Chapter 5 EX AT THE TABLE, APPETITE GONE

Isla's POV

A few minutes after the conversation with Davis, I returned to the dining table, only to notice Adrian was no longer there. The butler stepped into the grand dining room with a composed expression, his voice calm but firm as he announced, "Young Master Adrian has arrived, and Miss Sapphire is with him."

My heart clenched. My fingers, resting on the edge of the dining chair, curled into fists. The air in the room instantly grew heavy, like a storm about to break. My husband had the audacity to bring her here, to this house, to this dinner, without a trace of shame.

The doors swung open, and there he was- Adrian, walking in with Sapphire beside him. He didn't hesitate, didn't falter. Instead, he led her inside as if he owned the place, as if my presence meant nothing. I didn't need to look around to know that every pair of eyes in the room had turned toward me, waiting for my reaction.

I swallowed hard. My stomach churned, an unbearable wave of nausea rising within me. It wasn't just the sight of them together. It was the betrayal, the humiliation, the sheer lack of respect he had for me. My breath hitched, and before I knew it, I was on my feet, turning away from the table.

"Isla?" I heard Davis's deep voice, but I couldn't stop. My legs carried me toward the bathroom as my vision blurred. My stomach twisted, and the moment I reached the sink, I emptied its contents, my body shaking from the force of it.

A gentle knock sounded on the bathroom door. I gripped the edge of the sink, willing myself to breathe, to calm down. But then came the butler's voice, polite and steady.

"Madam, are you done with your dinner? The Master requests your presence."

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, composing myself. When I straightened up and looked in the mirror, my reflection stared back, pale and exhausted. I had to be strong. If I walked away now, I'd be giving them exactly what they wanted. And I refused to do that.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the bathroom and walked back to the dining hall. The moment I entered, all conversation ceased. Adrian sat beside Sapphire, his expression , while his father, Charles, sat at the head of the table. His mother, Victoria, wore a forced smile, her gaze darting between me and Sapphire.

"Ah, Isla, dear." Charles's deep voice broke the silence. "Come, sit."

I moved to my chair and sat down, keeping my posture straight despite the unease swirling inside me. Charles turned to me, his tone firm yet reassuring.

"As long as I am alive, you will always be my daughter-in-law," he declared, his sharp eyes flickering toward Adrian as if daring him to argue.

Adrian didn't hesitate. He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "I've had enough. This marriage, this whole arrangement- it's suffocating me. I was forced to break up with Sapphire because of it, and I did it for the sake of our family. But I can't tolerate it anymore."

Sapphire leaned in slightly, her voice dripping with feigned sympathy. "Adrian has suffered enough, Mr. Calloway. It's cruel to keep him in a marriage where he isn't happy. Don't you think everyone deserves love?"

My hands curled into fists beneath the table. My heart pounded in my chest. She was actually speaking about love, in my home, at my dining table. The sheer nerve of this woman.

Charles's face darkened, his authority radiating through the room. "Adrian, you will control yourself. You think life is about running after your emotions? You were given responsibilities, and you will uphold them. Look at your brother. Learn from Davis."

Davis remained silent, his gaze locked on Adrian. There was something in his expression- judgment, disappointment, or maybe something else entirely. But he didn't interfere.

Adrian scoffed, pushing his chair back slightly. "Learn from Davis? You mean live like a robot, following orders without question? That's not living, Father. That's surviving."

Sapphire placed her hand on Adrian's arm, her voice soft and persuasive. "Not everyone understands what it means to love someone so deeply and be torn apart, Adrian. It's not your fault. Some people think that a forced marriage can create real bonds, but we both know the truth."

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay composed. "You speak as if you know what love is, Sapphire. Love isn't sneaking around with a married man. It isn't humiliating someone to make yourself feel better."

Sapphire smirked, leaning back in her seat. "And yet, here we are. Maybe you should ask yourself why Adrian keeps coming back to me."

Victoria, always the one to smooth over tense situations, suddenly spoke up, her tone light. "Now, now. Let's not fight at the table. There's no need to ruin our evening." She glanced toward Davis and forced a chuckle. "Speaking of which, Davis, you're still single, aren't you?"

The sudden change in topic was jarring, but Victoria knew what she was doing. She was redirecting the conversation, shifting the focus away from Adrian's rebellion. But I wasn't fooled.

Davis, who had been mostly quiet throughout the dinner, sighed, taking a sip from his wine glass. "Yes, Victoria, I'm still single."

Victoria clapped her hands together. "Such a shame! A man like you, successful and responsible. So many women would be lucky to have you."

I glanced at Davis, expecting him to react, but his expression remained impassive. He simply gave his step-mother a small, polite nod.

Adrian scoffed, shaking his head. "Yes, Mother, keep dreaming. Davis won't marry just because you want him to."

Victoria sighed dramatically. "Well, I still hope for the day I can plan another wedding."

My stomach twisted again. My own marriage was crumbling in front of me, yet here they were, talking about another one as if mine no longer mattered. I pressed my lips together, my hands tightening on my lap.

Charles suddenly turned to me, his expression softening slightly. "Isla, you don't need to worry about anything. This is your home. No matter what Adrian says, I will make sure you are taken care of."

The weight of his words settled in my chest. This was my home? It didn't feel like it. Not when my husband sat beside his mistress, not when his mother complained about my inability to give her a grandchild, and certainly not when I had to fight every day just to keep my dignity intact.

I forced a smile, nodding. "Thank you, Father."

Adrian scoffed again, pushing back from the table. "Of course. Because what Isla wants is all that matters, right? Not my happiness, not my freedom."

Charles's voice was sharp. "Sit down, Adrian. You will not walk out in the middle of dinner."

For a moment, Adrian seemed like he was going to argue. His jaw tightened, his fingers clenching into fists. But then, with a long exhale, he sat back down, though the fury in his eyes didn't fade.

The tension in the room was suffocating. No one spoke. Even Sapphire, for all her smugness, finally seemed to realize that this was not a place she could so easily manipulate.

I lifted my chin. I would endure. For now.