Chapter 1
Chapter 1
In one month, Eliana Ashford received twenty noise complaints from the neighbours.
"Mrs. Wyndham, it's the middle of the afternoon — when are you going to make them stop? Have you no shame?"
"Day and night, both of you — the whole street can hear it! My mother-in-law is on blood pressure medication because of the racket. Keep this up and I'm calling the police!"
The furious voice crackled over the phone and echoed through the conference room. Eliana's colleagues shifted in their seats, stealing uncomfortable glances at her face.
She cancelled the meeting without a word and drove out to the country estate.
She heard it from downstairs — the unmistakable sounds of midday indulgence. She pushed open the bedroom door. Used protection littered the floor. Their wedding portrait on the wall was streaked with something white.
The two of them held their position, unsurprised by her arrival.
"Get out."
Adrian Wyndham said it coldly, then lowered his head and kissed Serena Holloway on the lips.
Eliana's heart had gone numb long ago, yet the sight still made her clench her fists until her knuckles turned pale.
"I only came to let you know — the neighbours have filed over twenty complaints. Please show some restraint, or one of them is going to record it and post it online."
She paused. Her throat felt tight.
"It affects both our reputations. You really should —"
A box of condoms sailed past her ear and hit the floor with a hollow crack.
"Reputation?" Adrian let out a short, derisive laugh. "All those years you kept me at arm's length, did you ever once think about my reputation?"
"Besides — what leverage does the Ashford name have against me now? If you don't want your family wiped off the map of London, turn around and walk out."
Eliana drew a slow breath and turned to leave.
"Wait."
Adrian thrust forward. Serena gasped.
The wedding portrait rattled on its hook and crashed to the floor, the frame shattering.
"Get rid of that. It's an eyesore."
His voice was effortless, almost bored — yet every word landed like a blade.
"Looking at it while I'm with Serena makes it rather difficult to perform."
Eliana crouched down. The moment her fingers touched a shard of glass, it sliced into her skin. A bead of blood welled up slowly.
She didn't make a sound. She picked up the portrait, folded it carefully, and tucked it into her pocket.
Behind her came a quiet, contemptuous sound, and then the bed began to shake.
The pain was sharp, even through the numbness.
He had loved her as though she were the only thing that mattered to him, once.