Mia's heart pounded in her chest as she sat beside Adrian, the tension between them palpable. His admission about his ex, though expected, only served to deepen the sense of betrayal that was quickly bubbling inside her. She had always trusted Adrian, but now, with his words hanging heavy in the air, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than he was letting on.
Adrian took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "Mia, I never wanted to bring this up, not because I wanted to hide anything from you, but because I didn't think it was relevant. It's in the past. But... I should have been honest with you." He paused, as if searching for the right words. "Her name is Victoria. She's the one I dated before you. It was a serious relationship, but when it ended, it ended for good. There's nothing between us anymore."
Mia swallowed, trying to steady her racing heart. "Then why is she back in town, Adrian? And why did Eliza think it was important enough to tell me?"
Adrian's face darkened as he rubbed the back of his neck, a sign that this conversation was not something he had anticipated either. "Victoria... She left years ago, and I thought I was done with her. But a few weeks ago, she reached out. I told her I was married, that I had moved on. But I didn't tell you, Mia, because I didn't want you to worry. I didn't think she would try to interfere in our lives."
Mia's lips trembled. "But she has, hasn't she? She's already here, and she's trying to get back into your life. Why didn't you tell me?"
Adrian turned toward her, his expression filled with regret. "I thought I could handle it. I didn't want to worry you, and I didn't want to bring up something that was already in the past. But I see now that was a mistake."
Mia clenched her fists, the hurt in her chest intensifying. "Adrian, how can you expect me to believe you when you've kept this from me? You've been hiding it, and now I'm just supposed to sit here and trust that nothing is going on between you and her?"
Adrian reached out for her hand, his grip gentle but insistent. "Mia, I swear to you, there is nothing between us. She reached out, yes, but I told her, in no uncertain terms, that I have a family now. I have you. But I see how much this is affecting you, and I'm sorry. I should've told you from the start."
Mia pulled her hand away, standing up from the couch. She paced the room, trying to make sense of everything she was feeling. Part of her wanted to believe him—she wanted to trust that Adrian was telling the truth. But another part of her, a part that was buried deep within her, couldn't shake the fear that there was more to this story than he was willing to admit.
"I don't know what to believe right now, Adrian," she said, her voice breaking. "You've always been honest with me, but this... this feels different. I don't want to be paranoid, but you've been keeping things from me. And now I don't know what else you're hiding."
Adrian's eyes darkened, his frustration evident. "I'm not hiding anything, Mia! I love you. This is about us, not her. But I see now how my actions have made you doubt me, and I'm sorry for that."
Mia stopped pacing, turning to face him. Her heart was torn between the man she loved and the man she was afraid was keeping secrets. "I don't know if I can handle this, Adrian. I need you to prove to me that I'm not just imagining things. I need you to show me that I'm not losing you to her, or to anyone else."
Adrian's eyes softened, and for a moment, he looked completely defeated. "I don't know how to prove that to you, Mia. All I can do is be here for you. I'll do whatever it takes to make you feel secure, to make you feel loved. I'm not going anywhere. I swear to you."
Mia closed her eyes, feeling the weight of the moment press down on her chest. She wanted to believe him—she truly did. But the doubts that had taken root in her mind were hard to ignore. She had been through too much already to let someone, even Adrian, take her trust for granted.
"I don't know what the right answer is," Mia whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I need time. I need to think about everything. I need to understand if I can trust you again."
Adrian's heart sank as he watched Mia step back, the space between them growing wider by the second. He wanted to reach for her, to pull her back into his arms and promise her that everything would be okay. But he knew she needed time. He needed to give her that time, even if it meant watching the distance between them grow.
"I understand," Adrian said quietly. "Take all the time you need, Mia. I'll be here, waiting for you."
---
Over the next few days, Mia found herself caught in a whirlwind of emotions. She couldn't stop thinking about Victoria's sudden reappearance and Adrian's reaction to it. She wanted to believe him, to trust that he was being honest. But the fear of losing him, the fear that the past could come back to haunt them, was a weight she couldn't shake.
She tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing on the boys and the life they were trying to build. But the doubt lingered in the back of her mind, threatening to resurface every time she looked at Adrian.
It wasn't until one afternoon, when she ran into Eliza at the grocery store, that she got the confirmation she needed. Eliza was a long-time friend, someone who knew both her and Adrian, and Mia knew she could trust her.
"Mia, I'm glad I ran into you," Eliza said, her voice urgent. "I just wanted to tell you something—something I probably should've said before."
Mia raised an eyebrow, her heart beating faster. "What is it?"
"I think you should know that Victoria isn't just back for Adrian. She's trying to stir things up with him, but not in the way you think. She's trying to drive a wedge between you two. I overheard her talking to someone about it—she's not just here to 'reconnect.' She has an agenda."
Mia's eyes widened in disbelief. "An agenda?"
Eliza nodded, her face serious. "She's trying to make Adrian doubt you, Mia. She's trying to convince him that you're not the right person for him, that you're not enough. She's playing games, and she's good at it."
Mia's blood ran cold as the truth finally began to surface. It wasn't just Victoria trying to interfere—it was a calculated attempt to break them apart. Mia knew now that the past wasn't the only enemy she had to face.
As she left the store, her mind was made up. She would confront Adrian, but this time, there would be no more doubts. She would make it clear that no one, not even Victoria, could come between them.