Chapter 105
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THE sprawling elegance of Azure Springs Resort spread before Adrian as his car rolled to a stop at the entrance. The place was breathtaking, marble arches, cascading fountains, lush greenery that framed the wide, gleaming windows. It wasn’t just a business; it was a statement. Amelia’s statement.
Adrian stepped out, his tailored suit crisp under the afternoon sun, the sharp lines of his face unreadable as he adjusted his cufflinks. He had chosen not to call ahead, not to announce himself, just as he had been doing. And this time, he had prepared to confront her directly.
He pushed through the glass doors, his polished shoes echoing against the marble floor of the lobby. The scent of fresh orchids and cedarwood lingered in the air. Guests moved about, laughter and clinking glasses carrying from the adjoining lounge, but Adrian’s eyes were set on the reception desk.
“I’m here to see your CEO,” he said, his voice cool but commanding.
The receptionist, startled by the authority in his tone, quickly rose.
“Of course, sir, but she is ”
“Busy?” Adrian cut in with a faint smirk. “She will make time,” he added.
Before the girl could respond, a voice rang out sharply from behind.
“She won’t. Not for you p>
Adrian’s head snapped toward the sound, and there he was- Ryan. He was standing tall, broad-shouldered, his presence bristling with quiet authority, then he strode forward, hands in his pockets, gaze locked on Adrian like a predator watching an intruder.
“Ryan.” Adrian’s tone held an edge, his eyes narrowing. “What a surprise. Playing assistant, or perhaps… still pretending to be her protector p>
Ryan stopped just a few feet away, his jaw tightening.
“Not pretending. Protecting. Someone has to p>
The words cut sharp, laced with a meaning Adrian didn’t miss. His lips pressed into a thin line, the sting of jealousy igniting in his chest.
“I don’t need to ask what role you have been auditioning for,” Adrian said coldly. “But Amelia is my wife. Mine,” he said the ‘mine’ as though Ryan already had Amelia in his hands, taken away from him.
Ryan’s shoulders squared, his expression darkening.
“Wife? You call her that after what you did? After the months she raised those children alone, after the nights she cried herself to sleep? You forfeited that title, Adrian p>
The reception area had gone eerily silent. A few staff members lingered nearby, their eyes darting nervously between the two men.
Adrian’s fists clenched at his sides, but he forced his voice steady.
“I came here to see her. Not to argue with you p>
“And I’m telling you, she doesn’t want to see you.” Ryan’s voice dropped lower, almost dangerous. “So turn around. Leave. Respect the distance she asked for p>
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Adrian took a step closer, invading the space between them.
“You don’t get to decide what happens between Amelia and I p>
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“And you don’t get to hurt her again.” Ryan’s eyes were blazing now. “If you think you can walk back into her life with flowers and fancy speeches, well you are mistaken. I won’t let you break her again p>
Adrian’s smirk returned, but this time it was grim and bitter.
“You think she belongs to you, don’t you? That standing at her side, playing father to children who aren’t yours, gives you a claim over her. But no matter how close you hover, Ryan, you will never be me p>
Ryan’s jaw flexed.
“And thank God for that p>
The silence that followed was electric, tense enough to snap. The receptionist shifted uncomfortably, the staff scattering quietly as if sensing the storm building.
Finally, Adrian straightened, his voice softer, but no less sharp.
“You can keep standing in the way, Ryan. But the truth remains, Amelia is still my wife, and I will win her back. No matter how long it takes p>
Ryan’s eyes locked on his, unflinching
“And I will be here every step of the way, making sure you don’t get the chance p>
Adrian gave him one last searing look, then turned abruptly, striding out of the resort, his heels striking the marble floor with purposeful finality.
But as the doors closed behind him, his heart burned, not with defeat, but with a fiercer determination.
If Ryan thought he could stop him, he had no idea just how far Adrian was willing to go.
Amelia was in her office at that very hour seated behind the broad glass desk with paperwork neatly stacked before her. The mid afternoon light filtered in through the tall windows, painting the room in gold and amber. She was going through the latest reports on bookings, trying to distract herself from the swirling thoughts of Adrian’s persistence. Oblivious of what had transpired at the reception.
Soon the door clicked open, and Ryan walked in. His usually calm demeanor was tense, his strides deliberate.
“You are back,” Amelia said, glancing up. The moment she caught sight of his expression, she frowned. “What happened p>
Ryan closed the door behind him, leaning against it for a second as though weighing whether to tell her. Then he walked forward, resting his palms on the desk, leaning closer.
“Adrian was here p>
Her pen slipped from her fingers, clattering against the desk.
“Here? At the resort p>
Ryan nodded.
“He came looking for you. I mean he just left a few minutes ago. Marched right into the lobby like he owned the place.” His voice tightened. “I intercepted him before he could make it to your office p>
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Amelia’s breath caught, a mixture of shock and anger flaring in her chest.
“Ryan… why didn’t anyone call me immediately p>
“Because you don’t need that stress.” He straightened, his jaw tightening. “I handled it p>
Her eyes narrowed.
“Handled? How p>
He hesitated, then finally said,
“We exchanged words. Heated ones. I told him to leave. I made it clear you don’t want to see him p>
Amelia leaned back in her chair, her heart thudding. Images of Adrian’s face from the board meeting and from the boutique flickered in her mind, his shock, his desperation, his stuttering voice. And now, the thought of him storming into her resort as though trying to reclaim something he had abandoned, she felt the anger rise.
“That man sure do have some nerve,” she muttered bitterly. “After everything he put me through, he thinks he can just walk back into my life, into my businesses, as if nothing happened p>
Ryan stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes fixed on her.
“He is desperate, Amelia. I saw it in his face today. He wasn’t here as a businessman, he was here as a man trying to claw back something he knows he has lost p>
Amelia’s chest tightened at his words. She gripped the arms of her chair, forcing herself to stay composed.
“Lost is the right word,” she said firmly. “Because what we had is gone. Dead. I buried it the day I walked out of his house p>
Ryan exhaled slowly, walking closer, lowering his voice.
“I know. And I don’t trust him. His type will keep trying, Amelia. He won’t stop. You need to be prepared.
She pressed her lips together, staring at the neat rows of reports before her, though the words blurred into nothing. She remembered the way Adrian had looked at her during the board meeting, broken, almost pleading. And then the way he had bought clothes and flowers only for her to hand them away without a second thought. A part of her felt vindicated. Another part, though, an uninvited part felt unsettled.
Her silence stretched long enough that Ryan leaned closer, studying her face.
“Did I do the right thing, keeping him from you?” he asked softly.
She looked up at him, meeting his steady gaze. For a moment, she saw not just her assistant, not just the man helping to hold her life together, but someone fiercely protective, someone standing in the gap where her husband had once failed.
“You did,” she said finally, her voice steady but quiet. “Because if he had walked in here, Ryan… I don’t know what I might have done p>
Ryan gave a short nod, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
“Good. Then I will keep doing it. As long as he keeps showing up, he will have to go through me p>
Amelia leaned back in her chair again, exhaling sharply.
“Let him try. If Adrian thinks he can charm his way back, he is about to learn that Amelia Cole is not the same
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woman he left behind p>
But even as she said it, her mind replayed the faint stutter in his voice, the look in his eyes, the unmistakable regret. She shook it off quickly, pushing the thought away.
“No,” she whispered to herself, more to her heart than to Ryan. “He made his choice. And now, so have I p>
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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.