The morning sun crept softly through the curtains, casting a pale golden glow across the room. Olivea stirred awake, her lashes fluttering as she reached out her hand to the other side of the bed. Empty. The sheets were cold, untouched, and Adrian was nowhere in sight.
"Did Adrian sleep on the couch again?" Olivea whispered under her breath, her voice faint with guilt. Slowly, she tiptoed toward the door and peeked out into the living room. To her surprise, it was completely empty. The couch was perfectly arranged, the silence in the villa pressing against her ears.
"Adrian?" she called softly, hoping for a reply. Nothing. Only the distant sound of birds chirping outside the villa walls. A sigh escaped her lips as she turned back. Where could he have gone so early?
Deciding not to overthink, Olivea headed for the bathroom. After a warm shower, she returned to her room and finally powered on her phone. The screen lit up with a message notification from Adrian. Her heart skipped slightly as she opened it.
"I left home earlier to go to work. I've already prepared breakfast for you. Make sure you eat—it's important to keep yourself healthy."
The message had been sent at six in the morning. Olivea pressed her lips together, her chest tightening with guilt. She walked slowly to the dining table and found the breakfast Adrian had prepared neatly waiting for her, untouched but still carefully covered. The sight brought a soft smile to her face, though her heart felt heavy.
"He still thinks about me so much… after everything," she whispered, tracing her finger across the edge of the plate. She regretted what she had done to him the previous night, sneaking out with her friends, drinking, and returning late with Tyler dropping her home. Adrian hadn't scolded her harshly, but his silence had spoken louder than words. Still, Olivea had no idea that Adrian himself had spent time meeting Sarah on that same day.
---
Meanwhile, in the bustling heart of the city, Adrian was drowning in work. His company was holding one of its biggest meetings, and as the CEO, all eyes were on him. With sharp focus, he delivered his presentation, handling questions and setting new targets. By the time the meeting concluded, the board members left impressed, murmuring praises under their breath.
As Adrian gathered his documents, he noticed an older man waiting for him at the corner of the hall. He immediately recognized the familiar face.
"Good morning, Mr. Smith," Adrian greeted politely, extending his hand.
"Ah, Adrian. Long time no see!" Mr. Smith responded warmly. "I must say, your company is running smoothly. I can see you've been doing well."
Adrian offered a courteous smile, though his mind already raced with questions. Mr. Smith hadn't shown up at the company for years—why now? "Shall we continue this in my office? We can speak privately," Adrian suggested.
Once inside, Adrian leaned back in his chair, observing the older man. "Mr. Smith, forgive me for asking directly, but is there something important you wanted to discuss?"
Mr. Smith folded his hands and leaned forward. "Well, Adrian, you and Sarah have been friends for many years now…"
Before he could finish, Adrian cut in, his tone firm but polite. "Mr. Smith, you must know that I already have a wife. It's impossible that you don't know—after all, you and my father were friends. I'm sure he must have told you about my marriage."
Mr. Smith chuckled, a deep sound laced with irony. "Yes, yes, I know. But tell me, Adrian—how can you truly love someone you never really knew?" His laughter echoed faintly in the room, and Adrian felt a flicker of irritation.
He sighed, unwilling to waste his energy debating with an old man. "Mr. Smith, if this is about Sarah—"
"Exactly," Mr. Smith interrupted. "Take Sarah as your secretary. She's been unemployed for almost a year now."
Adrian frowned inwardly. Mr. Smith owned a local company himself—why couldn't Sarah work there instead? Why push her toward his company?
"Mr. Smith, I already have a secretary. I can't just fire him without reason," Adrian explained patiently, hoping to close the topic.
But Mr. Smith was persistent. He continued pleading, almost begging, pressing his request again and again until Adrian felt cornered. Finally, against his better judgment, Adrian gave in.
"Fine. I'll arrange something," Adrian said quietly.
However, he didn't fire Ryan, his loyal friend who had helped him manage the company data for years. Instead, he created a separate position for Sarah, ensuring Ryan's place remained secure.
The conversation ended shortly after. Mr. Smith left the office with a satisfied smile, while Adrian slumped into his chair, exhaustion pulling at his shoulders. He reached for his phone, intending to call Olivea, to hear her voice and shake off the weight of the morning.
But before he could press dial, a notification lit up the screen—Sarah's name appeared, her call coming through. Adrian hesitated for a second before answering.
---
Back at the villa, Olivea was in her room, her suitcase sprawled open on the bed. She carefully folded her clothes, packing each item with care. Books, documents, and essentials followed after.
She glanced at the corner of her phone screen. The date glowed: Wednesday, may 14th, 2026. 15:57 p.m.
"Hmm… should I call Adrian to tell him about this?" she murmured, chewing her lip nervously. Her last semester was about to begin soon, and she had no choice but to fly out on Saturday. She wanted to share the news, to be honest with him, but after the tension of the past few days, she wasn't sure how Adrian would take it.
She sat at the edge of the bed, staring at her packed belongings. "Will he understand? Or… will this just push us further apart?" she whispered, uncertainty clouding her eyes.