Chapter 75: The First Move

The night air hung heavy with an unsettling stillness as Joi sat by her window, her notebook open but untouched. Words evaded her, lost in the whirlwind of emotions that raged within. Adrian's betrayal played on a loop in her mind—Lora's hands on him, their closeness.

The man who claimed to love her, the man who had taken everything from her, now felt like a stranger. Had it all been a lie? Or had she been too blind to see the truth? The answers eluded her, leaving only a raw ache in their place.

---

Elsewhere in the House, Kate's voice was a low, sinister hum as she spoke into the phone. She was sat on the sofa, her feet dropped on the coffee table, a glass of wine in her hand. The flickering candlelight illuminated the sharp angles of her face, casting shadows that mirrored her intentions.

"He's been gone for weeks but he's here now Marcus," Kate said, her tone almost bored. "The house is practically a fortress, but without Adrian, there's no real threat."

"And Joi?" Marcus's voice came through the line, rough and laced with anticipation.

Kate smirked, twirling the stem of her glass. "She's... vulnerable. I can tell she's breaking under the pressure. She caught Adrian and Lora together, and she's starting to question everything."

A low chuckle came from Marcus's end. "Good. That means she'll be easier to handle."

Kate rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her wine. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. You'll need to play this smart. Adrian's not the type to stay away for long, and you know how protective he can be when it comes to Joi."

Marcus's tone darkened. "Protective? He doesn't deserve to protect her. She's mine, Kate. She's always been mine."

Kate leaned back in her couch, her smirk widening. "Then take her back. I've done my part. I've given you everything you need—her location, Adrian's schedule, even the fact that she's starting to hate him. If you want her, you'll have to act quickly."

Marcus was silent for a moment, the line crackling faintly. Then he said, "Don't think I don't know why you're helping me, Kate. This isn't about Joi. You're just trying to give Lora and Adrian a chance."

Kate's laughter was a soft, chilling sound. "Maybe. But that doesn't mean we can't both get what we want."

Marcus grunted. "Fine. But don't screw this up. I'll handle Joi my way."

Kate drained her glass, a satisfied gleam in her eyes. "Good. Let me know when it's done."

Marcus hung up the phone, his jaw tightening as he stared at the empty glass in front of him. The dim light of the bar barely illuminated his muscular frame, his shirt stretched tight over his broad shoulders. His knuckles were white as he gripped the glass, his thoughts consumed by Joi.

He had spent years craving her, obsessing over the girl who had once looked at him with innocent eyes. He had helped her, cared for her, only to have her slip through his fingers. Adrian had taken her from him, but not for long. He'd reclaim what was his. Joi was his. She always had been.

"Bartender," he growled, sliding his glass forward. "One more."

The bartender hesitated, but Marcus's glare was enough to send him scurrying to pour another drink.

As he took a sip, Marcus's mind raced. He could picture Joi in Adrian's arms, could hear her laughter, see her smile—a smile that used to be his. The thought burned in his chest, fueling the fire that drove him.

"Soon," he muttered under his breath. "Soon."

---

Adrian stood before the mirror in his dimly lit room, his hands gripping the edges of the sink until his knuckles turned white. His reflection stared back at him, a shadow of the man he once prided himself on being. The coolness he wore like armor was cracked, his jaw tight, his chest rising and falling with barely restrained frustration.

The events of the day churned in his mind—a volatile mix of guilt, fear, and unspoken longing. Joi's coldness toward him stung deeper than he cared to admit, her silent judgment cutting through his usual defenses. The look in her eyes earlier—the betrayal, the doubt—haunted him.

He hadn't meant for things to spiral like this. His desires, once carefully controlled, had gotten the better of him. Now, all Joi could see was the man who had failed her. Failed to be honest. Failed to keep her trust.

And then there was Marcus.

Adrian's hands tightened against the sink as Marcus's name flared in his mind like a warning light. He had underestimated him—dismissed him as a figure from Joi's past. But the truth was far more dangerous. Marcus wasn't just a memory; he was a predator, circling closer with every passing moment.

Adrian's stomach churned at the thought of Marcus near Joi, of his hands on her, of the twisted sense of possession that man harbored. His reflection wavered in the mirror as his rage burned hotter.

"He'll never touch her again. Not while I'm breathing."

But even as Adrian resolved to protect her, doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind. Could Joi ever trust him again? She already doubted his love, questioning the foundation of what they had—or what he'd made her believe they had.

His head dropped, his grip loosening. Protecting Joi wasn't just about keeping Marcus away. It was about earning her trust, proving he wasn't the liar or manipulator she feared. But how could he do that when every word felt like another stone added to the wall between them?

Adrian straightened, his reflection sharpening under his piercing gaze. He didn't have time to wade through his feelings. Marcus was a threat—one he couldn't afford to underestimate.

The decision was made.

Adrian turned from the mirror, his movements purposeful. Joi might hate him now, but that didn't matter. What mattered was her safety. And if that meant stepping back into the cold, calculated persona that had made him untouchable in the business world, so be it.

"You'll regret ever coming back into her life, Marcus."

With a final glance at the mirror, Adrian grabbed his phone and stepped into the hallway, his mind already forming a plan.

---

Back in his dimly lit hideaway, Marcus leaned back in his chair, savoring the details of the information Kate had given him. Everything he needed was there—Joi's location, Adrian's schedule, and the weaknesses he could exploit.

The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of taking Joi back. She was his—she always had been. Adrian had no idea what he was dealing with. He wasn't the one who would love her the way she deserved. No, Marcus was. And soon, he would prove it.

That night, Joi stood by the window, her fingers grazing the cold pane of glass as she stared into the vast expanse of darkness. The night outside was still, but her mind was anything but. Thoughts churned like a relentless storm, each one tugging her deeper into confusion and anger.

Adrian's lies. The intimacy she thought they shared. The betrayal she now felt in every glance, every word he spoke. She had been clinging to him, trusting him, letting him anchor her in the chaos of her fragmented memory. But now, the cracks in that trust were too deep to ignore.

Her breath hitched as she pushed herself back from the window, the weight in her chest unbearable. Her hands trembled as she pressed them to her sides, willing herself to stop shaking. She had to be strong. She had to hold herself together.

But who could she trust now? Emily, perhaps—her best friend who always stood by her. But Adrian? His actions haunted her, his lies cutting deeper than she thought possible.

She couldn't stay here, suffocated by the walls of her room, the weight of her own thoughts pressing down on her. The air felt stifling, her room too small, too oppressive.

Joi turned, her steps quiet but determined as she pushed open her door. The hallway was dark, the silence thick. Her bare feet moved soundlessly against the floor as she made her way down the hall, searching for something she couldn't quite name. Peace? Clarity? Anything but the chaos swirling inside her.

As she passed Adrian's door, she slowed, her heart betraying her resolve. She could feel him on the other side of that door—the tension that had built between them was almost tangible. Memories of him—his touch, his voice, his lies—rushed through her, each one a cruel reminder of how deeply he had embedded himself in her life.

Her jaw clenched. She wouldn't let him control her any longer. She wouldn't let herself be drawn into his web of half-truths and manipulations. He had lied to her, and she wouldn't forgive him for it.

With a deep breath, Joi straightened her back and continued walking. She didn't need Adrian. She didn't need anyone. If she was going to survive this, she'd have to find her own strength.

She was done being played. Done being kept in the dark.

As she descended the stairs, the faint sound of the wind outside accompanied her, a reminder of the world beyond these walls. She stepped outside, the cool night air hitting her face like a slap of reality. For the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself breathe deeply, her chest rising and falling in rhythm with the quiet whispers of the night.

Whatever Adrian was hiding, whatever Marcus had planned, she would face it. Alone, if she had to.