Chapter 25 Chapter 25

Chapter 25 Chapter 25
Adrian gripped the steering wheel so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands stood out. His knuckles turned pale from the pressure as his foot pressed harder against the accelerator, the engine responding with a low growl as the car sped down the road.

His jaw was locked in a rigid line, and his brows were drawn together in deep frustration. A string of quiet curses slipped from his lips as he stared straight ahead at the road.

“I can’t believe it,” he muttered under his breath, his voice thick with anger and disbelief. “All this time… I trusted her.”

He scoffed bitterly and shook his head.

“I would never have believed she was a green snake hiding under the green grass.”

Bella sat silently in the passenger seat beside him, her posture calm and composed. Her hands were folded neatly on her lap, her fingers intertwined as if she were trying to steady herself.

From the corner of her eye, she studied Adrian carefully.

His anger. His frustration. His confusion.

All of it was exactly what she wanted.

But she didn’t say anything yet. There was no need to rush. The more time he spent drowning in his thoughts, the deeper her lies would settle in his mind.

“How could I have been so blind?” Adrian suddenly slammed his palm against the steering wheel, the sharp sound echoing inside the car.

His face twisted with frustration.

“I married her,” he continued bitterly, his voice rising slightly, “because my family believed she was the most suitable woman for me. They all praised her as if she was perfect.”

He let out a harsh laugh.

“And all along, she was the one who destroyed everything between us.”

Bella slowly bit her lip, lowering her gaze as if the memories were painful for her to revisit. She allowed her eyes to grow glassy with unshed tears before finally speaking.

“Adrian…” she said softly, her voice trembling as if it took great courage to speak. “I… I never wanted to tell you any of this.”

She swallowed hard.

“I didn’t want you to hate her.”

Adrian glanced at her briefly before returning his attention to the road.

“But I couldn’t keep carrying that pain alone,” she continued quietly. “It’s been eating me alive all these years. I had to tell you the truth eventually.”

Adrian let out a heavy sigh, his chest rising and falling as if the weight of everything was pressing down on him.

“You should have told me earlier, Bella,” he said, shaking his head slowly.

“So many years… I wasted so many years being with her when I could have been with you instead.”

Bella gently reached across the small space between them and placed her hand over his.

Her touch was soft, almost fragile.

“You were deceived,” she whispered gently. “You believed what she wanted you to believe.”

She squeezed his hand lightly.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

Adrian finally pulled into his driveway. The car rolled to a stop, and the engine went quiet as he turned the key and shut it off.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Adrian leaned back slightly in his seat before turning his head to look at Bella. His eyes were filled with regret and guilt.

“Bella… I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I’m really sorry.”

His voice softened.

“For everything you went through… and for how I treated you these past few months. I ignored you when you needed me. I should have been there.”

Bella sniffed softly and wiped a tear from her cheek as if she was trying to hide how emotional she felt.

“I never blamed you,” she replied gently, her eyes lowering to her hands again.

“I just wanted you to know what really happened. That’s all. I wanted the truth to finally come out so things could be set right.”

Adrian ran his hand through his hair, clearly overwhelmed.

“I honestly don’t know what to do anymore,” he admitted. “Everything feels… completely messed up.”

Bella hesitated for a brief moment before speaking again.

“Well…” she said softly, carefully choosing her words. “There’s something else we should think about now.”

Adrian looked at her.

“We have a baby on the way,” she reminded him gently. “Maybe it’s time we start thinking about what’s best for our future.”

Adrian’s expression shifted slightly, uncertainty flickering across his face.

“Bella…”

She took a slow breath before continuing.

“The baby deserves stability,” she said in a calm voice. “A proper family.”

She paused briefly before adding,

“It would be better if we were married before the baby arrives. You know how people talk… and the Winter family has a reputation to protect.”

Adrian leaned back against his seat and stared up at the roof of the car.

“Marriage…” he murmured quietly.

He rubbed his temple.

“This is a lot to take in right now.”

Bella smiled softly.

“I understand,” she said. “I’m not forcing you to decide immediately.”

Her voice grew gentle.

“I just want us to become the family we were meant to be… before Lena stepped in and ruined everything with her lies.”

Adrian nodded slowly, though the hesitation in his eyes was still obvious.

But Bella didn’t mind.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

The seed had already been planted.

She reached over again and gently squeezed his hand.

“Let’s go inside,” she said sweetly.

Adrian nodded and stepped out of the car.

Inside the house, Bella followed him into the living room. She sat down comfortably on the couch while Adrian remained standing nearby for a moment, still deep in thought.

Bella looked up at him, her gaze soft and affectionate.

“Adrian… I’ve missed you,” she whispered quietly.

She reached out and gently brushed her fingers against his cheek.

For a moment, Adrian hesitated.

Then he leaned slightly into her touch.

“I’ve missed you too,” he admitted quietly.

Bella smiled faintly before wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer, pressing her lips softly against his.

For a brief moment, she expected him to pull away.

But he didn’t.

Instead, Adrian suddenly lifted her up into his arms.

Bella let out a small laugh of surprise as he carried her upstairs toward his bedroom.

That night, the distance that had existed between them for months completely disappeared.

Clothes were discarded carelessly across the floor as they fell onto the bed together.

For Bella, it felt like victory.

Adrian was attentive, focused entirely on her pleasure as if he was trying to make up for lost time.

He kissed every inch of her skin, trailing slow kisses down her body.

His lips moved over her stomach, her thighs, and even her toes before moving back upward again.

Bella trembled under his touch, her breath becoming uneven as he continued to pleasure her.

When his mouth finally moved between her legs, she nearly lost control.

Her fingers tangled tightly in the bedsheets as waves of pleasure overtook her.

This… this was the part she had missed the most about Adrian.

He always knew exactly how to satisfy her.

“You’re too good… babe,” she breathed out weakly as she slowly recovered from the intense pleasure.

Adrian only smiled faintly before pulling her closer and thrusting into her, filling her completely.

The night continued like that for hours.

The Next Morning

Soft sunlight streamed through the curtains, bathing the bedroom in a warm golden glow.

Bella stirred lazily beneath the sheets, stretching her arms as she slowly woke up.

She turned to the side, expecting to find Adrian beside her.

But the space next to her was empty.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

“Adrian?” she called out.

There was no answer.

She sat up slowly, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders.

As she shifted to get out of bed, her eyes suddenly landed on a small folded note resting on the nightstand.

Curious, she picked it up and unfolded it.

Her eyes scanned the short message written on it.

Bella, I had to leave early for a meeting. Breakfast is in the kitchen. See you later.

A slow smile spread across her lips as she read the note again.

“He made me breakfast,” she murmured softly to herself.

She leaned back against the pillows, satisfaction filling her chest.

Without wasting any time, she grabbed her phone and quickly dialed Gina’s number.

The phone barely rang once before Gina answered.

“Bella! So what happened? Tell me everything!” Gina’s excited voice burst through the speaker.

Bella laughed happily.

“Gina… it’s working,” she said proudly.

“Adrian apologized to me last night. He even told me he missed me.”

Gina gasped dramatically.

“No way!”

Bella grinned.

“And that’s not all. We spent the night together.”

She lowered her voice slightly.

“You wouldn’t believe the things he did to me. I thought I was going to lose my mind.”

Gina squealed loudly through the phone.

“I knew it! I told you this plan would work!”

Bella laughed and stretched comfortably across the bed.

“He even made me breakfast this morning,” she added smugly.

Gina gasped again.

“Oh girl… you’re definitely back in control now.”

Bella twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.

“I told him we should get married soon because of the baby.”

“And?” Gina asked eagerly.

“He said he needs time to think about it,” Bella replied calmly. “But I can see it in his eyes. He’s already falling for it.”

Gina chuckled.

“Just keep acting innocent and emotional. Make him feel guilty every second.”

Bella smiled confidently.

“I barely even have to try anymore.”

Gina sighed happily.

“I can’t believe this. You’re going to be Mrs. Winter soon.”

Bella’s smile widened.

“I know,” she said.

“And Lena?”

She laughed softly.

“She’ll just be a bad memory.”

Both women burst into laughter.

Bella stretched again lazily.

“We should celebrate soon,” she said. “I feel like opening a bottle of champagne.”

Gina laughed.

“Bella, you’re supposed to be pregnant!”

Bella rolled her eyes.

“Please. We both know that’s not real.”

She smirked.

“But I still have to keep the act going. You can drink for both of us.”

Gina giggled.

“Deal.”

After ending the call, Bella set her phone aside and stood up from the bed.

She walked toward the mirror, staring at her reflection with satisfaction.

Everything was finally going exactly the way she wanted.

“Just a little more push, Bella,” she murmured to herself.

“And everything will be yours.”