Seduce & Coax Chapter 2

We went to a movie on a weekend night.

It was late by the time we left the theater.

When Joshua dropped me off at my house, we were met by an unexpected visitor.

I hadn’t seen Adrian in a long time. He seemed to have changed a great deal. The hysteria he’d shown when we were finalizing our divorce was gone.

He looked older now, haggard, with a dark, unshaven shadow around his lips.

When he saw Joshua and me holding hands, he was unnervingly calm.

I’d heard his family had gone through a lot since our divorce. Adrian’s mother had left his father. Unable to take his anger out on his ex-wife, Adrian’s father had turned on his son.

“Your mother and I made it through all these years, but the moment Alice divorces you, she divorces me too! You useless thing, can’t even handle one woman.”

On top of that, his family’s company stock had plummeted, and they were plagued by internal problems. Adrian must have been having a rough time.

“Alice, can we talk?”

It was the first time I had ever seen such an uncertain, almost nervous expression on his face.

He must have seen the refusal in my eyes, because he quickly added, “It’ll be quick. Just a few words. It won’t take much of your time.”

I frowned, not wanting to deal with him.

“I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”

His voice softened, pleading. “Alice, I’ll leave right after. Please.”

It was already late. If he caused a scene, it would be embarrassing for everyone.

“Fine,” I said, my patience wearing thin. “Say what you have to say.”

But he didn’t speak. Instead, he looked at Joshua. “Mr. Croft, could you give us a moment? My…,” he started, but a sharp look from me made him change his words. “I have something to discuss with Alice.”

Joshua frowned but didn’t move.

I knew he was feeling insecure, and I turned to reassure him.

But Joshua spoke first. “I have something to tell you too, Alice. I’ll go inside and wait. Call me if you need anything.”

As Joshua started toward the door, a pained look crossed Adrian’s face.

“Are you two living together?” he asked.

Joshua shot him a cold glance. “We’re in a serious relationship. Isn’t it normal for a couple to live together?”

“You shouldn’t be so surprised, Mr. Zhou.”

I stifled a laugh as Joshua found the key in my purse, unlocked the door, and confidently flicked on the lights as if he’d done it a hundred times.

“Alice…”

Adrian’s voice brought my attention back to him.

“Get on with it.”

“I’m sorry about the baby. I really didn’t know you were pregnant then.”

“Alice, I’m so, so sorry.”

Tears streamed down his face as he looked at me.

Adrian was crying.

But I felt nothing.

“Let’s not talk about the past. If you came here just to apologize, you’ve wasted your time. I don’t need your apology.”

When I turned to leave, he grew frantic.

“Alice, please, give me another chance. For the sake of what we once had, just one more chance?”

“I know I was wrong. I do love you. We grew up together, how could there be nothing between us? I was just… I was confused before.”

I let out a short, bitter laugh.

“What we once had, Adrian? The fact that I haven’t kicked your family’s company while it’s down is a sign of my saintly compassion. So don’t talk to me about what we had.”

“You only came here tonight hoping I’d help you, didn’t you?”

“Well, let me be perfectly clear—it’s not going to happen.”

He closed his eyes in despair, then opened them again. “Alice, I didn’t come here expecting you to help. I know I was wrong, I know I hurt you. I’m here for me, for us. I’m begging you to give me one more chance. I’m not asking you to remarry me right away. I can pursue you again. We can start over, date again, and then get married. Can’t we just start from the beginning?”

I shook my head.

“No, Adrian. Stop daydreaming.”

“We’re divorced. Don’t bother me again. Be a decent ex-husband and disappear from my life.”

My patience had run out. I knew exactly what kind of person Adrian was. He was driven by self-interest, not emotion. He had refused to divorce me for his own benefit, and now he was putting on this show for the same reason.

But I wasn’t a fool. I wasn’t going to fall into the same trap twice.