Chapter 15
On the cobblestone streets of Old Town Square, Ethan Sullivan held Adele’s climere wrap in his arms. He was leaning down to adjust her bracelet that had twisted on her wrist when the sound of shattering glass exploded bend them.
“Adele?”
The familiar scent of expensive cologne mingled wafted toward them. Byron welton stood there, his left arm draped possessively around Scarlett’s shoulders.
Hearing her name, Adele turned and found herself face to face with Byron at Scarlett strolling intimately through the market. All the pain she thought she’d forgot suddenly resurfaced with brutal clarity, as fresh as if it had happened yesterday!
The injuries from her car accident began to clear. Her healed scars felt as though they were being ripped open again.
Adele’s gaze fixed on the gleaming platinum matching rings on Byron’s left hard. She suddenly remembered how throughout their years of marriage, Byron had never once worn his wedding band.
So it wasn’t that he disliked wearing rings–he just hadn’t wanted to wear one with her. Just as it was never truly about having no time for vacations–he simply hadn’t wanted to travel with her.
Fighting the urge to flee, Adele forced herself to appear nonchalant as she addressed the couple.
“Need something?” she asked coolly.
Ethan’s hand silently covered her trembling shoulder, a gesture that made Byron’s pupils constrict with anger.
“One month apart and you’ve already found yourself a lover in this tourist trap,” Byron sneered.
He deliberately walked closer with Scarlett in tow. “Not going to greet old friends?”
Byron had intentionally used the word “lover” to insult Ethan and demean Adele in the process.
“‘Lover‘ seems like an inappropriate term,” Ethan said with a slight smile. “After all, she’s divorced now, isn’t she?”
The moment Ethan had spotted Byron, he’d recalled the file his assistant had sent him. Each incident documented there had filled him with rage. A man who abandoned his wife,leaving her in danger!just to chase after some idealized crush? Before, Ethan had no right to intervene, but now that they were divorced, who was Byron to come around?
Adele felt Byron’s gaze. The dress was now partially concealed by Ethan’s cashmere coat wrapped around her shoulders.
惊人
The same man who had once complained that shopping was “too exhausting” was now willingly trailing after Scarlett through the mall.
“I wasn’t aware of any divorce.” Byron said, clearly aggravated that another man had mentioned his divorce.
“Adele, you moved so quickly. Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Scarlett finally broke her silence, visibly uncomfortable seeing Adele with a man whose presence rivaled Byron’s. Her defeated rival,why?
“Are we that close?” Adele asked, having composed herself, unwilling to engage further with these two unpleasant people.
“The divorce is legally binding, signed and notarized. You don’t get to wish it away because it’s inconvenient for your ego!Wake up!” Adele said, no longer willing to swallow her pride.
“What a way to ruin a perfectly good morning,” she added with a sigh.
Stunned by Adele’s unapologetic response, Byron froze. “Adele, what’s happened to you? You’ve become so rude and crude.”
“Scarlett told me things about you before, but I didn’t quite believe her. Seeing you now, it’s clear you must have bullied her constantly.”
“What?” Adele couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Hh,that’s rich. Scarlett, Is the truth?”
Caught off guard and afraid of being exposed–since everything she’d told Byron had been fabricated–Scarlett turned to Byron with feigned hurt. “Byron, let’s go. Adele clearly doesn’t want us here.”
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Chapter 15
“Sir,” Scarlett addressed Ethan, unable to resist one final jab, “Adele has quite the temper. Please be patient with her. I’m asking for your understanding.” Right in front of Adele, she played the role of the mistreated friend who still showed concern despite everything.
“Scarlett, you’re just too kindhearted,” Byron said, feeling a twinge of sympathy for his seemingly distressed girlfriend.
“Darling, do you smell that?” Ethan asked Adele, completely ignoring Scarlett It’s that overpowering scent of fakeness in the air.”
“Yes, it’s suffocating. Let’s go,” Adele replied, grateful for Ethan’s support..
“You-!” Scarlett sputtered in outrage. She was accustomed to flaunting her viory over Adele, not being publicly dismissed like this.
Byron watched the departing couple walk away arm in arm, his expression darkening. He said nothing, too distracted to notice the flash of venom in Scarlett’s eyes.
Hadn’t Adele professed to love him desperately? How could she loved other man so quickly? Impossible!
Chapter 16
