Chapter 10:The Woman From His Past.
1326 Words
The woman standing before us was breathtaking.
Tall, elegant, and dressed in a deep red gown that seemed designed to turn every head in the room.
Her dark hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her confident posture made it clear she was used to being admired.
But the way she was looking at me now..
It was anything but friendly.
Her eyes slowly moved from my heels to my face, studying me as if I were some strange object she had never seen before.
Then she smiled.
The kind of smile that wasn't really a smile at all.
“Well,” she said again, folding her arms. “Adrian Wolfe finally got married.”
Adrian’s expression remained calm.
“Yes.”
The woman’s gaze shifted back to him.
“You didn’t think to mention it.”
“It wasn’t your business.”
The words were blunt.
Sharp.
And clearly not what she wanted to hear.
Her smile tightened slightly before she turned to me.
“And you are?”
I forced myself to stay calm.
“Lena.”
“Just Lena?” She asked lightly.
“Lena Wolfe,” Adrian said before I could respond.
His arm slipped around my waist again.
The gesture was subtle but firm.
Possessive.
The woman noticed.
Her eyes darkened slightly.
“So it’s official then,” she said softly.
“Yes.”
She studied my face again.
“I must admit.” She said slowly, “I didn’t expect Adrian to marry someone like you.”
My chest tightened.
“Someone like me?”
“Oh, don’t misunderstand,” she said sweetly.
“You’re... pretty.”
The pause before the compliment made it sound like an insult.
“Thank you,” I replied calmly.
Adrian’s arm tightened slightly around me.
“Victoria,” he said coolly, “what do you want?”
So that was her name.
Victoria.
She looked at him with mock innocence.
“Can’t I greet an old friend?”
“You already did.”
The tension between them was impossible to miss.
Victoria tilted her head slightly.
“I heard rumors, of course,” she said. “But I didn’t believe them.”
“Rumors?” I asked.
“That Adrian suddenly got married,” she replied.
Her gaze flickered towards me again.
“And so quickly.”
Adrian’s voice remained calm.
Our relationship isn’t your concern.
Victoria laughed softly.
“You always were so protective.”
Her eyes lingered on his arm around my waist.
“Though I suppose you have to be now.”
Before Adrian could respond, another guest approached us.
“Adrian, good to see you.”
Adrian nodded politely, momentarily shifting his attention.
Victoria used that moment to lean slightly closer to me.
Her voice dropped so only I could hear.
“Be careful,” she whispered.
I frowned.
“Why?”
Her lips curved into a fake smile.
“Because Adrian Wolfe doesn’t fall in love.”
My stomach twisted.
“And if you think he married you for love,” she continued softly, “you’re going to be very disappointed.”
Then she straightened and stepped back as if nothing had happened.
Adrian turned towards us again.
Victoria smiled sweetly.
“It was lovely meeting you, Lena.”
Then she walked away.
I watched her disappear into the crowd.
Adrian noticed my expression.
“Don’t listen to her.”
“I wasn’t.”
But he didn’t look convinced.
“She enjoys creating drama,” he said.
“Is she always like that?”
“Yes.”
I hesitated before asking the obvious question.
“Did you date her?”
Adrian’s silence was answer enough.
“For a while,” he said finally.
“Oh.”
That one word suddenly carried a lot more meaning.
Adrian studied my face.
“Does that bother you?”
“Why would it?” I said quickly.
“This marriage isn’t real, remember?”
The moment the words left my mouth, something in Adrian’s expression shifted.
His gaze hardened slightly.
“Yes,” he said quietly.
“Exactly.”
An awkward silence followed.
I suddenly wished I hadn’t said it like that.
Before I could say anything else, an older man approached us with a wide smile.
“Adrian!”
Adrian immediately greeted him.
“Mr. Thompson.”
The man enthusiastically shook Adrian's hand.
“It’s good to see you again.”
Then his eyes moved to me.
“And this must be your wife.”
Adrian nodded.
“This is Lena.”
I smiled politely.
“Nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine.” Mr. Thompson said warmly.
He studied us both for a moment before chuckling.
“You two made quite the pair.”
Adrian didn’t respond, but his arm remained around my waist.
Mr. Thompson continued chatting with Adrian about business for several minutes.
I listened quietly, occasionally nodding when they included me in the conversation.
But my mind keeps drifting back to Victoria’s words.
“Adrian Wolfe doesn’t fall in love.” Those were Victoria’s exact words that sounded more like a warning to me.
Eventually, Mr. Thompson excused himself.
Adrian turned to me.
“You look tired.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
I sighed.
“Okay, maybe a little.”
“Let’s get some air.”
He led me toward a set of glass doors that opened into a large balcony overlooking the city.
The cool night air felt refreshing after the crowded ballroom.
I leaned lightly against the railing.
The city light stretched endlessly below us.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured.
Adrian stood beside me.
“Yes.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he said quietly, “Victoria and I ended things a long time ago.”
I glanced at him.
“I didn’t ask.”
“I know.”
“So why are you telling me?”
His gaze remained on the city.
“Because I don’t want you thinking she still matters.”
Something about the honesty in his voice surprised me.
“I don’t think that.”
Adrian finally looked at me.”
“What do you think?”
“That she’s still angry.”
“She is.”
“Why?”
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said calmly,” Because she expected to become Mrs. Wolfe someday.”
My eyebrows lifted.
“Oh.”
“Yes.”
I looked away again.
“Well..that must have been awkward for her tonight.”
“It was.”
Another quiet moment passed.
Then Adrian suddenly spoke again.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“A little.”
“Because of the attention?”
“Yes.”
He studied me carefully.
“You handled it well.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I laughed softly.
“I felt like I was about to faint half the time.”
“You didn’t.”
Adrian’s voice was calm but sincere.
“You were confident.”
I looked at him, surprised.
“That might be the first compliment you have given me tonight.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“Probably.”
For a moment, we stood there, looking at each other.
The tension between us felt different now.
Less awkward.
More..complicated.
Then the balcony door suddenly opened.
A waiter stepped outside carrying a tray of drinks.
Adrian took two glasses and handed one to me.
“Thank you,” I said.
We stood quietly for a moment, sipping our drinks.
Then Adrian says something that caught me completely off guard.
“You looked beautiful tonight.”
My heart skipped.
“You said that earlier.
“I meant it.”
I suddenly felt very aware of how close he was standing.
Too close.
The city lights reflected in his dark eyes.
For a brief moment, neither of us moved.
And then..
Footsteps approached behind us.
Victoria stepped onto the balcony again.
But this time, she wasn’t alone.
- Writer
