#Chapter 61 – So Now You Care?


    Ste


    The car ride to my apartment is silent. The radio quietly ys in the background but it is drowned out from the ringing that sounds inside my ears. I turn away from Adrian, unable to even look or breathe in his direction.


    Am I a fool? Have I been tricked this entire time? Has Adrian''s sudden kindness and urge to care for me in my time of need blossomed from a need to be seen as a good husband during our divorce?


    The thought of being used makes me sick to my stomach. I do not even know why I am so surprised by this revtion. The beginning of our rtionship our marriage was founded on a contract that had me giving


    him everything and him giving me nothing.


    Adrian''s cares to a sudden halt in the front of my apartment building. I fumble with my seatbelt, my weak hands struggling to unlock it before I reach for the car door Adrian is quick to the side of me and is already outside of the car when I push the passenger door open.


    "Ste," Adrian''s voice carries around the car as he rushes to the side, "don''t be angry at me!"


    "Why the hell wouldn''t I be angry?" I am quick to retort. He reaches out for me and I swat his hands away, my anger quickly rising inside my chest. "Stop it!"


    "Just let me help you-"


    "No!" I yell, pushing him away as I throw my bag over my shoulder, fingers curling around the strap, steadying me as much as it can. "Why would I? If I ept your help, I''m seen as a damsel in distress who needs to be saved. If I reject it, I''m a cold bitch who wants your money! No matter what: I lose!"


    I push past Adrian, watching him stumble from the corner of my eye. As I head towards the lobby door of my apartment building, I feel Adrian grab my wrist. His touch is gentle as he pulls me back and I am unable to fight back against him, my weak body unable to muster the energy to push against him.


    Tears sting my eyes. I avoid his green eyes, not wanting to see or listen to any kind of reasoning that he has to excuse himself from what he said.


    After all, I am only here for his money and assets. Why would he even feel the need to exin the reason to me why he''s only giving me things in our divorce to appease me if not to clean his guilty conscience?


    I cough and Adrian''s eyes go wide. He brings me to his chest, cupping my face, and observes me closely. His eyes cover every inch of my face and I have to fight the urge to melt into his hands.


    "I''m fine!" I slip out of his grasp, turning towards the doors.


    My lungs burn and my legs feel like jelly. I push through the sudden onset of exhaustion and open the door, holding back my strained coughs.


    Adrian is quick on my tail, jigging after me and fully pushing the door open. I re at him and hold my bag to my stomach, keeping my head down low as I rush towards the elevator. Adrian beats me to the button, pressing it, and turning to look down at me.


    "What do you want, Adrian?" I snap. I force myself to look away from him, to stare at anything that isn''t his blonde hair or emerald eyes. Impatience floods my body, my foot rapidly tapping against the ground from my anxiety.


    "I want to help you, Ste," Adrian breathes out. I can''t help but scoff and internally roll my eyes.


    Help me? Is he serious right now? After all of these years he finally wants to step up and be the husband that I


    #Chapter 61-So Now You Carex


    deserved? It''sughable, really.


    "No, Adrian, you can''t help me," I speak just as the elevator doors open.


    doors close


    I step through and follows suit, sticking close to my side before once again. I lean against the wall, using it to catch my breath and rest my body until I have time to bolt out and away from his close proximity again.


    "What?" Adrian asks,pletely dumbfounded by my refusal. He leans in, lowering his head to be at eye level with me but I turn my head away. "Why not?"


    "Because I have been on my own for the past six years," I huff out a breath of air, my anger slowly beginning to take over my words and actions. "It was me and me alone sitting in hospital rooms after surgeries that you put me through!"


    "Ste-"


    "I''m not done," I snap and finally turn to look at him.


    Adrian wears an expression of regret and remorse, sadness flooding his face. I can''t help but pity the fool.


    How is that now, after all of these years of putting on a facade that we are a happy couple, he has finally begun to care about me?


    After five years of unconditionally loving him and waiting for him to open his eyes to realize that I have been here the whole time, I havee to my own realization that his love hase at a high cost, a price that I am now paying. I am finally in the warm light of his attention but now it is something that I don''t want.


    "I don''t need your help, Adrian. I don''t know why you''re suddenly ready to care for me, but I don''t need or want it. I know what to do because I was forced to learn it all on my own while you fawned over ra. I''m done. I don''t want it."


    The elevator doors open. I remain still, scowl etched on my face. After a beat, I push off of the wall and exit the elevator, heading towards my apartment door.


    Adrian''s footsteps are put behind me as he catches up, not like it takes any effort to, and he walks at my side. I take out my keys, the metal jingling against each other. I slip the key into the lock and hear Adrian sigh from behind me.


    "Ste, I am so sorry for my actions in the past. If I had known that all of my mistakes would lead me to this point, then I wouldn''t have done what I did," Adrian says. I push the door open and turn to look at him.


    "But you did it. Your words do not change a single thing about what you have done to me. It is something that you and you alone are going to have to live with, not me," I step inside and sharply turn to stop him before he can follow.


    "I promise that I''ll be better. Please don''t...don''t shut me out," Adrian pleads.


    My heart aches. My remaining feelings for Adrian, the man I once loved so much, makes me hesitate to answer. I sigh and look to the side, gnawing at the inside of my cheek


    "I...I need time to think, okay? I need space and time," my heart breaks at the sight of his frown. "I need to cool down, especially after hearing what you said to ra."


    "But I didn''t-"


    Before he can continue, I m the door in his face and lock it as quick as possible. I put my back to the door, exhaustion sweeping across my body. I slide


    to the floor, tears freely flowing from my eyes.


    #Chapter 61 - So Now You Care


    "I don''t know if you''re there, but," Adrian''s voicees through the door, "if you ever need anything, please don''t hesitate to reach out to me. I''ll be there at a moment notice, okay?"


    I remain silent. After a few moments, I listen as Adrian''s footsteps disappear down the hallway.