Secret Billionaire’s Contract Bride: Marrying My Enemy’s Lover

Chapter 72

“Adelaide

Do you know what was worse than fighting with your significant other? Fighting with your significant other while they were in a different time zone.

I woke up on the worst side of the bed this morning and all I could think about was the fact that my husband thought that I was a cheater. The way he had reacted was what was getting to me. I didn’t want to believe that he thought those things about me. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

He had tried to call me back six times and had sent text after text but I hadn’t responded to him. The last thing I read on my phone from him was a message that came in right as I pulled into the studio.

Damon: I’m an idiot. Please call me back.

Damon: I love you, Adelaide. You’re my universe.

I almost caved.

I had almost hit send on the message that I had been typing but then I remembered that not too long ago we were in the exact same position. The only difference was he had promised me never to do something like this again to me.

I get that he worried that Gabriel wanted me but it didn’t matter if he did or didn’t. I didn’t want Gabriel, emphasis on the I My eyes were only set on my husband. Why would I throw the once-in-a-lifetime love we have for some passing thing? I wanted him to trust what we had. The same way I had been trusting what he and I had when it came to Angela. Even though Angela had made it more than clear that she wanted my man and had practically said it to my face.

But this whole Gabriel thing was too much and hypocritical. I couldn’t just ignore him-he was my male lead. Angela was no one to him apart from a stranger that had crossed his path one odd Thursday night. If anyone should hold the majority of the anger it should be me.

“Adelaide.” Gabriel tapped my shoulder drawing me out of my internal rant.

I blinked and I realized that I was still standing by the little snack table. My gaze moved up to him, his outfit for the scene still on. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“Are you okay?” His features softened the slightest bit. “You seem

a little out of it.”

Great. Everyone could tell that I was currently plagued with problems.

“I’m fine.” I forced a smile and turned back to the table. I went to go and pick up a cookie but then a hand darted out and covered mine. I snapped my gaze to Gabriel and drew my hand out of his hold.

“Sorry, it’s just… I’m worried about you. A lot of people are actually.” Well, this was embarrassing. “I just want to see if you need anything or even just an ear to listen.”

He was sweet for trying to do that but I didn’t want to burden someone unnecessarily with my issues.

“I think I’ll just get my lunch, it should be in my trailer.” I offered him a weak smile but that was all I could manage at the moment. “See you after the break.”

I turned to leave but his hand came over my wrist stopping me. “I don’t want you to be by yourself. We could eat together?”

I didn’t know if it was such a good idea to have lunch with him in a closed and confined space. There were already these absurd rumors flying around, I didn’t want to provide people with more drama to

use against me.

But looking into this man’s eyes I could see his genuine concern and sincerity swimming in them. There were very people in this world who genuinely cared to hear about your problems because they cared about you. And from the time I had spent with Gabriel, I had come to realize that he was one of those few people.

few

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“Okay, sure.” I agreed, “but why don’t we have it in the studio’s park? I need the fresh air.”

It was the perfect excuse so that we could be out in the open.

“Sure.” He smiled. “I’ll meet you out there in ten.”

We went our separate ways to our different trailers. I saw my lunch on my table and took it before heading out to the park. As I walked there I scrolled through my phone to see that my husband had indeed texted me while I was shooting all morning.

Damon: I love you, Adelaide Steyn. I’m sorry for being so stupid with you. Please just call me back when you can.

My heart squeezed just looking at the message. I wanted to call him and tell him that it was okay and we could stop fighting but I was just so mad. He had hurt me in ways that he swore he wouldn’t anymore. He was going back on his word.

And now he wanted me to leave my job so he could do what? Feel more secure in our relationship. If this was truly a cause for concern for him then I would leave.

I walked into the park which was quite literally just grass and benches with tables. There were a few people littered around and even some of the cast and crew. I was a little abrasive about hanging out with some of them now because I had no idea who had leaked information to the press. That scene was simply practice and they had blown it out of proportion and now I was fighting with the love of my life over it.

I sat down on the bench and just stared at the messages. I debated whether I should even bother messaging back when I was feeling so shitty about the whole thing but I knew that I couldn’t allow these things to fester any longer than they already

had.

“Hey there boss,” Gabriele came to sit on the other side of the bench. His smile immediately dropped when he looked at my face. “I’m only going to ask once and then after that, you won’t hear me say another word.”

He waited for a beat as he tried to gather his own thoughts.

“You may think you’re burdening me with your words but you really aren’t.” His eyes watched me for a moment. “I can just be an ear, my mother always told me that a problem shared is a problem half solved.”

I didn’t know if it was the fact that I had been holding all of this in or if I didn’t have anyone else I could really tell. This pressure in my chest felt like it was going to implode on itself.

So I spilled my guts to him and I laid it all out. I even told him about Angela and all the encounters I had with her. It felt so good to get it all out of my system.

“Wow,” he let out a long breath, “that’s a lot to take in. How do you feel now?”

“If I’m being honest? I feel like I can breathe a little easier now.”

“I’m sorry about the rumors and it was never my intention to get in between your marriage in any kind of way.” He looked away for a second at the nosy people who were staring at us. “I’m just someone who is affectionate by nature and I forget that it can often be misconstrued.”

I waved him off. “No, it’s not your fault. It was all in good and innocent banter. Damon and I will be fine. I just think that I need to take a little more time before I talk to him today.”

“Yeah, that would be wise. He’ll come around, he just understands the treasure that you are and he doesn’t want anyone else getting their hands on it.” He stared at me with a look I couldn’t quite read. “No matter how much they want to.”

I cleared my throat trying to refocus myself. “Looks like lunch is done should we head back?”

He nodded, taking our empty takeaways in the plastic bags. “I just need to head to the gate to get something that was dropped off for me. I’ll meet you there.”

I nodded before walking away from him.

“And Adelaide?” he called my name before I even made it 20 steps.

“Yes?” I looked over my shoulder at him.

“If I knew for a second that you weren’t happy, I would take my chance.” And then he left it at that and turned away from

I just stood there completely baffled at, one his confidence, and two the realization that maybe my husband had been right. Maybe, just maybe, Gabriel did like me in more than just a friendly way.

This was the last thing I needed right now.