Chapter 2

Serena's POV

The next day, I woke to find Twitter flooded with news about Adrian and Gianna Carson.

Someone had captured last night at the party. The image of him chasing closely after Gianna's retreating figure.

Someone had photographed him. He was usually so high and mighty. Now he was half-crouching, half-kneeling before Gianna. He was personally changing her out of her high heels.

And someone had posted a video.

In the video, Gianna's foot seemed to be sprained. Adrian wanted to take her home, but she limped away, stubbornly refusing to get in his car.

Adrian threw away his cigarette, strode over and scooped her up in his arms, ignoring her struggles and protests as he forcibly put her in his Maybach.

Under this video, mutual friends of Adrian and mine were all sighing.

"Looks like Adrian's serious this time. Pursuing an intern so publicly, willing to humble himself before her. I've never seen him like this."

"I heard that for this intern, he now stays at the company all day, just circling around her. He didn't even pursue Serena like this, did he?"

"Hey, you probably don't know yet. Last night he not only tried to give the necklace meant for Serena to this intern, he also chased after the intern right in front of Serena. If I were Serena, I'd be so embarrassed I'd want to crawl into a hole."

"Damn, Adrian pursued Serena from our home country all the way abroad for five whole years! If he doesn't even care about Serena anymore, he must really be in love with this intern."

Reading this, my fingers trembled, my heart constricted as if tightly bound by fine thread.

Because of my own family background, I once never believed there was a man in this world who wouldn't change his heart.

Until I met Adrian Thorne.

Adrian fell in love with me at first sight and pursued me fiercely. Even when I rejected him again and again, he never gave up.

Later, when I went abroad to study, he flew 99 times, crossing 12 time zones.

For five whole years, from home to abroad, he proved his sincerity with time and action before I finally believed in his love and agreed to be with him.

We went from campus to wedding. After marriage, we were very happy. Everyone said Adrian loved me deeply.

Until the fourth year of marriage, when a new batch of interns joined the company.

At a project presentation, Gianna Carson nervously gave wrong data. When questioned by executives, she blushed but still tried hard to explain. That look made him freeze.

Later, he promoted her, wanting to transfer her to work beside him.

But Gianna righteously refused. "Mr. Thorne, I hope to be recognized for my own abilities and efforts, not by relying on someone to take shortcuts."

There was even a time at the company when Gianna said to me in front of Adrian, "Miss Wells, please remind Mr. Thorne not to give me special treatment anymore. It makes me very uncomfortable."

That was the first time I experienced what humiliation felt like.

And from then on, Adrian seemed to have discovered something novel, finding her extremely interesting.

No matter how much I fought or made scenes, he never cared about my feelings again. He pursued Gianna openly and passionately, with an air of determination to win her.

To this day, I still remember how happy he was when I finally agreed to be with him.

On the day of our grand wedding, he solemnly promised me.

"Serena, I swear I will only love you in this life. I will never betray you, never change my heart, and love you forever."

At the time, I truly believed him.

In the end, five years of pursuit, four years of marriage. His forever lasted only nine years combined.

Outside, I suddenly heard a car pulling into the villa. I knew Adrian was home.

I got up and left the bedroom, standing at the second-floor stairway landing. I saw Adrian carrying Gianna Carson into the villa.

"Put me down! Let me go!" Gianna protested in his arms. "I can walk by myself!"

Adrian looked down at her. "Your foot is injured. How can you walk yourself?"

"That's my business. You don't need to worry about it!"

"If I don't worry about you, who will? You're so stubborn."

Though his words expressed dissatisfaction, Gianna wasn't struggling violently in his arms, and Adrian certainly wasn't going to put her down.

Adrian instructed the housekeeper to prepare the guest bedroom while carrying Gianna upstairs.

Looking up, his eyes met mine on the stairs.