Chapter 7 - THE HUSBAND WHO THOUGHT HE COULD EXPLAIN EVERYTHING
Adrian stared at the ring.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he whispered:
“Elise, please.”
I folded my arms.
“I'm listening.”
He sat down.
Ran a hand through his hair.
Then began.
MorganWell had been struggling for nearly a year.
Investors were nervous.
Revenue projections had failed.
Several expansion projects had gone over budget.
Adrian had been desperate.
“Thomas approached me,” he said.
I stared.
“Thomas Reed?”
He nodded.
“He said he could help.”
“How?”
“By connecting us with investors.”
I waited.
Adrian swallowed.
“He said Vale Harbor was undervalued.”
My stomach tightened.
“And?”
“He thought certain properties could be sold or leveraged.”
I stared.
“Without the board?”
Adrian looked away.
I felt cold.
“You were trying to sell my father's hotel.”
He shook his head.
“No. Not exactly.”
“Then explain.”
He swallowed.
“We were exploring options.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Options?”
He leaned forward.
“Elise, I was trying to save my company.”
I stared.
“So you forged my signature?”
His face tightened.
“I didn't personally sign anything.”
I looked at him.
“Did you know the documents were false?”
Silence.
I nodded.
“That's what I thought.”
He reached for my hand.
I moved away.
“Elise, I love you.”
I stared.
“Do you?”
His eyes filled.
“Yes.”
I swallowed.
“Then why Celeste?”
He looked down.
“It was a mistake.”
“How long?”
Silence.
“Adrian.”
He whispered:
“Eight months.”
I felt something inside me go quiet.
Eight months.
Eight months of lies.
Eight months of hotel rooms.
Eight months of coming home and kissing me.
I looked at him.
“Did you ever plan to tell me?”
He began crying.
“I didn't want to lose you.”
I stared.
“You already did.”
He shook his head.
“We can fix this.”
I took a slow breath.
“No.”
He looked up.
“Elise—”
“I want a divorce.”
The words settled between us.
Final.
Clear.
Adrian began crying harder.
But I didn't move toward him.
Because for the first time, I understood that his tears were not my responsibility.
I picked up my father's letter.
Then walked upstairs.
Behind me, Adrian whispered:
“You're destroying everything.”
I stopped.
Turned.
And looked at him.
“No, Adrian.”
May you like
My voice was calm.
“You did that.”
