Chapter 28 Wound Sealed With Tears
“What is your choice, Adrian?” Joanna asked, pressing Adrian further. Complying with Joanna's wishes was like stepping into a hellhole. But if he didn't, his career and marriage would be ruined by that woman. And he didn't want that to happen now.
Suddenly, a young employee appeared, carrying a thick file.
“Mr. Adrian! Sorry, I... I need an urgent signature for a vendor contract. Deadline is tomorrow morning,” he stammered, clearly oblivious to the tension in front of his eyes.
Joanna turned away, annoyed, "Can't you stop interrupting—"
But the employee, innocent and nervous, was already standing too close to Adrian while presenting the file. "Just one minute, Sir."
Adrian seized the opportunity. Without looking at Joanna again, he took the file, signed it as quickly as possible, and then walked away, saying briefly but firmly.
“We'll talk tomorrow, Joanna.”
Joanna was about to chase him, but the employee, whether due to awkwardness or pure coincidence, shifted right into her path and blocked her step. Joanna lost momentum. Adrian disappeared behind the slowly closing elevator door.
Joanna gritted her teeth, her face flushed with suppressed anger.
“Fine, Adrian…” she muttered with a sneer. “You will come to me again. Whether you like it or not.”
Adrian drove home with a messy mind. After that dark night, he knew there was something he had to resolve. Not with Joanna. Not with his company. But with Aveline.
He didn't know how to start, but he was tired of holding everything in. Tired of hurting the woman he was supposed to protect.
When he arrived home, Aveline was in the kitchen, preparing tea. Her shoulders tightened slightly when she heard the door open, as if a reflex from too many arguments they had been through.
“Ave…” Adrian's voice sounded softer than usual, almost fragile. “Can we talk?”
Aveline stopped. The hand holding the cup trembled slightly. She slowly turned around, looking at Adrian, who stood awkwardly, like someone who wanted to confess his sins.
Aveline was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. They sat on the sofa, a few centimeters apart. A distance that had only been filled with anger, disappointment, and misunderstanding.
Adrian opened the conversation with a hoarse voice. “I'm sorry.”
Aveline looked at him, confused. It had been a long time since she had heard that word from him.
“I'm sorry because I... pulled away. Because I was cold. Because I was never really there for you after... Liam's passing.” Adrian's voice broke at that name.
Aveline immediately looked down, holding back the tightness in her chest.
Adrian rubbed his face with both hands, his voice trembling. “I didn't know how to process his loss. Every day... I wake up with guilt, with his image in my head. It hurts me in ways I can't explain. But that's no excuse. I know that's no excuse for hurting you.”
Aveline swallowed. “Adrian...”
“I wanted to make peace with myself. But instead, I hurt the only person who was still with me.” Adrian bowed his head deeply. “I am truly sorry.”
And in that moment, something that had never happened in months... Adrian began to cry. Not heavy sobs. Just tears that finally fell after he had held them back for too long.
Aveline trembled. She wasn't ready. Not for those tears. Not for Adrian, who finally seemed broken in front of her. She wanted to be angry. She wanted to remind him about the affair. About Selina. About the wound she carried in silence. But her body moved first.
She touched Adrian's hand. Then she held it.
Adrian looked at her with red eyes, like someone who was lost and had only found one light in his dark world.
“Aveline…” his voice was barely audible. “About that night... I was too drunk. I didn't realize anything. I woke up confused. I don't know... what happened.”
Aveline froze. The words hit hard.
“I swear…” Adrian looked at her sincerely, almost desperately. “I wasn't conscious. I don't remember it. Please... believe me.”
Aveline wanted to refuse. Wanted to ask: Then why was there lipstick residue? Why were you so angry when I asked?
But seeing Adrian crying, something in her collapsed. Not entirely trusting. But also not rejecting.
She hugged Adrian. A hug that felt strange... yet also so familiar. A hug that had been missing, and maybe... could still be found again.
Adrian returned the hug tightly, as if afraid Aveline would disappear. His crying subsided, replaced by heavy, restrained breathing.
Aveline closed her eyes, feeling her chest fight between hope and fear.
She couldn't trust completely yet. Couldn't forget everything. Couldn't forgive Adrian entirely. But tonight, amidst the shards of nearly destroyed trust, the soft part of her heart... still wanted to try. Still wanted to believe that the man crying in her arms was not the monster she had feared all this time. Still wanted to believe that all this pain, at least, had a chance to heal.
Adrian slowly let go of the hug. He still kept his head down, not daring to look at Aveline's face as he said softly...
“And about that photo... That was my friend from college. She was my lover. My first love. Selina...”
Aveline's chest instantly tightened. She held her breath, hearing that finally... this was the moment she heard it directly from Adrian's lips.
“She was your lover? Why did you never tell me? Why did you never mention her name even once?” Aveline asked. She tried hard to keep her voice from trembling.
“Because she's just the past, Ave. We separated a long time ago and haven't communicated since. Long before I met you.”
Adrian took a heavy breath, as if he was revealing a big secret in his life.
“I thought bringing the past into our marriage would only make everything more complicated,” he continued.
It was Aveline's turn to take a long breath. For some reason, that excuse was too cliché for her.
“Then, do you know that Selina has passed away?” Aveline asked.
Adrian flinched, turning to look at Aveline. There was a look of surprise on his face. Not surprised because he just heard the news of Selina's death, but because he didn't expect Aveline to know that much.
“You... know?” he asked softly, disbelievingly.
Aveline nodded. “She was a lecturer at the campus where I teach. I also just found out that she died before I came here.”
Adrian was silent. His hand clenched into a fist, but he hid it by his side. Aveline caught the movement. Brief, but enough to make Aveline see the strangeness in Adrian's attitude.
“What else do you know?” Adrian asked, full of scrutiny.
Aveline shook her head. She lied because she felt Adrian didn't need to know everything she had found.
Adrian gripped Aveline's shoulder tightly, pressing and threatening.
“Ezra. That boy... stay away from him. Just so you know, he's the one who killed Selina. I wanted to warn you about this from the start; that's why I was so angry when I found out you were close to him and knew him.”