CHAPTER 2: THE MAN WHO WAS NEVER GONE
No one moved.
The only sound left in the lavish garden was the steady rhythm of the helicopter blades.
The wind scattered flower petals across the marble terrace as the tall man crossed the lawn without looking at anyone else.
Not the wealthy guests.
Not the photographers.
Not even the woman in emerald green who had just humiliated his wife.
His eyes never left the pregnant woman.
She stared at him through blurred tears.
"...Adrian?"
Her voice barely escaped.
He stopped only inches away.
The enormous bouquet of deep red roses rested in his hands.
"I'm sorry for being late, my love."
The words hit the crowd harder than the helicopter.
A murmur swept through the guests.
"Her husband?"
"I thought she said she was abandoned."
"Who is that man?"
The wealthy lady's confident smile vanished.
"No..."
She whispered to herself.
"That's impossible."
Adrian slowly handed the flowers to his wife before kneeling in front of her swollen belly.
Not caring that his tailored blue suit touched the damp grass.
Not caring that every billionaire, celebrity, and politician at the party was watching.
He gently placed his hand over her stomach.
"Did our little princess behave while Daddy was away?"
The baby kicked.
Hard.
Adrian laughed softly.
"There she is."
The pregnant woman burst into tears.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just the quiet tears of someone who had spent months believing she had been forgotten.
She wrapped both arms around him.
"I thought..."
Her voice broke.
"I thought you weren't coming back."
He kissed her forehead.
"I promised I'd always come home."
Behind them...
Champagne glasses slowly lowered.
The wealthy lady suddenly felt every eye in the garden turning toward her.
She forced a smile.
"Oh..."
"I think there's been a misunderstanding."
Adrian finally looked at her.
His expression held no anger.
Only recognition.
"I know exactly who you are."
Those words made her blood run cold.
Because she recognized him now too.
Three years ago...
She had attended one charity gala in New York.
The keynote speaker had been Adrian Bennett.
Founder of Bennett Aerospace.
America's youngest aerospace billionaire.
The man newspapers nicknamed...
The Sky King.
She had seen his face on magazine covers.
On television.
On business channels.
How had she not recognized him?
Because tonight...
He had arrived without security.
Without cameras.
Without the arrogance rich men usually carried.
He looked only like a husband rushing home.
Until everyone realized exactly who he was.
The party host suddenly went pale.
"...Mr. Bennett?"
Even the musicians stopped playing.
Then the host hurried across the lawn with shaking hands.
"Sir..."
"We had no idea you accepted our invitation."
Adrian answered calmly.
"I didn't."
"I came for my wife."
Silence.
The wealthy lady slowly stepped backward.
Her heartbeat thundered.
Because she suddenly remembered something much worse.
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She hadn't only insulted Adrian Bennett's wife...
She had just destroyed the biggest business deal of her life.
