Chapter 13 The Unrevealed Secret
That night, a heavy silence filled the house. Aveline finished preparing dinner, her mind restless with Ezra's recent visit. His words echoed in her thoughts, but she was too unsettled to find answers. Ezra’s abrupt departure left her drained, unable to focus on anything except the questions building up inside.
The front door suddenly opened. Adrian appeared with a crumpled face, his shirt collar slightly damp from the rain, his hair disheveled. He looked more restless than usual.
The first thing he did was not greet Aveline. Don't ask how she was. But immediately walk to the study.
His steps were hurried. His breathing was short and rushed.
Aveline followed her husband with slow but certain steps, observing Adrian's movements inside his study.
From the doorway, she saw Adrian ransacking the desk, opening drawers, pushing aside books, papers, and notes. His entire movements seemed panicked... almost desperate. As if he were looking for something missing. Something very important to him.
Aveline closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, then spoke in a quiet voice that cut the silence.
"Adrian."
Adrian stopped. Without turning around.
Aveline then took something out of her pocket... the photo she found yesterday. "Is this what you're looking for?"
Adrian turned quickly. Too quickly, as if slapped by reality.His eyes widened, and without thinking, he took long strides toward Aveline. Then... he snatched the photo harshly from Aveline's hand.
Aveline was so startled she flinched slightly. Adrian rarely touched her lately, let alone in that manner.
"Why do you have this photo?" Adrian's voice was low, but trembling. "You... where did you get it?"
Aveline held her breath. "It fell yesterday. You accidentally dropped it when you left."
Adrian closed his eyes and took a long breath, as if holding back something about to explode. He glanced at the photo, then slipped it back into the black notepad, which he hid as deeply as possible into the drawer.
Aveline watched the movement, full of questions.
"Is there something you want to explain?" she asked softly. "Who is that girl?"
Adrian straightened up. His face became expressionless. "She was just a college friend," he answered briefly.
"But... why are you keeping it?"
"Because it's the past. And you don't need to worry about the past."
Aveline heard the coldness in Adrian’s tone. His quick reply felt rehearsed, not truthful.
Aveline stared at him for a long time. "College friends don't make you hide a photo that deeply, for that long, or that secretly, Adrian. Especially from me."
Adrian averted his gaze. A small movement that Aveline did not miss.
"You ask too many questions lately," he said flatly. "Let me handle my own problems."
Aveline felt the tightness in her chest return. But she didn't want to back down. Not after all the things she had discovered lately.
"I just want to know what's really going on. I am your wife—"
"Aveline!" Adrian cut in firmly. "I already told you it's just the past. You don't need to be afraid or jealous."
Aveline chuckled softly. Not because it was funny, but more because she felt bitter.
"Afraid? Jealous?" She shook her head. "No, Adrian. I just don't trust you."
Adrian finally looked directly at her. His gaze was sharp, yet... There was something behind it. Like fear, guilt, and something else entirely. But he still didn't answer.
"You have to trust me." That was all he said. Without explanation or certainty.
Aveline just stood there, staring at the man who once made her feel loved, but now also made her feel like a stranger in her own home.
She gave a small nod. Not because she believed him, but because she was too exhausted to confront her husband anymore. Finally, she stepped back, leaving the study without another word.
Behind the closed door, Adrian lowered his head, gripping the photo tightly. His jaw hardened... and it was clear from his eyes. That past was not just "the past" as he claimed. He kept it because it wasn't finished. He kept it because the past had not disappeared and was still haunting him now.
He closed his eyes. And even with his eyes shut, the image still appeared clearly. Selina... her smile... her last words... and... her condition at the time.
Adrian opened his eyes and rubbed his face restlessly. Sweat started to form on his forehead. He was indeed panicked. Panicked because the past he had tried so hard to bury deep down was unexpectedly resurfacing. And this involved Aveline.
"That child. What was his name? Ezra? Whoever he is, I have to keep him away from Aveline." He hissed to himself.
Aveline sat on Liam's bed, staring blankly out the window. Her feelings were mixed. Between Adrian's suspicious behavior and Ezra's warm kiss. Everything felt wrong, but somehow Aveline felt trapped in it.
"Who is that girl? Why has Adrian never talked about her all this time? Yet, he introduced almost all his friends to me," she whispered in confusion.
Aveline frowned. Trying to find clues from the photo, based on what she remembered. If the girl was a college friend, then she attended the same campus as Adrian, and in the same year. But how could she find something from such a small clue?
Suddenly, Aveline's phone vibrated. Her eyes narrowed at an incoming message from an unknown number.
Ezra: "I know what I'm doing is wrong, but I don't want to be right. I like you, Aveline. I want to protect you."
Aveline froze. Her chest tightened. Her hands trembled.
That young man, Ezra. He was even brave enough to declare his feelings openly like this. Aveline slowly touched her cheek, which felt hot. She realized she had just been flirted with by one of her students. But why did she feel shy and, in fact, happy?