The Scorned Bride: His Cruel Vows

Chapter 9- News

Adrian's Pov

“Aren't you going to go home to your new wife? I heard you got married.” A voice came up from behind me as I walked out of the meeting room. I didn't even have to turn to know who it was.

Matthew, my long time friend and the only guy who had enough guts to ask me about any decisions I make, no matter what kind it was.

“Aren't you going to answer? Having a cold block of ice like you as a husband… I would probably hang myself if it was you. Who did you eventually marry, that golden haired beauty? You both seemed so lovey dovey everytime I saw the both of you so I…”

“Shut up.” I said coldly, walking into the elevator that led to my office. It's been three days since I left the house, and throughout those three days, except for the daily pieces of information that was sent to me from home, I heard nothing else.

“You haven't changed since the last time I saw you, still so rude.” Matthew muttered, following me into the elevator. “You should be happy, but all you have is that stupid frown on your face. You don't even look like someone who has gotten married.”

I ignored him and pressed the button for my floor. The elevator doors slid shut, cutting off the noise from the rest of the building.

Matthew leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't take the hint to be quiet. He just kept talking, running his mouth like he always did.

“Seriously though, Adrian. You look like someone died. Did the wedding not go well? Or are you already tired of being a married man?”

I stared straight ahead at the metal doors, watching the floor numbers light up one by one. “Keep talking, Matthew, and I’ll have security throw you out.”

“You wouldn't do that to your best friend,” he chuckled, totally unbothered by my tone. When the elevator chimed and opened on my floor, I stepped out quickly, trying to create some distance between us. Matthew just lengthened his stride to keep up with me.

We walked down the quiet hallway toward my office. My assistant stood up from her desk as we approached, but I waved my hand to tell her I didn't want to be disturbed right now.

I pushed the door to my office open, stepped inside, and walked straight over to my desk. Matthew slid into the room right behind me, not waiting for an invitation, and pulled out one of the leather chairs across from my desk.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on or not?” Matthew asked, sitting back and throwing his feet up on the corner of my desk.

I gave him a look, and he slowly took his feet off, though he still had an annoying grin on his face. I didn't answer him. Instead, I pulled my phone out of my suit pocket and unlocked the screen.

I opened my messages. My fingers scrolled past the work emails, the group chats, and the updates from my secretary. Then, my thumb stopped. My fingers hovered right above Thalia's message box.

I stared at her name on the screen. Usually, whenever I traveled for work, my phone would be flooded with notifications from her. She would send messages day and night.

Have you landed yet? Did you eat lunch? How was your meeting? Don't forget to take your medicine. Make sure you rest. It was endless. Always asking how I was, always checking in on me.

To be honest, I used to find it really annoying. It felt suffocating. Aria never behaved like that. Aria was independent, quiet, and gave me space. She never bugged me with useless texts every hour of the day. But right now, as I looked at the screen, there was nothing.

Ever since I left the house three days ago, Thalia hadn't sent a single message. Not one text. Not a single missed call. Nothing. It was like I didn't even exist to her anymore. The silence from her end was loud, and for some reason, it was driving me crazy.

My grip tightened on the phone. My fingers clenched so hard around the edges that my knuckles turned white. Was she still angry about what happened that night?

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second as the memory tried to force its way into my head. I hadn't meant to do it. I hadn't meant to say those things or act that way. I was drunk. I wasn't thinking straight. But she had looked at me with so much hurt in her eyes before I left, and now this complete silence was her way of getting back at me.

Why wasn't she texting? Why wasn't she calling to complain like she always did?

“Hey.” Matthew’s voice shattered my thoughts. I looked up and realized he had leaned all the way across my desk. He was staring right at my face, then looking down at the phone in my hand.

“What are you staring at so much?” Matthew asked, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. “You look like you're trying to burn a hole through that screen. Who is it? Is it your new wife?”

A sudden surge of anger rushed through me. I didn't want him looking at my phone, and I definitely didn't want him asking about Thalia. I slammed my phone face-down onto the desk. The loud sound echoed through the office.

I stood up, resting my palms on the desk, and glared directly at Matthew. My voice was low. “Move away from my desk, Matthew. Right now.”

Matthew raised his hands in defense, taking a step back, but he still had that stupid smirk on his face. “Whoa, calm down, man. I was just asking. You're way too tense today. Did something happen between you two before you left?”

“I said, shut up and move away,” I barked, my patience completely gone. “I have work to do, and I don't have time for your nonsense today.”

“Alright, alright, I’m moving,” Matthew said, holding his hands up as he took two steps backward toward the middle of the room. “You really need to take a chill pill. I’m just trying to check on my friend.”

“I don't need you to check on me,” I said, sitting back down in my chair and pulling a stack of papers toward me, pretending to read them just so I wouldn't have to look at him. “If you have nothing useful to say, leave my office.”

Matthew opened his mouth to reply. “Look, Adrian, I just think…”

He didn't get to finish his sentence. The door to my office suddenly slammed open, banging against the wall. I snapped my head up, ready to yell at whoever had entered without knocking. But the words caught in my throat when I saw my assistant standing in the doorway. She was out of breath, her face pale, and her hair slightly messy as if she had been running down the hall.

“What is the meaning of this?” I demanded, stepping away from my desk. “I told you I didn't want to be disturbed.”

“Sir... I'm so sorry,” she gasped, holding onto the doorframe to steady herself. She looked terrified. “I know you said no interruptions, but... but I had to come in.”

Matthew looked between me and the assistant, his playful attitude completely vanishing. “What's wrong with you? You look like you saw a ghost.”

The assistant took a deep breath, trying to calm her rapid breathing, but her hands were visibly shaking.

“Sir, it's about the search team,” she said, her voice trembling. “The ones you hired to look into Miss Aria's accident.”

“Aria had an accident?!” Matthew asked, immediately concerned.

“What about them?” I asked. “Did they find something?”

The assistant swallowed hard. She looked at the floor for a second before looking back up into my eyes. “George just called from the site. It seems like they found Miss Aria's body.”