Divorced But Never Letting Go Chapter 129

ADRIAN

 “I asked you a simple question, Rene. How the fuck did you get my number, and what do you want from me? I hate repeating myself, and that’s exactly what you’re making me do right now. You’re so dumb. How did Cyril even fall in love with you?” I shouted, my voice laced with disgust.

 I didn’t hold back. Every shred of self-control I had left vanished.

 If Rene had been standing next to me, I swear, I would’ve done something I’d regret.

 “Take it easy, Adrian,” Rene said, her tone infuriatingly smug. “You might want to be mindful of your tone. This is a telephone conversation, after all. You can’t do anything to hurt me, and we both know it.”

 She let out a wicked laugh that crawled under my skin, twisting the knife she’d already planted there.

 Then she threatened to end the call if I kept questioning her.

 I clenched my jaw and forced myself to stay calm. As much as I wanted to smash my phone against the wall, I realized there was more to gain by playing along.

 “I want you, Adrian. I need no other body but yours,” Rene said suddenly, her voice softening into something dangerously seductive.

 I didn’t respond. I pretended not to hear her because I couldn’t believe she was serious.

 “Did you just hear me, Adrian? Or do I have to repeat myself? I just said I want you. Don’t make it seem like I’m begging—I’m way bigger than that,” Rene shouted, her voice sharp and full of bitterness.

 Now she knew what it felt like to be ignored.

 “Of course, I heard you. I’m not deaf. I just wanted to be sure you were actually talking to me,” I snapped back, my voice harsh.

 “I see,” she sighed, her tone shifting.

 “Good luck finding Olivia, because she’s never coming back to you,” Rene suddenly threatened, her voice cold and cutting.

 My entire body tensed, and my nostrils flared at the mention of Olivia’s name. The air shifted.

 She wasn’t joking.

 “What did you just say about Olivia?” I asked, forcing myself to speak calmly, though my pulse pounded in my ears. “You know she was arrested?”

 I had a gut feeling Rene knew more than she was letting on. But I needed to ask. I needed confirmation.

 “Ease your tension. I don’t recall telling you that,” Rene replied smoothly, dodging the question like a pro.

 She made it sound like I was the one jumping to conclusions—as if I were making it all up.

 I clenched my fist, feeling trapped. Rene had me exactly where she wanted me, and I hated every second of it.

 “Apologize to me, Adrian,” she said suddenly, her tone icy and commanding. “I won’t sit back and let you accuse me without proof.”

 She was toying with me, and the worst part was, there was nothing I could do about it.

 “I’m still waiting for your apology, Adrian,” Rene continued, her voice like poison seeping into my head. “Do you even care about Olivia? Because if you do, you should be on your knees right now, begging for my forgiveness.”

 She said a lot of despicable things—things she’d never dare say if we were face-to-face.

 I felt insulted, humiliated. Yet, I chose to endure the embarrassment because of the love I had for Olivia.

 It was a test of love.

 A test I needed to pass.

 This was the moment to prove just how far I was willing to go for her.

 “I’ve apologized now,” I said, swallowing my pride. “Please… where can I find Olivia? She’s not even answering my calls.”

 I barely recognized my own voice. I sounded desperate, like a man who had lost everything and was clinging to the last shred of hope.

 But it was worth every ounce of humiliation because I knew getting answers was the only thing that mattered.

 Rene chuckled. “Before we proceed… How much do you love Olivia?” she asked, her voice laced with mockery.

 “More than life itself,” I answered immediately.

 There was no hesitation. No second-guessing. Loving Olivia was the one thing I was sure of, and I said it with pride.

 “Even if it means taking a bullet for her?” Rene pressed, her tone darkening.

 This time, I couldn’t respond right away.

 Unlike before, I needed a moment to process the question—and to figure out where she was going with it.

 Silence stretched between us.

 “That’s what I thought,” Rene said after a while, her voice dripping with disdain. “You don’t love Olivia. Not the way you claim to. I guess we shouldn’t be having this conversation at all.”

 I heard the subtle shift in her tone—she was about to end the call. And if she hung up, there’d be no way to reach her again, not with her number hidden.

 “Wait!” I pleaded, my voice frantic. “I’m ready to do anything to bring Olivia back home. I can’t shake this feeling… like she’s in danger as we speak.”

 I sounded like a broken man. A slave begging his master for mercy. But I didn’t care. Olivia’s safety meant more than my pride.

 Rene laughed—a cruel, triumphant laugh that sent a chill down my spine.

 “I thought you’d never ask,” she said, her voice brimming with excitement. “Dang it! What took you so long? I’ve waited for this moment my entire life.”

 Her words sent a shiver of unease through me.

 She was unpredictable, dangerous. Manipulative.

 It was no wonder she’d been able to deceive Cyril and gain control of the company.

 Then, just when I thought I’d heard it all, Rene dropped the bombshell.

 “I want you to break up with Olivia… and come be with me,” she declared.

 She wasn’t done talking when I interrupted her. “What the hell? Is this a joke?”

 “Shut the fuck up, Adrian,” Rene snapped. “I’m not done talking. You can’t even follow a simple instruction to save your life.”

 Her words hit hard, and for a moment, I just stood there, stunned.

 Was she seriously talking to me like that?

 “Come back to New York,” she continued, her voice cold and calculated. “Let’s run Penhurst together. Olivia isn’t good enough for you.”

 I blinked, forcing myself to process what I was hearing.

 From everything I’d just witnessed, I was already struggling to believe this conversation was real.

 “Can you hear yourself right now?” I shot back, my voice thick with disbelief. “What about Cyril? You do realize he’s still Penhurst himself, right? How do you plan to get him out of the picture?”

 “That’s none of your business,” Rene replied curtly. “You should focus on Olivia’s safety. If you ever want to see her alive, you’ll stick to the plan. I’ll reach out to you in the next 48 hours.”

 And just like that, she hung up—ending the call before I could get another word in.

 The moment the line went dead, it felt like my senses snapped back into place.

 I realized how stupid I must have sounded on the phone with her. How powerless I’d let myself become.

 A few minutes later, just as I was still trying to wrap my head around everything that had just happened, Kate burst into the room, looking frantic and out of breath.

 Her presence was unexpected, but it was exactly what I needed.

 Right now, I need someone—anyone—to talk to.