The following days were filled with an unsettling silence between Grace and Adrian. He had given her space as she requested, but that didn't mean he had given up. Grace could feel his lingering presence in the house, the way his eyes followed her when they crossed paths, full of emotions he refused to voice. It made her chest tighten, but she couldn't bring herself to talk to him just yet. She wasn't ready.
Meanwhile, Max remained close, offering quiet support without pushing her. He had always been good at that—knowing when to speak and when to simply be there. She met him a few times for coffee, their conversations light but comforting. Max never pressured her, never told her what to do, but Grace could see the hope in his eyes. He wanted her to see him—not just as a friend, but as the man who had always loved her.
But Grace wasn't sure she was ready to accept that.
One evening, as she sat on the balcony, staring out at the city lights, Adrian stepped outside and joined her. He didn't say anything at first, simply leaning against the railing beside her.
"I met with Max," Adrian finally said, his voice calm but firm.
Grace stiffened. "I know."
"I told him you're my wife. That I won't let you go so easily."
She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Adrian, this isn't about you and Max fighting over me. This is about me figuring out what I want, what I need."
"And what do you need?" His voice was low, but she could hear the pain beneath it.
She hesitated, the words heavy on her tongue. "I need to feel happy again. I need to feel... loved. Not just as your wife, but as a person. I need to know I matter to you, not just because of the vows we took, but because you truly see me."
Adrian turned to her then, his expression unreadable. "And do you think Max sees you?"
Grace swallowed hard, looking away. "I don't know. But at least he tries."
The silence between them deepened, thick with things unsaid.
Adrian clenched his fists, struggling to keep his emotions in check. "So, what are you saying? That you're giving up on us?"
"I don't know what I'm saying," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just know I can't keep living like this."
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I won't give up, Grace. I won't let Max take you away from me."
She turned to him then, meeting his gaze. "It's not about Max, Adrian. It's about us. And whether there's anything left to fight for."
Adrian didn't respond right away. He simply looked at her, the weight of her words settling in. Then, without another word, he turned and walked back inside, leaving Grace alone with her thoughts.
As the wind brushed against her skin, she felt torn between two forces—one that had shaped her past, and one that could possibly define her future.
And for the first time in a long time, she was terrified of making the wrong choice.
Max was confident that this was finally his moment. He had waited years, endured heartbreak when he found out Grace was married, and now that her relationship with Adrian seemed to be hanging by a thread, he believed he had a real chance to win her heart.
One sunny afternoon, Max mustered the courage to ask Grace out for dinner. It wasn't his usual lighthearted invitation; this time, he was serious. "Grace," he said, standing in front of her as she stacked some books on her shelf, "can we have dinner tonight? I mean... a proper dinner. Just the two of us."
Grace paused, her fingers brushing the spine of the book she was holding. She turned to him, a mix of hesitation and curiosity in her eyes. "Max, I don't know if that's a good idea. Things are... complicated right now."
"I know they are," Max said, his voice calm but determined. "But I'm not asking you to make any decisions. I just want to spend time with you. No pressure. No expectations. Just dinner."
His sincerity made her soften. "Alright," she finally said with a small smile. "Dinner it is."
Max's heart leaped with hope. This was his chance to show Grace how much she meant to him.
That evening, he waited for her at a cozy little restaurant he had picked—a quiet spot with soft lighting and a warm ambiance, perfect for a heartfelt conversation. Grace arrived on time, looking stunning yet effortlessly graceful. Max couldn't help but smile as he rose to greet her.
But just as they were about to settle into the evening, Adrian walked in.
Max's jaw clenched as Adrian strode toward their table with the confidence of a man who had no intention of backing down. Grace looked surprised, her brows furrowing as she asked, "Adrian? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Adrian replied, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Max. "Having dinner with him?"
Grace sighed, already feeling the tension rise. "It's just dinner, Adrian."
"Dinner with him?" Adrian repeated, his tone sharper now. He turned to Max. "You really can't help yourself, can you?"
Max stood, his fists tightening at his sides. "She agreed to have dinner with me because I asked her, Adrian. You don't get to control her life."
"She's my wife," Adrian snapped.
"Not for long, if you keep pushing her like this," Max shot back.
"Stop it!" Grace interjected, standing between them. Her voice was firm, her eyes blazing with frustration. "I'm not going to sit here and let you two turn this into a battlefield. Max, thank you for inviting me, but I can't do this."
"Grace, wait," Max called after her as she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.
Adrian followed, but Grace stopped him with a glare. "And you, Adrian? Stop following me everywhere. You're making everything harder than it already is."
She stormed out, leaving both men standing in awkward silence.
Max turned to Adrian, his expression full of anger and disappointment. "Why do you keep doing this? If you love her so much, why don't you focus on fixing what you broke instead of ruining every chance she has at happiness?"
Adrian said nothing, his jaw set in frustration as Max walked away.