Chapter 115

The tension between us was palpable as Dominic leaned closer, his voice dropping to a hushed urgency. "If you genuinely want to save your marriage, Adrian, you must learn to show vulnerability. Love isn't measured by the price tags on your gifts." His fingers tapped restlessly against the polished mahogany table. "It's about the unspoken moments—the shared glances, the whispered confessions in the dark."

Adrian Blackwood's jaw tightened, his stormy gray eyes reflecting inner turmoil. Every word made logical sense, yet strung together, they formed a language foreign to him. The younger Adrian would have scoffed at such sentimental notions. But Vivian's recent behavior—her cold silences, the way she flinched at his touch—forced him to reconsider.

"What exactly constitutes love?" Adrian's voice was rougher than intended. "It's an abstract concept with no tangible value. Are empty promises truly superior to financial security?" The question of whether he loved Vivian had never consciously occurred to him. The Blackwood dynasty operated on different currencies—power, influence, strategic alliances.

Among his social circle, relationships were carefully calculated exchanges—status for beauty, wealth for companionship. If this was love's true nature, Adrian wanted no part of it.

His union with Vivian had been accidental, yet strangely fitting. She was unpredictable—a tempest in human form—yet her presence never grated. Sometimes, when she laughed unexpectedly, he caught himself mirroring her smile. She was... acceptable. More than acceptable. The thought of her leaving over something as nebulous as "emotional neglect" struck him as absurd.

Dominic released a heavy sigh, recognizing the futility of his argument.

"You're too entrenched in your worldview," he said, draping an arm around Adrian's shoulders before remembering his friend's aversion to touch. Only three people had ever breached that barrier—Serena, Vivian, and his estranged sister.

As they approached the mixed-use high-rise, Adrian's nose wrinkled in distaste. "People actually live here? Above a shopping complex?"

"Don't judge prematurely," Dominic countered. "This is Cascade Residences—some of the tightest security in Crestwood."

Adrian arched a skeptical brow. "Then how did you bypass it so easily?"

Dominic smirked. "I have my ways. Besides, this neighborhood caters to elite professionals. Rumor has it several A-list celebrities own penthouses here."

"Celebrities?" Adrian scoffed. "What self-respecting public figure would choose this... urban monstrosity?"

The glass doors slid open, revealing a sleek marble lobby where their footsteps echoed ominously. Somewhere in this concrete labyrinth, Vivian waited—possibly packing her belongings, possibly already gone. The thought sent an unfamiliar pang through Adrian's chest.

Dominic pressed the elevator button with renewed determination. "Just tell her she matters. That's all it takes."

Adrian remained silent, staring at the ascending floor numbers as if they were counting down to his execution. The elevator dinged.

The doors opened.

And there she was.