Chapter 51
Adeline West
Back home, I should have felt relieved. I was supposed to be at ease, knowing my kids were safe and we were far away from the toxic atmosphere of Killian’s pack. But instead, a gnawing tension twisted inside me, gripping tighter with each passing moment. It has been two days, and still Laurel’s words kept playing on a loop in my head, refusing to let go.
“Don’t think for a second that this is over,” she had said, her voice dripping with venom. “You may be leaving, but you can’t run from the truth. Killian will find out what really happened that night in the meeting hall, and when he does, She had trailed off, her eyes glinting with that all–too–familiar look of triumph. “Let’s just say you won’t be able to hide behind your
lies forever.”
What did she mean? How could she know anything about that night? Did she know who the man was? Or was she just playing with my mind, trying to make me second–guess everything?
I shook my head, trying to push away the thoughts that clouded my mind. I couldn’t let her words get to me. Laurel was a manipulator, always playing games to get under my skin. But I couldn’t afford to let her win this time. I had bigger things to focus on my kids, my work, and the life I was trying to build. For these two days, I stayed at home and spent my time with the kids. I don’t know why, but I just wanted to be with them.
I walked into my office, determined to bury myself in work. As soon as I sat at my desk, my assistant, Sophia, knocked and entered with a stack of files.
“Welcome back, Adeline,” she said, greeting me with a smile. “I hope everything went well.”
“Thank you, Sophia,” I said, forcing a smile. “Yeah, everything went well.”
“Nice to hear that.” She replied.
“What’s been happening while I was away?” I asked.
She began to update me on the progress of our projects, the status of the team, and the various tasks completed in my absence. Hearing about the success of our latest product launch has filled my chest with pride, which automatically pushed the unsettling thoughts from my mind.
“Our products have topped the charts since the launch,” Sophia said with excitement. “And the revenue has increased significantly.”
A genuine smile tugged at my lips. This was something worth celebrating. “That’s fantastic news. Make sure everyone knows how much I appreciate their hard work.”
“I already did, but I’ll remind them again,” Sophia replied. “Also, I thought you might want to throw a party to celebrate the
success.”
“Yes, that’s a great idea. We need to mark this achievement properly.” I nodded, feeling a bit of the tension ease away. “Go ahead and start planning. Let’s make it a night to remember.”
“Consider it done,” Sophia said, jotting down notes. “Is there anything else you need?”
“Just keep me updated. I’ll review these files and let you know if I need anything.” I gestured to the pile she had brought in.
As Sophia left the office, I allowed myself a moment to enjoy the positive news. But it was short–lived. The moment the door clicked shut behind her, the dark thoughts crept back in, uninvited and relentless.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling.
What if Laurel did know something? What if she was planning to use it against me? The mere thought of Killian finding out
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Chapter 41
the truth–what little there was of it–sent a shiver down my spine. I don’t know why I was bothered by it. Like, what will he do if he finds out? He thinks had an affair with Sebastian, which I didn’t, but I was actually–I don’t want to admit or say it -forced upon by a random stranger who was also the father of my kids.
I know that he won’t care about it, but I don’t know how I feel anymore. Even if he finds out about it, nothing will change, right? Then what was Laurel talking about? What truth?
Killian Volkov.
Even thinking of his name brought a mix of emotions I couldn’t fully understand. Anger, hurt, confusion, and that unwanted spark of something deeper–something I had tried so hard to bury. His rejection, the divorce, the years of hatred -how could any of that be tied to the events of that night?
But there was no use in letting my mind wander down that path
It was over. Or it should have been.
I had my kids to think about, my life to live, and no room for whatever twisted game Laurel was playing.
I picked up the first file on my desk, flipping it open in an attempt to focus. The numbers and graphs blurred in front of my eyes as my mind kept drifting back to that night and the shadowy memories I had tried to forget.
I hadn’t seen his face. I had no idea who the man was, only that had saved him. I had acted on instinct, driven by something deeper than reason. The unknown man forced himself on me and fucked me for hours.
But why does it matter now? Why was Laurel so fixated on that night?
And why couldn’t I shake the feeling that something was about to happen, something that would change everything?
I forced myself to concentrate on the work in front of me. But it was of no use. The unease was too strong, and the doubts were too loud to ignore. I needed a distraction, something to keep me grounded in the present.
My phone buzzed on the desk, a welcome interruption. I glanced at the screen and saw a message from Sebastian.
“How are you holding up?”
It was a simple question, but it carried the weight of everything we had been through. And now, more than ever, I needed that stability.
“I’m fine,” I typed back, though I wasn’t sure if I believed it. “I’m just trying to settle back in.”
“If you need anything, I’m here,” he replied almost instantly.
“Thank you, Sebastian. I appreciate it.”
I put my phone down, feeling a little better knowing he was there, even if it was just through a text. But the relief was fleeting, overshadowed by the nagging thoughts that refused to leave me alone.
The day dragged on, filled with meetings and tasks that barely registered in my mind. I went through the motions, nodding at the right times, giving instructions, but always feeling like I was on the edge of something I couldn’t see.
By the time evening came, I was exhausted, both physically and mentally. I went to check on the kids, finding them already settled in their rooms, blissfully unaware of the turmoil that had taken root in my mind.
I watched them for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt. They deserved better than this. They deserved a mother who wasn’t constantly haunted by the past and who could give them the peace and security they needed.
But how could I do that when I couldn’t even find it for myself?
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Chapter 1
I kissed them goodnight, lingering a little longer than usual before retreating to my own room. The silence was heavy, and the darkness was full of shadows that seemed to move with a life of their own.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, willing sleep to come. But it didn’t. My mind was too active, too caught up in the possibilities of what Laurel’s words could mean
Hours passed, and I was still wide awake, my thoughts chasing each other in endless circles. When the clock struck midnight, I finally gave up and got out of bed, wrapping a robe around myself as I headed downstairs.
Maybe some fresh air would help clear my mind. I stepped out into the garden, breathing in the cool night air. The stars were bright overhead, the opposite of the darkness inside mic.
I walked slowly, trying to calm the storm that raged within. But it was of no use. The doubts, the fears–they all came rushing back with a vengeance. The world outside seemed so peaceful, so oblivious to the storm raging inside me. I wished I could be like that–calm, unbothered, at ease.
But I wasn’t.
And I couldn’t pretend to be.
ནས་ ༽?
Just as I was about to turn away, my phone buzzed. I grabbed it, expecting a message from Sophia. She often calls me in the middle of the night if she can’t sleep, and we have casual talks. Out of work, Sophia is my good friend. But when I saw the name on the screen, my heart stopped.
Killian,
For a moment, I just stared at the screen, my mind racing.
What did he want? Why was he calling me at this time? After everything that had happened, after all the things he’d said…
My hand shook as I answered the call, and my voice barely steady. “Hello?”
There was a brief pause on the other end, and then his deep, familiar voice came through, sending a shiver down my spine. “Adeline.”
Just hearing him say my name was enough to bring back a flood of memories of all the things I have been through because of him, of all the pain and anger, and something else. Something I didn’t want to admit.
“What do you want, Killian?” I asked, trying to keep my voice cold and distant.
There was another pause, and I could almost picture him on the other end, struggling with whatever it was he wanted to say. “We need to talk.”
I felt my heart skip a beat.
Those words… they were never good. They always meant trouble, and something’s not right. And I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
“There’s nothing left to talk about,” I replied, my voice tight. “I’ve said everything that needs to be said.”
“You’re wrong,” he said, his voice firm. “There’s something you need to know.”
My stomach twisted with a mixture of fear and curiosity. What could he possibly want to talk about now?
Before I could respond, he continued, his voice lower, almost hesitant. “It’s about the kids.”
My heart stopped.
The kids.
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Chapter 51
“I’ll be at your place in an hour,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. “We need to talk face–to–face
And with that, the line went dead.
I stood there, the phone still pressing to my ear, my heart racing with a thousand questions.
What did he want to talk about?
What was he going to say?,