CHAPTER 54: 54: AT THE VERGE

Adrienne’s body stiffened, her mind racing as Alexander’s lips pressed against hers. She didn’t respond—couldn’t. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of panic, confusion, and dread. She had prepared herself for suspicion, for confrontation, even for threats. But this? This was a curveball she hadn’t anticipated.

She pulled back sharply, her hand pressing against his chest with more force than she intended. "Alexander," she said, her voice low but firm, "What is wrong with you?"

Alexander’s eyes narrowed slightly, but his smile didn’t waver. "What’s wrong with me?" he asked, his tone deceptively soft. "You’ve been distant lately. I thought maybe this would help us connect."

Adrienne stepped back, putting space between them. "I’m just tired. It’s been a long day," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "And I came here as soon as I got your message... it was quite urgent, I was worried."

Alexander studied her, his gaze sharp and calculating. "You should be worried," he said. "I have some unbelievable suspicions regarding my secretary... I think he’s hiding something from me, but before we start, where is your ring, darling?" He held her hand, rubbing his thumb over her ring finger.

Her heart thudded in her chest, her throat feeling tight. She needed to regain control of the situation, steer it away from intimacy, and go back to the realm of logic and distance. "My ring... I..." She cleared her throat, thinking of a plausible lie to tell Alexander.

"I lost it, Alexander. I’m sorry," She said, sighing.

"Lost it? Tell me the truth, Adrienne, did you pawn my ring?" He asked, taking her bag from her and leading her to the sofa.

Adrienne’s pulse was racing, and her hands became sweaty as she stared at her bag in Alexander’s hand.

Everything was spiralling out of control. She wasn’t supposed to leave with the backpack, but she had been in a hurry, and she believed her ring was in there. Now, Alexander had her bag. If he dared to open it, it would be over for her.

He would find the backpack which had all the shirts he had given to Adrian, then... It’s bye-bye to her disguise.

She sat beside Alexander, her eyes fixed on the bag.

"So you lost the ring? It’s alright, we can always get another ring," Alexander tilted her head, observing her face.

"What are you doing?" Adrienne whispered.

"Wondering why you’re always wearing makeup. Even at night." He narrowed his eyes at her.

"I need you without make-up tonight –"

"No, Alexander," Adrienne moved away from him, her face hardening, "You’re asking too much, Alexander. Need I remind you that we’re a fake couple? And I’m still trying to understand why you called me here since your mother is clearly not around. We don’t have to cross that line, Alexander, and I don’t appreciate you trying to encroach on my space," She said sternly, hoping her voice didn’t give away the tremor she was feeling.

She was getting a strange feeling about the whole visit, but she couldn’t just put her hands on the particular thing that was out of place.

Alexander chuckled and stood, going over to the bar to pour himself a drink. Then, he turned and leaned against the counter.

"Tell me, Adrienne," he said without looking at her, "where were you before you came here? Don’t lie to me, sweetheart."

Adrienne’s breath caught. She had no alibi, no backup plan. "Not it’s any of your business since my personal life is 0% your business. But, I was... at a spa," she lied, hoping her voice didn’t betray her.

Alexander turned slowly, glass in hand. "Which one?"

She hesitated. "The one near the old gallery. I don’t remember the name."

He took a sip, his eyes never leaving hers. "Interesting. Because Marcus and I checked all the spas in that area. None of them had you on record."

Adrienne’s stomach dropped. She had underestimated him.

Alexander walked toward her again, his expression unreadable. "You see, Adrienne, I don’t mind being lied to. I mind being lied to poorly."

She swallowed hard, her fingers twitching at her sides. "I’m not lying. And why are you stalking my life?" She sounded angry, but what she really felt was fear.

He stopped inches from her, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Stalking? No. I think I might just have grown feelings for my wife, and I want us to become real, darling." He whispered.

Adrienne stared into his eyes, and all she saw was a predator circling his prey.

"That’s on you, Alexander... you know the rules. Love can’t happen between us, " she said, her voice barely audible. "I... I already have someone I love."

Alexander smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Really, who? Another man? Or a woman?" He asked, enjoying the taunt.

Adrienne stepped back, frowning, "Excuse you? What kind of question is that? You know what? I’m leaving –"

"No, please, stay. I can’t let a beautiful young woman walk alone at such an hour. I promise, I’ll be in my room, you just take the guest room as usual," he called after her, raising his hands in surrender.

Adrienne paused. She felt shaken and exposed, but she was not letting it show. She would go through the night like she always did. And in the morning, she would be gone before her dear husband stirs in bed.

"That would be nice, thank you," Adrienne walked over and picked her bag from the sofa, and withlokimg at Alexander, she climbed the stairs with unhurried steps until she was out of his sight.

The moment she entered the guest room, Adrienne exhaled shakily, her mind already racing to find a way out. She needed to recover the ring. She needed to finish Adrian’s tasks. And most of all, she needed to survive whatever game Alexander was playing.

Because this wasn’t just about secrets anymore.

It was war.

Downstairs, Alexander downed his drink in one go and leaned his head over the counter. He already knew, and he had every opportunity to check her bag for the final reveal, yet he didn’t do it.

He was scared, scared of what he might do if it were true. He felt stupid, dumb and used.

He exhaled loudly and looked up at the stairs, a decision forming in his mind.

He poured one more drink and gulped it down before he set up for the stairs.

He reached the front of Adrienne’s room and raised his hand to knock, but he decided against it as his knuckles were about to touch the door.

He took a deep breath and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He wasn’t supposed to, but he had no choice.

He opened the secret camera in Adrienne’s room and saw her sitting idly on the bed with her bag beside her. Her face looked so far away as if she was contemplating how she was going to escape tonight.

With a few clicks, Alexander sent Adrienne a message to meet him outside. Through the camera, he saw Adrienne release a long sigh and rub her temples before she reluctantly stood and walked toward the door.

Alexander easily his himself in the corner of a passage while Adrienne walked past him and down the stairs.

The moment she was out of view, he git inside the room and opened her bag.

He froze, his hands feeling too heavy to move.

He already knew the truth, but seeing it with his own eyes ripped something off of him.

He could never mistake his secretary’s backpack that was sitting inside Adrienne’s bag, and his body shook violently with disbelief at the raw proof.

With anger singing through his veins, he reached I’m and took one of his shirts from the bag.

"It’s time you returned my shirts, Adrian." He muttered as he closed the bag and kept it exactly as it was.

After a few minutes, he walked out of the house to find Adrienne sitting on one of the stairs, her jaw resting on her hands.

"Hey," Alexander went and stood in front of her, his face devoid of anger or hurt.

Adrienne sighed quietly, "I’ve been waiting for three minutes." She complained.

"I’m sorry. I wanted to come and have a chat with you, but I’m suddenly feeling unwell. I came to take you back to bed." He said, offering her his hand.

"It’s alright, I’m sleepy anyway," Adrienne nodded and took his hand, allowing him to help her up.

Alexander gently led Adrienne back into the house.

He felt so stupid as he realised that he had allowed himself to be fooled so many times over and over again. Adrienne’s hand felt exactly like Adrian’s, and no wonder he thought the ring would fit Adrienne when he tested it on Adrian’s finger.

They were the same!

And Adrian had so easily fooled him.

They reached the door to Adrienne’s room and Alexander paused, lifted her hand to his mouth and then placed a gentle kiss behind it, "Good night, my wife," he whispered and pushed open her door for her.

Adrienne smiled, appearing polite but deep down she found Alexander’s kindness strange, "Goodnight, Alexander." She murmured and closed her door, her heart pounding from the sudden feeling of the unknown.

Outside, Alexander balled his fists beside him.

He was holding himself back from marching into the room and demanding the truth from his ’wife’. He would wait until he met his ’clumsy’ and ’timid’ secretary, and then they could talk man to man and he would inquire from Adrian why he dared to play him the way he did.

’Tomorrow is going to be so interesting for us, Adrian.’