle came through the line. “Still as warm as ever, Adrian.”“What do you want?” I asked, taking a slow sip of whiskey.“I’m in town,” he said. “Thought we could catch up. There’s a club on Delancey”I already knew where this was going. Rafael didn’t call for nostalgia. He called when something needed to be moved, merged, or eliminated.“I’m busy,” I said, even as I reached for my jacket.“You always are,” he replied smoothly. “But th

The conversation stayed light at first. Ethan seemed determined to keep it that way, like he was afraid that if he pressed too hard, I’d fold back into myself. He told me about a client who had insisted on bringing his dog to a meeting, drooling thing that had promptly stolen someone’s lunch off the table. I laughed despite myself.“Please tell me this wasn’t a professional setting.”“Oh, it absolutely was,” he said, grinning. “The dog had better social skills than half the people in the room.”I shook my head, smiling as I reached for my glass. “I would’ve paid to see that.”“Next time I’ll invite you,” he said easily. “Strictly for moral support.”I smiled again, but even as the sound of my laughter faded, my mind drifted.I swallowed and forced myself back into the moment. Ethan was watching me, head tilted slightly. “What?”“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Just… imagining it.”He raised an eyebrow, unconvinced but kind enough not to push. “You look like you’re a million miles away.”“

The morning felt deceptively normal. I woke up before my alarm, the faint echo of last night’s movie credits still lingering in my mind. My body was rested, but my chest felt heavy, like I’d slept with something unfinished pressed against my ribs. I showered, dressed carefully, choosing a neutral outfit nothing soft, nothing that might draw attention. Armor again. Just like yesterday.As I stepped out of my apartment, the image of Adrian on that street flickered through my mind uninvited. The scary-looking man. The familiarity between them. The way Adrian had looked so… at ease.I pushed the thought away. Work. Focus on work.By the time I reached the office, I had my professional face firmly in place. Polite smiles. Measured steps. Calm breathing. I greeted a few coworkers and went straight to my desk, opening my laptop and diving into emails.For the first hour, everything was quiet. No sharp looks. No summons to his office. I almost started to relax.Almost. Then the elevator ding