C06
Adam’s words echoed in my mind as I snapped the ring box shut.
I sighed, deciding that I’d ask Adam to send it back to Chase when he had the time. Adam had promised to visit in a week and show me around the area. Though I’d initially declined, his persistence made it hard to say no-
The Heart Ho
especially since it was his villa I was staying in, albeit temporarily.
There was also the matter of the domestic divorce proceedings. Adam had offered to help with that too, and
1
while I appreciated his support, I couldn’t help but wonder
Why was he being so generous?
When Adam arrived, I was busy cooking in the kitchen. The sound of the front door opening drew my attention, and I turned to see him standing there, dragging a large suitcase behind him. His ears were red from the cold, and for a moment, he froze when our eyes met.
Something unspoken passed between us before I waved a hand in front of his face, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“This apron is old,” he said, tugging at the fabric tied around my waist. “I’ll get you a new one next time.”
I blinked, unsure how to respond, and simply nodded.
Over the next few days, Adam took me on a whirlwind tour of the area, buying far more than I needed–or wanted. Every time I protested, he brushed me off with a confident, almost arrogant, “Don’t worry about it, I’ll handle it.”
The doubt gnawed at me again. Why was he doing all this? It wasn’t until we were having dinner together one evening that I finally voiced my thoughts.
“Adam, why are you being so nice to me?“. His chopsticks paused midair. He looked at me for a long moment before responding, “Why do you think?”
Thesitated, then offered a simple answer, “Because you’re a good person?”
Adam laughed, leaning forward to tap me lightly on the forehead, “Right, right. Let’s go with that.”
I smiled faintly and took a sip of tea, quietly dismissing the other thought that had crossed my mind. It was
absurd, after all.
If Adam had feelings for me, it would only complicate everything. Moreover, I relied on him for updates about Chase and the divorce. Without him, I’d be lost in the chaos back home. I couldn’t afford to jeopardize that.
Pushing the thought aside, I asked the question that had been lingering in the back of my mind. “What about Chase? How did he react to the divorce papers?”
Adam’s smile faded, his tone cooling. “He seemed… cooperative. Too cooperative, if you ask me.”
I had expected that answer, but hearing it still made my chest tighten. Four years of shared moments–small, inconsequential memories–reduced to nothing.
The day Adam left, I drove him to the airport and handed him the ring box.
“Give this back to him,” I said firmly. “And tell him one thing: from now on, we owe each other nothing.”
Adam nodded, his expression unreadable. Before leaving, he reached out to ruffle my hair.
On the plane, he stared out at the gray clouds beyond the window, his thoughts swirling. Adam had told many lies in his life, usually with the best intentions. But this time, there was a sliver of selfishness in the mix.
When Chase received the ring, his world crumbled. He sank to the floor, his mind spiraling into chaos. Rumors quickly spread across the city, Chase, once untouchable, had fallen apart. He wandered aimlessly, muttering Helen Foster’s name like a broken record.
In his empty apartment, the moonlight filtered in, casting cold silver beams onto his back. The light only highlighted his hollowed frame as he stared at his phone.
His trembling fingers dialed a number–one he had reconstructed from memory. But all he heard was the cold, mechanical tone of rejection.