Chapter 24 Tristan stood behind Adeline, his face frozen in cold fury.]] Adeline noticed everyone's eyes suddenly shift and glanced over her shoulder.[] So he was here after all.] She turned back, looking toward the petite figure in the corner of the sofa. Evelyn had been sitting with her legs crossed, twirling her short hair around her finger with that smug little expression moments ago.] Now her smile had vanished. Her face had soured completely, glaring at Adeline like she wanted to claw her eyes out.[] Clearly, they were here for a regular hangout with friends. From how casually everyone talked, this was obviously routine. They'd reached the stage of flaunting their relationship in public without a shred of shame.[] Tristan stepped forward.]] Everyone else suddenly snapped to attention, like they'd been electrocuted.]] "Holy shit, Adeline, we were just talking trash! Don't listen to us!"] "Tristan and Evelyn are totally not a thing, I swear to God!"] "Please don't take it seriously-we're idiots!"[] Tristan grabbed Adeline's wrist, attempting to drag her out. Adeline whipped around and threw her drink straight in his face.[] The room went dead silent.] Everyone watched in horrified disbelief-did she actually just do that?|| A second later, she smiled sweetly and said, "Go back to fucking your little princess. I wouldn't dream of ruining your good time." She tried to pry his fingers from her wrist.] Tristan's expression darkened dangerously. He simply hoisted her up and threw her over his shoulder, stalking toward the exit.[ Everyone in the room: ST "0 In the hallway, Adeline thrashed-violently against Tristan's shoulder.[] The elevator had just arrived.[] As he carried her in and turned around, she found herself staring at a pair of expensive black leather shoes, perfectly tailored pants, and pale, elegant hands hanging at the sides-each finger long and refined like they belonged on a a pianist. Chapter 24 The atmosphere was painfully awkward.] As they exited the elevator, Adeline couldn't help looking up, meeting a pair of intense, calculating eyes that glanced down at her. Adeline: "..."] She covered her face and dropped her head in embarrassment.] Outside Midnight Wild, Tristan dumped Adeline into the back seat of his car and slid in beside her.]] Adeline struggled to sit up, disoriented and queasy. Being carried upside down and then tossed into a car wasn't doing her equilibrium any favors.] Tristan grabbed wet wipes from the console and wiped his face.]] Adeline's sharp eyes caught sight of what was definitely a condom behind the tissue box. Meanwhile, he had the nerve to demand, "What the hell are you doing here? Playing detective now?"]] She yanked the door handle to escape.] This car was disgusting.]] "For fuck's sake, Adeline!" Tristan roughly pulled her back in. "Where do you think you're going? Are you seriously not done with this shit?" Adeline breathed rapidly, digging her nails into her palm. "I want to go home. Now."] Tristan called Ronald, who was hovering at the club entrance, to drive them.[] They sat in icy silence the entire ride. Adeline pressed herself against the door, her face ashen, looking like she might vomit any second. When they arrived home, she bolted from the car.] In the kitchen, she downed an entire glass of ice water before she could breathe normally again.[] When she emerged, Tristan was sitting in the living room. Adeline reluctantly joined him.[] After another suffocating silence, Tristan finally spoke. "I was there for business. You barging in and causing a scene-you made me look like a complete joke. Do you realize how pathetic you look? Like some crazy, desperate housewife?"[] "Anything else you'd like to get off your chest?" Adeline responded with bored indifference.[] " If you want this marriage to last, drop the paranoid bullshit. I don't have time to manage your insecurities."[] "Got it. Finished yet? " ] " Tristan's jaw clenched. "Adeline, do you know how goddamn annoying you are right now?"]] Adeline stood up, a cold smile playing on her lips.[] Chapter 24 Soon you won't have to be annoyed by me at all.[] She headed upstairs.] Her smile only infuriated Tristan further. He brooded in the living room before following her up to find her already in bed.[] After showering, he slid in beside her.] In the darkness, Adeline lay on her side, facing away from him. She edged further away, avoiding any contact whatsoever.[] Tristan turned and forcefully yanked her back against his chest, his movements rough with barely contained anger.[] His body was large and powerful; when he tightened his grip, she couldn't move an inch.[] She spent the night rigid in his embrace.[] In the morning, Adeline made breakfast only for herself.] When Tristan came downstairs and saw her eating toast alone, he changed direction and approached the table. He leaned down close to her ear, his voice softening as if talking to a child. "This weekend, let's take the yacht out for a couple days. Just us. " Adeline mumbled "whatever" while drinking her milk.[] Predictably, the day before their supposed getaway, he canceled, claiming he needed to fly to Portugal.] Adeline didn't even flinch.] Maybe he hadn't noticed how long it had been since they'd shared a meal or actually spent time together. He warned her against divorce, but in reality, he treated her like she was invisible. If she vanished tomorrow, he probably wouldn't even notice. That weekend, she removed her books from their shelves and packed them into suitcases to take to her new place.[] While sorting through them, she received a rare call from her mother-in-law. Adeline answered with forced politeness, "Hello, Mrs. Jones."[] Amanda Jones responded with her typical condescension, "Come over today. We need to put our arrangement in writing."] "Is that really necessary? " "I say it is, so it is." "Fine, I'll come by this afternoon."] "No. Be here at noon."]] "Whatever."] Adeline agreed, having nothing better to do anyway.[] Chapter 24 On the other end of the line, Amanda Jones stood at her second-floor window, watching with smug satisfaction as Evelyn walked with Tristan through the garden.] She wanted Adeline to see who truly belonged with her son, who his real soulmate was.]