Chapter 4

Yvette wrote: [By the way, we're having three weddings. That was Adrian's promise to me. One back home, and two overseas. The whole thing is set to cost 300 million dollars. Think you can keep up?]

I couldn't help but feel a wave of envy.

After all, when Adrian and I got married, we didn't even get a wedding ceremony.

Life had thrown all sorts of challenges at Adrian back then. We couldn't afford a wedding dress, a wedding, or even a rock of a diamond ring.

I was totally head over heels for that handsome face, thought he was the real deal, talented and all, and just dove in without a second thought.

Adrian was flat broke, so I put up everything I had just to help pave his way.

We skipped all the formalities and showed up at the courthouse to get our marriage certificate, then grabbed a quick bite with a few close friends as a celebration.

I remember that night so vividly. Adrian wrapped me in his arms, his eyes shining with emotion as he made that heartfelt promise.

He whispered, "Larissa, you're my everything now. Thank you for standing by me when no one else would.

"Believe me, I'm going to make it. When I do, I'll give you the most amazing, unforgettable wedding anyone's ever seen."

Sure enough, Adrian made it.

Over the past seven years, his business kept growing, and the money just kept rolling in. But he never once brought up that wedding he promised me.

I always thought he was just too busy to think about it. But after seeing those messages from Yvette, I finally understood that it wasn't about the work at all. I was never the one in his heart.

Even though I'd already decided to let go of Adrian and not bother with whatever he and Yvette were doing, those photos and texts she sent still hit me harder than I expected.

Just as my heart was aching, Adrian suddenly called me.

I didn't pick up Adrian's calls. He kept calling over and over. Since I kept ignoring him, he ended up texting me instead.

Adrian: [Why aren't you answering your phone? Are you mad at me, Larissa?]

Talked about nerve. Did he really think I was still the idiot who worshipped the ground he walked on?

I kept ignoring him, so Adrian wrote: [Larissa, don't be mad, okay? I know you're upset, so I waited a few days before reaching out. I had no choice.

[This whole mess is because you hurt Yvette. She's got depression. She can't handle any drama. I need to look after her right now, but I'll swing by when I have time and check in on your prenatal appointments.]

What's the point, you scumbag? Your kid was already gone.

I scoffed. Adrian texted me again. [Larissa, I had someone bring you your favorite fruit and cake. The delivery guy said you weren't home. Where'd you disappear to?]

For some reason, Adrian was so patient lately. Even though I kept ignoring him, he just kept texting like I was hanging on every word. It was like he was having a whole conversation with himself.

He wrote: [The baby's not causing you any trouble, right? I heard pregnant women get morning sickness. If you're feeling awful, just tell me. I'll drop everything and come take care of you.

[Larissa, come on, talk to me, will you? If you're mad, just curse me out over text. Anything's better than this silent treatment. You're making me worry sick about you and the baby.]

Well, wasn't this a shocker? Adrian was actually blowing up my phone like he cared.

Ever since Yvette came back to the country, Adrian kept getting colder and colder toward me.

He always ignored my texts. Whenever he did bother replying, it was just a bland "Okay."

So now he was putting all this effort into texting me paragraphs. What was his angle?

I remembered it all too well.

In my previous life, when I told Adrian I was pregnant, he just took off with Yvette without a word. He did not even send me a single caring message.

Was the world messed up or what? Now he kept checking in and actually asking about the baby like he suddenly cared.

What the hell was Adrian up to?

I would not believe that Adrian genuinely cared about me or the baby.