It was already evening when Olivea glanced at her phone. A notification appeared—an unread message from Adrian. She sighed softly.
"Uhm… is he going to be late again?" she whispered under her breath.
She didn't bother opening the message, already assuming it was just another text saying he'd be stuck at work. Her eyes shifted toward the luggage she had packed earlier, neatly placed by the corner of the bedroom. With a faint sigh, she left the room and wandered into the kitchen. She opened the fridge, only to find nothing that sparked her appetite.
"Ugh… bored. I bet Zoe and Emma are already back in England," Olivea muttered.
She grabbed her coat and decided to go out for a short walk, maybe to pick up some snacks from a nearby shop. As she stepped outside, she saw the villa security—one of the guards Adrian had hired.
"Hey, sir," Olivea said politely. "If Mr. Adrian comes home before me, please tell him I just went for a walk to buy some snacks."
The guard nodded, and with that, Olivea walked off into the fading light of the evening. Unbeknownst to her, an unfamiliar black car had been parked nearby. Inside, a man sat quietly, eyes locked on her. He wore a cap low over his forehead, his figure hidden by the tinted windows as he watched Olivea leave the villa grounds.
---
Meanwhile, at Adrian's company office, he was still working late. He leaned back in his chair, eyes fixed on the towering glass window that overlooked the bustling city. Yet his mind was far away, clouded with thoughts he couldn't shake.
Suddenly, the desk phone rang. He picked it up almost lazily.
"Hello, what is it?" Adrian asked, settling deeper into his chair.
"Mr. Adrian," his front office assistant said, "there's a woman here who wants to see you."
Adrian frowned slightly. "Let her in."
Moments later, Sarah entered the office. Adrian was startled. "Eh? Why so early? Didn't I tell her father she would only start working next week?" he thought to himself as he watched her approach.
Sarah closed the door behind her with a graceful smile. "Hey, Adrian. Thank you for letting me work at your company," she said, settling comfortably on the office sofa.
Adrian forced a polite smile, nodding in acknowledgment. He wasn't in the mood for lengthy conversations, but he didn't want to be rude. As Sarah chatted, Adrian's eyes drifted to his phone on the desk. He noticed Olivea's location through the tracking app—she wasn't at the villa.
"Where is she going?" he whispered under his breath, concern pricking his chest.
Sarah noticed his distracted expression. Her lips curved into a faint smirk. I bet he's thinking about that wicked woman, she thought bitterly, jealousy flashing in her eyes.
"Adrian—" Sarah began, her voice soft, almost daring, but Adrian abruptly stood up. He grabbed his car keys from the desk.
"Uhmm… Sarah, we'll continue this conversation later, okay? I need to go. Bye," he said quickly before walking out, leaving her stunned and speechless.
Sarah sat frozen for a moment, her smile fading. "He left me… for her?" she whispered angrily, clenching her fists.
---
Adrian, on the other hand, didn't waste another second. He hurried to the parking lot, got into his car, and drove off, following the signal from Olivea's phone.
Meanwhile, Olivea was at a park, sitting on a bench. In her hands, she balanced a plastic bag of snacks and a half-eaten ice cream. The soft breeze brushed against her hair as she stared at the open view in front of her.
"I can't believe I'm already married…" she murmured with a small, thoughtful smile.
But her peaceful moment didn't last. From across the parking lot, she spotted a man. He wore a black hoodie, sunglasses, and a mask. His stance was stiff, his gaze locked directly on her.
A shiver ran down her spine. "What is wrong with that guy? Freak…" Olivea whispered nervously, her fingers tightening around the snack bag.
She looked back at her phone—it was already 5 p.m. "Ah, damn… I better head back to the villa," she muttered.
She got up from the bench, threw the ice cream stick into the trash, and began walking down the quiet pathway. The streetlights had already flickered on, their glow casting long shadows along the deserted walkway. Only a few people were scattered around the park, their presence too far to feel safe.
Olivea tightened her grip on the bag and adjusted her pace, her footsteps quickening as unease settled in her chest. She dared to glance over her shoulder.
Her heart skipped.
The same man in the hoodie was following her.
Her pulse quickened, her throat dry. She turned forward again, trying to stay calm but panic slowly rising. What should I do? What should I do? her mind screamed.
She looked back again.
He was still there.
Her breath came in shallow gasps as her steps grew faster, echoing softly against the pavement. The sound of his footsteps behind her seemed to match her rhythm, growing heavier, closer.
"Oh god… he's really following me," Olivea whispered under her breath, her hands trembling.
But then—suddenly—the man was gone.
Olivea froze, whipping her head around in every direction. The pathway behind her was empty. The shadows revealed nothing. For a long moment, she stood still, listening to the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly before she let out a shaky sigh of relief.
"God… don't scare me like that…" she muttered, though her uneasiness lingered.
She continued walking back toward the villa, unaware that Adrian's car was already nearing the park, following her location.