All Chapters of His Tamed Wife, The Wild Heiress: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Chapter 22ADRIAThe grocery store wasn't somewhere I'd expected to encounter anyone from Damien's world. It was a Tuesday afternoon, and I'd driven to the upscale market on the other side of town specifically to avoid running into anyone I knew. Or rather, anyone who knew Adriana Chen, the pathetic wife.I was examining avocados when I heard the voice behind me."Well, well. If it isn't Mrs. Castellan."I turned to find Adina standing there in a designer outfit that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent—a cream silk blouse tucked into high-waisted trousers, paired with heels that added four inches to her height. Her hair was styled in perfect waves, her makeup flawless, and she carried a small shopping basket with exactly three items in it: a bottle of expensive wine, imported cheese, and caviar.Not actual groceries. Props for the lifestyle she was performing."Adina." I kept my voice neutral, pleasant. "What a surprise.""Is it though?" She stepped closer, invading my

Chapter 24ADRIAThe manager was on his radio, calling for someone to pull up the security footage. The crowd was whispering among themselves, clearly divided on who to believe.And then someone in the crowd spoke up—a middle-aged woman with kind eyes."I saw what happened," she said. "That woman"—she pointed to Adina—"she was being very aggressive. She got in this poor girl's face, saying terrible things. And then she tried to hit her. The young woman just grabbed her arm to stop the slap.""That's not—" Adina started."I saw it too," another voice chimed in, a man this time. "The blonde woman was definitely the aggressor. She swung first."More people started speaking up, corroborating the same story. Adina had been aggressive, had tried to hit me first, and I'd only defended myself.I kept my face buried in my hands, my shoulders shaking with sobs, playing the traumatized victim perfectly.Marcus's phone rang. Damien, probably."Yeah, we're at the grocery store on Fifth," Marcus sa

Chapter 26ADRIAThe video had gone viral by the time we pulled into the garage.I sat in the passenger seat of Damien's Mercedes, scrolling through my burner phone with trembling hands—a performance for his benefit, though my actual hands were perfectly steady. The video had been uploaded from multiple angles, all showing the same confrontation: Adina getting in my face, the witnesses describing her aggression, and then the moment she went down, clutching her shoulder and screaming.The comments section was a war zone.@SocialJusticeQueen: That blonde woman was CLEARLY the aggressor. The wife was just defending herself. Props to her for not backing down.@RealityCheckPod: This is what happens when mistresses think they can publicly humiliate wives. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.@BusinessInsider2024: Isn't that Damien Castellan's wife? And his secretary? This is going to be a PR nightmare for Castellan Enterprises.@GossipGirlNYC: THE WIFE DISLOCATED HER SHOULDER. I'm both ter

Chapter 28ADRIAThere was something protective in his tone, even through text. Something that made me think of the boy from my memories—gentle hands, a kind voice, someone who helped without expecting anything in return.Kieran: And Adriana, if Damien ever... if he ever hurts you or treats you badly, I need you to tell me. Please. You don't have to face that alone.I stared at the message for a long moment. What did Kieran know? What had he seen in the past eighteen months that made him text me this, made him offer protection against his supposed best friend?Me: Thank you. That means a lot. But Damien wouldn't hurt me. He's always been good to me.The lie tasted bitter even through text.Kieran: If you say so. But the offer stands. Anytime, day or night. You have my number now.I was about to respond when I heard footsteps on the stairs. I quickly switched my phone to show the viral video and arranged my expression into something appropriately distressed.Like what?"Damien appeared

Chapter 30ADRIAN"Breaking and entering. Assault. And suspected involvement in a kidnapping case that was being investigated at the same time."The world tilted."What kidnapping case? They were 8 at that time" I whispered." I know, I am not saying they did the kidnapping, more like they were in the vicinity, when they found her. A young girl, age six, taken from her family's estate. She was found three days later in an abandoned warehouse, suffering from dehydration and fever. The kidnappers were never caught." James's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. "Adria, the date of that kidnapping matches the date you told me about. The girl's name was withheld from public records to protect her identity, but based on the location and timing—""It was me," I finished. "The case they were connected to was my kidnapping.""Possibly. I can't confirm it without accessing the sealed records, but the timeline matches. Damien and Kieran were both questioned in connection with the case. Nothing