Chapter 87

Adam's POV

I slammed the empty glass onto the bar with a force that cut through the nightclub's background music. "Another one," I ordered, my voice cold and unyielding.

"Maybe you should slow down?" Mark raised an eyebrow but still signaled the bartender. "That's your fourth drink already."

"Shut up." My expression was dark, warning him not to utter another word.

Mark exaggeratedly raised his hands in surrender. "Alright,alright. So, you're not going to tell me what's going on, but you expect me to sit here and watch you drink yourself into oblivion?"

I chose to ignore him, taking the next glass of whiskey from the bartender. The nightclub was relatively quiet tonight, with only a few VIP patrons occupying the surrounding luxurious booths. The dim lighting and pulsating music created a private space for us at the bar. "You know," Mark continued, unfazed by my silence,′′a11of Wall Street is talking about how Stella must have really pissed you off this time." I snapped my head up. "What did you say?" Just repeating what I heard." Mark shrugged, a míschievous glint in his eye. "The great Adam Lancaster,looking murderous at the gala. People are talking."

I took another swig of whiskey, saying nothing.

"So, did she really make you mad?" Mark pressed on.

"We didn't have a fight," I finallyresponded, my tone clipped.

Mark scoffed. "Sure. That's why you're here, drinking alone,looking like you want to punch a hole through the wall."

I shot him a warning look but didIn't refute his words.

I nodded absently, my thoughts clearly elsewhere. After a moment, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

"Joseph," I said when the call connected, my voice low, "the trash bin in my bedroom. There's a green scarf in it. Retrieve it and keep it safe. Do not tell my wife." I paused, listening to his response. "No, do not clean it. Just store it in a secure place."

Another pause. "Good."

I ended the call, noticing Mark's curious expression.

"Not a word," I warned. Mark mimed zipping his lips, but his eyes sparkled with amusement. Stella's POV

The next morning, I was awakened by the warm sunlight,raising my hand to shield my eyes. As I turned over, I noticed Adam's side of the bed was neatly made, clearly untouched throughout the night.

I instinctively glanced at the trash bin where the scarf had been,only to find it emptied and replaced with a new liner.

Joseph must have cleaned the room while I was asleep,I thought, feeling a pang of disappointment. That scarf had taken me nearly a month to learn how to knit, choosing the perfect materials, and even hiding Adam's initials in the pattern.

Now, it had been discarded along with the other trash.

My phone buzzed with a message from Samantha:

Sam:Did you and Adam have a fight?

Me: How did you know?

Sam: The whole Manhattan elite knows. Someone saw Adam drinking alone at an upscale bar last night, looking like he wanted to kill someone. News travels fast. I groaned, sinking back into the pillow. Of course, the news would spread quickly. Adam rarely showed emotion in public, so his appearance at a bar, visibly upset, would naturally spark gossip.

Me: What else are they saying?

Sam: That you're about to be dumped.

I stared at the screen, a surge of anger rising within me. I wasn't some disposable item! But then I realized, for Manhattan's high society, that was exactly how they played their games.

Me: He went to the bar alone? Where?

Sam: Mark's place. High-end, members only.

I put down my phone, digesting the information. Adam had gone to Mark's club-not surprising, given their friendship.

Something was happening, I thought, my intuition tingling. It wasn't just our argument.

The next few days passed in a state of cold war. I threw myself into work, flying to the Splendor set to handle some final costume details for the production. The distance gave me space to think, to process my feelings about Adam, Grace,and the escalating tension between us. Every night, I returned to the Lancaster estate late, usually finding Adam already in bed, pretending to be asleep. We coexisted in parallel, sharing the same space but barely engaging beyond the most basic courtesies.

Of course, the staff noticed. I caught Joseph and the other household employees exchanging worried glances when they thought I wasn't looking. The vibrant energy that had once filled the mansion had dimmed, replaced by a heavy silence that seemed to seep into every corner.

\---

Adam's POV

"Sir, a reminder about tonight's economic forum," Taylor placed a folder on my desk. "As a formal dinner, you will need a female companion."

I continued reviewing the quarterly reports, not even looking up."And?"

"Mrs. Lancaster is working at a nearby studio today," Taylor continued cautiously, "I thought perhaps-"

"Who said I planned to invite her? I cut him off, my tone icy.

Taylor hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "I was merely suggesting Mrs. Lancaster, as she is your wife, and it would be the most ap propriate choice." I finally looked up, my expression inscrutable. "′′Calher.Inform her about tonight's event." Taylor nodded. pulling out his phone and stepping a few paces away to make the call. Moments later, I heard his professional voice, "Mrs. Lancaster? This is Taylor. Mr. Lancaster asked me to inform you about tonight's economic forum..."

I couldn't hear Stella's response, but judging by Taylor's increasingly uneasy expression, it wasn't positive.

"I understand, Mrs. Lancaster. Thank you for your time,"Taylor ended the call and turned to me. "Sir, Mrs. Lancaster is unavailable tonight. She suggested we find another suitable companion."

My jaw tightened. "Call her again. Put it on speaker."

Taylor looked alarmed but complied, dialing Stella's number once more and placing the phone on my desk.

"Hello?" Stella's voice filled the office on the third ring. >aylor,is there something else?"

"Mrs. Lancaster," Taylor began, his discomfort evident,′′MLancaster wanted to clarify the situation regarding tonight's event. It is quite a formal occasion, and it would be courteous to have a female companion. Considering you are nearby-" Stella interrupted, her tone polite but firm,"Iunderstand if Adam needs a companion, but I'm afraid I am unavailable tonight. Perhaps you can arrange for someone else suitable?" The ensuing silence was deafening. My expression darkened.my knuckles turning white as I gripped the armrest of my chair.

"Mrs. Lancaster," Taylor tried again, "perhaps if we sent a car-

"There's no need," Stella cut him off. "I have plans after work.Please convey my apologies to Adam. I must go now;they're calling me back to the set."

The call ended, leaving Taylor standing awkwardly by my desk,unsure how to proceed.

"Sir?" he asked cautiously after a moment.

My expression was completely closed off, my gaze as cold as winter frost. "Find someone else," I finally said,turning my attention back to the reports on my desk. "Anyone. I don't care who."