#Chapter 87 - True Intentions Revealed

Adrian “Adrian?” Stella’s voice sounds from behind me. I look up from my phone, staring at the marble line in the wall that travels from end to end. My heart contorts and twists from behind my ribs, aching at the sweet sound of my name rolling off of her tongue. Slowly, I turn around and look down at her. She looks tired and defeated but there is a glimmer of hope in her eyes. It warms my tense heart, relaxing my muscles. “Stella?” I breathe out, slipping my phone into my pants pockets. “Is…is everything okay?” Stella nods, a small smile spreading across her lips before it quickly disappears. I miss that smile already. “I just wanted to say…um…” Stella diverts her gaze. She scratches the back of her neck, glancing down at her feet. I have seen this in her before. She has done it plenty of times during our marriage — the one that just ended minutes ago — whenever she needed to ask me about something or needed a favor. I rest my weight onto my back foot and give her as