$Chapter 3

“Your thing is small. Right?”

Your thing is small, right?

…thing is small, right?

…is small, right?

…small, right?

..right?

Adira’s question echoed in the clear and quiet night.

It was a starry night sky with a cold wind gushing westward. Reports told nothing about the possible eruption of any volcanoes worldwide.

Yet, when Chadwick heard Adira’s question about the most precious thing in his body, he felt as if a sharp lightning cracked in the sky, and he listened to a thunder booming inside his head, molten him in anger. His temper peaked like a volcano about to erupt in its enormous rage.

“I can handle that, I think,” Adira said, nodding while looking at Chadwick’s center. “But how small is it? Can you give me a hint so I can be prepared?”

A fresh swell of rage rose, and Chadwick gritted his teeth. The fury is twisting his stomach and blurring his ability to think straight.

Catching his breath with his wide-opened mouth, he grabbed the pillow and held it tightly with his trembling hand.

When he pursed his lips, he started biting his lower lip, and he ignored the pain in the flesh inside his mouth until it felt numb.

‘If only she is a man… If only she is a man!’ Chadwick chanted these inwardly while imagining how relieving it would be to hit her face with a pillow. He really wanted to, but he won’t. He cannot. He must not.

He is not a violent person, to begin with.

However, the question is enough to stir up his last inch of patience.

When Adira saw her husband’s sour expression, red face, and veins popping out from his neck, she couldn’t stop the laugh from bursting out of her lips.

“Pfft…” she let out loud chuckles and covered her mouth.

Wordlessly, Chadwick watched Adira. A scowl marred his handsome face. He couldn’t believe that she could even dare to laugh at him.

He wanted to say that his thing isn’t small. But if he does, he fears hell will fall from her trap.

‘Damn it!’ Chadwick cursed while gawking at Adira.

Holding her intense belly, Adira wiped her teary eyes. Chadwick can’t tell if she’s being serious or only teasing him. Either way, he had already cursed her inside his head. He did it about three times, and he never felt satisfied.

Adira stared at the threatening bloodthirstiness on his red face. Then, she felt the low temperature inside the room.

‘He’s really mad. Shoot,’ Adira laughed internally.

She forged a cough and said, “I was only joking. Seeing that you don’t want to do it with me tonight, I won’t force you anymore.”

‘But that does not mean I won’t return,’ Adira added.

She smiled at him with the beam of a cat playing with a mouse; then she turned around. But Chadwick dropped a question with his keen edge voice before she could step away.

“Do you like me?”

The question he tossed was so sharp, like swords that can pierce a neck.

Adira stared vacantly. It was just that the question bewildered her so much that she lost the sense of direction for the moment. Blinking swiftly, Adira tilted her head to her husband, who suddenly spoke of nonsense.

“Did you fall for me because I am handsome?” he asked her again.

He is handsome. Yes, that is true. A big CHECK. His good looks were a hot topic in the business world, as he was called the most handsome and youngest CEO ever, even way back before. Adira once saw that article in the magazine.

Now, looking at him, Adira observed his face.

Chadwick has cat-like eyes, rounded in the base and sharp in the end. Then his nose is pointed and thin, but not something that can cut an onion. He has straight brows that are always marred in front of Adira and cupid bow lips in which both corners have elevated shapes, making him look like a gorgeous large car.

But to fall for him just because of his looks?

Adira thinks her husband suffers from an ‘I am handsome, and I know it’s a disease.

A lot of handsome men tried to woo Adira. Some are celebrities, others are athletes, and most are rich conglomerate sons of billionaires. However, no one preceded to swoon over the CEO of the Crimson and Meadow company. No one.

And Chadwick, her husband, won’t be her exemption. Even if he is the most handsome man in the world, Adira can’t imagine herself falling for him just because of his looks.

“I did not fall for you,” she uttered with chuckles. “But if we share our genes, our future baby would be grateful.”

Chadwick’s brows tangled in a deep accusatory scowl, an attitude as cold as an executioner’s ax.

He repeated the surprising word inside his head again and again.

‘Baby? Baby? Baby?’

Until it processed in his mind.

“The reason I wanted to have sex with you is to get pregnant,” Adira explained. “I am turning 32 this year. So, before it gets too late, I wanted to have a baby.”

Actually, Chadwick did not expect her to offer this to him. Aside from her age, they also got married only to resolve the current business problems in their companies, and soon, they might divorce.

‘Why would she like to have my kid when there’s a chance we will separate soon?’ he wondered.

“So, you wanted to get pregnant, that’s all?”

“You got my point, honey.”

Chadwick scratched his head while blinking his eyes swiftly, quite dumbfounded.

“But I don’t like to do it with you. What to do?” he asked, raising one of his brows.

“You aren’t worrying about who will inherit your company?”

“No. My older brother has children. My nephews can inherit the company,” he answered.

“Woah, this is commendable. It is rare to see someone who does not have greed for power.”

“So, you should stop using me to fulfill your goal. There are still other ways for you to get pregnant,” he suggested. “And you can also adopt a kid.”

Brushing her red hair upward, Adira responded with a sneer.

“Do you think my father, who set me up for an arranged marriage for the company's sake, will accept a child whose blood came from an unknown man? Hmmm?”

Chadwick could not respond. The answer is obvious.

“If that really happened, then the child would only suffer. So, getting pregnant in this way is my only chance. When you are ready, just feel free to tell me. Okay? I will give you the privilege of choosing whose bed you want. My bed or your bed.”

Adira winked at her husband. When she turned around, her long crimson hair fluttered. She exited the room, leaving the flowery scent of lavender.

Staring at the closed door, Chadwick soon caught his face with his palms and roughly washed it up and down. He really expected it would be easy to live with his wife as long as she was Adira Hale. But he only realized that he was wrong a little bit too late.

“She is… a crazy woman,” he mumbled in a low voice.

He felt his phone vibrating while he was falling into deep thoughts of regrets about this marriage.

Isa sent him a text message.

[“I am so sorry, Chadwick. Perhaps, did you fight with your wife because of me?”]

After reading the text, Chadwick took a deep breath and lay on his bed.

“I don’t even know if that is a fight or what,” he mumbled.

-- -- - -- - - -- - - -- - -- -- - - -- -- -- - - - - -- - -

The following day came.

The golden ray of sunshine brushed Adira’s porcelain face. It woke her up from her sweet abyss.

With a stretch, she welcomed the morning with a groan, “Ahhhhhh Hmmm.”

Today is her first morning living with her husband under the same roof. Usually, newlywed women wanted to fulfill their longtime dream of cooking their husbands’ breakfast on their first morning as a married couple in their new house. Yet, Adira doesn’t belong to that group.

Why would she cook for Chadwick?

She knows that Chadwick will do his best to avoid her as mus as possible. So, it will be a waste of time to cook for him. In addition to that, what Adira wanted was to seduce him in bed but not to make him fall in love with her.

Relishing her spare time to stare at the blank space, Adira yawned.

She stared at nothing for many minutes before deciding to start her day.

Her plan? To do her daily routine, working as the diligent leader, the CEO of Crimson Meadow company.

Waking up late won’t ever be in Adira’s dictionary. Just like what everyone who knows Adira is aware of, she hates people wasting their time by being irresponsible at work. In other words, she wanted to be a diligent and punctual leader, and being Chadwick’s wife won’t hinder that.

With enough time left, Adira walked out of her room. She is still wearing the thin, silky crimson bathrobe she wore last night. The less fabric she wears, the more comfortable she feels in her sleep.

“Ahhhh, my shoulder is aching,” she groaned while walking to the kitchen. “Maybe I am getting older.”

Sighing, Adira stopped her pace and glanced at her husband’s room.

They are both CEO of two different companies. Therefore, she wondered if he had already left for work or if he was still in the middle of preparing.

“If that weird man is up, I bet one million dollars that he won’t walk out of his room because he does not want to bump into me,” she chuckled. “This holy romantic v*rgin.”

Adira addressed him as ‘Virgin’ not because she’s not one of the clubs. She does not have any experience too. Not even one. Yet, it is so confusing for her that Chadwick does not give in to temptation.

“My sleepwear is too revealing. But he did not bat an eye,” Adira complained nonchalantly while looking at her huge clothed bre*st.

Clicking her tongue, she arrived at the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator when suddenly, she heard the doorbell.

Ding dong~ Ding dong!~

She closed the door of the refrigerator and looked at the door.

‘Who is crazy enough to visit our home this early morning?’ she wondered, tilting her head.

Thinking how odd it is to have a guest as a married couple on their first day together in their new house, Adira approached the security camera.

On the screen of the security camera, she saw a cute woman standing in front of the door.

“She looks very familiar,” Adira murmured.

She narrowed her eyes to the image of the familiar woman until she recognized who she was.

“Ahhhhhh, I know now,” she gasped.

The woman who came is the person she saw during their wedding. She’s the enthusiastic and brave lady who waved at Chadwick during the wedding ceremony.

‘And also, the woman calling my husband last night,’ Adira added inwardly.

“Isa Daley,” Adira whispered to the woman whom her husband has feelings for. “So, it is my husband’s visitor.”

If Isa Daley came to visit, she would be Chadwick's visitor. Now, Adira contemplated whether she'll call her husband or not.

'Is it really necessary to call him when this house is my house too?' Adira asked herself.

Flaunting a grin, Adira decided to greet the guest alone. She held the doorknob, and when the entrance opened, a pair of clear brown eyes shook before her.

Isa Daley gaped at the woman who opened the door. She blinked her brown eyes, then observed Adira's sexy lingerie. Isa gawked at Adira's silky sleeping wear, bust, red lips, and alluring emerald eyes. When Adira blinked, her long lashes flickered like red butterfly wings.

'Chadwick's wife is so pretty. And she has a charismatic look,' with this in Isa's mind, she felt anxious. Yet, she suppressed the fear and straightened her posture.

Adira stared at the woman whom her husband had feelings for. Isa Daley has an innocent face, big round brown eyes, a small thin nose, a tiny face, and a captivating beam. Isa looks like the typical female lead in every romance novel.

If they stand next to each other, Isa will look like a lamb, while Adira will look like a wild red fox.

The lamb, Isa, held tightly at the plant vase around her hands. She smiled at Adira and greeted, "Good morning."

What's good in the morning?

Adira does not feel good early in the morning. Either way, she greeted her back.

"Good morning." Then, Adira smiled too.

"My name is Isa Daley," she introduced. "I attended the wedding before."

Adira nodded her head. "I see," she responded before asking, "Then, how did you know our address?"

Apart from Adira and Chadwick's families and secretaries, no one knows the couple's address.

"About that. Well, err, ahm, Chadwick shared with me the address of your house."

Adira snorted silently. Once again, she praised her husband's foolishness for bringing his woman into their house.

If Adira is just an ordinary wife, she might have dragged Isa out of the house by pulling her hair. Fortunately, Isa should be thankful that the person in front of her is a woman who won't care about her husband's affair.

In a gentle tone, Adira responded, "So, why did you come here, Miss Daley?"

As an answer, Isa showed the plant vase she was carrying.

"Here. I wanted to give this plant as my gift for you."

A gift for Adira?

Adira was curious why this woman would offer a gift for her.

Is there a mistress willing to give a gift to the legal wife?

Adira thought that Isa might be the first one.

"A gift for me?" Adira repeated. "Why?"

Sighing, Isa explained, "Last night, Chadwick and I were talking through a phone call. Then, I heard your voice."

Adira's right brow soared up, making the other look bigger than the right side. She continued listening to Isa without saying a thing.

"Chadwick and I talked for hours," Isa added. Biting her peach lips, she continued, "Thus, I wanted to give you this gift just in case I made you feel so bad. I am sure you're not okay, right?"

Blinking, Adira observed Isa.

The cute girl has an innocent face, something that resembles an angel. However, as Adira analyzed the meaning of Isa's words, she doubted if Isa was really an angel sent from heaven.

Is Isa really need to inform Adira that she's talking with Chadwick for long hours?

And would it be better to apologize to a misunderstanding than to say that she wanted to make Adira feel better?

Wondering about those, Adira realized that Isa was an angel sent from hell.

'A b*tch appeared,' Adira said inwardly while she glared down at Isa.

When Isa saw the dark gaze, she felt the overpowering aura and the chill creeping out of her skin. Her hands trembled, and by accident, she dropped the vase.

"Oh no!"

Krkrkrrrrklsh!

Ear-piercing sounds echoed around the living room.

Adira looked at the pieces of the broken vase and the poor plant that dirtied that white tile.

"Oh my goodness," Isa gasped, covering her mouth. She then looked at Adira and apologized. "Sorry! I am so sorry! I didn't mean to drop it!" Quickly, Isa sat down to pick up the broken pieces.

Nonchalantly, Adira watched her and thought that she was an idiot.

"Ouch!" Isa winced when she accidentally cut her finger while picking up the broken pieces.

That is why Adira thought she was a fool. 'Why pick up something dangerous when you can use a broom?' she thought as she rolled her eyes.

Wanting to stop Isa from picking them up, she detached her lips.

"Hey. St…”

But Chadwick suddenly came.

"Isa!" he shouted as he dashed towards his friend.

Chadwick passed by his wife and knelt on the ground to check how deep is the cut on Isa's finger.

"Oh sh*t," Chadwick cursed. "Are you fine? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

Adira found it very absurd. Who goes to the hospital with a small cut on her finger?

'Well. Love will make someone really stupid,' Adira realized while watching the two.

"Hospital? No. This is nothing," Isa replied. She smiled at him and pressed her finger to stop the bleeding.

Chadwick looked alternately at the broken plant vase and Isa's wound. Next, he stared at the possible culprit.

Adira wasn't the one who broke the vase. But given that she's present, Chadwick can easily accuse her as the perpetrator.

"You… Did you…" Chadwick uttered while glaring at his wife.

Adira tilted her head. She did give Isa an eye-piercing stare, but she's innocent!

Feeling unjust, Adira gawked at Isa. She waited for Isa to explain to Chadwick that everything was an accident and Adira was innocent. However, Isa did not say anything. She just kept sitting on the ground with her head hung low, as if playing the poor victim act.

'This sh*t…' Adra exclaimed internally. She couldn't believe that a devil dared to crawl from hell, and that was Isa!

As no one talked, Chadwick guessed that it was really Adira who caused this mess. After their conversation last night, Chadwick was convinced that Adira could be crazy.

Therefore, Chadwick stood up and gave her the coldest stare ever. Then, he accused, "What the hell are you doing, Adira?"

Experiencing this absurdness, Adira snorted. "Huh."

She smirked at Isa, who's succeeded in making her the villain.

Who is the lamb again? Adira can only see a sly fox in front of her.

'But I don't have time and patience for this,' Adira thought. She realized it would be better to ignore them and prepare for her work.

Shaking her head, Adira turned around and stepped away. But Chadwick was fast to grab her wrist and pull her back.

Adira looked back and stared at his hand made of ice. The place he touched immediately became cold, and that chill from his fingertips slithered straight into her body.

With an apathetic expression, Adira stared at her husband.

"Where do you think you're going after doing this?" Chadwick asked. His clutch tightened around his wrist.

Adira flinched. His clasp is painful but bearable. But it shows how agitated he is just because Isa got hurt.

"Explain why you did that?" Chadwick commanded.

Do what?

What will she explain when she does not do anything?

Adira proudly lifted her chin. Then she asked, "What did I do?"

Huh.

Chadwick snorted. He couldn't believe that Adira dared to play ignorant even at times like this.

"Don't you dare play innocent, Adira," he warned, pulling her closer.

It must be easy for him to think that Adira is the villain. However, Adira won't back down.

'If he wanted me to play evil, then I would,' Adira decided.

Before she became Adira McElroy, she was Adira Hale. A name that means being strong and undefeated.

Adira pulled her hand out of Chadwick's grip and held him instead. It was as if she flipped the table; now, she's the interrogator.

Chadwick can hardly react to the fast shifting of her movements.

"Dear," Adira called.

Blinking swiftly, he looked at her.

Even Isa is surprised that Adira is holding Chadwick's wrist and that she has the upper hand in this battle.

Adira grinned at him.

"Accusing me without evidence, I think that's how powerful love is," Adira murmured.

"W-What?" Chadwick uttered.

"Why? It's true. You have feelings for this lady." Adira stared down at Isa as she whispered, "Right, Honey?"

At Adira's remark, Chadwick and Isa held their breaths momentarily.

Adira was sitting in front of her office desk while reminiscing about the scene that unfolded in her new home this early morning:

“You have feelings for this lady.” Adira stared down at Isa as she whispered, “Right, Honey?”

At Adira’s remark, Chadwick and Isa held their breaths momentarily. They did not expect to hear this answer directly from Adira.

As no one from the two could answer her, Adira pulled her hand away from Chadwick’s. Then, she glanced at the woman sitting pathetically on the floor.

“Miss Isa. You don’t need to pick those up because I will ask someone else to clean them. After all, YOU ARE MY HUSBAND’S DEAREST GUEST.”

Adira smiled at Isa, an eerie and haunting beam like an image in a broken mirror. Isa felt the chill creeping out on her skin.

“And honey,” Adira called the unmovable and stunned Chadwick. She leaned towards him, placing her leg between his thighs before she fixed the collar of his shirt.

Chadwick’s eyes dilated in front of the gorgeous woman before him. A scowl marred on his face. Even Adira’s cloying scents are enticing, and he detests such smell.

“I had to go to work. Have a great time with your guest.”

She moved two steps backward away from him and did not forget to wear the sneer on her lips. When she turned around, her red hair fluttered in the air. Adira left the two without looking back as if seeing them again would waste her time.

“Ma’am?”

Waking up from recollecting the vivid memory, Adira stared at her secretary.

“Is there a problem?” asked Miss Hansel.

Secretary Hansel noticed that Adira kept looking afar, and she thought it odd because her boss does not usually lose her focus, especially while working.

Carefully opening her mouth, Adira responded, “Secretary Hansel.”

The secretary quickly responded, “Yes, Ma’am?

“How long has it been already since you married your husband?”

Not only is Adira spaced out, but she’s also asking a personal question to her employee.

Hansel peeked out of the window, ensuring the sun would set to the West.

Adira seems friendly and approachable at first glance. However, people who socialized with her could tell that Adira built a wall between her and the others. She smiled, but at the same time, she hated getting attached to someone or something.

Therefore, when Adira asked Hansel about her personal life, Hansel thought it would be a good sign.

“Well, my husband and I have been married for four years,” Hansel said.

Adira rested her chin on her clutched hands. Humming, she responded, “Ahhhh.” Then she looked back at her again with another question to ask. “What would you do if you found out your husband likes someone else?”

“P-Pardon?”

“Then, the woman he likes can freely come in and out of your house. What will you do?”

Hansel felt the flicker of irritation that flooded her vein. Even just imagining the situation, she felt like she’d burst into madness!

Turning red, Hansel opened her mouth, and she subconsciously shouted, “I will beat them to death!”

Death.

Death.

Death.

The loud shout echoed inside the office.

It took Hansel seconds to realize her grave mistake.

Did she shout at the CEO of the company?

Not. She only did that unconsciously to release her anger about the imaginary situation.

Gasping, Hansel lowered her head and apologized. “Sorry, Ma’am! I did not mean to shout like that.”

Adira only chuckled. Then she uttered, “It’s okay.” She checked the documents before her and signed what needed to be signed.

Hansel glanced at the CEO’s pretty face. She’s dying to know why Adira suddenly asked that question. Anxiousness followed.

‘What if she asked me this because her husband brought another woman into their house?’ she wondered.

Hansel is one of the people who knows that Adira and Chadwick’s marriage is just for convenience. Withal, that is not enough reason for Chadwick to bring his woman into their newly built house!

The worried secretary clenched her fists out of deep rage for her boss. Nevertheless, if Hansel gets so mad like this, even when she’s not involved, she imagines how hard it is for Adira.

‘I hope, Ma’am, can stay strong,’ Hansel wished.

However, Adira does not feel pathetic. She asks the question to Haimee because she’s only curious about what an ordinary wife would think in this situation.

Adira is not an ordinary woman. Thus, she cannot understand this.

“You don’t need to drive me home, Secretary Hansel.”

“Yes?”

She stopped signing the documents as Adira looked back at Haimee.

“I will go to my favorite place and will drink some.”

Hansel nodded, “Noted, Ma’am.”

Adira bowed her head so she did not see Hansel’s empathetic expression for her. Hansel thought Adira would drink alcohol because she had difficulty with her arranged marriage.

But actually, Adira just wanted to drink.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

—————— ------------------------------------------ -------------------------

Adira went to her favorite luxury bar at 6 pm.

She always comes to this place whenever she’s tired from work. And today, she came here not because of her husband or her husband’s woman.

Although she plans on seducing Chadwick, she does not intend to make him fall in love. Thus, Adira won’t care even if Chadwick spends his sweet days with her woman.

‘I am too old to waste my time and play like a villain for those idiots,’ Adira thought, shaking her head.

With an elated heart, Adira wanted to drink alone after a long day of work. If there’s one thing she’s praying for, that is to have a cute child she’ll spend her days with while her hair turns gray.

Adira focused on her career. She did not experience feeling attracted to or interested in dating men or women. She thought love would only be a hindrance, so she reached 31 without dating. Moreover, Adira knew that trying was futile since she’ll only marry the husband her father would choose. Why bother wasting her time crying and fighting over a stupid romance and pretending to be like a character in a tragic novel?

“I suddenly wanted to read tragic romance novels like Romeo and Juliet,” she murmured at the bar counter.

Adira looked around.

All of a sudden, a man sprung below the counter. He’s wearing a bartender uniform and wiping his name tag, which he picked up from the ground.

The man’s appearance caught Adira’s attention. She watched him pin his name tag on his uniform with the name [“Geoffrey”]

Adira is a regular customer of this place. But this was the first time she saw this man.

The guy has brushed-up blonde hair. His brows are arched up. He has eagle-like eyes, which are sharp but have heavy lids. His nose is tall, very majestic. He has heart-shaped lips with a small mole near his upper lip. He is also tall with a great build.

To make it short, he is very handsome and will be a scene-stealer anywhere he goes.

‘The bar’s advertising skills are no joke,’ Adira praised the bar’s management inside her head.

At last, the man focused on the woman sitting at the counter. As soon as he saw her face, he froze like a statue, as if he saw something shocking.

Well, Adia is too used to this kind of reaction. She’s pretty, that’s why. Yet there’s something odd about the way the bartender looks at her. It was as if he knew her already.

The bartender, Geoffrey, closed his partly opened lips after a moment.

After staring at Adira’s face, he focused on her finger. And when he saw that she was not wearing any ring, a satisfied grin drew on his face.