Chapter Twelve: The Aftermath
Eliana didn't let herself break.
Not in the elevator.
Not in the lobby.
Not even when she stepped onto the sidewalk, the cold night air biting at her skin.
She kept walking.
One step.
Then another.
Each step felt heavier than the last, but she refused to stop.
Because if she stopped—if she allowed herself even a second to think—the pain would crash over her like a wave, and she wasn't sure she could survive it.
Her chest burned, her breath uneven as she hailed a cab. The streets of New York were alive with honking cars and flashing billboards, but everything felt muted, distant—like she was moving through a fog.
She pulled out her phone, staring at the screen.
No messages.
No calls.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
What was she expecting? That Adrian would chase after her? That he would come running down the street like in some dramatic movie scene, grab her by the wrist, and beg her to stay?
No.
That wasn't who Adrian Blackwood was.
And that was exactly why she had to leave.
Then her phone buzzed in her pocket.
But she ignored it.
A yellow cab pulled up to the curb,before the driver could even step out, she slid into the backseat, the door slamming shut behind her.
"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked.
Eliana hesitated.
Where was she supposed to go?
Back to the apartment Adrian had paid for? The one filled with him—his scent, his presence, his lies?
No.
Not there.
She swallowed hard and gave him the address to a hotel instead.
The cab pulled into traffic, the neon lights of the city blurring into streaks of color as they sped past. Eliana pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window, squeezing her eyes shut.
She had walked away
For the first time in her life, she had chosen herself.
She should feel relieved.
She should feel free.
But all she felt was raw.
—
Adrian
The moment Eliana left, the silence in the penthouse became unbearable.
Adrian stood there, staring at the door, his chest rising and falling unevenly.
She was gone.
His fingers curled into fists.
She had walked away from him.
He had let her leave.
No.
No, that wasn't right.
She had left because he hadn't given her what she needed.
What she deserved.
A sharp breath hissed through his teeth as he grabbed his phone hovering her name.
He hesitated.
Would she even answer?
Would she even listen?
He clenched his jaws and called anyway.
Straight to voicemail.
He hung up and dialed again.
Still nothing.
A muscle in his jaw twitched.
Adrian muttered a curse and ran a hand through his hair, he wasn't used to this.
He wasn't used to losing.
And yet, for the first time in his life, he felt like he had lost something that actually mattered.
Something that wasn't just a contract, a deal, a business arrangement.
Something real.
His grip tightened around his phone, knuckles turning white
This wasn't over.
He wouldn't let it be.
—
Eliana
The hotel room was small but clean. White linens. A minimalist design. Quiet.No traces of him.
Eliana sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, her hands clenched in her lap.
She should feel relieved.
She should feel free.
But all she felt was raw.
She had done the right thing.
She knew she had.
So why did it still feel like she was breaking?
Her phone buzzed again, lighting up the dim room.
Adrian.
Again.
Her heart clenched, but she didn't answer.
Not yet.
She wasn't ready.
She wasn't sure she'd ever be ready.
Instead, she set the phone down beside her and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
The weight of the past few months crashed down on her all at once.
Meeting Adrian.
The contract.
The falling.
God, she had fallen so hard.
And for what?
A man who couldn't even tell her how he felt?
A man who had let her walk away without a fight?
Tears burned at the edges of her vision, but she refused to let them fall.
She had wasted enough on him.
Adrian Blackwood had made his choice.
Now, it was time for her to make hers.
She picked up her phone, opened her messages, and typed out a single line.
Don't call me again.
Her finger hovered over the send button.
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
Then—
She pressed send.
And just like that, it was over.
Or at least, that was what she told herself.
But as she turned off her phone, curled into the blankets, and let the silence of the room swallow her whole—
She realized something terrifying.
She wasn't sure if she really wanted it to be.
—
But one thing was certain.
If Adrian Blackwood wanted her back, he would have to do a hell more than just call.
The space
Adrian stared at the message on his phone, his jaw tightening.
Don't call me again.
It was like a knife to the chest.
He read it once.
Twice.
A third time.
Then he did something he never did.
He panicked.
Adrian Blackwood didn't panic. He didn't lose control. He didn't chase.
But this wasn't business.
This was Eliana.
And he wasn't ready to let her go.
He grabbed his keys, shrugging on his coat as he stormed out of the penthouse.
His driver barely had time to open the car door before Adrian slid inside, his voice sharp. "Find out where she went."
The driver hesitated. "Sir—"
Adrian shot him a look. "Do it."
A few moments later, he had the answer.
A hotel.
She hadn't gone home.
She wasn't even trying to pretend this was temporary.
His chest tightened.
He had to fix this.
—
Eliana
The knock on the hotel door came hours later.
Too late.
Or maybe too soon.
Eliana froze, her heart slamming against her ribs.
She didn't need to ask who it was.
She already knew.
Her hands clenched into fists as she took a slow, steadying breath. Then she got up, crossing the room with measured steps.
When she opened the door, he was there.
Adrian.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Storm in his eyes.
A man who looked like he was ready to tear the world apart just to reach her.
But she didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just watched him.
And waited.
Adrian exhaled sharply, his hands braced against the doorframe. "I'm not leaving."
Eliana swallowed. "You should."
His jaw ticked. "No."
She let out a humorless laugh. "You don't get to do this, Adrian. You don't get to show up here and pretend like—"
"Like what?" he cut in. "Like I don't care?"
Eliana's throat tightened.
Because that was exactly what it felt like.
She folded her arms, keeping her expression guarded. "Say what you came to say."
Adrian took a step forward, closing the distance between them. "I didn't want this to happen." His voice was low, rough. "I never wanted to hurt you."
Eliana clenched her jaw. "But you did."
He exhaled. "I know."
She shook her head, looking away. "I don't know what you want from me, Adrian. You made your choice."
"I want you."
The words came fast. Raw.
Eliana's breath caught.
Adrian stepped closer, his voice softer now. "I want you, Eliana. Not because of a contract. Not because of a deal. I want you because…" He paused, dragging a hand through his hair. "Because I can't stand the thought of not having you in my life."
She swallowed hard. "That's not enough."
Adrian's gaze darkened. "Then tell me what is."
She hesitated.
Because that was the problem, wasn't it?
She didn't want half of him.
She wanted all of him.
His love. His truth. His heart.
And if he couldn't give her that…
Then this had to be goodbye.
Her voice was barely above a whisper. "You can't fix this with words, Adrian."
He stared at her, his expression unreadable.
Then, without warning, he reached for her.
She gasped as his fingers brushed her wrist, sending a shiver up her spine.
His touch was familiar.
Dangerous.
And just like that, she wasn't sure anymore.
Because the way he was looking at her…
Like she was everything.
Like he would tear down the world just to prove it.
And maybe—just maybe—she wanted him to.
—