Chapter 9
Adrian had woken early, his head pounding from the hangover.
“Violet, I want some…”
But his words cut off mid–sentence as he realized he wasn’t at home, and the person sleeping beside him wasn’t Violet–who would get up at a single word from him to make hangover soup and massage his temples.
With that, the unease in Adrian’s chest suddenly intensified.
He left in a hurry, not even leaving Seraphina a message.
With a cake from the west side bakery, he rushed home.
“Violet, sorry I was out so late last night. Didn’t want to wake you so I didn’t come home.”
“Got you that cake from the west side place you love.”
Adrian set the cake on the table as he spoke.
But Violet, who would normally rush to greet him the moment she heard him come home, was nowhere to be seen.
“Violet?”
Adrian opened the bedroom door–no one there.
He searched room by room but couldn’t find her anywhere.
Only then did Adrian suddenly remember–Violet had gone back to her hometown yesterday and wasn’t home.
Adrian breathed a sigh of relief, even laughing at himself for being so ridiculous.
How could he have such absurd thoughts?
Ten years–Violet had been with him for ten years. How could she just suddenly leave?
He opened his chat with Violet to ask when she’d be back, only then noticing the message she’d sent last night that he’d missed.
Adrian shook his head in disbelief: “No way. How could this be?”
Adrian frantically typed, not even realizing his hands were shaking;
[Why are you suddenly saying all this? You’ve got the wrong idea about me and Seraphina.]
Before he could finish explaining, he saw the red exclamation mark on screen.
[You are not yet friends with this user. Please add them first before sending messages.]
Adrian refused to give up, sending message after message, but getting only those jarring exclamation marks.
His anxiety growing, Adrian called Violet, his heart full of worry and panic.
“Sorry, the number you have dialed is not available.”
The cold mechanical voice echoed in his ears, over and over, until it disconnected.
Adrian stood frozen in the living room. The large apartment that he’d always found cramped now felt impossibly empty.
rate Devenge? They’re Crawling Back!
Chapter 9
The deathly silence marked another person’s departure.
Adrian sat back at the table, clutching his phone.
Just a few short lines, but he read them over and over.
How could this be?
How could Violet just abandon him and leave?
Restless emotions surged through Adrian as countless memories flooded his mind.
Until the doorbell interrupted his thoughts.
He strode to the door, hope flashing in his eyes–but it died the moment he saw who was there.
“Adrian, what’s wrong? You left this morning without saying anything. I went to find you at school but they said you didn’t come in today. Did
something happen?”
Adrian didn’t answer her question, stepping aside to let her in.
“Did you tell Violet about us?”
Seraphina froze for a moment, panic flashing across her face, but she quickly regained her composure.
“Yes.”
She met Adrian’s eyes without a trace of guilt at being found out.
“She saved you once, but you’ve been with her all these years–you’ve given her a good life. Isn’t that enough?”
“You’re the youngest professor at our university with a bright future ahead. Are you really gonna throw it all away for her?”
Seraphina walked over to Adrian.
“If you feel guilty, I can give her plenty of money as compensation–enough for her to live comfortably anywhere for the rest of her life.”
Adrian pushed her away, his eyes ice–cold:
“What did you say to her?”
“Adrian, you better think this through. You’re talented, sure, but this place isn’t short on talent. Without me, you’ll go through what you went through at sixteen all over again.”
“Violet can get you through hard times, but she can’t give you any real help or make you rise to the top.”
“Are you really okay with staying like this forever? Always carrying the stigma of being a bastard?”
Seraphina didn’t say much more, just put the breakfast she’d brought on the table.
She stared intently at Adrian, watching the conflicted expression on his face.
“Adrian, I love you. I don’t care about your past. Our deal still stands, and everything I said at last night’s dinner still stands.”
After Seraphina left, the room returned to silence.
Adrian was torn between pain and internal struggle.
Could he really give all this up?
It had taken him ten full years to get from that small town full of people who despised him to becoming the youngest professor at a top
There Crawling Back!
14.0%
insert
delete
home
end
pg up
pg dn
Chapter 9
university.
In those ten years he’d suffered so much and endured so much humiliation.
He’d worked so hard to get where he was–there was no way he could give it up.
But what about Violet?
Since high school graduation, Violet had worked three jobs a day to put him through school, even ruining her stomach to give him better living conditions.
On one side was a bright future, on the other was unwavering devotion.
Adrian didn’t know how to choose.
Chapter 10
