Five Years as His Secret Lover

Chapter 3 The Marriage No One Expected

The bar was loud, but because of my stutter, I had long learned to read lips. From across the room, I saw Adrian grinding his teeth in anger, and the sight made my heart pound uneasily.

The man beside me seemed to notice my tension. He casually wrapped an arm around my shoulders and leaned close to my ear. "Focus, my dear wife."

My face flushed instantly. While I was still stunned by his words, he took the marriage certificate from my hands. "I'll keep this," he said, slipping it away before placing a set of keys in my palm.

"I have business overseas and will be back in four days. This is the key to our home. Stay there and wait for me."

I watched his hurried figure disappear into the crowd, wondering if I had completely lost my mind. Marriage was such a serious matter, yet mine had happened so recklessly.

Before I could gather my thoughts, someone suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"Lucia, what are you doing? Who was that man?"

Adrian's chest rose and fell sharply, his anger barely restrained. For a moment he looked like a jealous husband catching someone in the act. When I didn't answer, his expression only darkened.

"So, you're already looking for your next patron?"

He forced me to face him. "Do you think it's that easy to find someone willing to keep you? In all of Harborfell City, besides me, who would take care of a stut—"

He stopped midword before finishing coldly, "someone like you and that useless friend of yours?"

The hesitation made the insult even clearer.

For five years I had endured endless mockery at his side. Adrian had never said anything directly, but whenever others laughed at me, he had never defended me either. Only now did I realize those cruel jokes had probably been allowed, if not encouraged, by him.

Suddenly, I didn't want to endure it anymore.

I pushed him away. "Then… y-you don't have to."

The words shocked him more than my defiance. His anger faded for a moment as he stared at me, his voice turning cold with warning.

"Feeling bold now? Don't forget the apartment you're living in is still paid for by me."

I tightened my grip on the keys in my hand, an unfamiliar sense of confidence rising inside me. "We w-won't need it anymore."

My firm tone and unexpectedly smooth sentence caught him off guard.

Adrian grabbed my wrist again, refusing to let me leave. "You've grown quite bold, talking to me like that. One day you'll come begging."

"Never."

I struggled with all my strength and finally broke free. But as I pulled away, my hand accidentally struck someone rushing toward us.

"Ah!"

Vivian covered her face and collapsed into Adrian's arms. Even in pain, she maintained an elegant posture.

When Adrian saw the red mark spreading across her cheek, concern immediately filled his expression. "Lucia, did you do that on purpose? Apologize to Vivian right now."

I hadn't meant to hit her, but it had happened. Just as I was about to apologize, Tessa stepped in front of me.

"Why should she?"

"I saw everything clearly," Tessa said sharply. "You were the one grabbing her. If anyone should apologize, it's you."

Her fiery temper darkened Adrian's expression.

"Lucia," he ordered coldly, "I want you to apologize to Vivian. Right now."

Vivian gently tried to stop him. "It's fine, Adrian. I believe Ms. Hartwell didn't mean it."

But Adrian didn't relent. "Apologize."

Tessa planted herself firmly in front of me. "She's not apologizing."

Adrian's patience finally snapped. "An ungrateful parasite. I regret keeping you around for five years."

Tessa let out a cold laugh. "You kept me? Lucia's the one who's been supporting me."

"And where did the money she used come from?" Adrian shot back. "From me. For five years you've clung to her like a parasite, draining everything you can. Did I ever say a word? And this is how you repay your benefactor?"

"Benefactor?" Tessa scoffed. "You think you deserve that title?"

"She was your maid for five years," she continued angrily. "Always on call, always obeying you. She even became like this because of you—"

Afraid Tessa would reveal what had happened years ago, I quickly covered her mouth. There was no point telling Adrian the truth now. He would only think I had ulterior motives.

It was better to leave quietly and let him have Vivian.

Tessa pulled my hand away and continued coldly, "Anyway, that money was what she deserved."

Adrian let out a mocking laugh. "She chose to do all of that. No one forced her. Without me, someone who can barely speak like her would probably be begging on the streets."

So that was how he truly saw me.

For five years, the kindness he showed had only been pity. Or perhaps he had kept me around simply because I was obedient. And yet I had foolishly believed he might one day love me.

By now, a crowd had gathered around us. I tugged lightly at Tessa's sleeve. "L-let it go."

"Why should we?" Tessa snapped. "He's the one who wronged you. It's exactly because you never fight back that he thinks he can humiliate you whenever he wants."

The angrier she became, the louder the argument grew. Eventually the topic shifted to money.

"Fine," Tessa said. "Break up then. But give her a breakup payment. I'll take her far away."

Adrian's voice turned icy. "Breakup payment? What do you take her for? A p********e?"

"You bastard!" Tessa reacted even faster than I did. She grabbed a chair and charged at him, throwing the entire bar into chaos.

I rushed forward to stop her, but someone shoved me violently from behind. The force sent me crashing into a large mirror nearby. The glass shattered instantly.

Sharp fragments rained down around me. Pain surged through my body as my vision blurred.

The last thing I saw before everything faded was Adrian shielding Vivian tightly in his arms while Tessa rushed toward me without hesitation.