Chapter 47: Chapter 47.

Adrian's POV.

She doesn't even give me a chance to talk to her. I turned to go after her but I paused my step midair. What's the point? She's not ready to listen to me.

Rotating my steps, I continued climbing back upstairs with the man with me but then... why was she here?

"Hey," I called, and the man with me turned.

"Yes, sir?" He responded.

"That woman... the one who just passed by us, does she live here?" I asked.

"You mean your wife?" He asked.

"Yes, my wife," I answered.

"Didn't you know she was here?" He asked.

My eyes widened. She lives here?!

"I mean you two are going to live in your apartment and she was probably here, waiting for your arrival, and now she's angry, and left because you arrived late," he said, and for a moment I could only stare at him in silence.

What kind of moron did I end up with today? Doesn't he know the fact that Jane and I aren't together anymore? Is he in this universe at all? Or is he just trying to provoke me?

"Lead the way to the apartment fast before I lose the temper that you want me to lose," I said, my words wrapped in chills.

He turned immediately, leading the way while I followed.

The man didn’t say another word after that. Good. Because I wasn’t in the mood to tolerate nonsense.

We climbed the remaining steps in silence, the sound of our footsteps echoing faintly through the stairwell. Each step felt heavier than the last, not because of the climb... but because of the thought now lodged in my head— the possibility that she lives here.

It couldn't be that she was here to see a friend. She has no friends... or so I think.

But if she really lives here then why? Out of all the places in the city… This building?

Was this coincidence? Or something else?

I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face. No. It didn’t matter. Whether it was fate, coincidence, or some twisted joke, it didn’t change anything. She walked away again, and this time… I didn’t stop her.

We reached the third floor, and the man stopped in front of a door. He fumbled slightly with the keys before unlocking it and pushing it open.

"This is the apartment, sir," he said, stepping aside.

I walked in without a word, and silence greeted me.

The space was… simple. Clean walls. Minimal furnishing. A wide window that let in the fading light of the evening. No luxury, no excess, just space. Empty space.

My gaze swept across the room slowly. This… was mine now. No Blackwood estate, no towering gates, no servants waiting at every corner, just this.

A quiet breath left my lips.

"Do you like it, sir?" the man asked cautiously.

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I walked further in, my steps slow, measured. My fingers brushed lightly against the back of a chair, then the edge of the counter.

"It’s fine," I finally said.

It wasn't impressive, wasn't grand... just fitting.

"Good, good," he nodded quickly, relief evident in his voice. "As I said earlier, everything is ready. Just your signature left." He handed me the file again.

I took it, flipping it open without much interest, but my eyes caught something this time, a name.

My gaze paused just for a second. The landlord’s name printed neatly at the top of the document felt… familiar, too familiar.

My brows furrowed slightly. "Your sister owns this place, right?" I asked, my tone casual, but my eyes still on the paper.

"Yes, sir," he replied. "She handles most of the properties here."

I nodded slowly, but my mind wasn’t on his answer anymore.

That name… Why did it feel like I had seen it before?

I closed the file. "It doesn’t matter," I muttered under my breath.

Nothing mattered anymore. Not the house, not the company, not even this place because the only thing that seemed to follow me no matter where I went… was her.

I picked up the pen, and for a brief moment, my hand hovered over the paper. This wasn’t just a signature, this was… acceptance of a new life, a very different one. One without everything I used to define myself with.

My jaw tightened slightly then I signed, Adrian Blackwood. The name looked the same but it didn’t feel the same.

"There," I said, closing the file and handing it back to him. "It’s done."

"Yes, sir," he said quickly, taking it from me. "Congratulations."

Congratulations? I almost laughed. Congratulations at what? Starting over? Or losing everything?

"I’ll take my leave now," he said. "If you need anything, please do not hesitate to reach out to me," he added.

I gave a small nod, and within seconds, he was gone, the door clicking shut behind him.

Silence returned, heavier this time. I stood there for a long moment, doing nothing. Then slowly, I walked toward the window.

From here, the view stretched out into the quiet street below. Cars passed occasionally, people moved about their lives… normal, untouched, unaware.

I rested my hand against the glass. Somewhere in this building… she might be probably here... just a few walls away. And yet… it felt like she was further than ever.

My eyes lowered slightly, my reflection staring back at me through the glass. "Pathetic," I muttered.

Not because I lost everything but because even now… even after everything… she was still the only thing I could think about.

I reached into my pocket, and pulled out my phone. My finger hovered over her name for a moment too longer it should.

I slid the phone back into my pocket. She would never answer my calls, never. Not with the way she walked out on me, not with the way she's been...

God, how did I end up here?

I closed my eyes briefly, exhaling.

This was supposed to be a new beginning. So why did it feel like I was still stuck in the same place?