The days that followed were filled with tension. Mia couldn't shake the sense of unease that had settled deep in her stomach. Despite Adrian's assurances, something inside her told her that Victoria wouldn't give up so easily. Her sudden reappearance in their lives had already caused a ripple in their relationship, and Mia was determined not to let it become a tidal wave that threatened everything they had built.
Adrian had promised to handle things with Victoria, but Mia couldn't help but feel like the battle was far from over. He was determined, she could see that, but so was Victoria. The woman was dangerous, not just in her ability to manipulate, but in her refusal to accept that Adrian had moved on. Mia needed to see for herself that Adrian was truly committed, that he was willing to stand by her no matter the cost.
One afternoon, as Mia was getting the boys ready for a playdate with a neighbor, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and froze. It was Adrian.
"Hey, Adrian," she answered, her heart beating faster.
"I need to talk to you," Adrian's voice was tight, his words measured. "Can you meet me at the office? There's something you need to know."
Mia's stomach twisted. "What's going on? Is everything okay?"
"It's about Victoria," he replied. "I need you to hear this from me. In person."
Mia's instinct told her that this was the moment where everything would either fall into place or shatter completely. "I'll be there," she said, hanging up the phone.
---
When Mia arrived at the office, she was met with a sense of anticipation that hung in the air like a thick fog. She wasn't sure what Adrian was going to say, but she could feel the weight of the conversation looming. She took a deep breath and walked through the door, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor.
Adrian was waiting in his office, his back to her as he stared out the window. The tension in his shoulders was obvious, and for a brief moment, Mia wondered if he was regretting asking her to meet him here.
"Mia," he said without turning around. "Thank you for coming. I know you're upset, but please—just hear me out."
She nodded, crossing the room to stand in front of him. She could see the resolve in his eyes, but there was also something else. Guilt? Fear? She couldn't tell, but she knew this conversation was important—maybe the most important one they had ever had.
"I'm listening," she said, her voice steady.
Adrian turned to face her, and for the first time, Mia saw the exhaustion in his face. "I've been doing some digging, Mia. Victoria has been planning this for a while, and I didn't realize how far she would go."
Mia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
He ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "She's been spreading rumors about us, Mia. About our marriage. She's been trying to make me question everything—to make me doubt you. She's telling people that you're not who you say you are, that you're hiding things from me. She's trying to turn people against you."
Mia's heart skipped a beat. "That's... that's ridiculous," she stammered. "Why would she do that?"
Adrian's expression darkened. "Because she can't stand that I've moved on. That I'm happy with you. She's convinced herself that I'm still in love with her, and she'll do whatever it takes to get me back."
Mia felt a cold rush of panic flood her chest. "But why didn't you tell me? Why did you keep all this from me? If I had known this was happening, I could have done something!"
Adrian stepped closer, his voice soft. "I was trying to protect you, Mia. I didn't want to bring this into our home, into our lives. I thought if I just cut her off, if I just ignored her, it would go away. But I see now that I was wrong. I should have been honest with you from the beginning."
Mia swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions in check. "What do we do now, Adrian? What's the plan?"
Adrian took her hands in his, his grip firm. "I'm going to confront her, once and for all. I'm going to make it clear that I'm done with her—completely. But I need you to trust me, Mia. I need you to know that I'm not going to let her tear us apart."
Mia closed her eyes for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. She wanted to believe him, to trust that he was going to do whatever it took to keep their family intact. But her heart still ached with doubt. Was it enough? Was she enough for him?
"I want to believe you, Adrian," she whispered. "But it's hard. It's hard to trust you when all of this is going on. It's hard to ignore the fear that I'm going to lose you."
Adrian cupped her face in his hands, lifting her gaze to meet his. "Mia, I swear to you, I am not going anywhere. You are my family. I will fight for us, for our future. I won't let her or anyone else come between us. I'll do whatever it takes."
Mia's breath caught in her throat. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the determination. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that the love they shared was stronger than anything Victoria could throw their way.
"I need to know you mean that, Adrian," Mia said, her voice trembling. "I need to know you'll be here when the dust settles. That you won't give in to her, to the past."
Adrian nodded. "I won't. I promise you."
The room felt smaller, the space between them closer as they stood there, locked in a silent promise. Mia knew that this was the moment—this was the turning point in their relationship. Whether they would come out of this stronger or fall apart depended on what happened next.
Victoria was still a threat, and Mia wasn't going to let her manipulate her family. But with Adrian by her side, maybe, just maybe, they could defeat the shadow of the past once and for all.