The evening breeze brushed gently against Adrian Wolfe's face as he stood on the balcony, phone pressed to his ear. His voice was low, stern, as he spoke with Nathan about business matters, the kind of talk that demanded his sharp mind and unshakable presence. For nearly half an hour, he remained there, his tone alternating between clipped commands and quiet contemplation, his eyes fixed on the horizon though his thoughts were miles away.
Finally, after Nathan ended the call with a respectful "I'll handle it, sir," Adrian let out a slow breath. He pinched the bridge of his nose, already anticipating the next problem before one could even arrive. But his night was far from over.
The screen of his phone lit up again, and this time, the name flashing across made his jaw tighten—Mother. He hesitated for only a second before answering.
"Adrian!" Mrs. Wolfe's voice pierced through the line, sharp and commanding. "Since you have refused to get married on your own, I will arrange someone for you. I won't sit back while you waste your life. Everyone is always talking about you, asking when Adrian Wolfe will finally marry. Do you know the kind of embarrassment you bring to this family?"
Adrian's grip on the railing hardened until his knuckles turned white. He cut her off, his voice dropping into a growl.
"What right do you have to tell me this? You think you can dictate my life?"
"I—"
"That's enough!" he snapped, his temper finally breaking. "Don't call me with nonsense like this again." And with that, he ended the call, his chest rising and falling with barely contained rage.
For a long moment, he stood frozen, staring at the phone in his hand. The anger wasn't just because of her words—it was because she was not his real mother. Mrs. Wolfe had been in his life long enough to wear the title, but deep down, Adrian had never accepted her as such. And yet, she always tried to control him, to mold him into the perfect son she could parade around society.
He exhaled sharply, then shoved the phone into his pocket. The balcony, with its cold wind and too-open space, suddenly felt suffocating. Without another glance at the darkening sky, Adrian stepped back into his room. His expression was carved in stone, unreadable, but a storm brewed inside him.
Lila, curled up on the couch, startled when she heard his raised voice earlier. She had been trying to settle into this unfamiliar mansion, telling herself that marriage to Adrian Wolfe—even if it was not built on love—was something she could adapt to. But the moment she heard him yelling, fear slid down her spine.
Now, as Adrian entered the room, his face cold, she instinctively shrank back, pretending to busy herself with her phone. He didn't spare her a glance. Instead, he strode toward his closet, pulling out a fresh shirt and jacket. His movements were precise, controlled, but Lila could feel the weight of his frustration lingering in the air.
And then, without a word, he turned and walked out—straight toward his private library.
The sound of his footsteps faded down the hall, leaving her alone again. Lila pressed a hand to her chest, her heart pounding. What have I gotten myself into? she thought, dread curling in her stomach.
Her phone buzzed, jolting her. She answered quickly.
"Hello?"
"Hey, sis!" Jake's familiar voice rang through, cheerful as always. "How are you doing?"
"I'm… okay," she said softly.
"Mom wants to talk to you."
There was a shuffle, then her mother's warm voice came on. "Lila, how is everything? Have you settled in now?"
"Yes, Mom, I'm fine," she replied, forcing steadiness into her tone.
"Good. Have you met his parents yet?"
"Not yet," Lila admitted.
"Alright, but take care of yourself, okay?"
"Yes, Mom. I will."
"Bye, sis," Jake chimed before ending the call.
The silence afterward felt heavier than before. Lila set the phone down and sighed, staring at the room that was now hers but didn't yet feel like home.
By now, dusk had painted the sky. She went to the closet to fetch her nightwear and a towel, deciding a bath might help calm her nerves. The warm water soothed her for a while, until she heard a soft knock at the door.
She wrapped herself in her robe and opened it to find a maid standing respectfully.
"Good evening, Mrs. Wolfe. Dinner is ready."
"Okay. I'll be there shortly," Lila replied.
When the maid left, she caught her reflection in the mirror. Slowly, she combed her hair, tied it back neatly, and placed a bonnet over her head. Gathering her courage, she stepped out of the room and made her way downstairs.
Adrian was already seated at the long dining table, dinner laid out neatly before him. His posture was perfect, his gaze unreadable. Lila joined quietly, taking her place beside him. The silence stretched uncomfortably as she began to eat.
Halfway through the meal, Adrian finally spoke.
"We'll visit my family tomorrow," he said, his tone even, though it carried the weight of expectation. "And there are things you need to know."
Lila paused, fork in hand, and looked at him nervously.
"First, you have to make sure it looks like we are in love. My father needs to believe this is real. Second, I'll do most of the talking. Whatever they ask, let me answer. And lastly…" His eyes flickered with something sharp. "My stepmother may ask you more questions. Don't let her corner you."
"Step…mother?" Lila asked, blinking in surprise.
"Yes." His reply was curt. "That's all you need to know for now." With that, Adrian rose from the table and headed upstairs, leaving her behind.
Lila sat frozen, his words echoing in her head. Step-mom? she thought. Why does that sound more complicated than he's letting on?
After a few minutes of silence, she finished her meal and followed him upstairs. When she entered the bedroom, her breath caught. Adrian stood near the dresser, a towel wrapped low around his waist, his hair damp from the shower.
"Oh! Let me excuse you," Lila stammered, turning to leave.
But before she could take another step, Adrian reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with authority.
She blinked, her pulse racing. "I… I just wanted to give you space to change."
"And why would you do that?" he teased, his tone unexpectedly lighter, though his gaze remained intense.
"I—" She faltered, words failing her.
Adrian let out a short breath, then released her hand. "Don't overthink it." He turned and disappeared into the bathroom to finish dressing.
Lila stood frozen for a moment, nerves buzzing through her body. She quickly composed herself, slipping under the duvet on her side of the bed. By the time Adrian emerged, dressed comfortably, she pretended to be asleep.
He didn't call her out on it. Instead, he settled onto the couch, opening his laptop and reviewing the documents Nathan had sent earlier. For nearly an hour, the soft glow of the screen reflected off his sharp features, his eyes narrowing at figures and notes only he could fully grasp.
When he finally closed the laptop, he leaned back, staring into the quiet room. His gaze flickered toward Lila, her breathing even as she lay beneath the duvet.
Adrian stood, crossed the room, and finally lay down beside her. But as he rested his head on the pillow, he already knew—he would not sleep tonight. No matter how exhausted he was, no matter how many pills he could take, sleep would not come.
Because for Adrian Wolfe, peace was something he had never known.