Chapter 2

“I’m sorry, Serena. I really didn’t recognize you.”

The young woman clasped her hands together and smiled apologetically.

Adrian carried the groceries into the kitchen.

“Serena, I didn’t know you were coming back early. I forgot to tell you.”

He glanced at her.

“This is Lila Hart. She’s a trainee at one of the Vescari logistics companies.”

He cleared his throat.

“She moved here for work and couldn’t afford a decent place nearby. A few times, I found her sleeping at the office.”

“I’m her supervisor, so I felt bad for her.”

He paused.

“I let her stay here temporarily.”

Lila immediately nodded.

“Adrian really saved me.”

She started arranging dinner on the table.

“If he hadn’t helped me, I probably would’ve ended up sleeping in my car.”

Then she smiled at me.

“So please don’t blame him.”

She pointed toward the food.

“I wanted to do something for his birthday.”

She stuck out her tongue.

“I’m terrible at cooking, though. Adrian usually does that.”

My eyes moved to him.

Lila kept smiling.

“So I picked something simple tonight. Steak, salad, and wine.”

She pulled out another chair.

“And now that you’re back, we can celebrate together.”

Lila had only graduated from college recently.

She looked young, lively, and harmless.

But I heard the message behind her words.

She couldn’t cook.

So Adrian had been cooking for her.

She was celebrating his birthday in my home.

Like she had already taken my place.

Adrian and I met in college.

He chased me for three years before I agreed to date him.

After six years together, we got engaged and set the wedding date.

For the Crowell family, our marriage would also make their alliance with the Vescari family official.

Everything had already been arranged.

And while I was gone for six months, Adrian had somehow moved another woman into the home meant for us.

I looked at him coldly.

What the hell had he been doing behind my back?