faeni

Following a horrific car accident, Adeline Moore awakens from a months-long coma with no memory of her life, her identity, or the family who insists they love her. As she struggles to make sense of the fragments around her, she's met with an unsettling reality—her fiancé, Luke, is cold and distant, and her younger sister, Hazel, seems far too close to him.

As flashes of memory return—snippets of arguments, uneasy emotions, and inexplicable grief—Adeline begins to uncover the truth: Luke and Hazel were having an affair even before the crash. Shattered by the betrayal, she’s dealt a second blow when her family rallies around Hazel, dismissing Adeline’s pain and blaming her for not being “the same” since waking up.

Isolated and unsure of who she used to be, Adeline makes a bold decision—she doesn’t want her old life back. She wants truth. She wants freedom. She wants to start over. With quiet resolve and growing clarity, she begins to rebuild her life—this time, on her own terms, and far from those who broke her.

The Second Life of Adeline Moore

The ballroom shimmered under golden lights, laughter mingling with the clink of crystal glasses. Waylen Company's top brass moved effortlessly through the crowd of overseas investors, cloaked in power and polish. Adeline navigated the room with quiet poise, the navy satin of her gown trailing softly over the marble floors. For once, she felt composed. In control.

Leaning against the bar, drink in hand, his eyes locked onto her the second she turned. Her stomach coiled.

He sauntered toward her, that familiar smirk curled at the edge of his lips.

"Didn't know you'd be here," he said smoothly. "Elias give you a promotion to trophy assistant?"

Adeline kept her chin high. Her voice was calm, sharp.

"I was invited, just like you."

Luke chuckled, stepping closer. "Don't sell yourself short. Everyone knows why you're still around. Elias always had a soft spot for broken things."

The jab sliced deeper than she let show. Her fingers curled at her sides—but before she could speak, another voice cut through.

"I'd watch what you say."

She turned. Elias stood just behind her, impeccable in a black suit, his eyes cool steel. He moved forward without hesitation, a steady arm slipping protectively around her shoulders.

"Adeline Moore leads our expansion division," he said, voice measured, but firm. "She's the reason Singapore stayed in play. You might want to remember that before your next clever remark."

Luke's smirk twitched, uncertain. "Easy, Elias. I was just catching up."

"Try again, and you'll be escorted out." Elias's tone was low, final.

Luke stared for a moment longer, then scoffed and turned, vanishing back into the crowd, his charm unraveling behind him.

"Well," she murmured, half-stunned, "that was... dramatic."

Elias didn't remove his arm. His face betrayed nothing. "I didn't like the way he spoke to you."

She tilted her head, searching his face. "You've never cared much about public perception."

He looked at her then, directly. "This wasn't about perception."

Her breath caught. Words hovered on her tongue but didn't find shape. Slowly, he withdrew his arm, adjusting his jacket with a practiced hand.

"You should get a drink," he said, tone returning to its usual coolness. "I'll find you before the next speech."

She smiled faintly. "Thank you, Elias. Truly."

He paused. A flicker of something unreadable passed across his face.

Then he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Adeline remained still, heart pounding in the space he'd just left. Something had shifted between them—subtle, but undeniable.

And maybe—just maybe—Elias Waylen wasn't so unreadable after all.

Savior