Chapter 7: The Woman By His Side
856 Words
I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing the girl staring back at me.
The dress hugged my body perfectly, elegant and far more expensive than anything I had ever worn. My hair fell softly over my shoulders, styled in a way that made me look… different.
Not like the girl who had been thrown out on her wedding night.
But someone else entirely.
Someone who belonged in Adrian’s world.
A soft knock came from the door.
“Miss Ava, sir is waiting,” a maid said gently.
My heart skipped.
Already?
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “I’m coming.”
I followed her downstairs, my steps slow, careful.
And then I saw him.
Adrian stood near the entrance, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His posture was relaxed, yet every part of him radiated control.
Power.
His gaze lifted the moment I appeared.
And for a second—
Everything went still.
He didn’t speak.
Didn’t move.
His eyes simply stayed on me, taking in every detail.
“You’re late,” he said finally.
My breath caught slightly. “I didn’t realize—”
“Come here.”
I obeyed without thinking.
Stopping just a step away from him.
Up close, he was even more overwhelming.
His presence alone was enough to make my heart race.
Without warning, he reached out—
His fingers brushing lightly against my hair.
Adjusting a strand.
The simple gesture sent a strange warmth through me.
“You’ll do,” he said calmly.
I blinked.
“You’ll do?”
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“For tonight.”
I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
Before I could respond, he turned and started walking toward the door.
“Let’s go.”
I followed quickly.
The car ride was quiet, but not uncomfortable.
If anything, the silence felt… intentional.
Like he was giving me time to adjust.
Or maybe—
He just didn’t feel the need to speak.
After a while, the car slowed to a stop.
I looked outside—
And my breath caught.
The building was massive, lights glowing warmly against the night sky. Expensive cars lined the entrance, people dressed in elegant outfits moving in and out.
“This is…” I started.
“A business dinner,” Adrian finished.
Of course it was.
He stepped out first, then extended his hand toward me.
I hesitated for just a second before placing my hand in his.
The moment our fingers touched—
Something shifted.
His grip was firm.
Steady.
And for some reason…
Reassuring.
As we walked inside together, I became painfully aware of the way people looked at us.
No—
The way they looked at him.
Respect.
Fear.
Curiosity.
But then their gazes shifted to me.
And everything changed.
Whispers.
Glances.
Judgment.
“Stay close,” Adrian said quietly.
I nodded.
We moved through the crowd with ease, people greeting him, nodding, stepping aside.
No one stopped him.
No one dared to.
But I could feel it.
The attention.
The questions.
Who is she?
Why is she with him?
Then—
A voice cut through the noise.
“Well, this is unexpected.”
I froze.
I knew that voice.
Slowly, I turned—
And my heart dropped.
Ethan.
My husband.
He stood a few feet away, his expression dark as his eyes locked onto me.
Then, his gaze shifted to Adrian.
And finally—
To our hands.
Still linked together.
“What is this?” he demanded, his voice sharp.
The room seemed to quiet around us.
I felt my chest tighten.
Adrian didn’t react immediately.
Didn’t let go of my hand.
Instead, he stepped slightly closer to me.
A subtle move.
But enough.
“Exactly what it looks like,” he said calmly.
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
“You bring my wife here… like this?”
My breath caught.
Wife.
The word felt wrong now.
Heavy.
Unwanted.
Adrian’s grip on my hand tightened slightly.
“She left,” he said simply.
Ethan let out a short, humorless laugh.
“Left? Or you took her?”
Silence.
Tension filled the air.
I didn’t know what to say.
Didn’t know what to do.
But Adrian did.
He always did.
“She chose,” he said.
Ethan’s eyes snapped to me.
“Is that true?” he asked sharply.
My heart pounded.
This was it.
Another choice.
Another moment where everything could change.
I swallowed hard.
Then, quietly—
“Yes.”
The word felt small.
But it echoed louder than anything else.
Ethan’s expression darkened instantly.
“You’re making a mistake,” he said coldly.
“Maybe,” I replied softly.
“But it’s mine to make.”
For a second, something flickered in his eyes.
Anger.
Disbelief.
Then it was gone.
Replaced by something colder.
“This isn’t over,” he said.
Adrian didn’t respond.
Didn’t need to.
Because the moment Ethan walked away—
His grip on my hand tightened slightly.
A silent reminder.
A silent claim.
And suddenly—
I understood.
Tonight wasn’t just a dinner.
It was a statement.
And I—
Was standing right at the center of it.
- Writer
