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1486 Words
“So let’s give them one.”
The slow smile on Adrian’s lips sent chills down Elena’s spine.
Not fear.
Something far more dangerous.
The city’s most powerful man stood in front of her looking completely calm while her entire life collapsed around her.
And somehow—
That calmness made her feel safer.
Elena quickly pushed the thought away.
“This isn’t some game, Adrian,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“Then why do you look so relaxed?”
His grey eyes held hers steadily.
“Because panic never solves anything.”
The confidence in his voice frustrated her.
How could he stay so composed while the internet practically exploded around them?
Elena grabbed her phone again despite knowing she shouldn’t.
New articles flooded every platform.
“Billionaire Rival Takes Fiancée After Public Cheating Scandal.”
“Is Elena Carter Dating Adrian Knight?”
“Business War Turning Personal?”
Thousands of comments appeared underneath.
Some supportive.
Some cruel.
Some obsessed.
One comment made her stomach tighten painfully.
Daniel never deserved her. Adrian Knight looks better beside her anyway.
Elena immediately locked the screen again.
This was becoming bigger than humiliation now.
People were turning her heartbreak into entertainment.
“You should stop reading them,” Adrian said quietly.
She looked up sharply. “Easy for you to say.”
“It actually is.”
The response irritated her instantly.
“You really have no emotional filter, do you?”
Something almost amused flickered in his expression.
“Emotions cloud judgment.”
Elena crossed her arms. “You sound like a robot.”
“And you’re exhausted.”
The blunt observation silenced her.
Because unfortunately—
He was right.
The emotional crash finally started catching up to her.
Her body ached.
Her head hurt.
And every few minutes, another wave of humiliation crashed over her again.
Adrian studied her face carefully before speaking.
“When was the last time you ate?”
Elena blinked.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
His calm authority somehow made her feel defensive.
“I had dinner at the engagement party.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow slightly.
“You mean the party where your fiancé publicly introduced his pregnant mistress?”
Elena winced.
“Okay, maybe I lost my appetite.”
Without another word, Adrian turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Elena frowned in confusion before following him.
The massive kitchen looked just as luxurious as the rest of the penthouse. Dark marble counters reflected soft golden lights while rain continued pouring outside the windows.
“You cook?” she asked skeptically.
Adrian loosened his sleeves slightly.
“I can survive without chefs for one night.”
Something about the image felt strangely intimate.
The feared Adrian Knight standing in his expensive penthouse kitchen at nearly two in the morning.
Cooking for her.
Elena leaned quietly against the counter while watching him.
For the first time tonight—
Things felt strangely calm.
No cameras.
No whispers.
No pretending.
Just silence.
Dangerous silence.
“You’re staring again,” Adrian said without looking up.
Heat rushed instantly into Elena’s cheeks.
“I am not.”
“You are.”
His mouth curved slightly.
Elena looked away quickly.
This man noticed absolutely everything.
Several quiet minutes passed before Adrian placed a plate in front of her.
Simple pasta.
Nothing extravagant.
Yet somehow the gesture affected her more than expensive flowers ever could.
“Thank you,” she whispered softly.
Adrian leaned casually against the counter across from her.
“You say thank you too much.”
“And you criticize people too much.”
A rare low chuckle escaped him.
The sound caught Elena completely off guard.
It changed his entire face.
Made him look less untouchable.
More real.
Her heartbeat reacted instantly.
Dangerous.
Again.
Everything about him felt dangerous.
“You’re smiling,” Adrian observed quietly.
Elena immediately looked down at her plate.
“No, I’m not.”
“Liar.”
The teasing in his voice sent warmth spreading unexpectedly through her chest.
What was happening to her?
Hours ago she had been crying over Daniel.
Now she was sitting inside Adrian Knight’s penthouse trying not to notice how attractive he looked while leaning against the kitchen counter.
Emotional exhaustion truly destroyed common sense.
“You know,” Elena said carefully, “most people are terrified of you.”
“I know.”
“But you don’t seem bothered by it.”
“Fear is useful.”
The answer should not have sounded attractive.
Yet somehow it did.
Elena shook her head slightly. “You really are impossible.”
“And yet you’re still here.”
The quiet sentence made the air between them shift instantly.
Elena’s pulse became uneven.
Before she could answer, the penthouse intercom suddenly buzzed loudly.
Both of them looked toward the hallway immediately.
Adrian frowned slightly.
“At this hour?”
The intercom buzzed again.
More aggressively this time.
Elena’s stomach tightened nervously.
Then Adrian’s phone lit up.
His security team.
He answered calmly. “What is it?”
A pause followed.
Adrian’s expression darkened instantly.
“Elena,” he said quietly after ending the call.
Something in his voice made her chest tighten.
“What happened?”
Adrian held her gaze steadily.
“Daniel is downstairs.”
Silence crashed through the kitchen.
Elena stared at him in disbelief.
“What?”
“He’s demanding to see you.”
Her heartbeat instantly accelerated.
Of course Daniel would come.
Because men like him only panicked when they realized they were losing control.
“I’ll tell security to remove him,” Adrian said coldly.
But before he could move, Elena stood suddenly.
“No.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You want to see him?”
“I want answers.”
A dangerous silence followed.
Adrian slowly stepped closer.
Too close.
“Elena,” he said quietly, “men like Daniel become unpredictable when they lose something they believe belongs to them.”
The possessiveness behind the sentence sent tension through her chest again.
“I can handle him.”
Adrian studied her carefully for several long seconds.
Then finally—
“I’m coming with you.”
“That’s unnecessary.”
“It wasn’t a suggestion.”
The calm dominance in his voice made arguing feel impossible.
Minutes later, the private elevator doors opened directly into the underground parking garage.
Rain thundered outside while security guards stood nearby looking tense.
And there—
Near a black luxury car—
Stood Daniel Whitmore.
The moment he saw Elena, relief flashed across his face.
Then his eyes shifted toward Adrian beside her.
And instantly darkened.
“Elena.”
Daniel stepped forward quickly.
“You’re okay.”
Before Elena could react, Daniel grabbed her wrist gently.
The familiar touch no longer comforted her.
Instead—
It felt wrong.
Adrian noticed immediately.
His expression turned dangerously cold.
“Take your hand off her.”
The temperature inside the garage seemed to drop instantly.
Daniel ignored him completely, his eyes fixed desperately on Elena.
“Please come home with me.”
Home.
The word hurt unexpectedly.
Because it no longer felt real anymore.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Elena whispered.
“I had to see you.”
Rain echoed through the parking structure while tension thickened heavily between the two men.
Daniel looked exhausted.
Desperate.
But Elena couldn’t forget the woman standing beside him at the engagement party.
Pregnant with his child.
“You embarrassed me,” Elena said quietly.
Pain flashed across Daniel’s face.
“I know.”
“No,” she corrected shakily. “You don’t.”
Daniel stepped closer again.
“Elena, I love you.”
Adrian suddenly laughed softly beside her.
Not amused.
Mocking.
Daniel’s jaw tightened instantly. “Stay out of this.”
Adrian’s expression remained calm.
“You lost the right to speak the moment you betrayed her.”
The tension between them became suffocating.
“Elena,” Daniel said urgently, ignoring Adrian completely, “he’s using you.”
Elena’s heartbeat slowed slightly.
Because part of her feared that too.
Daniel noticed her hesitation immediately.
“He doesn’t care about you,” Daniel continued quickly. “This is revenge against me.”
Adrian remained silent.
And somehow—
That silence felt more powerful than denial.
“Elena,” Daniel whispered desperately, “please.”
For one dangerous moment, uncertainty hit her again.
Then Adrian stepped forward beside her.
Close enough for his warmth to surround her completely.
And without warning—
He slid one arm around her waist.
The intimate gesture shocked her instantly.
But what truly destroyed her ability to think—
Was how natural it felt.
Daniel froze.
His face drained of color as Adrian pulled Elena slightly closer against him.
Protective.
Possessive.
Terrifyingly calm.
Adrian’s lips brushed near Elena’s ear as he spoke quietly.
“She’s not yours anymore.”
- Writer
