All Chapters of Condemned Wife's Compliance: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

“You’re joking,” Adrea asked Aris in horror, “Right? Surely, we didn’t kiss.”Aris reached over to tuck a strand of hair away from her face, she tried to lean away from him but she was sitting right next to him and there was nowhere she could go without falling off her chair. Either way, he was respectful enough to pull back.“Do you want me to lie to you?” he asked her earnestly.She knew the answer from that, she had kissed him!“Oh my God!” she said in horror.“Hey,” he said, “I would have you know I am considered a catch!”She buried her face in her hands.“Oh my God!”“Is it that bad?” he asked her, “Or are you just regretting you can’t remember? Cause I’m bummed too at this point. We’ve always had great potential.”She gave him a look and said, “I’m married, you immoral hoof!”“Ah,” Aris said, “You did say it’s an open marriage.”She stared at him as she opened her mouth and closed it. Horror still being the main emotion ridding her back.Just how much had she told him?She shou

Adrea stayed by Rafael’s side since she got to his parents’ house. The only thing that had eased the tension since they’d arrived was the fact that Felix was nowhere to be seen. She could at least pretend everything was normal. Everyone was now networking. Rafael’s mother, Irene, being the efficient event planner she was, had arranged for a violin quartet to play soothing music from a corner of the room. There were people dancing on the dance floor.Adrea kept her faux smile on her face as Rafael met prospective business partners. She was not a passive player on his arm… She knew many of the people there, and some wanted to connect with her based on the fact that she was her father’s heir. She was not naïve enough to be flattered. She knew it was just business. They only wanted something from her. Some were not even polite enough to speak to her. They knew Rafael was in charge until she turned twenty-three. Those were the ones who assumed she would be the docile wife in the year and a

The next morning, Rafael was up before Adrea. By the time she was moving about, he was already gone. That was not normal. It was the weekend—he usually slept in. But today, he wasn’t home.She wondered, just for a moment, where he might be. Had he left the house just to get away from her? Or to be with someone else?As she forced down her breakfast, her phone vibrated. She picked it up—and felt the last shred of her appetite vanish. Another message from Felix.This time, there was no text. Just a series of images.Her husband, dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt, walking hand-in-hand with Belinda. The next image showed them laughing together. That stung more than any kiss would have. He didn’t laugh with her anymore. He didn’t even look at her like that.The final picture showed Rafael and Belinda walking into a house together.Well, at least now she knew where her husband was. No more wondering.She shoved her plate away and stood up. Her stomach churned. The housekeeper, watching

She had a bad hand. She fought not to show it as she looked around the table. She could see she was playing with a skilled group of people. It was somewhere in the way they held themselves. It was in the way they did not look particularly excited or disappointed. There were no nervous tremors or tics. They had full control of themselves.She looked at her cards again; a two and a seven. Different suits. She did not need to think about it. She was going to fold as soon as she had the chance.Mateo was the small blind with Vivienne, who was immediately next to him, being the big blind. When Ziad’s turn came, he raised. Adrea raised her brow. Was he bluffing? She briefly wondered if she would spot a tell behind the glasses covering his eyes.“How good of a hand do you have, Ziad?” Aris asked as he looked over at his friend.Ziad only offered him a smile and said nothing.Adrea could not help but wonder if that was strategic.Sanne, who seemed to take a moment to think about her next move

The final chips clinked together like the soft chime of victory. Adrea’s hand hovered for a second before she slid her last chip into the pot, eyes never leaving her opponent. Matteo cracked a crooked smile.“Ballsy,” he murmured.She didn’t reply.The dealer flipped the final card. Hearts. Matteo’s jaw tightened before he laughed dryly and pushed back his chair.“Well, I’ll be damned.”Indeed. He had just lost all his chips.Adrea let out a slow breath, not a smile, not yet. The dealer swept the pot toward her.“Oh wow,” Sanne said from her spot.“Well done, Adrea,” Vivianne said from her seat.“Nicely done,” Ziad said, “I’ll call it a night though.”“Thank you,” Adrea said as she finally let herself smile.“Well played,” Matteo said, offering his hand across the table.She reached over across Aris and shook it. Firm. No gloating. Just respect.Aris smiled proudly at her. He’d been watching, his grey eyes on her face as she played the game. And right now, she saw something about the