Chapter 3 Taking The Fall

Six Months Later

I didn't expect to fall in love with Adrian. With this handsome man that made my heart flutter. That make me giggle like a little girl.

Nina was better and fit enough to travel.

Adrian had sent Nina abroad for treatment, and though no one said it outright, her absence had shifted the atmosphere.

I should have left and never looked back, but I kept coming back to him.

What started as an arrangement had turned into something more, something I couldn't quite define.

That evening, the sky opened up, releasing a gentle summer rain.

Adrian and I had been sitting on the patio when he suddenly stood, holding out his hand.

"Come on," he said, a rare smile lighting up his face.

I hesitated, glancing at the downpour. "In the rain?"

"Yes," he replied, his tone playful. "It won't kill you."

Laughing, I took his hand, and he pulled me into the rain. The cool droplets soaked through my clothes almost instantly, but I didn't care. Adrian spun me around, his movements uncharacteristically carefree. We danced under the gray sky, the world around us disappearing.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd been this happy. The past few months had been beautiful, Adrian was distant at times, but when he let his walls down, it felt like I was seeing the real him.

And I loved him.

Against all odds, I had fallen for him.

A man that wasn't mine.

As the rain slowed to a drizzle, Adrian pulled me closer. His hands rested on my waist, and our eyes met. Without thinking, I leaned in, and he didn't pull away.

Our lips met in a kiss that felt like a confession, an admission of everything we hadn't said aloud.

When we pulled apart, I looked at him, breathless. "I love you," I whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Adrian's gaze softened, but he didn't say it back. Instead, he kissed me again, his silence a bittersweet answer.

---

I woke up in the dimly lit room, the soft glow of dawn seeping through the curtains. Adrian lay next to me, his bare chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. His breathing sounded like soft music in the quiet morning, soothing and intimate.

A rush of memories flooded my mind, and my cheeks burned. Last night was forbidden, yet unforgettable. The way he touched me, the way his body moved-it was as if every unspoken word had come to life.

I watched him as he slept, tracing the contours of his face with my eyes. The boundaries between duty and desire had blurred, leaving me tangled in the consequences of a choice that broke every rule of our arrangement.

It had been a year since I first entered this strange, secretive agreement with Adrian. Over time, he had been an enigma-hot and cold, unpredictable. He sent Nina abroad but didn't let me go, keeping me close instead. And last night...last night had changed everything.

Does he feel the same way? The question gnawed at me as I sat up, the sheet slipping from my shoulders. Red marks on my skin told the story of how much he had wanted me, but his silence after our kiss lingered in my mind.

I shook my head, trying to focus on the present. There were things to do, and I couldn't let myself spiral into doubt. Quietly, I slipped out of bed, grabbed a robe from the hanger, and tiptoed toward the bathroom.

Just as I reached the door, a sharp ping broke the silence. I froze, turning toward the sound. My phone? No-it was coming from the living room. Curious, I followed the noise, my bare feet silent against the polished floor.

On the table, Adrian's tablet lit up with 20 missed calls and a single message. My eyes widened as I read the notification.

"Sir, Nina has fallen down the stairs."

My stomach twisted. I knew I should be worried, but selfishly, I wasn't. What caught my attention wasn't the accident-it was the number. It wasn't an international call.

That could only mean one thing.

Nina was back.

No. No. No.

My heart raced as panic set in. What did this mean for me? For Adrian? For everything that had happened between us? I hadn't even had time to process last night, and now this-a sudden, jarring reminder of the woman who had been here first. The woman Adrian had sent away but never truly let go of.

I turned away from the tablet, willing myself to calm down. My breathing was erratic, and the weight in my chest felt suffocating. Before I could spiral further, a soft voice cut through the haze.

"Hey, you."

I jumped, spinning around to see Adrian leaning against the doorway, his messy hair and drowsy smile making him look impossibly handsome. His bare chest caught the morning light, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

"Good morning," I managed, my voice strained.

He tilted his head, studying me. "You're up early."

"I... I couldn't sleep," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just needed some water."

Adrian walked over to me, his movements slow and casual. "Water, huh?" His gaze flicked to the tablet on the table, and my stomach flipped. I shifted subtly, blocking it from view.

"Yeah," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "You know me-always thirsty."

He chuckled softly, his hand brushing my arm as he passed me. "You're a terrible liar, Lyra."

"I-what?" My heart skipped. Did he know? Had he seen the message?

But Adrian didn't press. Instead, he turned toward the kitchen. "I'll make us some coffee. You want anything with it?"

I swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "Coffee's fine."

He shot me a lingering glance, his smile almost teasing, before heading toward the kitchen. I exhaled shakily, my mind racing. I needed to distract him, to keep him from seeing that message.

"Adrian," I called, following him. "How about pancakes? I've been craving something sweet."

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "Since when do you eat pancakes?"

"Since now," I said with forced enthusiasm. "Come on, I'll make them. You'll love it."

He smirked but nodded. "Alright, let's see what you've got, Chef Lyra."

I busied myself with the ingredients, grateful for the distraction. Adrian leaned against the counter, watching me with a faint smile, but the tension in my chest didn't ease. I couldn't stop thinking about the tablet sitting in the living room, its screen dark but its message burning in my mind.

Midway through whisking the batter, an urgent need pulled at me. Of course, now my bladder decided to demand attention.

"Adrian," I said, trying to sound casual. "Can you keep an eye on this? I need to... uh, use the bathroom."

He gestured toward the bowl. "Go ahead. I'll make sure it doesn't burn."

I bolted upstairs, shutting the bathroom door behind me. My reflection in the mirror looked frazzled, my cheeks flushed and hair a mess. "Pull it together, Lyra," I muttered, splashing water on my face.

When I returned to the kitchen, Adrian was gone.

"Adrian?" I called, glancing around. The kitchen was empty, the batter untouched. My chest tightened as I walked toward the living room, my heart pounding with every step.

The tablet was gone.

My stomach dropped. Adrian had seen it.

He knew