Chapter 96
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096
ADRIAN’S steps were heavy as he walked back into the tall glass building, his jaw tightened, eyes shadowed with the storm brewing inside him. The echoes of laughter, applause, and lingering chatter of dignitaries trailed faintly behind him, but he ignored them all. Some even greeted, hailed him, all trying to get his attention, but he wasn’t in the mood for that, he ignored them.
For the first time in years, Adrian Cole, the man who had always commanded every room he walked into, couldn’t muster the will to smile or acknowledge the greetings that came his way.
The board meeting had ended, but the shock of what he had just witnessed still pulsed in his veins. Amelia. His Amelia. Not only had she returned, more radiant and untouchable than ever, but she had walked out with Ryan, with an air of sophistication and authority that made her seem untouchable. And then… the twins. His twins, his children, identical and striking, even from a distance. His kids.
The image of the nanny gently adjusting one baby’s blanket while balancing the other, had branded itself into his mind. The quiet chatter of people around them, some smiling knowingly at Amelia’s small entourage, had stabbed him like daggers. All this had been happening without him, right under his nose.
By the time he reached his office, his chest was tight, his breathing uneven. He sank heavily into his chair, his palms pressed hard against the polished oak desk as though to ground himself. His mind was a whirlwind of disbelief, jealousy, and… guilt.
The door burst open without a knock.
“Boss!” Peter exclaimed, his voice a mix of relief and annoyance. “I have been calling you nonstop! You… you just walked away, ignoring everyone, ignoring me, ignoring half the dignitaries. What on earth happened out there p>
Adrian didn’t answer immediately. He tilted his head back against the chair and shut his eyes. For the first time in his assistant’s presence, he looked… shaken. Vulnerable. Weak. Exhausted in something order than business.
Peter frowned, stepping closer.
“Mr. Adrian p>
Finally, Adrian spoke, his voice low, almost hoarse.
“She was there, Peter p>
Peter blinked. “She p>
Adrian’s eyes snapped open, sharp, haunted.
“Amelia p>
Peter froze, then slowly lowered himself into the chair opposite the desk.
“Wait… your wife Amelia? Was she that lady back at the meeting? She… she changed though. She is back p>
Adrian gave a humorless laugh, bitter and raw.
“Back? No Peter. She didn’t just come back, she walked into that meeting like she owned the world. Like I was nothing but a shadow in her path. And do you know what? The board, the dignitaries, they looked at her like she was some goddess who could do no wrong. While I-” he dragged his hands through his hair, frustrated-“I couldn’t even string two sentences together without stuttering like a fool p>
Peter stared at him, stunned. In all his years as Adrian’s assistant, he had never seen his boss this rattled.
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“She must have really… changed,” he said carefully.
Adrian slammed his palm on the desk.
“Changed? She is not the Amelia I left behind. She has transformed. She is now stronger. Untouchable. And she-” his voice faltered- “she had Ryan beside her. Smiling. Supporting her. Playing the role of the man who should have been me p>
Peter leaned back slowly, processing this.
“And you think…” He hesitated. “You think she has moved on with him p>
Adrian’s eyes darkened.
“That is not even the worst part.” He paused, his throat tightening. “She has children, Peter p>
Peter’s mouth fell open.
“Children p>
Adrian nodded, his voice a broken whisper.
“Twin children. My kids. I can’t tell if they are boys or girls, but they are twins, identical. And I didn’t even know they existed until today. They were right there- tiny, perfect… and she walked away with them as though I were nothing. As though I didn’t matter p>
Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Peter rubbed the back of his neck, unsure what to say.
“Mr. Adrian, this is… this is huge. Why didn’t she tell you?” 1
“Because I destroyed her,” Adrian admitted, his voice raw with guilt. “Because I was blind. I pushed her away, treated her like she didn’t matter, and she rebuilt her life without me. And now…” His fists clenched. “Now I can’t stand the thought of her looking at Ryan the way she used to look at me p>
Peter swallowed hard.
“So what are you going to do now, Sir p>
Adrian sat up straighter, his eyes burning with a new fire.
“Get her back p>
Peter blinked. “What p>
“I don’t care how long it takes, or how much she resists. I’m not letting Amelia slip through my fingers again. I saw her right there, not just her, but the life she built, the children she bore and I realized… she is everything I ever wanted, everything I was too arrogant to fight for before. That ends now p>
Peter let out a slow whistle, shaking his head.
“Boss, this won’t be easy. She is not the same woman you left behind. And if she has Ryan in her corner-
“Then I will fight harder,” Adrian cut in sharply. “Let Ryan play the assistant, the stand-in father. He will never be me. He will never be their father. And Amelia-” he inhaled deeply, as though drawing strength, “Amelia will see I have changed. I will prove it to her, even if it kills me p>
For the first time that afternoon, Adrian’s expression steadied. No longer just shock and despair, but determination. Dangerous, unyielding determination.
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Peter sighed, running a hand over his face.
“Well, I guess I better start preparing for the storm you are about to unleash p>
Adrian allowed a small, humorless smile.
“Prepare, Peter. Because this time, I won’t stop until she is mine again p>
The office fell silent again, but this time it wasn’t with despair, it was with resolve. Adrian Cole had finally woken up, and Amelia’s world was about to feel it.
ć—Ą
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.