Taming My Coldhearted CEO Husband

$Chapter 1

It’s been three days since Adira married Chadwick McElroy. After spending three nights in Japan for their honeymoon, Adira returned home to her new house as Mrs. McElroy.

“Ahhhh. My body feels so tired,” she moaned, sitting on the edge of the bed. And when she lay down, her long and curly red hair scattered.

Wearing her sexy undergarments underneath the red robe, Adira’s olive eyes glued to the ceiling. There is nothing much to see there. She’s just trying to ease the fatigue of long hours traveling back to the country.

“I still couldn’t believe that I am a married woman now,” she murmured, blinking her eyes, and her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings.

It’s not been that long since Adira agreed to marry the CEO of the Wine&Vibe company. And now, she’s inside the room and thinking about how fun life can be. She can still remember drinking alone in her condo unit while singing a pop song entitled: “I Don’t Need a Man.” But here she is, trying to familiarize herself with her new name by practicing.

“Adira McElroy. Adira McElroy. Mc…Elroy.”

A deafening silence swept the space.

Promptly, Adira burst into a thunderous laugh.

“What’s the point of marrying that man? I didn’t even see his face during our honeymoon.”

It is in the plan that Chadwick and Adira will spend their honeymoon in Japan after the wedding. However, only Adira arrived there. She only heard a bit too late that Chadwick’s meetings follow her on their honeymoon because he has a necessary appointment at work.

A guy who will prioritize his work over a onceinalifetime honeymoon?

Adira isn’t dumb to notice that Chadwick is avoiding her on purpose. Because if not, they do not need to sleep in a separate room.

Irritated, Adira sat up on her bed. Her initial reason why she agreed to this marriage was to become pregnant. She planned to have an sx with her husband on their first night together. But Chadwick stood her up and prepared a separate room in their new house without consulting Adira.

“What’s wrong with my dear husband? Is he even a man?” Adira breathed.

When she tilted her head, she saw her reflection in the mirror on the makeup table.

Her red hair scattered down smoothly, and it suited her tiny face. She has been graced with a look that could be that royalty. Her emerald eyes are sharp, but inside has the reflection on the waters of a pond. Her tight, rosecolored lips are pursed in what appears to be a midkiss. And her body? They won’t call it a ‘Cocacola’ body without any reason. Anyone who sees her sitting on the bed with a robe, red hair, revealed cleavage, and legs as white as ivory would find her damn attractive.

“I am so pretty,” Adira told herself. She tilted her head and added, “And I am sexy too.”

She only said facts. But still, she’s confused. How did Chadwick decline to take the chance of taking her virginity during their honeymoon?

Adira took a deep breath as she brushed her red hair upwards, making her look coquettish, and then she recalled what happened during their wedding day:

Wearing a dress, Adira looked at the groom waiting for her at the end of the march. It is her soontobe husband, Chadwick.

Chadwick did not bother staring back at his gorgeous bride. He just stared at the air in space as if he was so bored he might dig a hole in the ground soon. Anyway, Adira does not care about her groom’s apathetic expression. All she wanted was to finish this wedding as quickly as possible, so she picked up her pace.

When Adira stood beside Chadwick, there was a moment of breathless silence. Chadwick offered his arm without even looking at Adira’s face. She clung her hand around his arms. Then, both turned their backs to the guest and faced the judge.

The judge looked at the two couples in a grimace as if they were in the middle of mourning instead of their wedding. Something was off. The judge can quickly tell.

Disregarding the odd situation, the judge forged a cough. He wiped the sweat on his bald head and fixed his eyeglasses before starting the ceremony.

As the judge talked, Adira looked at her husband’s side profile.

‘At least he’s handsome,’ she thought before she noticed that he was gawking intensely in a specific direction.

Narrowing her eyes, Adira tended to the direction Chadwick was looking at. From afar, she saw a woman smiling sweetly at Chadwick while waving her hand.

After remembering the woman, she saw during their wedding, Adira confirmed why Chadwick keeps away from her.

“It is because of that woman,” she whispered.

Before their wedding, Adira investigated her groomtobe. She heard that Chadwick did not date anyone, but he had a friend he had feelings for.

“I don’t care if he likes someone else,” Adira said. “However, do we have to sleep in different rooms?”

If Chadwick continues avoiding her, Adira thinks she needs to use another way to achieve her goal. And that is to seduce her husband.

Grinning widely, Adira moved up from her bed. She jolted out of her bedroom and stood next to her husband’s room; there was the East side of the house.

Adira believes that being straightforward is the best way to solve the problem.

‘So, I will directly ask him to sleep with me,’ Adira thought. She’s confident of her beauty and her sx appeal.

With her head held high, she touched the doorknob. She was about to open the door but stopped when she heard her husband’s voice inside the room.

[“Nothing happened between Adira and I. Don’t conclude weird things, Isa.”]

Adira flinched when she heard the name ‘Isa.’

‘Isa Daley,’ Adira murmured inwardly.

There’s no way she won’t recognize the woman whom she saw at their wedding. The woman whom his husband loves more than anyone else is Isa.

Isa Daley. She has been Chadwick’s female friend since high school.

According to what Adira heard, Isa and Chadwick did not date each other. However, students in their batch said that Chadwick had been in love with Isa for a long time.

‘In short, he’s a pathetic loser,’ Adira concluded while nodding.

With crossed arms, she stood outside her husband’s room and listened to Chadwick’s conversation with his first love.

[“My wife is pretty? WWell. I admit that she is indeed pretty.”]

A satisfied beam appeared on her luscious lips. She knew that fact very well, but hearing it from someone else still felt good.

[“But in my eyes, she’s not attractive in my eyes,”] added Chadwick.

At Chadwick’s remark, the smile on her lips turned crooked. Adira looked at the closed door and snorted.

“Huh!”

She praised her husband’s fearlessness in escaping during their honeymoon, suggesting that they must sleep in separate rooms and that his wife is unattractive to another woman. Adira just wanted to laugh and clap her hands in amusement.

‘He’s something else,’ she said internally.

Adira isn’t jealous a bit. She does not care if her husband is calling another woman in the middle of the night. Nevertheless, she wanted to take revenge on him by calling him unattractive.

Not wasting time, Adira twisted the doorknob and opened the door with a bang.

BAM!

The door opened so hard it bumped into its opposite wall. The rude opening of the door was an eyeopener for her husband.

Chadwick was so flabbergasted that his mouth hung loose as he stared at his wife while holding his phone, which he didn’t have the time to close.

Adira approached him and greeted him in a loud voice. “Good evening, my dear!”

Speechless, Chadwick stayed at his spot while gawking at his wife. He did not expect Adira to visit him in his room, making him wordless.

“Why are you calling another woman in the middle of the night?” Adira asked. “I waited so long for you to come. So, drop the call, and let’s start it right away. Our sx.”

The shape of Chadwick’s eyes was bigger than their original size!

He turned red, as bright as ketchup, as he was embarrassed to realize that Isa was still on the phone and she had just heard everything.

With trembling hands, he hung up the call. When he lifted his eyes, which cannot shut, to Adira, he uttered, “You…You… ARE YOU CRAZY? WWhy would you say that when I was still in the middle of my phone conversation?”

Acting innocent, Adira shrugged her shoulders. She smiled at him, and her dimples appeared deeply on her soft cheeks.

Chadwick’s jaw almost dropped after receiving his wife’s nonchalant reaction.

Adira Hale is the famous and respectable CEO of Crimson Meadow. She’s competent, professional, and hardworking. And because of this, Chadwick respected her as his business partner, all thanks to the good rumors he heard about her. But now, he had a change of mind. He thinks he’s starting to see her true colors, which weren’t revealed in public. He was flabbergasted!

“I see nothing wrong in asking my husband to sleep with me,” Adira defended, her hands behind her back, making her look polite.

Breathing quivery, Chadwick responded, “So, you are saying that you did not do anything wrong?”

“Yes,” Adira quickly replied. “But you did. You left me in Japan, decided on the room's structure in this house by yourself, and called me unattractive.”

Chadwick’s forehead crumpled at the last reason that she said. He can understand why she’s complaining because he left her in Japan and decided to sleep in a separate room. However, he couldn’t understand why she was upset because he called her unattractive.

“No one has yet to call me ugly. So, I was shocked,” Adira explained, even before Chadwick asked.

Chadwick heaved a sigh. “I understand that you are upset. But, if you suddenly barged inside my room like you did tonight, I would be upset too.”

“Then it’s fair. You called me unattractive, and I barged inside your room. It’s deuce.”

Chadwick tilted his head. He does not understand where her ability to reason came from. Either way, he wanted to know why she visited his room.

“Why did you come here to my room?” he asked.

Adira smiled at him and answered, “To have a sx with you.”

“.…”

After a few minutes of silence between them, Chadwick asked again, “Pardon?”

“I said I came here to have a sx with you,” she repeated with a beam.

Blinking swiftly, he asked, “Are you… damn serious?”

As her answer, Adira nodded her head.

“WWait a minute,” he ceased, raising his hand to stop her from saying more. “We got married for convenience. You aware of that, right?”

“I am. So?”

“We got married suddenly without proper dates and meetings.”

“I know that too.”

“If you know all of these, how can you ask me to have a sx with you?”

“That is a rhetorical question,” Adira said. “I am your wife. And you are my husband. It is natural for a married couple to sleep together.”

Chadwick’s lips pursed in a straight line. It is indeed his responsibility to fulfill his wife’s sexual needs. However, he’s not ready to surrender his virginity to a woman he has just met. Everything is just a business between them, so he thought they wouldn’t interact that much. In addition, Chadwick believes it is wrong to have sex with someone he does not love.

Nevertheless, he has no plan to fall in love with Adira in the future. For now, he is finding an excuse to prevent it from happening.

“I have to apologize,” he said. “I can’t sleep with someone I don’t like romantically. Before we started this relationship, I believed both sides clarified that our wedding would remain a business.”

Adira nodded her head as if she understood him.

“So, go back to your room,” Chadwick commented.

However, the stubborn wife stayed in her position.

Seeing Adira’s suspicious gaze on him, Chadwick asked, “WWhat? Do you have more to say?”

“Well, I was thinking of another reason you are so afraid to sleep with me. And I thought of one thing.”

“What is it?”

Adira glanced at his lower body, there at his center. Then, she dropped, “Your thing is small. Right?”

$Chapter 3

“Your thing is small. Right?”

Your thing is small, right?

…thing is small, right?

…is small, right?

…small, right?

..right?

Adira’s question echoed in the clear and quiet night.

It was a starry night sky with a cold wind gushing westward. Reports told nothing about the possible eruption of any volcanoes worldwide.

Yet, when Chadwick heard Adira’s question about the most precious thing in his body, he felt as if a sharp lightning cracked in the sky, and he listened to a thunder booming inside his head, molten him in anger. His temper peaked like a volcano about to erupt in its enormous rage.

“I can handle that, I think,” Adira said, nodding while looking at Chadwick’s center. “But how small is it? Can you give me a hint so I can be prepared?”

A fresh swell of rage rose, and Chadwick gritted his teeth. The fury is twisting his stomach and blurring his ability to think straight.

Catching his breath with his wideopened mouth, he grabbed the pillow and held it tightly with his trembling hand.

When he pursed his lips, he started biting his lower lip, and he ignored the pain in the flesh inside his mouth until it felt numb.

‘If only she is a man… If only she is a man!’ Chadwick chanted these inwardly while imagining how relieving it would be to hit her face with a pillow. He really wanted to, but he won’t. He cannot. He must not.

He is not a violent person, to begin with.

However, the question is enough to stir up his last inch of patience.

When Adira saw her husband’s sour expression, red face, and veins popping out from his neck, she couldn’t stop the laugh from bursting out of her lips.

“Pfft…” she let out loud chuckles and covered her mouth.

Wordlessly, Chadwick watched Adira. A scowl marred his handsome face. He couldn’t believe that she could even dare to laugh at him.

He wanted to say that his thing isn’t small. But if he does, he fears hell will fall from her trap.

‘Damn it!’ Chadwick cursed while gawking at Adira.

Holding her intense belly, Adira wiped her teary eyes. Chadwick can’t tell if she’s being serious or only teasing him. Either way, he had already cursed her inside his head. He did it about three times, and he never felt satisfied.

Adira stared at the threatening bloodthirstiness on his red face. Then, she felt the low temperature inside the room.

‘He’s really mad. Shoot,’ Adira laughed internally.

She forged a cough and said, “I was only joking. Seeing that you don’t want to do it with me tonight, I won’t force you anymore.”

‘But that does not mean I won’t return,’ Adira added.

She smiled at him with the beam of a cat playing with a mouse; then she turned around. But Chadwick dropped a question with his keen edge voice before she could step away.

“Do you like me?”

The question he tossed was so sharp, like swords that can pierce a neck.

Adira stared vacantly. It was just that the question bewildered her so much that she lost the sense of direction for the moment. Blinking swiftly, Adira tilted her head to her husband, who suddenly spoke of nonsense.

“Did you fall for me because I am handsome?” he asked her again.

He is handsome. Yes, that is true. A big CHECK. His good looks were a hot topic in the business world, as he was called the most handsome and youngest CEO ever, even way back before. Adira once saw that article in the magazine.

Now, looking at him, Adira observed his face.

Chadwick has catlike eyes, rounded in the base and sharp in the end. Then his nose is pointed and thin, but not something that can cut an onion. He has straight brows that are always marred in front of Adira and cupid bow lips in which both corners have elevated shapes, making him look like a gorgeous large car.

But to fall for him just because of his looks?

Adira thinks her husband suffers from an ‘I am handsome, and I know it’s a disease.

A lot of handsome men tried to woo Adira. Some are celebrities, others are athletes, and most are rich conglomerate sons of billionaires. However, no one preceded to swoon over the CEO of the Crimson and Meadow company. No one.

And Chadwick, her husband, won’t be her exemption. Even if he is the most handsome man in the world, Adira can’t imagine herself falling for him just because of his looks.

“I did not fall for you,” she uttered with chuckles. “But if we share our genes, our future baby would be grateful.”

Chadwick’s brows tangled in a deep accusatory scowl, an attitude as cold as an executioner’s ax.

He repeated the surprising word inside his head again and again.

‘Baby? Baby? Baby?’

Until it processed in his mind.

“The reason I wanted to have sex with you is to get pregnant,” Adira explained. “I am turning 32 this year. So, before it gets too late, I wanted to have a baby.”

Actually, Chadwick did not expect her to offer this to him. Aside from her age, they also got married only to resolve the current business problems in their companies, and soon, they might divorce.

‘Why would she like to have my kid when there’s a chance we will separate soon?’ he wondered.

“So, you wanted to get pregnant, that’s all?”

“You got my point, honey.”

Chadwick scratched his head while blinking his eyes swiftly, quite dumbfounded.

“But I don’t like to do it with you. What to do?” he asked, raising one of his brows.

“You aren’t worrying about who will inherit your company?”

“No. My older brother has children. My nephews can inherit the company,” he answered.

“Woah, this is commendable. It is rare to see someone who does not have greed for power.”

“So, you should stop using me to fulfill your goal. There are still other ways for you to get pregnant,” he suggested. “And you can also adopt a kid.”

Brushing her red hair upward, Adira responded with a sneer.

“Do you think my father, who set me up for an arranged marriage for the company's sake, will accept a child whose blood came from an unknown man? Hmmm?”

Chadwick could not respond. The answer is obvious.

“If that really happened, then the child would only suffer. So, getting pregnant in this way is my only chance. When you are ready, just feel free to tell me. Okay? I will give you the privilege of choosing whose bed you want. My bed or your bed.”

Adira winked at her husband. When she turned around, her long crimson hair fluttered. She exited the room, leaving the flowery scent of lavender.

Staring at the closed door, Chadwick soon caught his face with his palms and roughly washed it up and down. He really expected it would be easy to live with his wife as long as she was Adira Hale. But he only realized that he was wrong a little bit too late.

“She is… a crazy woman,” he mumbled in a low voice.

He felt his phone vibrating while he was falling into deep thoughts of regrets about this marriage.

Isa sent him a text message.

[“I am so sorry, Chadwick. Perhaps, did you fight with your wife because of me?”]

After reading the text, Chadwick took a deep breath and lay on his bed.

“I don’t even know if that is a fight or what,” he mumbled.

The following day came.

The golden ray of sunshine brushed Adira’s porcelain face. It woke her up from her sweet abyss.

With a stretch, she welcomed the morning with a groan, “Ahhhhhh Hmmm.”

Today is her first morning living with her husband under the same roof. Usually, newlywed women wanted to fulfill their longtime dream of cooking their husbands’ breakfast on their first morning as a married couple in their new house. Yet, Adira doesn’t belong to that group.

Why would she cook for Chadwick?

She knows that Chadwick will do his best to avoid her as mus as possible. So, it will be a waste of time to cook for him. In addition to that, what Adira wanted was to seduce him in bed but not to make him fall in love with her.

Relishing her spare time to stare at the blank space, Adira yawned.

She stared at nothing for many minutes before deciding to start her day.

Her plan? To do her daily routine, working as the diligent leader, the CEO of Crimson Meadow company.

Waking up late won’t ever be in Adira’s dictionary. Just like what everyone who knows Adira is aware of, she hates people wasting their time by being irresponsible at work. In other words, she wanted to be a diligent and punctual leader, and being Chadwick’s wife won’t hinder that.

With enough time left, Adira walked out of her room. She is still wearing the thin, silky crimson bathrobe she wore last night. The less fabric she wears, the more comfortable she feels in her sleep.

“Ahhhh, my shoulder is aching,” she groaned while walking to the kitchen. “Maybe I am getting older.”

Sighing, Adira stopped her pace and glanced at her husband’s room.

They are both CEO of two different companies. Therefore, she wondered if he had already left for work or if he was still in the middle of preparing.

“If that weird man is up, I bet one million dollars that he won’t walk out of his room because he does not want to bump into me,” she chuckled. “This holy romantic vrgin.”

Adira addressed him as ‘Virgin’ not because she’s not one of the clubs. She does not have any experience too. Not even one. Yet, it is so confusing for her that Chadwick does not give in to temptation.

“My sleepwear is too revealing. But he did not bat an eye,” Adira complained nonchalantly while looking at her huge clothed brest.

Clicking her tongue, she arrived at the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator when suddenly, she heard the doorbell.

Ding dong~ Ding dong!~

She closed the door of the refrigerator and looked at the door.

‘Who is crazy enough to visit our home this early morning?’ she wondered, tilting her head.

Thinking how odd it is to have a guest as a married couple on their first day together in their new house, Adira approached the security camera.

On the screen of the security camera, she saw a cute woman standing in front of the door.

“She looks very familiar,” Adira murmured.

She narrowed her eyes to the image of the familiar woman until she recognized who she was.

“Ahhhhhh, I know now,” she gasped.

The woman who came is the person she saw during their wedding. She’s the enthusiastic and brave lady who waved at Chadwick during the wedding ceremony.

‘And also, the woman calling my husband last night,’ Adira added inwardly.

“Isa Daley,” Adira whispered to the woman whom her husband has feelings for. “So, it is my husband’s visitor.”

If Isa Daley came to visit, she would be Chadwick's visitor. Now, Adira contemplated whether she'll call her husband or not.

'Is it really necessary to call him when this house is my house too?' Adira asked herself.

Flaunting a grin, Adira decided to greet the guest alone. She held the doorknob, and when the entrance opened, a pair of clear brown eyes shook before her.

Isa Daley gaped at the woman who opened the door. She blinked her brown eyes, then observed Adira's sexy lingerie. Isa gawked at Adira's silky sleeping wear, bust, red lips, and alluring emerald eyes. When Adira blinked, her long lashes flickered like red butterfly wings.

'Chadwick's wife is so pretty. And she has a charismatic look,' with this in Isa's mind, she felt anxious. Yet, she suppressed the fear and straightened her posture.

Adira stared at the woman whom her husband had feelings for. Isa Daley has an innocent face, big round brown eyes, a small thin nose, a tiny face, and a captivating beam. Isa looks like the typical female lead in every romance novel.

If they stand next to each other, Isa will look like a lamb, while Adira will look like a wild red fox.

The lamb, Isa, held tightly at the plant vase around her hands. She smiled at Adira and greeted, "Good morning."

What's good in the morning?

Adira does not feel good early in the morning. Either way, she greeted her back.

"Good morning." Then, Adira smiled too.

"My name is Isa Daley," she introduced. "I attended the wedding before."

Adira nodded her head. "I see," she responded before asking, "Then, how did you know our address?"

Apart from Adira and Chadwick's families and secretaries, no one knows the couple's address.

"About that. Well, err, ahm, Chadwick shared with me the address of your house."

Adira snorted silently. Once again, she praised her husband's foolishness for bringing his woman into their house.

If Adira is just an ordinary wife, she might have dragged Isa out of the house by pulling her hair. Fortunately, Isa should be thankful that the person in front of her is a woman who won't care about her husband's affair.

In a gentle tone, Adira responded, "So, why did you come here, Miss Daley?"

As an answer, Isa showed the plant vase she was carrying.

"Here. I wanted to give this plant as my gift for you."

A gift for Adira?

Adira was curious why this woman would offer a gift for her.

Is there a mistress willing to give a gift to the legal wife?

Adira thought that Isa might be the first one.

"A gift for me?" Adira repeated. "Why?"

Sighing, Isa explained, "Last night, Chadwick and I were talking through a phone call. Then, I heard your voice."

Adira's right brow soared up, making the other look bigger than the right side. She continued listening to Isa without saying a thing.

"Chadwick and I talked for hours," Isa added. Biting her peach lips, she continued, "Thus, I wanted to give you this gift just in case I made you feel so bad. I am sure you're not okay, right?"

Blinking, Adira observed Isa.

The cute girl has an innocent face, something that resembles an angel. However, as Adira analyzed the meaning of Isa's words, she doubted if Isa was really an angel sent from heaven.

Is Isa really need to inform Adira that she's talking with Chadwick for long hours?

And would it be better to apologize to a misunderstanding than to say that she wanted to make Adira feel better?

Wondering about those, Adira realized that Isa was an angel sent from hell.

'A btch appeared,' Adira said inwardly while she glared down at Isa.

When Isa saw the dark gaze, she felt the overpowering aura and the chill creeping out of her skin. Her hands trembled, and by accident, she dropped the vase.

"Oh no!"

Krkrkrrrrklsh!

Earpiercing sounds echoed around the living room.

Adira looked at the pieces of the broken vase and the poor plant that dirtied that white tile.

"Oh my goodness," Isa gasped, covering her mouth. She then looked at Adira and apologized. "Sorry! I am so sorry! I didn't mean to drop it!" Quickly, Isa sat down to pick up the broken pieces.

Nonchalantly, Adira watched her and thought that she was an idiot.

"Ouch!" Isa winced when she accidentally cut her finger while picking up the broken pieces.

That is why Adira thought she was a fool. 'Why pick up something dangerous when you can use a broom?' she thought as she rolled her eyes.

Wanting to stop Isa from picking them up, she detached her lips.

"Hey. St…”

But Chadwick suddenly came.

"Isa!" he shouted as he dashed towards his friend.

Chadwick passed by his wife and knelt on the ground to check how deep is the cut on Isa's finger.

"Oh sht," Chadwick cursed. "Are you fine? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

Adira found it very absurd. Who goes to the hospital with a small cut on her finger?

'Well. Love will make someone really stupid,' Adira realized while watching the two.

"Hospital? No. This is nothing," Isa replied. She smiled at him and pressed her finger to stop the bleeding.

Chadwick looked alternately at the broken plant vase and Isa's wound. Next, he stared at the possible culprit.

Adira wasn't the one who broke the vase. But given that she's present, Chadwick can easily accuse her as the perpetrator.

"You… Did you…" Chadwick uttered while glaring at his wife.

Adira tilted her head. She did give Isa an eyepiercing stare, but she's innocent!

Feeling unjust, Adira gawked at Isa. She waited for Isa to explain to Chadwick that everything was an accident and Adira was innocent. However, Isa did not say anything. She just kept sitting on the ground with her head hung low, as if playing the poor victim act.

'This sht…' Adra exclaimed internally. She couldn't believe that a devil dared to crawl from hell, and that was Isa!

As no one talked, Chadwick guessed that it was really Adira who caused this mess. After their conversation last night, Chadwick was convinced that Adira could be crazy.

Therefore, Chadwick stood up and gave her the coldest stare ever. Then, he accused, "What the hell are you doing, Adira?"

Experiencing this absurdness, Adira snorted. "Huh."

She smirked at Isa, who's succeeded in making her the villain.

Who is the lamb again? Adira can only see a sly fox in front of her.

'But I don't have time and patience for this,' Adira thought. She realized it would be better to ignore them and prepare for her work.

Shaking her head, Adira turned around and stepped away. But Chadwick was fast to grab her wrist and pull her back.

Adira looked back and stared at his hand made of ice. The place he touched immediately became cold, and that chill from his fingertips slithered straight into her body.

With an apathetic expression, Adira stared at her husband.

"Where do you think you're going after doing this?" Chadwick asked. His clutch tightened around his wrist.

Adira flinched. His clasp is painful but bearable. But it shows how agitated he is just because Isa got hurt.

"Explain why you did that?" Chadwick commanded.

Do what?

What will she explain when she does not do anything?

Adira proudly lifted her chin. Then she asked, "What did I do?"

Huh.

Chadwick snorted. He couldn't believe that Adira dared to play ignorant even at times like this.

"Don't you dare play innocent, Adira," he warned, pulling her closer.

It must be easy for him to think that Adira is the villain. However, Adira won't back down.

'If he wanted me to play evil, then I would,' Adira decided.

Before she became Adira McElroy, she was Adira Hale. A name that means being strong and undefeated.

Adira pulled her hand out of Chadwick's grip and held him instead. It was as if she flipped the table; now, she's the interrogator.

Chadwick can hardly react to the fast shifting of her movements.

"Dear," Adira called.

Blinking swiftly, he looked at her.

Even Isa is surprised that Adira is holding Chadwick's wrist and that she has the upper hand in this battle.

Adira grinned at him.

"Accusing me without evidence, I think that's how powerful love is," Adira murmured.

"WWhat?" Chadwick uttered.

"Why? It's true. You have feelings for this lady." Adira stared down at Isa as she whispered, "Right, Honey?"

At Adira's remark, Chadwick and Isa held their breaths momentarily.

Adira was sitting in front of her office desk while reminiscing about the scene that unfolded in her new home this early morning:

“You have feelings for this lady.” Adira stared down at Isa as she whispered, “Right, Honey?”

At Adira’s remark, Chadwick and Isa held their breaths momentarily. They did not expect to hear this answer directly from Adira.

As no one from the two could answer her, Adira pulled her hand away from Chadwick’s. Then, she glanced at the woman sitting pathetically on the floor.

“Miss Isa. You don’t need to pick those up because I will ask someone else to clean them. After all, YOU ARE MY HUSBAND’S DEAREST GUEST.”

Adira smiled at Isa, an eerie and haunting beam like an image in a broken mirror. Isa felt the chill creeping out on her skin.

“And honey,” Adira called the unmovable and stunned Chadwick. She leaned towards him, placing her leg between his thighs before she fixed the collar of his shirt.

Chadwick’s eyes dilated in front of the gorgeous woman before him. A scowl marred on his face. Even Adira’s cloying scents are enticing, and he detests such smell.

“I had to go to work. Have a great time with your guest.”

She moved two steps backward away from him and did not forget to wear the sneer on her lips. When she turned around, her red hair fluttered in the air. Adira left the two without looking back as if seeing them again would waste her time.

“Ma’am?”

Waking up from recollecting the vivid memory, Adira stared at her secretary.

“Is there a problem?” asked Miss Hansel.

Secretary Hansel noticed that Adira kept looking afar, and she thought it odd because her boss does not usually lose her focus, especially while working.

Carefully opening her mouth, Adira responded, “Secretary Hansel.”

The secretary quickly responded, “Yes, Ma’am?

“How long has it been already since you married your husband?”

Not only is Adira spaced out, but she’s also asking a personal question to her employee.

Hansel peeked out of the window, ensuring the sun would set to the West.

Adira seems friendly and approachable at first glance. However, people who socialized with her could tell that Adira built a wall between her and the others. She smiled, but at the same time, she hated getting attached to someone or something.

Therefore, when Adira asked Hansel about her personal life, Hansel thought it would be a good sign.

“Well, my husband and I have been married for four years,” Hansel said.

Adira rested her chin on her clutched hands. Humming, she responded, “Ahhhh.” Then she looked back at her again with another question to ask. “What would you do if you found out your husband likes someone else?”

“PPardon?”

“Then, the woman he likes can freely come in and out of your house. What will you do?”

Hansel felt the flicker of irritation that flooded her vein. Even just imagining the situation, she felt like she’d burst into madness!

Turning red, Hansel opened her mouth, and she subconsciously shouted, “I will beat them to death!”

Death.

Death.

Death.

The loud shout echoed inside the office.

It took Hansel seconds to realize her grave mistake.

Did she shout at the CEO of the company?

Not. She only did that unconsciously to release her anger about the imaginary situation.

Gasping, Hansel lowered her head and apologized. “Sorry, Ma’am! I did not mean to shout like that.”

Adira only chuckled. Then she uttered, “It’s okay.” She checked the documents before her and signed what needed to be signed.

Hansel glanced at the CEO’s pretty face. She’s dying to know why Adira suddenly asked that question. Anxiousness followed.

‘What if she asked me this because her husband brought another woman into their house?’ she wondered.

Hansel is one of the people who knows that Adira and Chadwick’s marriage is just for convenience. Withal, that is not enough reason for Chadwick to bring his woman into their newly built house!

The worried secretary clenched her fists out of deep rage for her boss. Nevertheless, if Hansel gets so mad like this, even when she’s not involved, she imagines how hard it is for Adira.

‘I hope, Ma’am, can stay strong,’ Hansel wished.

However, Adira does not feel pathetic. She asks the question to Haimee because she’s only curious about what an ordinary wife would think in this situation.

Adira is not an ordinary woman. Thus, she cannot understand this.

“You don’t need to drive me home, Secretary Hansel.”

“Yes?”

She stopped signing the documents as Adira looked back at Haimee.

“I will go to my favorite place and will drink some.”

Hansel nodded, “Noted, Ma’am.”

Adira bowed her head so she did not see Hansel’s empathetic expression for her. Hansel thought Adira would drink alcohol because she had difficulty with her arranged marriage.

But actually, Adira just wanted to drink.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

——————

Adira went to her favorite luxury bar at 6 pm.

She always comes to this place whenever she’s tired from work. And today, she came here not because of her husband or her husband’s woman.

Although she plans on seducing Chadwick, she does not intend to make him fall in love. Thus, Adira won’t care even if Chadwick spends his sweet days with her woman.

‘I am too old to waste my time and play like a villain for those idiots,’ Adira thought, shaking her head.

With an elated heart, Adira wanted to drink alone after a long day of work. If there’s one thing she’s praying for, that is to have a cute child she’ll spend her days with while her hair turns gray.

Adira focused on her career. She did not experience feeling attracted to or interested in dating men or women. She thought love would only be a hindrance, so she reached 31 without dating. Moreover, Adira knew that trying was futile since she’ll only marry the husband her father would choose. Why bother wasting her time crying and fighting over a stupid romance and pretending to be like a character in a tragic novel?

“I suddenly wanted to read tragic romance novels like Romeo and Juliet,” she murmured at the bar counter.

Adira looked around.

All of a sudden, a man sprung below the counter. He’s wearing a bartender uniform and wiping his name tag, which he picked up from the ground.

The man’s appearance caught Adira’s attention. She watched him pin his name tag on his uniform with the name [“Geoffrey”]

Adira is a regular customer of this place. But this was the first time she saw this man.

The guy has brushedup blonde hair. His brows are arched up. He has eaglelike eyes, which are sharp but have heavy lids. His nose is tall, very majestic. He has heartshaped lips with a small mole near his upper lip. He is also tall with a great build.

To make it short, he is very handsome and will be a scenestealer anywhere he goes.

‘The bar’s advertising skills are no joke,’ Adira praised the bar’s management inside her head.

At last, the man focused on the woman sitting at the counter. As soon as he saw her face, he froze like a statue, as if he saw something shocking.

Well, Adia is too used to this kind of reaction. She’s pretty, that’s why. Yet there’s something odd about the way the bartender looks at her. It was as if he knew her already.

The bartender, Geoffrey, closed his partly opened lips after a moment.

After staring at Adira’s face, he focused on her finger. And when he saw that she was not wearing any ring, a satisfied grin drew on his face.

Six months have passed.

It’s already half a year since Chadwick and Adira married each other. Since then, Adira has only wished for one thing from her husband. And that is to convince him to sleep with her and warm her bed.

“Can I sleep inside your room?”

“Let’s make out.”

“Let’s sleep together.”

“Honey, let’s have sex.”

Living with Adira for the first month was hell for Chadwick—a nightmare without escape.

Adira never failed to ask him to have sex every day. EVERY SINGLE DAY. And it became a job for Chadwick to decline her. EVERY SINGLE DAY. Until Chadwick got used to her craziness after months. It became a routine for him to decline her, and it also became a routine for Adira to get rejection. Still, the stubborn lady doesn't know how to give up.

Like tonight, Adira visited his room to ask the same thing again.

“Darling,” Adira called, standing near the bed Chadwick sat on. She’s wearing a shiny, thin sleepwear dress made from silk. Her undergarments would be easily seen if she stood next to the light.

Her gorgeous body, as alluring as it can be, might seduce whoever sees her. It’s not just her commendable hourglass figure but also her dolllike face and skin that is as pale as jade.

“Can you make a baby with me tonight?” Adira uttered so patently as if she was selling candy in the middle of the crowded street.

Now here is the question.

Did Chadwick really get used to Adira’s craziness after six months?

Hell no.

He is accustomed to her offer, but that does not mean that he's fine with this.

Chadwick grabbed the pillow and threw it at his wife. Since Adira has excellent agility, and this does not happen for the first time, she avoids flying objects. The pillow hit an anime figurine and fell to the ground.

Tak.

It’s broken. The figurine broke into pieces.

Chadwick looked at his favorite figurine, and he gaped as he remembered how far he traveled just to buy this collection.

“Just to remind you, it wasn’t me who threw the pillow,” Adira reminded him upon seeing his pale complexion. Then, she hurriedly walked out of the room.

As soon as she got out, she heard Chadwick shouting, “No! My favorite Saitama! This is really expensive! Argh!”

Adira felt guilty that his favorite figurine broke.

"I feel sad for him," she uttered.

Nevertheless, it does not mean that she planned to stop here. For sure, she will do this again tomorrow and ask for the same time all over again.

Holding the broken pieces of the figurine, Chadwick took deep breaths before he looked at the door with fierce eyes.

‘Adira,’ he cursed the name of his beautiful wife.

The reason why he was having a difficult time, he knew it, was because of her.

Adira is way too different from the women he met before. She’s strong and dominant, very far from his ideal type. If only Adira were cute and innocent, there might be a considerable chance that they could get along.

That’s all.

He cannot promise he’ll like her as a woman even if they are close or even if she acts like his ideal type.

Just imagining the day he would fall in love with Adira gave him a creep.

Chadwick caressed the goosebumps on his skin and shook his head as if reminding himself that it was better not to imagine that horrific situation. Then, he dropped the broken pieces on the floor and, with teary eyes, ran and locked the door. He believes that Adira might come back again.

“She’s scarier than a ghost or a serial killer,” he said while leaning on the door.

Holding his head, he strode to his bed while dragging his feet.

He perched down, sighing, “Does she have the slightest shame?”

Speaking of shame, he suddenly thought of Isa, who did not visit him after the incident six months ago.

Six months ago, Isa visited here to befriend Adira. The vase that Isa brought broke, and she got hurt. Chadwick saw Isa and Adira together when the incident happened, so he wrongfully accused his wife.

Chadwick laid down on his bed.

While staring at nothing, he reminisced what happened that night after Isa visited their house.

Adira went inside the house. Chadwick went to greet her as if he’d been waiting for Adira to come.

As soon as he stood before her, Chadwick smelled the malt scent of the alcohol from his wife.

Scowling, he asked, “Did you drink?”

Adira stared at her husband. She drank a lot but wasn’t drunk and wholly sobered.

“I did drink,” she responded.

Chadwick felt culpable. He thought that Adira drank because of him.

“Is it because I blamed you this morning?” he shyly inquired.

Adira tilted her head. She could not understand why he thought she drank outside because of him.

“This morning,” Chadwick murmured, “I blamed you wrongfully. I thought it was you who broke the vase, and that’s why Isa got hurt. But I’m wrong. So, sorry.”

Her mouth opened as she nodded as if she finally understood what he was trying to say. She understood him, but that did not mean he answered correctly.

“I did not drink because I feel bad,” Adira said.

“Yes?” Chadwick murmured.

“I was only tired from work. So, I went out to relieve my stress. That’s my hobby.”

Adira smiled. She tapped her husband’s shoulder before she walked past him. Confused, Chadwick caught her wrist and pulled her.

“Isa told me that it wasn’t your fault. Aren’t you mad that I got angry at you? Don’t you think it’s unfair?”

Slowly, she looked back at him. It’s funny. She wanted to laugh after hearing what her husband said. If Isa really does not wish Chadwick to misunderstand the situation, she should have explained everything from the beginning. But Isa did not. And Adira does not want to explain to Chadwick that Isa isn’t as kind as he thinks.

“That’s why I apologized. But you are acting as if nothing happened,” Chadwick said.

Adira pulled her hand away from his grip. Smiling, she asked, “So, what do you want me to do?”

That question caught Chadwick off guard.

What does he want?

He wanted to apologize. He already did it, but he does not feel good at all. Because it seems like Adira does not care, and she does not even know what he’s sorry for. That made him like a horrible person, and Chadwick hated it.

“I already said that I don’t care,” Adira said.

“You are right,” Chadwick murmured with chuckles. “And it seems you are not interested in hearing my answer when you asked me if I like Isa.”

“Hmmm, yeah. That too,” Adira gave him a flat response. “If you like another woman or want to bring her into this house, do what you want.”

Chadwick felt like a bucket of ice poured into his head. He realized his wife had a talent for being as cold as ice. She maybe speaks sweetly, but her heart is stone. And he will never befriend a woman like her.

“So, honey,” Adira said in a low voice. “You don’t need to say sorry. I don’t need your emotions.”

Adira skimmed a look at him from head to toe.

“All I want is your body,” she added. After that, she turned around and left him.

Remembering that night, Chadwick frowned deeply. He licked his lower lip and bit it hard. Ever since that night, he became more confident that there would be no chance for him and his wife to get along.

Chadwick looked at the door again. “I shouldn’t have agreed on this marriage,” he whispered.

On the other side, Adira is in the living room. While sitting on the couch, she’s thinking of a plan to convince her husband to sx with her.

“The seducing plan started six months ago,” she murmured.

Six months.

It took her six months, but none of her plans worked!

“But this is not the time to surrender,” Adira convinced herself.

Yielding and surrounding aren’t in her dictionary. Her surname changed, but she is still the undefeatable Adira from the past.

After cheering herself, Adira looked at her husband’s room, which was probably locked.

“That man is so grumpy,” she said. “At least, I hope he’ll be sweet during my birthday.”

Adira couldn’t remember the last time she celebrated her birthday. She would lock herself inside her office and work her butt off instead of wasting her time on that celebration, which she considers a waste of time.

The celebrator does not care about this. Thus, there are only a few who knows her birth date.

Suddenly, an idea popped inside her head.

“What if I can use my birthday to lure Chadwick?” she thought before a smirk played on her lips.

She stood up again, about to return to his room and attack. However, she stopped when she heard the ringing of the doorbell.

Ding dong~ Ding dong~

Adira looked at the door of their house.

There’s only one person who dared to visit their home. And if she’s not wrong, the person who pressed the doorbell is the same visitor they had six months ago.

With less curiosity, Adira walked toward the security screen.

She guessed it right.

After six months, Isa came back.

‘I was wondering why she did not come anymore. Now I don’t need to wonder anymore,’ Adira thought.

Six months ago, Isa came here saying she wanted to apologize to Adira.

“What is your reason for coming tonight?” Adira hummed.

She looked up and guessed why.

‘Don’t tell me she came here to say she’s pregnant. And that Chadwik is the father.’

She shuddered at these thoughts. If that is the case, she will divorce Chadwick immediately.

Adira does not care if Chadwick has another woman. But having a child with another woman is different thing.

First, she does not want to care for another woman’s baby. She wanted to have her baby, but that does not mean she is willing to be a stepmom.

‘I shouldn’t open the door,’ Adira decided.

If Isa ever came here with the news about the baby, she won’t take the responsibility to hear it. So, Adira walked towards her husband’s room instead.

She knocked on the door and called him, “Honey?’

Not long after, Chadwick answered her with a loud voice. “Didn’t I warn you to go away! Isn’t it enough that you broke one of my figurines?!”

“But it was him who broke it,” Adira whispered. She shrugged her shoulder and answered, “Come out.”

“I don’t want!”

“Really? Then I will tell Isa you don’t want to meet her.”

Not even ten seconds passed before Chadwick opened the door.

“WWho came?” he asked.

He always shuts the door for his wife, but it seems he’s open to all conversation for Isa.

“Isa is here,” Adira repeated her report.

As fast as a bolt, Chadwick ran, passing by Adira. He even bumped her by mistake, so Adira was shoved backward.

“Ahh,” she winced, then watched her husband dash toward the door and open it.

As soon as Chadwick opened the door, Isa barged in. The next thing that happened made Adira shocked.

“Oh my,” Adira said while watching Isa hugging her husband.

“Chadwick,” Isa sobbed, hugging Chadwick so tight.

Unable to move or push Isa away, Chadwick looked at her and murmured, “IIsa.”

“He is such a bstard,” Isa cried, burying her face on his chest.

Chadwick raised his hands and hugged her as if he had no choice. He tapped Isa’s back as if soothing a child in his arms.

It took him long seconds before he remembered that they were not alone.

‘Adira is here!’ Chadwick realized.

He quickly turned his head to his wife who was staring at them. She stood in front of his room, watching them with an expression that was hard to read.

If she was mad or sad, he could not tell.

Who would be okay if someone saw her husband hugging another girl in front of you?

Months ago, Adira reassured Chadwick that she wouldn’t care even if he had a mistress. Even so, Chadwick has a sense of guilt and doesn’t want to hurt his wife this way. So, he put his hand on Isa’s shoulder, about to push her. However…

“...”

Chadwick saw his wife turning around and leaving them alone without allowing him to show her respect.

‘What a gift for my birthday,’ Adira said before returning to her room.