The villa stood in complete silence when Adrian arrived. Not a single light shone from the windows, making the place look abandoned. He parked his car carefully, glancing at the small security hut by the gate. To his disappointment, the guard he had hired was slumped on the chair, fast asleep.
Adrian walked over and knocked on the hut's glass window.
"Hey, sir," Adrian said firmly, his voice low but commanding. "You can go home now. Take some rest."
The man, startled and embarrassed, rubbed his eyes before nodding quickly. "Yes, sir… sorry, sir." Without another word, he packed his things and left.
Adrian turned toward the villa, his steps heavy and deliberate. Reaching the front door, he knocked softly at first, then louder, hoping Olivea would open it.
No answer.
He sighed and pulled out his keys, unlocking the door himself. The moment he stepped inside, he reached for the switch and the living room filled with a warm glow.
"Olivea?" he called, his voice echoing through the stillness.
He walked through the rooms—the kitchen, the bathroom, even upstairs—but she was nowhere to be found. His chest tightened with unease.
"Where did she go?" Adrian muttered under his breath, frustration slipping into his tone.
Just as he was about to leave the villa, something on the coffee table caught his eye. A folded piece of paper lay there. He picked it up and unfolded it.
Hey Adrian, I left the house for a while. I'll be back before 10 p.m. … Love, Olivea.
Adrian exhaled sharply, his brows furrowing. He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already past midnight.
"Where did she really go?" he whispered in a voice edged with anger. He sank into the couch, his sharp eyes fixed on the front door as he waited.
---
Meanwhile, Olivea was standing outside a bus stop, shivering slightly in the midnight breeze. She turned when she heard someone call her name.
"…Olivea."
It was Tyler.
He approached casually, hands tucked into his jacket pockets. "Hey, Olivea. Where are you going? And where are your friends?"
Olivea exhaled in relief when she recognized him. "Oh, it's you. Well, I need to call an Uber. My friends… they're having fun with your group members, I think. They already left."
She sat on the bench at the bus stop, exhausted. Tyler lowered himself onto the seat beside her, his smile calm but persistent.
"Well, let me take you home," he offered smoothly.
Olivea coughed awkwardly, avoiding his gaze. "Uh, no. I can order an Uber. It's fine."
Tyler gave a small shrug, then stood up. "Alright. Suit yourself." He walked away without protest.
Olivea relaxed, but only for a minute. The sound of a car engine made her look up. A familiar vehicle stopped right in front of her. It was Tyler again, leaning out from the driver's side.
"What is he doing?!" Olivea whispered under her breath.
"Come on, Olivea," Tyler called, smirking. "I'll take you home."
She checked her phone. The clock glared back at her. 12:00 a.m.
Her eyes widened. "What?! Ah, damn it… I'm late."
With no other option, she reluctantly opened the passenger door and slid into the car. "Fine," she muttered.
The ride back was quiet, but Olivea's heart pounded in guilt.
---
Back at the villa, Adrian sat on the couch, tapping his fingers on the armrest. Suddenly, he heard the sound of tires on gravel. His eyes narrowed as he peeked through the window.
A car had pulled up. Olivea stepped out—followed by a man.
Adrian's chest burned. His jaw clenched as he watched her walk toward the front door with the stranger still lingering nearby.
When Olivea entered, she froze. Adrian was sitting on the couch, his face unreadable but his eyes sharp as blades.
"You're home, huh," Adrian said coldly.
Olivea swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "Hehe… sorry, I'm late."
She tried to walk past him toward the bedroom, but Adrian stood, blocking her path.
"You smell… something," he muttered, his deep voice filled with restrained anger. "Did you drink?"
"Yes," Olivea admitted quickly, her voice trembling. "I… I had a few drinks, but only with my university friends. Nothing more. Just a drink."
She couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes. She knew what she had done. She knew what it looked like.
Adrian's stare darkened. "So… who's the guy? And why didn't you call me?"
Olivea froze, her lips sealed. She looked away, avoiding his gaze.
"Hey. Look at me," Adrian demanded, his voice sharper now.
Finally, Olivea spoke, her tone desperate. "He was just helping me, that's all. I promise. Oh my God, Adrian, that's all it was."
She pushed past him, her eyes brimming with guilt, and hurried into the bedroom. The door slammed shut.
Inside, she sank onto the edge of the bed, her hands covering her face. "Oh my God… what have I done?" she whispered, her chest tight with regret.
Back in the living room, Adrian stood frozen in place, confusion and anger twisting inside him. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling shakily.
Finally, he collapsed onto the couch, burying his face in his palms.
"Olivea…" he muttered under his breath, his voice breaking between anger and exhaustion. "Why?"
The silence of the villa grew heavier than ever, the night filled with questions neither of them dared to answer.