Semua Bab Condemned Wife's Compliance: Bab 51 - Bab 60

She looked radiant as she looked at him through the camera.She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she said, “I am Adrea Galanis. I grew up on the poker table as far back as I can remember.”Her voice. So smooth. He had not realised how much he had missed her. Sure, he had acknowledged the fact that she was not by his side — not how big that gaping hole was.He had initially turned on the television to get to the news. But now… he was not changing the channel. He leaned forward in his seat and watched the television screen as if entranced.“My father introduced me to the game,” she said, and there was a little smile on her face.He felt like she was smiling directly at him. He realised he needed a recording of this. He fidgeted with the remote to get the recording of the rest of the clip as she continued to talk to him. She was still herself — poised, articulate, captivating. And yet somehow brighter. More composed. There was a polished edge to her now, like a blade that had fi

The kiss had been a mistake. A one-time, heat-of-the-moment, sleep-deprived lapse in judgement. A technical fulfilment of a stupid bet. She could still chalk it up to nothing if she kept her wits about her. Except she felt it was something more.She’d gone to bed afterwards pretending it hadn’t happened, pretending she wasn’t flushed and breathless and far too aware of the way he had kissed her — not like he was collecting on a joke, but like he meant it. Like he’d been waiting.Now here she was, sitting in the passenger seat of his car, like nothing had happened. At least on the outside she looked unaffected. However, her thoughts were a chaotic mess. She still felt the way his lips had felt against hers. Hard, warm. She had brushed her teeth more than twice since then but she could still taste him. A combination of coffee and something else she could not place but was strangely familiar.“You’re quiet,” Aris said, his tone casual, “Feeling nervous about the tournament?”“No,” she lie

The night went relatively well. When it was time to check the chips, Adrea and Moreau were seated in the audience with Aris. The scores came up and Adrea breathed a sigh of relief—she was number five. Moreau was in third place. Sure, she had not beaten him tonight, but she’d held her own. All she had needed to get to the next round was to stay in the top twelve. She was in the top six. Good enough.She was exhausted as it was. She needed to go to the holiday home and rest. The mics had already been removed and they were waiting for the okay. But it did not come. Chichie, who had been presenting the scores in front of the camera, walked over to where Adrea was standing with Aris and Moreau.“I need a quick interview with Moreau and Adrea,” she said to them.Adrea and Moreau nodded at her and followed her to the green screen that had been put up for this purpose. The cameraman fidgeted with his tripod and then nodded to Chichie. The woman smiled at him and then looked at the pair of pla

He was watching her from the sidelines as she picked up a chip from a bag. She got a red chip. Good—Moreau had picked up a white one. They were on different tables. She smiled and then went to one of the two poker tables that had been set up with cameras and lights around them.She had another of her lady’s fans in her hands. She had it closed and was absently but deftly twirling it around her hand as she waited for the other players to join her at her table. She was the first one to get to that table. Moreau’s table already had four people.A young woman fished for a chip and held up another red chip. She nodded and then went to join Adrea. Aris watched as the two women nodded at each other and continued to watch the draws. He was not watching the draws. He was watching her. As if sensing his eyes on her, she turned her head to him and their eyes met. He smiled at her and she smiled back. She could do this. She then turned her head back to the draw where a young man had drawn yet ano

Rafael had not intended to watch Adrea’s game. When he had somehow ended up on the channel the poker match was being broadcast, he had told himself he would change the channel in a minute. But he had not. A minute had compounded into more than an hour.When the final hands were played out and the audience gasped, he found himself frozen in front of the screen, the remote untouched on the coffee table.Adrea had looked radiant. Like she belonged on a throne. Her smile when she had flipped her cards, that controlled flick of the wrist, the way her eyes didn't even widen as the royal flush came together — it all hit him like a slow punch to the gut.This was the version of her he had forgotten existed. Not the careful wife who made polite conversation at social dinners. Not the woman who had gone silent without him noticing. No — this was the Adrea he had seen at those cruises with her father. Fearless. Clever. Alive.He had found himself leaning forward, elbows on knees, as the camera c