Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Chapter 25:

Rebecca sobbed quietly for a while. Beside her, Adrian’s demeanor remained impassive. Unable to resist the pull of his presence, Rebecca cast a sidelong glance at him. His sharply defined features, the impeccably tailored suit, and his lips pressed thin with an almost austere elegance combined into a strikingly attractive silhouette against the darkness.

Unintentionally, Rebecca found herself drawn to his charm. She leaned in closer, her eyes filled with an affectionate, almost wistful gaze. “Adie, you won’t abandon me, will you?”noveldrama

Her voice trembled, choked by her tears as she spoke. “Since my father and big brother passed away, I’ve come to see you as my family, too. With this brain tumor, if one day I’m no longer here, please don’t forget about me.” At her plea, the coldness in Adrian’s eyes softened. He handed her a tissue, his voice gentle as he tried to comfort her. “Don’t talk like that. I won’t let you die.”

Rebecca nodded through her tears. “I believe you, Adie!” With renewed hope, she exited the car, her spirits lifted. She bounced away, turning back every few steps to wave cheerfully at Adrian.

Inside the car, Adrian’s face remained inscrutable. His thoughts lingered on Joelle’s recent declaration: “I don’t like you.” The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was becoming increasingly clear that the woman he had carefully controlled for three years was slipping further from his grasp.

Joelle had just finished preparing for bed when Adrian appeared at her door once again. This time, she refused to let him in. “If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police!”

Adrian remained calm, pulling out his phone and making a call. Joelle couldn’t hear the details of his conversation, but it was clear he was providing her apartment’s address and door number. “Yes, my wife is locked inside. I need someone to come and remove the door.” “Identification? Will a marriage certificate work? Can you be here within ten minutes?”

As Adrian continued speaking, Joelle’s resolve began to waver. Reluctantly, she opened the door. She wasn’t backing down out of fear, but the reality was that if she didn’t let Adrian in tonight, he would use his connections to have the door forcibly removed. The apartment was a rental, and despite having a job, she hadn’t received her first paycheck. With no money to cover the cost of a damaged door, she couldn’t afford to risk the landlord’s ire.

Adrian walked into the room with a confident stride. Joelle stood by the entryway, still in her sleepwear, her posture stiff and unwelcoming. “What do you want, Adrian?”

She wore her usual at-home attire—a T-shirt that barely skimmed her hips, adorned with a large cat’s face. The scent of fresh soap clung to her skin, her hair tied up in a messy bun, a few stray strands curling against her neck. Without warning, Adrian shoved her against the cabinet near the door, a smirk playing on his lips as he leaned in close, his voice a low, husky whisper. “Do you?”

His words hung in the air, answering her question with a brutal directness. Joelle blinked, realization dawning on her. He was here for one thing only. “Get lost!” she spat, arching her back in an attempt to push him away. “Go find your mistress!”

But Adrian was relentless. He hooked an arm around her waist, yanking her closer until his chest was flush against hers. “Still claiming you’re not jealous?”

Joelle stopped struggling, a resigned sigh escaping her lips. “You’re delusional!” she said, her tone lighter, tinged with a faint smile. “Why would I be jealous if I don’t even like you?” His expression darkened, eyes narrowing as he studied her. Joelle wasn’t the same woman she used to be—compliant, easy to manipulate.

Adrian’s grip tightened. He grabbed her wrist with one hand, pinning it above her head, while his other hand clamped down on her chin, forcing her face to tilt upward. Her plump lips trembled in resistance. He leaned in, his teeth sinking into her lower lip, hard.

“Adrian!” she cried out, her legs kicking out in protest, but he trapped them between his own, immobilizing her completely. Her body was his to control—head, waist, hands, and legs all restrained. Only the thin fabric of her T-shirt separated his rough hands from her bare skin.

“Don’t like me?” His voice was a whisper, a dangerous caress against her ear. “Then why is your body telling me otherwise?” Each word he spoke chipped away at her resolve, his breath warm against her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine. Joelle shook her head desperately, gasping for air. “I told you, I don’t like you!”

Suddenly, there was a click. Amid their struggle, Joelle’s hand inadvertently hit the light switch. The room plunged into darkness, shrouding them in shadows. Adrian’s hands slipped beneath her shirt, his fingers finding their way to her most intimate place. The heat between her legs surged, overwhelming her senses. Joelle bit down hard on her lip, saying through gritted teeth, “You bastard!”

“Yes, but it’s this bastard who’s making you feel so good, isn’t it?” Adrian chuckled, his lips brushing against her ear. From the entryway to the sofa, from the bedroom to the bathroom—Adrian left his mark everywhere. By the time he was finished, Joelle’s body was sore, her limbs too weak to move. He scooped her up, carrying her to the shower.

Adrian chose not to leave. Instead, he stayed and squeezed himself onto the small bed beside her. Joelle’s voice was hoarse when she finally spoke. “Adrian, what will it take for you to leave me alone?” His answer was cold, cutting through the quiet. “Give me a baby, and I’ll let you go!”

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