Listen to Faded by Alan Walker.

I could still feel the smile on my face after Adrian walked out of my room. It was too soon to be getting comfortable with anyone, especially someone related to the asshole who had stolen my life away from me. Adrian was sweet and had been so nice to me since I'd gotten here, but I didn't want to read too much into it.

I'd allowed him to see me cry like a baby and opened up to him about how broken I felt about my family throwing me out, and honestly, I felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off my chest. I guessed I never asked myself why my family had given up on me so easily.

I missed Grey. I wanted to hate him and stay mad at him for believing everything that had gone down in the church, but I wanted us to talk. He still refused to answer my calls or my texts.

I looked around, searching frantically for my phone to call Vina. I wanted to talk to her about Adrian. Maybe she would knock some sense into me and tell me not to warm up to him because he couldn't be trusted.

"Where is the stupid phone?!" I screamed in frustration.

I found it under the duvet and quickly dialed her number.

"Pick up the phone, Vina." I dialed again, but she didn't answer the call.

I grunted, burying my face in my palms. I groaned again, not sure what I was really afraid of.

A light knock on my door made me jump.

"Chloe, are you awake?" I heard Tristan's voice.

I reached to turn off the lamp, but the door opened. I pulled my hand away and stared at him.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" he asked, cocking his naturally carved eyebrows. He folded his arms and leaned on the doorframe, waiting for an answer.

"What do you want?" I asked, not looking at him. I hated his presence. Every time I saw him or heard his voice, I felt enraged, and I just wanted to ram my fist through his face.

He shook his head at my question and walked into the room.

"I didn't invite you in," I said, shooting him a glare.

"Why aren't you dressed for bed?" he asked, ignoring my anger.

"I was busy."

"Doing what?"

"Playing sudoku."

He chuckled, shaking his head.

To be honest, I despised that game. I could never understand it. My mom used to force my sister and me to play it; she'd said it was good for the brain.

"Do you need help with anything?" he asked, stopping a few feet away from the bed.

I admired his white sweatpants, wishing I could have them. I looked away and met his deep blue eyes.

"I thought you were tired?" I said, leaning back on the headboard.

"Yeah, but you're in my care so—"

"I'm good," I cut in.

"Okay, good night."

"I wish I could say it back, but right now, I'm just wishing you would roll off the bed and slam your face on the floor while sleeping."

He laughed softly, shaking his head at my comment. "Good night, Chloe," he said, smiling.

I hated myself for making him laugh and putting a smile on his face. Was I a bad person for wishing he never found happiness or anything to make him smile? I just wanted him to be miserable like I was—maybe worse.

I breathed out in relief as he turned to leave. He suddenly stopped, turning around. I gave him a questioning look.

"Are you sure you don't want me to help you with anything?"

"Yes," I said, waiting desperately for him to leave.

"If you need anything, let me know or tell Morris."

"Wait," I said quickly before he could walk out of the room. "I wanna go out for a walk."

"It's almost midnight."

"I feel incarcerated here. I wanna go out," I said, and he stared at me for a while, saying nothing. I needed some air and wanted to be away from this room. Maybe I could persuade him into telling me the truth about why he'd stop his wedding.

"Okay."

He walked to the bed and carried me in his arms downstairs. He placed me on the couch and went upstairs to get the wheelchair. He wheeled me outside the house.

We walked down the sidewalk in silence, the tall trees lining the pathway. The cars driving by left a burning smell of gasoline mixed with dust in the air. The moon and stars cast their light down on the earth, caressing my skin with their soft glow. The sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the insects chirring in the trees echoed around us.

"I'm sorry things turned out this way, Chloe," Tristan said after a while.

"If you are, why do you keep allowing the gossip to grow?"

"I never wanted this," he said, his tone coming out a little harsh.

"You won't tell me anything, so how am I supposed to understand what is happening?" I almost yelled. "I lost everything because of you, so do not expect me to sympathize with you on whatever you have going on. I want everything to return to how it used to be," I said, enraged.

I didn't care if I returned to my imperfect family or a mother who treasured her reputation more than her kids or the ignorant father who agreed to everything his wife said.

"I'm working on it," he said, and I scoffed.

"That's all you keep saying. At least tell me why you destroyed your wedding. How are things between you and Sofia? I'm sure she's desperate to slit your throat. I wouldn't mind giving her a hand."

The wheelchair came to a stop.

"Why are we stopping?" I looked back at him, and he was fuming with a clenched jaw.

"What?" I asked.

"Drop the jokes."

"I'm saying nothing but the truth. Sorry you're triggered." I tried not to smile.

"I need to get you inside. It's chilly outside," he said, turning the wheelchair around.

"I'm not complaining," I said, but he kept going.

We went back into the house, and he carried me to my room.

"I need to check your feet to be sure the stitches didn't open," he said after putting me on the bed.

"I'm fine," I said, not looking at him.

"I told you, you're my responsibility," he said, crouching in front of me.

"It's late, and I need to sleep," I said and tried to lie down, but he held my legs.

"There is a bloodstain on the bandage. Let me take a look," he said. "Please," he added when I tried to pull my legs away.

I sat up and allowed him to check the stitches. He left the room to get a first aid kit.

Tristan returned and unwrapped the bandage. I stared at the wall the whole time. The silence in the room was deafening. I didn't even know what he was thinking right now.

"I understand you're upset. I regret what I did, and I wish it were easy to fix the mess I made, but you need to stop with the jokes."

"Would you like to trade spots? Maybe you'd understand what it feels like to lose everything," I said, gripping the sheets.

"I know what it feels like to lose everything," he mumbled quickly.

"Sure," I scoffed.

He packed the first aid kit and left the room.

I sighed and lay in bed. I picked up my phone and decided to text Belvina. I sent, like, twenty texts with crying emojis.

My ringtone woke me up early the next morning. I searched for my phone with my hand half-asleep and found it close to my pillow. I was able to locate the answer button with my eyes closed.

"Hello?" I mumbled.

"You met Adrian Parker!" Vina's voice knocked the sleep out of me.

I groaned, opening my eyes. They lingered on the horizon. I had never been this grateful for a glass wall. The soft glow of the sun peeking from the east and illuminating the sky, blending perfectly with the deep orange and gentle purple color of dawn, was magnificent. I couldn't resist staring at it. It took me a minute to realize Vina was on the phone.

"Huh?" I mumbled and sat up, leaning on the headboard. "Wait, how did you know his last name?" I asked.

"I have known him since I hit puberty," she said in a duh kind of way.

I rolled my eyes as if she could see me.

"Remember the hot guy on those magazine covers, who I had a mega crush on?"

"Yeah ... wait, it's this Adrian?"

"Yes."

I didn't know how to feel about that. She'd had a crush on him. She'd even stalked him on social media. I remembered how she'd always kept herself busy with sport and business magazines, just reading about him and staring at his pictures. She'd had posters of him on her wall and made him a scrapbook.

"You'll be happy to know he is twenty-six. He was a popular swimmer before going into business school, and he dated—"

"I'm not interested."

"Oh, come on. He is hot and very attractive."

"You can have him."

"I'm so jealous you get to be in the same room with him." She groaned. "At least you have someone that hot to keep your mind off that cabrón."

"I'm not looking for a rebound, jeez. I called you, so you could convince me not to trust him and that he is no good, like you always do when those creeps try to hit on me."

"That's blasphemy," she gasped.

I rolled my eyes and scoffed.

"Vina," I groaned.

"Sorry, but what are you so afraid of if he is as nice as you say?"

"I don't know. He seems like a friendly person, but I'm scared it is just a facade to cover up Tristan's ass."

"Is that all?"

"Grey," I confessed.

"Look, let Grey believe whatever he wants, but you need to move on. What he did was very stupid. You don't wanna return to someone who is quick to believe what people say about you."

"I just wanna talk to him."

"Your choice. Do whatever your heart wants," she said before mumbling something in Spanish, which sounded like an insult.

"So, what about Adrian?" I asked.

"Keep up the friendship. He might snitch on Tristan. Don't get too comfortable though."

"I swear you have the answer to everything," I praised her.

There was a knock on the door immediately after I finished my sentence.

"It's open!" I screamed.

I was expecting Morris to open the door, but it was Adrian. He gave me that charming smile and asked if he could come in.

"He's here," I whispered into the phone.

"Adrian Parker is in front of you?!" Vina screamed loud enough for him to hear.

Adrian cocked a brow at me. I forced a smile and put the phone down, ending the call.

"Hi," I said, sitting upright.

He wore a navy-blue two-piece suit with sharp creases, his hair was perfectly styled at the front, and he looked like a modern-day prince. As usual, he had on his rings and chain necklace that contrasted with his suit and dress shirt.

"Were you just talking about me?" he asked jokingly.

"No," I denied. My phoned chimed with numerous texts from Vina. I pushed the phone under my pillow with a tight smile.

He walked in. His eyes moved to my feet. "How is it?"

"Getting better, I guess," I sighed.

"Did you have a good sleep?"

"Yeah, you?"

"Splendid."

Good for him. It had taken me forever before I could get any sleep.

"Thanks for last night; it was nice to have someone to talk to."

"It's fine," he said with a soft smile, indenting his dimples.

"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at work?" I asked.

"Tristan said he's too tired to drive, and since Morris has to be here for you, I'm his only choice."

"Or his lazy ass could get an Uber," I said.

"Nice idea. I'll tell him."

"I love your suit," I admitted, unable to hide the truth.

He had a unique style, and I would pay to see his wardrobe.

"Really? Now, I'm never taking it off," he said.

"Oh, please." I laughed.

"I will take you down. Tristan is still not well."

"Liar, but this is the last time you're helping him." I didn't even want to be close to Tristan after our conversation last night.

"Yes, ma'am," he said with a bow.

"I might ruin your beautiful suit." I frowned.

"It's okay. I always carry an extra set with me."

"Oh."

He gathered me in his arms like I weighed nothing, and we left the room.

"Your cologne is addictive. Is it weird for a female to use men's perfume?" I asked.

"Thanks, and no, I find it sexy. It's like wearing his shirt."

"Right. I guess you don't mind bringing me your cologne."

"Chloe Simpson, are you flirting with me?"

"You wish." I hit his shoulder, and he laughed.

"Fine, I will bring it to you. Is there anything else you need from me?"

"Yes, your dimples."

He laughed as we got off the last step. Morris was setting breakfast on the dining table when we arrived. The table was loaded with different breakfast items, so it was hard to decide what to eat. There were pancakes, waffles, French toast, bagels, Greek yogurt, bacon, sausage, vegetable salad, scrambled eggs, fruit salad, and Morris kept bringing more to the table, like we were about to have a feast.

"Good morning, Miss Simpson."

"Morning, Morris," I said chirpily.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm good."

He gave me a smile and left for the kitchen.

"Mmm, waffles," I moaned.

I heard footsteps behind me, and I knew it was Tristan.

"Thanks for coming, man." Tristan's deep voice made my head turn around; he didn't spare me a look. He took the seat in front of me.

"Aren't you going to ask me how I'm doing? I'm in pain, you know," I said to Tristan.

"How are you, Chloe? Did you sleep well?" he asked monotonously.

"No, my body aches because my feet wouldn't allow me to sleep properly because you wrapped it too tight," I said.

"Morris will take you to the spa after breakfast," he said and started eating.

"I'm bored," I said. I saw his grip tighten around the fork.

"Go shopping or watch a movie."

"I don't want that."

"Then, what do you want?" he asked.

"Breakfast." I smirked and started to eat. I took a glance at Adrian and found him smiling.

"I bought you something," Adrian said, dropping a gift box in front of me.

I took it hesitantly. Wasn't it too early to be getting each other gifts? I untied the red ribbon and picked up the peach box inside. It had Affirmations written on the top. I opened the box and picked up the first card—self-love.

"Thank you." I smiled and put the gift aside. Is the gift because of my breakdown last night?

"I also got you this because I know you're dying to punch his face," he said, giving me a small pillow with Tristan's face.

"I customized it just for you." He winked.

Tristan pretended not to notice anything. I laughed as I took it from Adrian. "I hope it survives and lasts the day," I said, and Adrian laughed.

I looked back at Tristan. He wore a black wool suit with a silk black tie on top of his white long-sleeved dress shirt. His hair was neatly combed to the back. It looked good on him.

I noticed some exposed bruises around his right wrist. There was also a little cut close to the back of his palm. I wondered what had happened.

When he caught me staring, he pulled his sleeve down, covering it. I looked up, and our eyes locked. He gave me a weird stare at first and then concealed it with a smile. He looked away, facing Adrian, and they started talking about a board meeting.

I watched him for a long time before taking my eyes off him. I was starting to have a bad feeling about staying here.