The Woman He Lost

The next morning, Adrian Brooks woke to the faint glow of sunlight spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his luxurious penthouse.

For the first time in weeks, he felt unusually relaxed.

He stretched lazily before reaching for the other side of the bed.

Instead of finding Evelyn beside him as she had been every morning for the past three years, his hand met an empty silk sheet.

Only then did he remember.

Evelyn had left.

A small smile formed on his lips.

"It doesn't matter," he muttered confidently as he got out of bed. "She'll come back."

She always came back.

Whenever they argued, Evelyn was always the first to apologize, even when she wasn't at fault. She would prepare his favourite breakfast, smile as if nothing had happened, and quietly swallow the pain he caused her.

She loved him too much to leave.

At least, that was what Adrian believed.

The bathroom door opened.

Vanessa stepped out wearing Evelyn's expensive white silk robe, her wet hair falling over her shoulders.

She walked behind Adrian and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked sweetly.

"Nothing important."

She smiled knowingly.

"You're thinking about Evelyn."

Adrian sighed.

"I was just wondering where she went."

Vanessa rolled her eyes.

"Forget about her."

"She's probably crying in some cheap hotel, waiting for you to call."

She laughed softly.

"You know she'll forgive you."

Adrian nodded.

"That's who she is."

Vanessa stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

"Exactly."

"Now stop worrying about someone who's already in the past."

Before Adrian could answer, his phone rang.

The caller ID displayed:

Brooks Family Mansion.

He answered immediately.

"Young Master," the elderly butler said respectfully.

"Master Damien has requested a family meeting."

Adrian frowned.

"My uncle?"

"Yes, sir."

"The entire Brooks family has already gathered."

"You are expected to arrive within one hour."

The call ended.

Adrian stared at the screen for several seconds.

Damien Brooks rarely attended family gatherings.

He hated unnecessary meetings.

For him to personally summon everyone...

Something important had happened.

...

One hour later...

The Brooks Family Mansion stood proudly on a hill overlooking the city.

It was less of a home and more of a palace.

Luxury cars lined the entrance.

Security guards stood at attention.

Servants hurried through the halls, preparing for the meeting.

As Adrian entered with Vanessa beside him, conversations immediately stopped.

Several relatives exchanged meaningful glances.

Others whispered quietly.

"Why did Master Damien suddenly call everyone?"

"I heard it has something to do with Adrian."

"Did something happen?"

Adrian ignored them.

He walked confidently into the grand conference hall.

The room was enormous.

Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead.

A polished mahogany table stretched across the centre of the room.

At its head sat Damien Brooks.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he looked calm, elegant, and completely unreadable.

His cold grey eyes slowly lifted.

For a brief second...

They met Adrian's.

An invisible pressure filled the room.

Even Adrian unconsciously straightened his back.

Despite being one of the company's top executives, he had always feared his uncle.

Damien wasn't just rich.

He was powerful enough to decide the fate of entire companies with a single signature.

He never raised his voice.

He never showed unnecessary emotions.

Yet everyone feared disappointing him.

Adrian forced a smile.

"Good morning, Uncle."

Damien gave a slight nod.

"Sit."

No warmth.

No greeting.

Just one word.

Vanessa reached for an empty chair beside Adrian.

Before she could sit...

Damien spoke again.

"She isn't a member of the Brooks family."

"She stands."

The room instantly became awkward.

Vanessa's cheeks burned with embarrassment.

She looked toward Adrian for help.

Adrian cleared his throat.

"Uncle..."

"Vanessa is with me."

Damien didn't even look at him.

"I heard you."

"My answer remains the same."

Several elders quietly hid their smiles.

Vanessa clenched her fists.

Humiliation burned inside her.

Reluctantly, she remained standing behind Adrian's chair.

Just then...

The massive wooden doors slowly opened.

The butler stepped inside.

His voice echoed through the silent hall.

"Mrs. Evelyn Brooks has arrived."

Every head turned toward the entrance.

Adrian's heartbeat unexpectedly quickened.

For some reason...

He expected to see the same broken woman who had cried the previous night.

Instead...

A graceful figure slowly walked into the room.

Evelyn wore an elegant cream-coloured dress that perfectly highlighted her quiet beauty.

Her long dark hair rested neatly over one shoulder.

Light makeup concealed every trace of yesterday's tears.

She walked with confidence.

With dignity.

With a calmness Adrian had never seen before.

She wasn't trying to win him back.

She wasn't begging.

She wasn't crying.

She looked...

Untouchable.

Adrian unconsciously stood from his chair.

"Evelyn..."

His voice was barely a whisper.

Then another figure appeared beside her.

Damien Brooks.

Without hesitation, he gently reached for Evelyn's hand.

Their fingers intertwined naturally.

The room froze.

No one breathed.

No one moved.

The impossible had just happened.

The silence inside the conference hall became unbearable.

Every member of the Brooks family stared at Damien and Evelyn as though they had witnessed something impossible.

Damien Brooks...

The man who had rejected countless marriage proposals from wealthy families...

Was holding a woman's hand.

Not just any woman.

His nephew's wife.

Adrian's face drained of colour.

His heartbeat pounded loudly inside his ears.

"No..."

His voice was barely audible.

"This... this can't be happening."

He took two hurried steps forward.

"Uncle..."

"What are you doing?"

Damien slowly turned toward him.

His expression remained calm.

There wasn't the slightest trace of guilt or hesitation in his eyes.

"I'm introducing my future wife."

His deep voice echoed across the hall.

The words struck Adrian like lightning.

"What?"

Vanessa gasped loudly.

Several elderly relatives exchanged stunned glances.

One of the directors nearly dropped the teacup in his hand.

Even the servants standing near the door froze in disbelief.

Future wife?

Was Damien serious?

The Brooks family had spent years trying to persuade him to marry.

Business tycoons had offered their daughters.

Famous actresses had chased after him.

Models, socialites, and princesses had all failed to catch his attention.

Yet today...

He was introducing Evelyn.

The woman Adrian had discarded less than twenty-four hours earlier.

Vanessa immediately stepped forward.

"This is ridiculous!"

She pointed accusingly at Evelyn.

"She is still Adrian's wife!"

"How can you possibly marry her?"

Damien looked at her with icy eyes.

His gaze alone was enough to make her shiver.

"My personal affairs require no explanation."

His cold voice filled the room.

"But if you insist on one..."

He turned toward Adrian.

"My nephew abandoned his marriage."

"He publicly humiliated his wife."

"He chose another woman."

Damien's eyes narrowed.

"So why shouldn't I protect the woman he threw away?"

The room fell silent once again.

No one could argue.

Every word Damien spoke was true.

Adrian clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

"Evelyn..."

He looked at her desperately.

"Tell them this isn't true."

"We can talk."

"We can fix this."

For a brief moment...

Evelyn remembered the countless nights she had begged Adrian to spend time with her.

The birthdays he forgot.

The anniversaries he ignored.

The lonely dinners she ate by herself.

Every painful memory flooded back.

A sad smile appeared on her lips.

"Talk?"

She looked directly into his eyes.

"You had three years to talk to me."

"You never did."

Adrian's breathing became uneven.

"No..."

"I was busy."

"I was building the company."

Evelyn laughed softly.

The sound carried no joy.

"Busy?"

"You found time to travel with Vanessa."

"You found time to buy her jewellery."

"You found time to take her to the places you once promised to take me."

Her calm voice hurt Adrian more than shouting ever could.

"You had time for everyone..."

"Except your wife."

Vanessa folded her arms.

"So what?"

"You were never good enough for Adrian."

"He deserves someone better."

Before anyone else could react—

Slap!

The sharp sound echoed through the room.

Vanessa stumbled backward, holding her burning cheek.

She stared at Evelyn in disbelief.

"You..."

"You slapped me!"

Evelyn slowly lowered her hand.

For three years she had endured insults.

Humiliation.

Loneliness.

Today...

She had reached her limit.

"You stole my husband."

"You mocked my marriage."

"And you expect me to stay silent?"

Vanessa's eyes filled with anger.

She raised her hand to strike Evelyn back.

But before she could move—

Damien stepped between them.

His towering figure blocked Vanessa completely.

His cold eyes locked onto hers.

"If you touch her..."

His voice was frighteningly calm.

"You'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Vanessa's raised hand slowly fell.

Fear spread across her face.

She had heard countless stories about Damien Brooks.

People who crossed him often lost everything.

Companies disappeared overnight.

Careers ended without warning.

She took two shaky steps backward.

For the first time since entering the mansion...

She realised she had picked a fight she could never win.

Adrian watched everything unfold in stunned silence.

He had never seen Evelyn defend herself before.

She used to apologise even when she was innocent.

Now...

She stood confidently beside Damien.

She no longer needed his protection.

She had already begun walking away from him.

And Adrian finally understood something that terrified him.

The woman he had always believed would never leave...

Was already gone.

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