Chapter Ten: The Breaking Point
Eliana barely felt the cold night air as she stormed out of the penthouse.
Her mind was spinning.
Her heart?
Shattered.
She had been a fool.
Somewhere along the line, she had let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—this wasn't just a business arrangement anymore. That the stolen glances, the way Adrian held her, the way he kissed her in front of the world—
She thought it meant something.
But now?
Now, she knew the truth.
Cassandra's words echoed in her mind like a cruel whisper:
"She doesn't even realize she's just another contract, does she?"
Eliana's chest tightened as she pushed through the hotel doors, her heels clicking against the marble floor.
She didn't know where she was going.
She just knew she had to get away.
Away from Adrian.
Away from the lies.
Away from the truth that hurt more than she was willing to admit.
A City That Feels Too Big
The streets of New York were still alive, even at this late hour. Yellow taxi cabs rushed by, horns blaring in the distance. Neon signs flickered overhead, painting the sidewalks in shades of red, blue, and green.
But Eliana felt nothing.
The city that once thrilled her, that once felt full of possibility, now felt empty.
Her vision blurred as she walked.
Keep moving, Eliana. Don't stop. If you stop, you'll break.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to steady her breath.
How had she let this happen?
She had entered this arrangement with clear rules.
No emotions. No expectations. No illusions.
And yet, somewhere along the line, she had started hoping.
Hoping that the way Adrian looked at her when he thought she wasn't watching meant something.
Hoping that the way he touched her, the way he pulled her close at night, wasn't just for show.
Hoping that she was more to him than just a convenient solution to a problem.
But she wasn't.
And it took Cassandra's cruel smirk to drive the truth home.
You're just another deal, Eliana. Just another name on a contract.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she ducked into a quieter street.
She had been so stupid.
The Man Who Won't Let Go
"Eliana."
The voice stopped her cold.
Deep.
Low.
Familiar.
She turned slowly, her pulse hammering in her ears.
Adrian stood at the end of the street, his tie undone, his shirt slightly unbuttoned. His normally perfect, composed demeanor was cracked—his stormy gray eyes searching hers with something dangerously close to desperation.
"Eliana," he said again, softer this time.
She swallowed hard, her throat burning. "Go back inside, Adrian. There's nothing left to say."
His jaw tightened. "Like hell there isn't."
She exhaled sharply, folding her arms. "What do you want me to say? That I'm okay with being just another contract to you? That I'll stand by your side, smile for the cameras, and pretend this isn't killing me?"
Adrian's fists clenched at his sides. "It was never just a contract to me."
Eliana let out a bitter laugh. "Then what was it, Adrian? A convenient arrangement? A way to protect your empire? Because if that's the case, congratulations. You got exactly what you wanted."
Adrian's expression darkened. "You think I planned this?"
"You planned everything." Her voice trembled. "And the worst part? I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, I was different."
Adrian stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.
"You are different," he said, his voice raw.
Her breath hitched, but she shook her head. "Then why didn't you tell me about Cassandra's contract?"
Silence.
And that silence?
It told her everything she needed to know.
Her chest tightened. "You kept it from me because you knew."
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling roughly. "It was years ago, Eliana. It had nothing to do with you."
"But it has everything to do with us now, doesn't it?" she whispered.
A muscle in Adrian's jaw twitched. He looked away for a second, as if trying to collect his thoughts. But when his eyes met hers again, there was something fierce there.
"You don't get to walk away," he said, his voice low, intense.
Eliana's breath caught. "Excuse me?"
Adrian stepped even closer, his body just inches from hers now.
"You want out? Fine. But not like this," he said, his voice softer this time, but no less urgent.
She could barely think. "Then how?"
His jaw tightened. "Give me one chance. One chance to fix this."
Her heart pounded. "And if you can't?"
Something flickered in his gaze. Something that looked dangerously close to fear.
"Then I'll let you go."
Her breath caught.
She should say no.
She should walk away.
But against her better judgment—against every warning in her mind—
She nodded.
One chance.
And that was all Adrian Blackwood was going to get.
A Gamble with Her Heart
Adrian exhaled, his shoulders dropping slightly, but his eyes remained locked onto hers.
"I'll make this right," he said, the promise in his voice almost making her believe him.
Almost.
Eliana wrapped her arms around herself. "You don't even know how to fix this."
Adrian hesitated for a split second. It was the first time she'd seen doubt flicker across his face. But then, just as quickly, his usual determination took over.
"I'll figure it out," he said. "I always do."
Eliana shook her head. "This isn't a business deal, Adrian. This is me. My life. My heart. And if you think I'm going to sit back and watch you negotiate your way through this, you're wrong."
His jaw clenched. "So what do you want?"
Eliana took a deep breath. "I want the truth."
Adrian's lips parted slightly, but she cut him off before he could speak.
"No more half-truths. No more secrets. No more decisions made for me." Her voice wavered, but she kept going. "If I'm staying, I need to know everything. About Cassandra. About the deal. About us."
Adrian's expression darkened.
But then—
He nodded.
"Eliana," he said, his voice softer now. "I swear to you, you're not just another contract to me."
She wanted to believe him.
God, she wanted to believe him.
But trust wasn't something she could give so easily.
Not anymore.
"Then prove it," she whispered.
Adrian's eyes held hers for a long moment.
Then, finally—
He reached out, taking her hand in his.
And for the first time, Eliana felt like maybe, just maybe—
This wasn't the end.
It was just the beginning.