Lucy had reached her limit.
For three weeks, she had been quiet.
Watching.
Waiting.
Hoping he would say something first.
But he never did.
That evening, she stood in the room, quietly arranging her clothes into the drawer.
Folding each one carefully.
Like keeping her hands busy would calm her thoughts.
But it didn't.
Nothing did anymore.
The door opened.
Adrian walked in.
Just like always.
No greeting.
No glance.
Nothing.
He walked straight in, pulled off his shirt, and dropped it carelessly on the bed.
His movements were calm, like nothing was wrong.
Like everything between them was normal.
He reached for his lighter.
A cigarette between his fingers.
Then his eyes shifted.
He looked at Lucy.
Just for a second.
Something in his expression paused.
Very briefly.
Then he dropped the lighter back.
Didn't light the cigarette.
He turned, ready to walk out again.
"Adrian."
Her voice stopped him.
He didn't move immediately.
Then slowly… he turned.
Lucy swallowed.
Her chest already tight before she even spoke again.
"Adrian… tell me what happened to us."
Silence.
She stepped away from the drawer.
Facing him fully now.
"We sleep in the same room… the same bed…"
Her voice shook slightly.
"…yet you don't even talk to me anymore."
She took another small step closer.
Her eyes searching his.
"You act like I don't matter to you."
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
He just looked at her.
Quiet.
Still.
Then finally—
"I'm busy with work, Lucy."
That answer.
Again.
Lucy let out a soft, disbelieving breath.
"Busy?" she repeated.
She shook her head slowly.
"Busy for three weeks, Adrian?"
Her voice rose a little, not loud—but heavier.
"Even if you're busy… does that mean you can't talk to me at all?"
She moved closer again.
"You leave early… you come back late… sometimes you don't even sleep in this room."
Her eyes were already filled now.
But she didn't look away.
"Adrian… I know I'm not your girlfriend…"
A pause.
Her voice dropped.
"…or your wife…"
"But if you're tired of me being here…"
She swallowed hard.
"…then just say it."
Another step back.
Like she was already preparing herself.
"Let me go back to my family."
Silence.
Heavy.
"Maybe I'm no longer useful to you anymore."
Adrian still said nothing.
He just stood there.
Watching her.
That silence broke her more than anything else.
Lucy let out a shaky breath.
"Keep me quiet for all you care, Adrian…"
Her voice cracked.
"…I just…"
She couldn't finish.
Tears fell.
She turned immediately.
And walked out.
Not running.
But fast enough to escape his silence.
After some time, Lucy walked around the house.
Trying to calm down.
Trying to think.
But her mind wouldn't stop.
That was when she realized something.
Jurbe.
She hadn't seen him.
Hadn't heard from him.
She stopped one of Adrian's personal men.
"Excuse me… where is Jurbe?" she asked quietly.
The man bowed slightly.
"Ma'am… Jurbe travelled. It was something important."
Lucy nodded slowly.
"…okay."
She didn't ask more.
She just walked away.
Then she entered the living room.
And stopped.
Adrian was there.
And he wasn't alone.
A woman sat beside him.
Close.
Too close.
She was laughing softly.
Comfortably.
Like she belonged there.
Adrian was listening.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Even… entertained.
Lucy felt it.
Sharp.
Right in her chest.
Busy for me…
Her thoughts turned bitter.
But not busy for another woman.
She forced a smile.
Even though it didn't reach her eyes.
Then she walked in fully.
"Good day," Lucy said.
Her voice was calm.
Controlled.
She didn't wait.
She turned slightly, already heading toward the stairs.
"Lucy."
The woman's voice stopped her.
Lucy paused.
Slowly turned back.
"Yes?"
The woman smiled.
Studying her.
"Lucy is your name, right?"
Lucy nodded once.
"Yes. That's my name."
The woman leaned back slightly.
Still smiling.
"Oh… so you're the one who stole the company documents, right?"
Everything froze.
Lucy's body went still.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Slowly…
she turned her eyes to Adrian.
The pain in her eyes was clear.
She couldn't hide it.
Not this time.
Adrian saw it.
He noticed everything.
But he didn't speak immediately.
The woman laughed lightly.
A dry, empty laugh.
"Oh… sorry if I said that," she added carelessly.
"But it was true… right?"
"Enough, Elena."
Adrian's voice cut through the room.
Cold.
Sharp.
Lucy didn't stay.
She turned immediately.
And started walking upstairs.
"Lucy—" Adrian called.
She didn't turn.
Not even for a second.
Behind her—
Elena's voice followed.
"That is rude, Lucy."
Lucy didn't respond.
Didn't even glance back.
She just kept walking.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Making sure she didn't miss her steps.
Because her vision was already blurring.
When she got to her room—
she closed the door.
And the tears came.
Not small tears.
Not quiet ones.
Everything she had been holding in broke at once.
She sat on the bed.
Crying.
Breathing uneven.
Memories started flooding in.
The way he used to look at her.
The way he spoke to her.
The way he held her.
The small moments that once felt real.
She cried harder.
Then another memory came.
That woman's voice from the mafia gathering.
Once he is tired of you… he will leave you.
Lucy shook her head.
Trying to block it.
But it stayed.
Then—
another memory.
That night.
The night Adrian took her virginity.
Her chest tightened suddenly.
Her breathing became unstable.
Everything hit her at once.
The fear.
The confusion.
The pain.
The attachment.
"Ah—!"
A scream tore out of her.
Loud.
Raw.
Painful.
It echoed through the entire house.
Downstairs—
Adrian froze.
He knew that voice.
"Lucy."
He moved immediately.
Fast.
Without thinking.
The stairs felt too long.
He reached her door—
and kicked it open.
"Lucy!"
She was on the floor.
Eyes closed.
Tears still on her face.
Adrian rushed to her.
Dropped beside her.
Lifted her into his arms.
"Lucy… Lucy, look at me."
No response.
His voice turned sharp.
Louder.
"Lucy!"
Still nothing.
He turned to the staff standing frozen at the door.
"Why are you standing there?!" he snapped.
"Go get the doctor. Now!"
They rushed immediately.
"Get water," he added harshly.
"Now!"
Then he looked back at her.
His expression no longer calm.
No longer controlled.
Something in him had broken too.
"Lucy…" he said again, softer this time.
Holding her closer.
But she still didn't respond.