Chapter 18
During these long sleepless nights, his dreams full of Adele.
When than woke the next morning, memories of their mutual confession brought an immediate smile to his face.
Eager to see Adele again, he hurried out of bed.
When he opened his door, he was surprised to find her already standing there cradling a bouquet of roses in her arms.
“Morning, Ethan. I was up all night thinking,” she started. “Look, I might not fe everything as strongly right away, but I’ve made up my mind. I want to be all in with you.”
“I want to be your girlfriends.”
Adele had rehearsed these words all morning, but seeing Ethan at the door, she blurted everything out in a single breath.
When she finished, she lowered her gaze shyly, waiting for his response.
After a long silence, she looked up to find Ethan–usually so composed and self assured–with reddened eyes that threatened tears.
“I…” Adele began anxiously wanting to comfort him but suddenly at a loss for words.
Before she could find her voice, Ethan pulled her into a tight embrace. “I was supposed to be the one bringing flowers,” he said, his voice full of emotion “You’ve already done everything I was planning to do for you. So now what am I supposed to do?”
I don’t care about that.”
Finding Adele at his doorstep with flowers in her hands that morning had given Ethan a surreal feeling. Only by holding her tightly could he convince himself this wasn’t just another dream.
Adele ended her solo journey, choosing instead to stay with Ethan.
By the time they returned to the Manhattan, winter had arrived.
Chapter 19
After encountering Adele and Ethan, Byron no longer indulged Scarlett’s every whim as he once had.
The change began at a recent party when Scarlett had thrown one of her tantrums, expecting Byron to placate her as usual. Instead, he’d mapped, “Stop being so immature! Why can’t you be more considerate like Adele?”
Behaviors he’d once found endearing in Scarlett now grated on his nerves. He couldn’t help but compare her to Adele at every turn.
When he traveled for business, he remembered how Adele would always prepare his essentials and pack small treats and snacks for his journey. constantly checking if he was getting too tired. Scarlett never helped him pack anything–instead, she’d hard him a list of luxury items to purchase abroad, treating him like her personal shopper.
At home, no matter how late he worked, Adele would wait up for him. Scarlet never waited, instead demanding he keep quiet so he wouldn’t disturb her sleep.
Byron no longer found Scarlett’s petulance charming. Her constant demands for attention, her insistence that he accompany her to events he despised–it all felt exhausting now.
As Scarlett noticed Byron’s diminishing affection, she couldn’t maintain her aloof façade. She constantly compared him to how he’d been before, convinced he no longer loved her.
It was at this vulnerable point that Xavier Flynn reappeared in Scarlett’s life. He perfectly filled the void of attention and excitement that Byron no longer provided.
But Xavier couldn’t give Scarlett the luxurious lifestyle she craved, so their meetings remained secret.
Byron, his thoughts increasingly occupied elsewhere, failed to notice these suspicious changes.
When news reached him that Adele had returned to the city, his attention shifted even further from Scarlett.
For Scarlett, learning of Adele’s return immediately triggered memories of their humiliating encounter in Lake Haven.Now that Adele was back, Scarlett was determined to make her pay.
She casually mentioned to their former class president Jaden that she wanted to reconnect with college friends. The eager–to–please man immediately organized a class reunion.
Adele initially had no interest in attending. The last thing she wanted was any further interaction with Scarlett. But after persistent encouragement from Jaden, she reluctantly agreed.
By the time she arrived, the venue was already packed with former classmates. Scarlett wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
Just as Adele was about to join some familiar faces, Jaden spotted her and called out loudly, “Adele! Is it true you and Byron are divorced?”
The room fell suddenly silent.
“Yes, we’re divorced,” Adele replied matter–of–factly, taking the opportunity to make it public knowledge and avoid future awkwardness.
“But why? How could you let go of someone as successful as Byron?” someone asked incredulously.
“Irreconcilable differences.”
“I heard Byron is with Scarlett now. Is that why? Because of Scarlett?” someone whispered, just loud enough to be heard.
“Of course not,” the class president interjected. “If Scarlett had wanted Byron Adele wouldn’t have stood a chance in the first place.”
“Exactly! Everyone knew how into Scarlett Byron was. Adele just couldn’t measure up.”
“If it weren’t for Scarlett’s generosity in bringing them together, Adele would never have had the chance to marry Byron.”
“Adele should be thanking Scarlett.”
14:52
