He Chose My Copy I Became The Law Chapter 03
Adrian stayed away from the estate for seven consecutive days.
I made no effort to discover where he was. Instead, I moved through my routine, sent the divorce documents to my attorney, and started packing my possessions.
My attorney explained, however, that an expedited filing required the original marriage certificate we had signed years before in that small Dockside Ward chapel.
The certificate remained locked inside our former apartment, a place that had stood vacant for years.
I chose to retrieve it personally and arrange the apartment’s sale at the same time.
The building manager accompanied me upstairs, but when we arrived, I noticed the door had been left slightly open.
Muted female moans and a man’s labored breaths seeped through the gap.
In the murky room, Sofia’s cheap lace slip lay carelessly discarded on the dusty floor. Adrian held her against the flaking wall, his tailored trousers around his knees as he thrust into her.
The wedding ring remained on his finger while his hands tightened around her waist.
I pressed my palm over my mouth to smother any noise, then spun around and escaped.
Turning to the building manager, I said, “This isn’t a good time. We’ll return another day.”
She was a young woman, and the sounds from the apartment had clearly reached her as well.
Her eyes filled with inexpressible pity as she asked, “Mrs. Romano… would you like me to document this?”
I gave a slight shake of my head. “This is personal. Please stay out of it.”
What difference would it make if I forced the door open?
Should I erupt like a crude shrew, or become a frantic, embittered wife sobbing about all the difficult years we had survived side by side?
None of it held any meaning now.
Once a man’s heart belongs elsewhere, struggling to hold him leaves you clinging to nothing but a hollow body.
I rushed down the stairs, only for Adrian to catch up and grab me.
He was still short of breath, with his collar open and a vivid red mark across his collarbone.
“What brought you here? A moment ago… did you see it all?”
I freed my hand and replied evenly, “I came by to collect some old belongings. Then I remembered I didn’t have the key, so I decided to leave.”
Relief escaped him in an audible breath; he assumed I simply lacked the courage to consider what might be happening.
“The docks have been watched closely all week, and I only just found a chance to get away. Sofia said rival men were surveilling her neighborhood, so I brought her here to keep her hidden… Don’t read too much into it.”
His excuse was too pitiful to challenge. Without answering, I turned and resumed walking.
At that instant, glass exploded upstairs with a thunderous crash, and brilliant orange fire burst through the window frames.
The color drained from Adrian’s face. He wheeled around, clamped a hand around my jaw, and glared at me with unrestrained rage.
“You started this fire, didn’t you?! Valentina, I assumed this was another tantrum, but I never thought you’d conspire with our enemies on a stunt that could kill someone!”
“I gave Sofia permission to hide here! If she’s hurt, I will hold you responsible!”
He flung me aside, pivoted, and sprinted into the blaze.
I meant to walk away, but then I remembered the marriage certificate required for the urgent divorce—and several of my parents’ possessions—were secured in the bedroom safe.
Turning around, I charged inside through the searing wave of heat.
Dense smoke churned through the apartment as Adrian emerged with a barely conscious Sofia in his arms.
The moment he spotted me, his expression hardened. “Why did you come back inside?! Get out!”
I paid him no attention and raced for the bedroom.
Fire had already reached the curtains, and the safe stood at the base of the blazing wardrobe.
“Valentina! Have you completely lost your fucking mind?! Come out now!” Adrian bellowed from the entrance.
I sank onto the burning floor and spun the safe’s dial as fast as I could.
The moment I wrenched open its heavy metal door, the aged chandelier tore loose from the ceiling and plummeted!
Acting without thought, Adrian covered Sofia with his body and rolled backward to escape the impact.
The violent blast hurled me away. Jagged shards of wood and broken glass drove into my back, and blood rapidly soaked through my coat.
Gritting my teeth, I locked both arms around the folder holding the keepsakes and original certificate.
Smoke poured into my lungs while darkness steadily consumed my sight.
Just before consciousness left me, I heard Adrian carrying Sofia to safety as sirens wailed faintly in the distance.Â