Chapter 5

Natalie POV

I spent an entire week in the hospital.

Severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, combined with internal bleeding from extreme emotional distress. I nearly died in that hospital.

During that entire week, Adrian never appeared once.

On discharge day, I took a cab back to the townhouse alone.

As soon as I entered, I heard cheering from the second floor.

I dragged my weakened body upstairs and pushed open the master bedroom door.

On the indoor climbing wall that once belonged to me, Sophie wore my favorite custom climbing outfit, my titanium carabiner with our initials hanging from her waist, struggling to climb upward under Adrian's protection.

"Adrian, I'm scared!" Sophie called out sweetly.

"Don't be afraid. I'm down here holding the belay rope. You're absolutely safe." Adrian looked up, hands gripping the safety rope tightly, his gaze focused and tender.

This scene pierced my eyes.

This wall was built by Adrian for me. He said that because I was afraid of heights, he wanted to build the safest wall at home so I could overcome my fear under his protection, step by step.

But now, he was protecting another woman.

"What are you doing?" My voice wasn't loud, but in the empty room it seemed particularly jarring.

Adrian's hands paused. Turning to see me, his brow immediately furrowed. "You're discharged? Why didn't you say something in advance?"

His tone was bland, as if I'd merely gone on vacation rather than nearly died.

Seeing me, Sophie deliberately slipped, screaming as she fell from the wall.

"Sophie!"

Adrian's expression changed drastically. He quickly tightened the belay rope, catching Sophie securely in his arms.

"Adrian, I was so scared..." Sophie clung tightly to Adrian's neck, looking at me through tears. "I'm sorry. I just saw this wall hadn't been used in so long and wanted to try it. Please don't be angry with Adrian."

I looked at the carabiner on Sophie's waist and said coldly. "Take off my things."

Sophie shrank back, burrowing deeper into Adrian's embrace.

Adrian protectively held Sophie, his eyes sharp as he looked at me. "Natalie, haven't you made enough of a scene? Sophie's just borrowing your equipment. Do you have to be this petty?"

"I'm petty?" I pointed at the carabiner, my finger trembling slightly. "Adrian, do you know what that clip means to me? That was your promise to me!"

"Promise?" Adrian laughed coldly, as if hearing the world's greatest joke. "Natalie, you want to talk to me about promises now? When you were bleeding all over the floor behind my back, why didn't you think about your promises to me?"

He still suspected me.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the pain in my heart. "I'll say it one more time. Return my things."

I walked forward, reaching to unfasten the carabiner from Sophie's waist.

"What are you doing!" Adrian shoved me away.

Already weak, his push sent my back crashing hard against the solid rock wall. The pain made my vision go dark.

Adrian looked down at me condescendingly, his eyes full of disgust. "Natalie, your emotions are too unstable right now. You're acting like a lunatic. This carabiner would be wasted on you. Sophie's doing rehabilitation training now. She needs it more than you."

He personally unfastened the carabiner engraved with our names and, right in front of me, rehung it on Sophie's waist.

"From today on, this wall belongs to Sophie. If you're dissatisfied, get back to your guest room."

I leaned against the wall, watching Adrian's back as he protectively escorted Sophie away, suddenly feeling this wall was as cold as ice.

I once thought Adrian was the safest rope in my world.

But it turned out, when he wanted to leave, I didn't even have the right to be shattered.