Eliza had made up her mind. She was done with Adrian. For good.
At least, that's what she told herself as she looked at the latest bouquet of roses sitting on her kitchen table. Every day, without fail, flowers would arrive at her door. It had been over three months since Adrian started his relentless attempts to reach her—flowers, gifts, letters, and phone calls. But Eliza never let herself respond. She deleted his messages without reading them, sent his calls straight to voicemail, and any letters were unopened, collecting dust in a drawer she never opened.
Her resolve was firm—or so she thought. How could she forget him when he never let her? Every bouquet came with a pang of guilt, but Eliza clung to her decision. She would face her reality alone.
"Face my reality, huh?" she muttered to herself, smoothing down her loose dress in front of the mirror. At six months pregnant, her bump was still small, almost unnoticeable if she wore loose clothing. Today's floral dress—a gift from Chloe—was one of those that hid her growing belly well.
Speaking of Chloe...
"Eliza! You ready?" Chloe's voice echoed from the hallway. "We're gonna be late for your OB-Gyne appointment!"
"Coming!" Eliza called back, giving one last glance at her reflection before heading out. She grabbed her purse, ignoring the small card on the kitchen counter with Adrian's name written in elegant script.
Chloe was already bouncing at the door when Eliza opened it, practically dragging her out. "I swear, you'd be late to your own wedding at this rate," Chloe teased, not knowing the sting her words carried.
Eliza smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, well, no wedding in sight, so no rush."
As they drove to the clinic, Chloe chattered about everything and nothing, keeping the atmosphere light. Eliza appreciated it. The last thing she wanted was more time alone with her thoughts.
"I'm just saying," Chloe rambled on, "I bet your baby's gonna be, like, super cute. You've got good genes, and whoever the dad is—he must've been a looker too. I mean, mystery baby daddy and all." She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
Eliza forced a laugh, not ready to open that can of worms. "We'll see. Maybe it'll have your bad jokes and all my stress lines."
Chloe gave her a playful nudge. "Nah, stress is for adults. We're basically kids playing pretend, right?"
They arrived at the clinic, and after signing in, they sat down in the waiting room. Chloe kept talking, jumping from one topic to another, but Eliza found herself zoning out. She absently rubbed her small belly, wondering what her baby would look like, whether they would have Adrian's striking eyes or her stubborn chin.
Suddenly, Chloe's voice cut through her thoughts. "Hey, Eliza, look at the TV."
Eliza blinked and glanced at the small screen hanging in the corner of the clinic's waiting room. The news was on, and her stomach dropped as she saw a familiar face. Adrian's face.
She froze, eyes glued to the screen as the news anchor began to speak.
"And in today's business news, DeLuca Enterprises has officially merged with one of the biggest multinational tech firms, marking a major achievement for CEO Adrian DeLuca, who just returned from a three-month trip abroad to finalize the deal. Many are calling it the business move of the year."
The image on the screen changed to Adrian, standing at a press conference, looking calm and collected as always. Eliza's heart started to race.
"He's been busy…" she muttered under her breath, trying to sound casual, but her mind was swirling.
The news anchor continued, "When asked about his future plans, Adrian DeLuca hinted at more than just business. In his own words, 'Now that I've achieved my goal of setting the company at a new height, it's time for me to settle down. I'll be marrying the love of my life soon.'"
Eliza's breath caught in her throat. Did she just hear that right?
Chloe's jaw dropped. "Wait, did he just say… marrying?! Adrian? The guy who's been sending you flowers?"
Eliza's mind was spinning. Adrian was getting married? To whom? Who was the love of his life? It couldn't be her, obviously. She had cut him off completely. But then…who?
She quickly masked her shock, forcing a smile. "Good for him," she said, her voice strained. "He's moving on, I guess."
Chloe wasn't buying it. "Eliza, you okay? You're acting weird."
"I'm fine," Eliza lied. "Just surprised, that's all. I didn't think he'd settle down so soon."
Before Chloe could probe further, the nurse called Eliza's name. Saved by the bell.
"Let's go," Eliza said, standing up a little too quickly. She needed to move, to breathe, to not think about Adrian marrying someone else.
As they entered the examination room, the conversation with Chloe was left behind, but the thought of Adrian's words haunted her. Settle down. Marry the love of my life. Those words echoed in her mind throughout her entire check-up.
***
Eliza had been trying to forget about Adrian for weeks now, but his presence lingered like a shadow in her life. Despite her best efforts to avoid him, he hadn't given up. Every day, flowers arrived at her shop—roses, lilies, orchids—along with gifts she never opened. And though he frequently called and messaged, she deleted every text without reading it and declined every call.
It was easier that way.
But as she and Chloe returned to her flower shop after a quiet afternoon at the OB-GYN for her six-month checkup, Eliza's mind kept drifting back to the news report they had seen in the clinic lobby. Adrian was back in town after a three-month business trip abroad. Not only that, but the news had made it clear that Adrian was moving on with his life—planning to settle down and get married. The thought of him speaking so casually about marrying someone else stung more than she expected.
Shaking off the uncomfortable feeling, Eliza tried to focus on the present. As they approached her shop, she noticed a large black car parked outside, its engine still running.
"What now?" Eliza muttered, her stomach tightening with nerves.
"Looks like someone's waiting for you," Chloe said, raising an eyebrow.
As they neared the entrance, a man dressed in a sleek black suit stepped forward. He was fidgeting with a tablet, looking more businesslike than anyone who had ever graced her shop's entrance. Flanking him were two imposing bodyguards, their presence making Eliza's heart race.
"Miss Eliza Bennett?" the man asked, his voice formal and detached.
"Who's asking?" Chloe chimed in, stepping closer to Eliza, ever the protective friend.
The man nodded slightly. "I'm Kyle, Mr. DeLuca's personal secretary. Mr. DeLuca has requested your presence this evening for dinner."
Eliza's heart skipped a beat. Of course, Adrian would send his people. It wasn't enough that he had bombarded her with flowers and messages; now he was sending his secretary to corner her.
"I don't think that's necessary," Eliza replied stiffly. "Tell him I can't make it."
Kyle, however, didn't back down. "Mr. DeLuca was clear in his instructions. He specifically requested that I ensure your attendance this evening. He's concerned, given that you've been avoiding his attempts to reach you."
Eliza's pulse quickened. "I've been busy."
Kyle's expression didn't change. "Miss Bennett, Mr. DeLuca insists. And he also mentioned that he 'already knows.'" His eyes flickered with an unreadable look.
Her stomach twisted. Did Adrian know about the baby? Was this why he was so insistent on meeting her? Fear shot through her, images of him demanding she end the pregnancy racing through her mind. She couldn't avoid him any longer.
After a long pause, Eliza sighed. "Fine. I'll go."
Chloe gave her a worried glance, but Eliza shook her head, indicating that she didn't have a choice.
Kyle's face relaxed slightly. "I'll escort you there."
Eliza hesitated but eventually followed Kyle to the waiting car. As they drove through the city, her mind raced. She had no idea what Adrian knew or what he wanted, but one thing was clear—tonight, she was going to have to face him.
When they arrived at the grand hotel, Eliza expected to be led to one of the fancy restaurants inside. Instead, Kyle guided her to a private elevator. They ascended silently to the penthouse, the tension in the air growing with each floor they passed.
The doors slid open, revealing a stunning view of the city at night. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering skyline, and the luxurious penthouse felt like another world, far removed from the bustling streets below. A soft breeze from the open balcony doors drifted in, carrying with it the scent of the city mixed with fresh flowers. The balcony itself was set up for an intimate dinner, candlelight flickering in the gentle wind.
"This way, Miss Bennett," Kyle said, gesturing toward the balcony.
Eliza stepped outside, her breath catching at the breathtaking view. The city sparkled below, the stars above faintly twinkling in the clear night sky. For a moment, she forgot her nerves, lost in the beauty of the scene.
But her anxiety returned quickly as she realized she was here to confront Adrian, and she had no idea how that was going to go.
She was waiting near the railing when she heard footsteps behind her.
"Oh my God! Adrian really went all out this time!" A woman's voice broke the silence, full of excitement and entitlement.
Eliza's stomach dropped.
She turned to see a tall, blonde woman striding confidently onto the balcony, her eyes wide with delight as she took in the extravagant setup. She wore an elegant evening gown, her hair perfectly styled. The woman's face radiated pure joy as she approached the table, but when her gaze landed on Eliza, she stopped abruptly, her expression shifting from confusion to suspicion.
"Who the hell are you?" the blonde woman demanded, her tone sharp.
Eliza blinked, taken aback by the woman's sudden hostility. "I—um, I'm Eliza," she managed to say.
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Eliza? I don't remember an Eliza being on the guest list."
Eliza frowned, unsure of how to respond.
The blonde's face twisted with disdain as she sized Eliza up, her eyes lingering on her loose dress and casual appearance. "Well, whoever you are, you need to leave. This dinner is for me. Adrian planned all of this—" she gestured dramatically at the setup "—for us"
Eliza's heart sank as realization dawned. This woman was the one Adrian had mentioned in the news. The woman he was supposedly going to marry.
The blonde seemed to catch Eliza's shock and laughed coldly. "Oh, you didn't know, did you? Poor thing. I'm Samantha, by the way. Adrian's fiancée."
The word felt like a punch to Eliza's gut.
Samantha's smirk widened as she watched Eliza's reaction. "That's right. Adrian and I are getting married soon. It's been in the works for a while now, and he's finally ready to make it official. He's been all over the world, setting things up. And this dinner? It's supposed to be our little celebration."
Eliza's throat tightened. She wanted to tell Samantha she didn't care, that she was here for a different reason. But the words wouldn't come.
Samantha crossed her arms, her smirk turning cruel. "So, let me guess. You're one of his little... flings, right? You must've been delusional to think he'd take you seriously."
Eliza stiffened, her face burning with humiliation. She wanted to leave, to disappear from this awful situation, but her feet felt rooted to the spot.
Samantha took a step closer, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. "Here's a little advice. Men like Adrian? They don't fall for girls like you. He's a businessman. He has a plan, and you—" she waved a hand dismissively "—you're not part of it."
Eliza's fists clenched at her sides. She felt trapped, powerless in the face of Samantha's cruel words.
But then, she heard a voice behind her.
"Actually, that's not true."
Eliza turned, her heart racing as Adrian stepped onto the balcony, his eyes locked on her.
Samantha's smug smile faltered, her confidence shaken. "Adrian! There you are. I was just telling this... girl that—"
Adrian ignored Samantha entirely, walking straight up to Eliza. "I've been trying to get ahold of you for weeks," he said softly, his eyes full of something Eliza couldn't quite place—concern? Frustration?
Samantha gaped. "Wait—her? What are you—?"
Adrian finally turned to face Samantha, his expression cold. "I think you should leave."
Samantha's face flushed red with anger and confusion. "Adrian, what the hell is going on? I thought we—"
"There was never anything between us," Adrian cut her off, his voice icy. "And there never will be."
Samantha's eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled for a response. "But... the dinner..."
"It was never for you," Adrian said flatly. "Now, leave."
Samantha stood frozen, her shock quickly giving way to fury. She gave Eliza one last hateful glare before storming off the balcony, slamming the door behind her as she left.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Eliza stood there, trying to process everything that had just happened, her heart racing in her chest.
Adrian turned back to her, his expression softening. "I'm sorry about that," he said gently. "I didn't mean for things to get so... complicated."
Eliza just nodded, still too stunned to speak.
"Let's sit," Adrian suggested, motioning toward the dinner table. "We need to talk."
Eliza knew this conversation was far from over. But as she followed Adrian to the table, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't have imagined.
And she wasn't sure she was ready for it.