Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Smile
Adrian always loved making entrances.
Even inside his own house.
He walked through rooms like cameras were following him.
Employees moved when he entered.
Guests lowered their voices when he spoke.
Business partners shook his hand and called him brilliant.
Nobody saw the man behind the image.
Except me.
I saw the nights when he paced through the office because a deal failed.
I saw the anger when someone questioned him.
I saw the way he threw expensive things when he couldn’t control a situation.
But I also saw something else.
Fear.
Adrian was terrified of losing power.
That was why he collected things.
Properties.
Cars.
Companies.
People.
And for a long time, he thought he had collected me too.
I walked back toward the hallway slowly, Noah resting against my shoulder.
Adrian was still standing near the scattered cash.
Vanessa was touching his arm.
“There she is,” Adrian said when he saw me.
His voice was full of confidence again.
Like the moment had already passed.
Like he hadn’t just humiliated me.
“You done with your little attitude?””
I didn’t answer.
Vanessa smiled.
“You know, Nia, sometimes pride makes people do stupid things.””
I looked at her.
“Sometimes arrogance makes people miss what’s right in front of them.””
Her smile faded slightly.
Adrian noticed.
“What does that mean?””
I adjusted Noah’s blanket.
“It means I’m tired.””
“Tired of what?””
I looked around the mansion.
The walls.
The expensive decorations.
The life everyone thought was perfect.
“I’m tired of pretending.””
For the first time, Adrian looked uncomfortable.
Only for a second.
Then the arrogance returned.
“You’re being dramatic.””
“No,” I said quietly.
“I’m finally being honest.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You’re making Adrian look like the bad guy.””
I almost smiled.
Because she said it like she believed it.
Like she had convinced herself that taking someone else’s husband was only wrong if she got caught.
“Vanessa,” I said.
She looked surprised I used her name.
“Yes?””
“How long have you been waiting for this?””
Her expression changed.
“What are you talking about?””
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.””
Adrian stepped between us.
“Enough.””
The command was automatic.
The same tone he used whenever he wanted everyone to stop questioning him.
But this time, I didn’t.
“No,” I said.
The word surprised even me.
Adrian stared.
I continued.
“I spent years making excuses for you.””
His jaw tightened.
“I gave up opportunities because you wanted me home.””
“You agreed.””
“Yes.””
The room became silent.
“Because I loved you.””
That landed differently.
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
A crack.
Then Vanessa interrupted.
“Adrian, you don’t need to listen to this.””
I looked at her.
That was when I realized something.
She didn’t actually know him.
Not the way I did.
She knew the expensive restaurants.
The gifts.
The attention.
She knew the version of Adrian that performed for the world.
She didn’t know the man who woke up screaming after nightmares about losing control.
She didn’t know the man who once begged me not to leave him.
She didn’t know the man who cried in my arms after his father died and promised he would never become cold.
I knew.
And that was why this had to end.
My phone buzzed.
I looked down.
One message.
I didn’t open it.
Adrian noticed.
“Who is that?””
“No one.””
His eyes narrowed.
“You’ve been acting strange all day.””
I placed the phone back into my handbag.
“Maybe you’re finally noticing me.””
He stared at me.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then his phone vibrated.
Adrian ignored it.
Vanessa smiled.
“Probably work.””
The phone vibrated again.
This time, Adrian looked.
A small notification appeared.
His expression didn’t change yet.
He unlocked the screen.
Then another notification appeared.
And another.
The confidence slowly disappeared from his face.
“What is that?”” Vanessa asked.
Adrian didn’t answer.
He kept staring.
I watched his fingers tighten around the phone.
“What’s wrong?”” she asked.
He looked up.
And for the first time that day...
He looked afraid.
“Nia,” he said.
My name sounded different coming from him.
Not like an accusation.
Like a question.
I held Noah closer.
“Yes?””
His mouth opened.
But before he could speak, another alert appeared on his screen.
His entire face changed.
May you like
And I knew.
The first piece had fallen.
