Adrian's POV
Elena stands in my study doorway, and she doesn't look scared.
That's what hits me first. Not shame about being caught. Not anger about her invading my space. But the fact that my wife—the woman who apologizes when I step on her foot—doesn't look afraid of me at all.
"Get out of my study," I say, my voice cold. "Now."
She doesn't move. Just stares at me with those amber eyes like she's seeing something she never noticed before. Like I'm a stranger.
"I said get out, Elena."
"No."
That single word makes my blood boil. Seven years of marriage and she's never said no to me. Not once.
"Excuse me?"
"I said no, Adrian." Her voice is steady. Calm. Too quiet. "We need to talk."
"We'll talk in the morning—"
"We'll talk now." She walks past me, back into the living room, and I follow because what else can I do? She's going insane.
When I reach the living room, I stop cold.
Papers are everywhere. Spread across the coffee table, the couch, the floor. Financial documents. Printed emails. Bank statements.
My bank records.
"What the hell is this?" My voice comes out wrong—too high, too frightened.
Elena sits on the couch, surrounded by proof of everything I've been hiding. She looks up at me, and her face is blank. Empty.
"Sit down, Adrian. We need to talk about our split."
The word hits me like a punch. "Divorce? Elena, you're being dramatic—"
"Sit. Down."
I've never heard her use that tone. Never. I sit.
She picks up a paper. "This is your updated will. The one dated six months ago that leaves me fifty thousand dollars and gives Liam to your sister Margaret."
My mouth goes dry. "Elena, that's not—"
"This," she continues like I didn't speak, picking up another document, "is an email to your lawyer about 'exit plans' and 'minimizing spousal claims.' Dated three weeks ago."
"Let me explain—"
"And this"—her voice finally cracks, just a little—"is a ticket for a diamond bracelet. The same one I showed you. The one you said was too expensive. You bought it for Vivian two weeks later."
The room spins. How did she find all this? How long has she been digging through my secret things?
"You had no right to go through my files," I say, trying to sound angry instead of frightened. "That's private—"
"Private?" Elena laughs, and it's the worst sound I've ever heard. Cold and broken at the same time. "You've been planning to divorce me for months. You've been hiding millions in offshore banks. You've been buying jewelry for your pregnant mistress. But I'm the one who broke your privacy?"
My blood turns to ice. "How do you know about—"
"About Vivian being pregnant? About the house you bought together? About the fifteen million dollars you're moving to her tomorrow?" She stands up, and I see it now—she's not calm. She's angry. So angry she's gone cold with it. "I know everything, Adrian. Every lie. Every lie. Every single way you planned to destroy me."
I jump to my feet. "Elena, you don't understand—"
"I understand perfectly." She picks up her phone. "I have copies of everything. Every email. Every bank account. Every ticket. All backed up in three different places you'll never find."
My lawyer warned me about this. Warned me to be more careful. But I never thought Elena was smart enough to— No. That's not fair. Elena's not stupid. She's just been... handy. Easy to ignore.
When did that change?
"What do you want?" I ask carefully. "Money? We can negotiate—"
"I want a divorce." She says it simply. Like she's ordering coffee. "I'll sign whatever forms you want. I won't fight for the house or the cars or any of your precious money."
I blink. This can't be real. "You won't?"
"No. I want nothing from you." She walks toward the stairs, then stops. "Except one thing."
Here it is. The real market. "What?"
"I want you to know that I didn't lose you, Adrian." She turns, and her eyes are wet but her voice is steady. "You lost me. And by the time you realize what you've thrown away, I'll be so far gone you'll never reach me again."
She walks upstairs. A door shut. Locks.
I stand in the living room, surrounded by proof of my betrayal, and try to understand what just happened.
Elena wants a divorce. Elena's not fighting me. Elena's making this easy.
This is good. This is what I wanted. I can be with Vivian, start fresh, not deal with Elena's sadness anymore.
So why does my chest feel hollow?
I pull out my phone and call Richard, my lawyer. He answers on the third ring, groggy.
"Adrian? It's three in the morning—" "She knows everything. She found the files. We need those divorce forms ready tomorrow."
Silence. Then: "How much does she know?"
"Everything. Vivian's pregnancy. The foreign accounts. The house. All of it."
Richard swears. "If she has proof, Adrian, this could get messy. Really messy."
"She said she won't fight me. Said she wants nothing."
"And you believe her?"
Do I? Elena's never lied to me. Never fought back. Never caused trouble.
But the woman upstairs tonight wasn't the Elena I know. That woman was someone else. Someone harder. Colder.
Someone dangerous.
"Just have the papers ready," I say. "I want this done fast."
I hang up and look at the papers spread across my living room. Seven years of marriage, reduced to proof.
My phone buzzes. A text from Vivian: Did you tell her yet? I'm tired of hiding, Adrian. Our kid deserves better.
I close my eyes. This is fine. Everything's fine. Elena will sign the papers, take her small settlement, and leave quietly. That's what she does—disappears. Makes herself small.
But then I remember her face tonight. The coldness in her eyes.
By the time you realize what you've thrown away, I'll be so far gone you'll never reach me again.
Another text comes through. Unknown number.
Mr. Kane, this is Marcus Sterling. I'm Elena's new lawyer. We'll be in touch soon about the divorce procedures. Oh, and Adrian? That prenup you're counting on? Let's talk about how you violated it by committing adultery and hiding marriage assets. See you in court.
My phone slips from my hands.
Elena hired Marcus Sterling. The lawyer who's never lost a divorce case. The lawyer who destroys wealthy guys for breakfast.
This isn't going to be easy.
This is going to be war.
And I just realized I might lose.