Chương 54: Chapter 54: Beneath the Surface

Later that night, in the bath, steam curled around them like a whispered secret. Joi leaned back against Adrian's chest, her body spent yet languid, her fingers tracing soft, lazy circles over his skin. The warm water lapped against their bodies, but it was the steady beat of Adrian's heart beneath her ear that calmed her most.

Adrian's arms tightened around her, his hands settling possessively on her waist. He pressed his lips to the curve of her neck, his voice a low murmur that sent a shiver skimming down her spine. "You're going to drive me insane."

Joi tilted her head back just enough to meet his gaze, the corner of her mouth curving with a hint of mischief. "You're already there."

Adrian didn't argue. Instead, his lips claimed hers again, slow and unrelenting, as if he had all the time in the world to explore her. His kiss was deeper now, their earlier urgency replaced with something softer yet no less intense. Joi's body melted into his, heat coiling low in her belly as his hands began to wander—trailing along her stomach, her thighs, until he turned her to face him.

Water sloshed gently as Joi straddled him, her hands braced on his shoulders. She trembled slightly beneath the weight of his dark gaze, her heart racing. Adrian cupped her face, brushing his thumb along her swollen lips. "Look at me, Joi."

She met his eyes, her trust shining in them, and Adrian felt his last shred of control unravel. He guided her down onto him, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as he filled her again, inch by inch. Adrian groaned softly, his hands gripping her hips, holding her steady as she adjusted to him.

The water swirled around them, but all Joi felt was Adrian—deep, unyielding, and hers. He moved her slowly, each rise and fall coaxing whimpers of pleasure from her throat. Adrian's eyes never left her, the tenderness in his gaze making her heart ache. "You're perfect," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "So beautiful."

Joi's hands threaded through his damp hair, her breath quickening as the slow, deliberate rhythm built between them. Every movement sent waves of pleasure crashing over her, the sensation overwhelming yet addictive. "Adrian…" she moaned, her voice trembling.

He caught her mouth in a kiss, swallowing every sound she made as they moved together—synchronized, unhurried, and utterly lost in each other. The tension coiled tighter, building with every thrust, every caress, until the line between pleasure and bliss blurred entirely.

Joi cried out softly as the release tore through her, leaving her breathless and shaking in his arms. Adrian followed moments later, his grip on her tightening as he buried himself deep, a low groan rumbling in his chest.

For a long moment, neither of them moved, their foreheads pressed together, their breathing mingling in the quiet. Adrian brushed his lips against her cheek, his voice gentle. "You're mine, Joi. Only mine."

By the time they returned to bed, the first light of dawn was creeping through the curtains, painting the room in muted gold. Joi lay curled in Adrian's arms, her body sated, her heart full. For the first time in a long time, the shadows of doubt and fear were silent. She felt loved—completely, irrevocably.

Adrian gazed down at her sleeping face, his expression soft in the morning light. He pressed a kiss to her hair, a rare peace settling over him as he whispered words she couldn't hear. "I won't let you go, Joi. Not now. Not ever."

Outside, the city began to stir, but in this room, in this moment, there was only them—two broken hearts finding solace in each other.

---

The shift was undeniable. Joi could feel it in the way Adrian's gaze lingered on her, his voice softening when he spoke, his touch warmer than ever before. It wasn't fleeting anymore—Adrian was there. Completely.

Sophia, however, watched the change unfold like a slow poison. The once-proud woman who paraded herself as "the wife of the house" now found herself sidelined, invisible. Adrian's interactions with her were cold, curt—an unyielding wall of frost where there used to be warmth.

It was a quiet morning, the faint clink of cutlery filling the air. Joi sat at the breakfast table, her hair loose and face fresh, as Adrian handed her a cup of coffee.

"Here," Adrian murmured, his voice softer than anyone had heard it in years.

Joi looked up at him, her lips curving into a small smile. "Thank you."

Sophia sat across the table, her knuckles white beneath the tablecloth. She watched the exchange like a predator cornered. Adrian hadn't even looked at her. Not once.

Unable to bear it, Sophia broke the silence. "Isn't it funny how quickly things change in this house?" Her voice was sharp, a blade hidden in velvet.

Joi turned to her, feigning polite confusion. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

Sophia's lips tightened. "You. Sitting there as if you own the place."

Adrian didn't even glance up from his plate. Joi, however, tilted her head slightly, an amused glint in her eyes. "I think you're mistaken, Sophia. I don't need to 'act' like anything. I'm just sitting here. Comfortably."

The quiet confidence in Joi's voice was like a slap. Sophia's nostrils flared, her voice lowering to a hiss. "You don't belong here. Don't fool yourself into thinking this will last."

Joi arched a brow. "I'm not the one who seems fooled here. Maybe you should stop clinging to the past and realize that the future doesn't include you anymore."

Sophia slammed her fork down, the noise startling. "You little—"

"Enough." Adrian's voice cut through the tension like ice. He glanced up, his expression utterly impassive as he turned to Sophia. "If you can't behave, don't sit at my table."

Sophia froze. Her anger swirled like a storm behind her eyes, but Adrian's stare pinned her down, unrelenting. After a long, humiliating moment, she stood and stalked out of the room without another word.

Joi sipped her coffee, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Some people just don't know when to give up," she muttered softly.

Adrian smirked faintly, the ghost of amusement in his eyes as he watched her. "Let her. It doesn't change anything."