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Vivian’s heart raced as Adrian’s words hit her. The coldness in his tone sent a chill down her spine. For a moment, she was frozen in place, trying to gauge whether this was the same man she had known, the man who had always been so protective of her. But there was something different in his eyes—something distant, something that unsettled her deeply.
Her thoughts scattered as she tried to maintain her composure. No, no, I can’t let him slip away from me. Not now. Vivian took a step closer to Adrian, her voice trembling as she pleaded, “Adrian, I’m so sorry, really. I don’t want to cause any more trouble between you and Eva. But… I need you to believe me, please. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Adrian remained silent, his face as impassive as ever. The air between them felt thick, suffocating, and Vivian could sense that the distance between them had grown. It wasn’t just the physical space—it was something deeper, something that had started to shift ever since Eva’s pregnancy. Vivian knew it, and even though she hated admitting it, she feared the growing wall between them.
Her eyes flickered toward the others, standing in the background, unsure whether they should intervene or not. But Adrian’s attention never left her. His gaze was sharp, calculating, as if trying to peel back the layers of deception she had so carefully constructed.
“Adrian, please,” Vivian continued, desperation creeping into her voice. “I didn’t mean to make you upset. I know I’ve made mistakes. I was just trying to protect you, to make you feel like everything’s okay. I don’t want you to be angry with me.”
For a moment, Adrian’s expression softened. His gaze softened slightly, but there was still an air of indifference hanging around him.
“Vivian,” he said slowly, his voice low, “You’re not the only one who’s been affected by everything that’s happened. You don’t get to twist this around like it’s all about you.” He paused, his eyes darkening as he studied her carefully. “And stop trying to make it seem like Eva’s the one at fault here.”
Vivian’s heart sank. So, he really is taking her side… She quickly masked her hurt, not wanting to show weakness in front of Adrian. But she couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling in her chest. It was becoming painfully clear that his attention was no longer entirely hers. She could feel the shift, and it left her hollow inside.
“I… I just thought you would be more understanding,” she whispered, barely audible, as her hands clenched into fists by her sides.
Adrian looked at her for a moment longer, and then his gaze shifted to the others standing behind her. “Everyone here seems to have an opinion, but no one actually knows what happened. I don’t need anyone telling me what I should think.” His voice was colder now, a sharp edge to his words. “Vivian, if you’re truly sorry, act like it. And leave Eva out of this.”
Vivian felt like she had been slapped. The sting of his words hit harder than she had expected, but she knew better than to lash out. Instead, she swallowed her frustration, nodding meekly. “I understand,” she said quietly.
The moment felt like an eternity. Adrian’s attention was now fully on the others, his eyes scanning them with the same calculating coldness. “Now, I suggest you all leave,” he said with finality. “Vivian needs rest. We’ll handle this later.”
Without waiting for a response, Adrian turned on his heel and began to walk away, his footsteps echoing in the tense silence. Vivian watched him go, her throat tightening as the realization settled deep within her. This wasn’t the man she had once known—the one who had been her ally, her protector. This was someone different, someone who seemed to be slipping away, just like everything else in her life.
As the others hesitated, Vivian felt the weight of the room pressing down on her. They too had witnessed the change in Adrian, and there was no denying that the path ahead was uncertain for them all.
And as the last of them filed out, Vivian was left alone, the pain in her forehead a mere distraction compared to the one in her chest. The distance between her and Adrian had only grown.
