When they arrived home, the house was unusually quiet. Adrian pushed the door open, allowing Lila to step inside first. She set her bag on the couch, but before she could say anything, Adrian closed the door behind him with a heavy thud.
He stood there for a moment, his chest rising and falling, his eyes dark as he watched her.
"Why didn't you leave when the others left?" His voice was calm, but it carried an edge that made Lila's heart pound.
She swallowed. "We were still discussing ideas. Tristan wanted-"
"Tristan wanted," Adrian cut in sharply, his jaw tightening, "to keep you there. Alone."
She stepped closer, her voice softer now. "Adrian, you can't control every moment I spend at work. I didn't expect him to act that way either. I thought it was just about the project."
Adrian raked a hand through his hair and turned away, pacing the room. "I called you more than ten times, Lila. Ten. Do you know what went through my head each time you didn't answer? I thought-" He stopped, his throat tightening. "I thought something had happened to you. That he... that Tristan hurt you."
Her chest ached at the rawness in his voice. She reached for him, gently touching his arm. "But I'm here, Adrian. I'm safe."
He looked down at her, his eyes still clouded with anger, but beneath it she saw fear. Real fear.
"He knows," she whispered. "He told me directly. Tristan knows we're married."
Adrian's expression hardened instantly, his protective instincts flaring like fire. "Then it's no longer a suspicion. It's a threat."
"Adrian-"
He cupped her face suddenly, his grip firm but not harsh. "Listen to me. Whatever he says, whatever he does, don't let him get to you. He thrives on weakness. That's what he wants-to make you doubt me, to make you fear being with me."
Her breath caught, her hands slowly resting on his wrists. "I don't fear being with you. But Adrian... if Tristan is so determined, if he wants to hurt you through me-what if he doesn't stop?"
Adrian leaned closer, his forehead brushing hers. His voice dropped, low and steady. "Then I'll stop him. For good."
The silence between them was heavy, but in that moment, Lila realized just how far Adrian was willing to go for her. It terrified her-and yet, deep inside, it reassured her too.
She closed her eyes and whispered, "Just... don't lose yourself in this fight."
Adrian's arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his chest. "I already lost myself the moment I met you," he murmured. "But I won't lose you. Not to him."
---
Tristan's Perspective
The office lights flickered as Tristan remained behind, long after Adrian and Lila had gone. The papers on the table lay scattered, but he didn't care. He leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling, his mind sharp and calculating.
He chuckled softly, the sound dark and bitter. "So, it's true. Adrian finally found someone worth protecting."
His hand tapped rhythmically on the table. "And she's beautiful... loyal... but naive. Perfect."
He leaned forward, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it, the smoke curling lazily around him. "Adrian thinks he's won because he has her by his side. But the more he clings to her, the more vulnerable he becomes."
Tristan's eyes narrowed, remembering the fury in Adrian's voice. That raw desperation. It was exactly the reaction he wanted.
"He's weak when it comes to love," Tristan muttered, smirking. "And I'll use that weakness. Piece by piece, I'll take her away from him-not because I want her, but because Adrian can't stand the thought of losing her."
He crushed the cigarette into the ashtray, leaning back once more with a satisfied sigh. "This isn't over, Adrian. It's just beginning."
The morning light spilled gently into the room, chasing away the shadows of the night. Lila stirred awake, her mind heavy with the events of the previous evening. Tristan's words still echoed faintly in her memory, and Adrian's quiet fury was something she could not ignore.
She rose slowly, moving to the mirror, brushing her hair into place while trying to steady her thoughts. When she walked downstairs, the smell of fresh coffee greeted her. Adrian was already at the dining table, his laptop open but forgotten, his gaze fixed on her the moment she appeared.
"Good morning," he said softly, though his eyes carried the storm of everything unspoken.
"Morning," she replied, sliding into the chair opposite him. She reached for the coffee pot, pouring herself a cup, grateful for something to occupy her hands.
He studied her in silence for a long moment before leaning back, his jaw set. "Lila, let me drive you to the office today."
Her hand froze midair. She placed the cup down slowly and looked up at him, her expression calm but firm. "Adrian, no."
He frowned, leaning forward, his voice laced with frustration. "After last night? After the way Tristan looked at you? I can't just sit back and let him corner you again. If I'm with you, he won't try anything."
She shook her head, her voice low but steady. "That's exactly why you can't drive me."
His brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Adrian," she said gently but with resolve, "Tristan already knows. He saw enough last night to confirm it. But we can't allow anyone else to know. If you start driving me to work, if people see you around me, it won't take long before the whole office finds out. And once that happens, there will be questions we're not ready to answer."
Adrian's jaw tightened, his frustration growing. "So you expect me to sit here, knowing Tristan is hovering around you, and do nothing? That's not going to happen."
"I'm not asking you to do nothing," she said quickly, her eyes locking with his. "I'm asking you to protect what we've built by not exposing it too soon. The moment people see you near me, the moment they whisper-it's over. Everything we've kept private, everything we've worked to protect, gone."
He pushed away from the table, pacing across the room. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his chest rising and falling heavily. "Lila, you don't understand. Tristan-he isn't just anyone. He's dangerous. If he tries to-"
"Adrian," she cut him off firmly, standing now. She crossed the room to him, her hand brushing his arm. Her touch softened the tension, though his body was still rigid. "I understand. I know you're worried, but this is bigger than Tristan. It's about us. The world can't know yet. Not until we're ready."
He looked down at her, his dark eyes stormy with conflict. "And if something happens to you?"
Her lips curved into the faintest, bittersweet smile. "Then I'll handle it. I'm not weak, Adrian. I won't let him break me again. But if you drive me in today, if you hover over me in front of everyone, then you'll be giving Tristan exactly what he wants-proof. And I refuse to hand that to him."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy with unsaid words. Adrian's gaze softened, but the fire in it did not fade. He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. "You're asking me to trust you, when every instinct in me is telling me to keep you close."
"I'm asking you to trust us," she whispered.
His chest rose with a long, deep breath. Finally, he nodded, though the reluctance in his movement was clear. "Fine. I'll respect your wish. But promise me one thing-if he steps out of line, you'll call me. No hesitation."
"I promise," she replied, holding his gaze with quiet determination.
Adrian dropped his hand, though the protective storm in his eyes lingered. He hated the thought of letting her walk into that office without him, but her words rang true. They couldn't afford another pair of eyes confirming what Tristan already suspected. For now, their secret would remain theirs, even if it meant swallowing his pride and his fear.
As Lila left the house, her bag slung over her shoulder, she felt the weight of the day ahead pressing down on her chest. She had stood her ground, but deep inside, she knew Tristan wouldn't let things end quietly.
And Adrian, watching her walk out the door, silently vowed that whether or not he drove her, nothing-and no one-would come between them.
---
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