As Nina stepped out of the house, the crisp afternoon air brushed against her skin, a welcome contrast to the polished, imposing presence of the black sedan parked neatly by the pavement. A man in a tailored suit stood by the passenger door, his posture straight and professional. The moment their eyes met, he moved swiftly, opening the door with practiced precision.
“Good afternoon, Miss Adelaide,” he greeted , his voice warm but formal.
“Hello…” She hesitated, unsure how to address him. Her gaze flicked to the badge pinned to his chest, the name Martinengraved neatly on it. “Martin,” she said, finishing her sentence with a small smile. He gave a slight nod, his expression unchanging, and she slid into the back seat. The door clicked shut behind her.
As she settled into the plush leather seat, a thought crossed her mind. Did everyone who worked for the Whitlocks wear badges like Martin? She hadn’t really paid attention to the staff uniforms before. Perhaps she should make a mental note to observe more closely when she returns. After all, knowing the people who surrounded her was part of becoming Adelaide.
Martin had just opened the driver’s door and was stepping inside when a sleek car roared past them, pulling to a sudden stop in front of the sedan. Curiosity spiked as Adelaide leaned forward.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice steady despite the slight twinge of apprehension.
“It’s Master Graves,” Martin replied, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. Which Graves? Her mind raced. Nathan? Axel? Either way, she wasn’t sure she was ready to face them—not yet. The idea of stepping into the role of a doting fiancée or rekindling a passionate romance felt premature, like wearing shoes a size too big. She needed more time, more preparation.
The driver’s door of the newly arrived car swung open, and out stepped Axel.
Her breath caught in her throat. He was… dazzling. No, more than that—he was magnetic, the kind of man who seemed ripped from the pages of a high-end magazine. His dark hair fell in deliberate, effortless waves, his sharp jawline framed by just enough stubble to give him an edge. The tailored jacket he wore clung to his broad shoulders as if it had been designed specifically for him.
He walked toward her car with purpose, each step exuding confidence. She couldn’t look away. Even through the tinted glass, she could feel the weight of his gaze, like he already knew exactly where she was sitting.
When he reached her door, he knocked lightly, his knuckles tapping against the window in a rhythm that somehow managed to feel intimate.
“D?” he said, his deep voice muffled but unmistakable.
Her heart stumbled over itself. D? She had forgotten all about the nickname. And the resonance of his voice, the way his presence filled the space, left her momentarily frozen. For a split second, she let herself forget about Nathan, about the plan, about everything. Axel was standing right there, looking like he belonged to another world entirely—and somehow, that world was colliding with hers.
She wound down the glass, locking eyes with him as she tried to summon words, any words. Instead, she just stared at him, completely at a loss. Her mind insisted she focus on why he was here, but her eyes had other plans, tracing the chiseled perfection of his face. How could anyone look so effortlessly captivating? It was almost unfair that a man could embody handsomeness so completely. And though she hated to admit it, she was undeniably drawn to him.
But that didn’t matter. Nathan was the one Adelaide loved.
“Is there a reason for this obstruction?” she finally managed to ask, forcing a neutral tone as she tried to keep her composure.
Axel’s lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah. I’m here to take you shopping.”
She blinked, caught off guard by his words, but determined not to let her surprise show. How did he even know I was going shopping? Refusing to let him see her uncertainty, she softened her tone and replied, “And who says I want to go anywhere with you?” The words spilled out before she could stop them. She just hoped they sounded like something Adelaide would have said—confident, unbothered, and a little playful. But honestly, she wasn’t sure anymore why she was responding to him this way, flirting with defiance.
“I know you’re upset about last night,” he said, his voice dipping into a quiet sincerity. “Leaving without telling you—it wasn’t right. You have every reason to be angry.”
Oh. Right. She hadn’t even been thinking about that until now. But since he brought it up, it was a valid reason to be mad.
“Honestly, I’m used to it,” she said, adding a deliberate drawl to her voice. “It’s become a skill.”
Her words were risky, she knew, but she couldn’t help it. They echoed something Nathan had said the night before, about how he and Adelaide always ended up spending nights alone. If Axel’s disappearance last night wasn’t the first time he’d ghosted her, then maybe he deserved to feel a little guilt.
Axel’s face fell, a flicker of regret crossing his features. “Would you come, please? Let me drive you to the mall, and afterward, we can go somewhere quiet to talk.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, pretending to mull it over. His offer was tempting, and she could sense he wasn’t used to being turned down. But then the little voice in her head reminded her why she couldn’t let this happen. Getting close to Axel was a dangerous game—one she wasn’t willing to play. If she allowed herself to fall for him, it would complicate everything, and she couldn’t afford distractions.
Nathan was the one Adelaide had loved.
That was the story she had to stick to.
“Tempting, but no,” she said after a pause, her voice steady.
His expression faltered, and for a moment, she thought he might press further. Then he said, softly, “D?” There was a weight in his voice, something raw that made her waver.
She turned her gaze forward, forcing herself to ignore the pang in her chest. Without looking back at him, she reached for the window controls and pressed the button to roll the glass up. It slid upward, shutting out his words—and the emotions threatening to surface.
“Martin,” she said firmly, keeping her voice as even as possible, “reverse and pass beside his car.”
Martin glanced at her in the rearview mirror, hesitating for a second before nodding. “Yes, Miss Adelaide.”
As the car started moving, she couldn’t help but glance in the side mirror. Axel stood there, watching them leave, his hands shoved into his pockets and his expression unreadable. For a fleeting moment, she felt a pang of regret, but she pushed it aside.
Whatever Axel Graves wanted from Adelaide, it wasn’t something she could give him—not now, not ever.