Chapter 110

Stella

I really did not want to come tonight. I wanted to stay home, remain cuddly in my bed, warm as a cinnamon roll, but Sebastian somehow managed to convince me that leaving the house was a fantastic idea, especially after Luca almost beat the shit out of him. I told him that I would keep the bed warm for us, that I promise to not eat all of the leftover ice cream in the freezer, but Sebastian didn't believe me.

He managed to get me out of my bed and helps me pick out a dress. I'd be grudgingly went along because I really didn't want to start another fight between us. Well, not necessarily a fight, but more of a bickering back and forth over what to do or eat.

Are all couples like this? Do all couples fight over the smallest of things? You see, I would not really know what a real relationship is like seeing how my marriage to Adrian was one-sided, it was filled with transactions that only ever benefitted one person: him.

The car ride to the event was silent. Sebastian talked, though, telling me all about the people that I am going to meet, the people that live inside his world outside of the mafia. A few of them are friends. At least, that's what he told me.

I have been to too many events in my life. I have gone to every shareholder gala of the last five years for Adrian’s pharmaceutical company, and I have even made myself available when it came to award ceremonies, birthday parties for socialites, and have even allowed myself to be used as a prop when Adrian needed his wife a business partner's wedding.

It was all according to the contract though, right? I was simply fulfilling my duty as his loyal wife whom he ripped apart under the scalpel in countless surgeries.

I want to take more of a supportive role tonight with Sebastian. I do not wish to be somebody who petals information because he needs it too nor do I wish to be somebody who he wants to flaunt and show off to the rest of the room. I am simply here to support him.

Nothing more, nothing less.

As soon as we step through the door, Sebastian's friends wave him down. He waves back at them with a bright smile on his face. He looks down at me and gives my hand a squeeze.

“I will be right back,” he says with the brights grin, growing even wider, “I'll go get us some drinks, yeah?”

I cannot even respond to him before he takes off across the room, leaving me behind in the cloud of dust from his departure. I close my eyes for a brief moment, allowing myself to float through the room as much as I can before the sound of footsteps stops before me.

I open my eyes and look up to see Adrian. Anxiety is written all over his face. A wave of nausea overtakes my body, my eyes slightly widening. I cross my arms over my chest and look up and down at him.

“Stella?” he asks, his voice shaking, “Can we talk?”

I swipe my tongue across my teeth. I remain quiet, unsure of what to do or say in response. I slowly suck in a breath and look around the room, spotting Sebastian by the bar, laughing along with people and a joke that I am not a part of.

“No,” I sharply respond, “I don't feel like arguing tonight nor do I feel like causing a scene. For both of our sakes, we should stay apart tonight.”

“Why? Are you worried that your brother is going to become overprotective of you?” Adrian's words rub me the wrong way.

I look up at him, annoyance, bubbling inside of my chest. My nails dig into my forearms.

“He is not my brother, he is my boyfriend,” I sharply respond.

“Is he?” Adrian asks, slight surprise in his tone. I nod. “Well, I would still love to talk to you regardless. I want to clear the air between us.”

“Fine,” I let out a quiet groan, “make it quick.”

Adrian guides us away from the heart of the room and leads us to a more secluded area. I sit down on a couch and lean back, closing my eyes as my muscles ache beneath my skin.

“Why did you join the mafia?” Adrian asks. “You know exactly what they have done to me, Stella. They almost killed Clara whether you are ready to put aside your hatred for her and admit it. Why would you join a group that wishes nothing but the worst for the world?”

“I didn’t join,” I sigh and open my eyes to look at him, “I was born into it. My father is the Obsidian Pact don.”

Adrian slowly nods. His eyes dart away, looking at anything else in the room that isn’t me. For once, I am surprised that he is able to keep himself so calm, cool, and collected.

I am also surprised that his full focus is not on me but rather the carpet beneath us.

“Is there anything else that you wanted to ask me? Or is that it, Adrian?” I ask, already annoyed and impatient that I have had to give up so much of my night to him.

Sure, it has literally only been about five minutes so far, but after what he has done to me, it is more than enough.

“I do not feel like being degraded or have the weight of your emotions be thrown onto me. I deserve better,” I begin to sit up but Adrian is quick to stop me.

“Stela, stop that, I am not degrading you,” Adrian sighs.

“Fine. But I am so exhausted of having the same conversation over and over and over again. Nothing productive or good comes out of this and I just want to be able to live my life again,” I bite back.

Silence falls between us. I stare at him from across the small room. He sits on the opposite couch across from me. I purse my lips and hold back my tears.

He takes my place at my side and looks down at me. My hand instinctively reaches out for his but I immediately draw away, unsure as to why my body wanted to get closer to him.

We remain silent, unable to say a single thing.

I swallow the lump that forms in my throat and look away. I need to focus on something else — literally anything else — so I can get away from this man as fast as I can.

“They are your family,” Adrian slowly nods. There is a slight bitterness to his voice. “I understand that. But what did that make us?”

“A contractual relationship,” I sharply respond. “You hired me for a job and I did it. That job is now over. Please just…let me go.”

“I don’t think I can,” Adrian admits.

My heart squeezes inside of my chest. I close my eyes and shake my head, unable to come to terms with what he just said.