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But before she could take another step forward, Theo walked in right behind her, casually wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

“Let’s go. What are you standing here for?” he asked lightly, tugging her along as he walked deeper into the hall.

Adrian froze mid-step. His eyes locked on Theo’s arm around her, and within seconds, a storm surged inside him. Rage built fast and hard in his chest, burning through every inch of restraint. Theo had his arm aroundher—hiswoman.

As they entered, Theo’s eyes slid to Adrian. A flash of surprise crossed his face.

‘What is he doing here?’ Theo thought, his eyes narrowing on him.

His jaw tightened in annoyance, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he pulled Sienna closer to his side and slipped his other hand into his pocket, his body relaxed but alert as he walked her inside.

He guided Sienna to sit on the plush couch and then sat down close beside her—too close. His arm rested around her shoulder with ease. Then he leaned in, his lips brushing near her ear.

Sienna stiffened slightly, not used to being this close to Theo.

“We have to keep acting,” he whispered softly. “We’ve got a very interested audience.”

At his words, Sienna kept her gaze fixed on the table. She didn’t need to look to know who he meant. Adrian was the only other person in the restaurant, and she could feel his stare—piercing, possessive, and intense. And ever since Theo had touched her, that stare had turned blistering.

Keeping her composure, she smiled at Theo, playing along. She had to.

‘I can’t let him know that my marriage with Theo is just for show,’ a surge of panic was rising in her chest.

Turning toward Theo, she leaned in just a little more. “This is messy. Sorry. I didn’t want to ruin your night.”

Theo shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I wanted you to enjoy tonight. You’ve been working nonstop.” He glanced toward Adrian and added under his breath, “If I’d known that bastard ex of yours was here, we’d have gone elsewhere.”

His words were laced with frustration.

Theo peeked again at Adrian. The man hadn’t looked away once. His glare burned holes into them both. Even when Theo met his eyes directly, Adrian didn’t blink. He just glared.

“He’s still staring at us without even blinking,” Theo mumbled close to her ear, his face dipped in her neck.

Sienna let out a soft, airy laugh, pretending to enjoy her time with Theo, as if nothing else existed. She didn’t look back, didn’t flinch, but inside, she was twisting. She could feel Adrian’s eyes on her, furious and burning through her skin.

“It’ll be okay,” Theo murmured again. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and let his fingers trail gently along her cheek. “Actually, I’m glad he’s here. That bastard deserves to see how happy you are without him."

He paused, his voice lower. “I still remember how he treated you back then. Honestly, I think I hate him more than you do.”

Sienna bit her lower lip. Despite herself, her gaze lifted, and met Adrian’s.

He sat rigidly still at his table. His jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might crack. His knuckles were white as his hands balled into fists on the table, muscles tense and straining. His eyes, dark with pain, fury, and something else, never left her face. They were burning through her.

And when she met them—really met them—they turned lethal.

She quickly dropped her gaze and turned back to Theo, forcing herself to smile and speak to him. But from Adrian’s view, it looked like she and Theo were locked in an intimate moment, whispering and smiling like a couple deeply in love.

Adrian’s heart thudded wildly in his chest, and his hands shook on the table. Every inch of him screamed to get up, storm over there, flip the table, and drag her out of there. But he couldn’t. Hecouldn’t.

She made him promise not to tell anyone about them. Not yet.

And the fear of losing her again, of watching her walk out of his life for good, was the only reason he stayed in place.

His hand tightened around the table knife until it dug into his skin. The blade sliced through his palm, and blood quickly seeped out, but he didn’t stop. Didn’t move. Didn’t even flinch.

‘If I hadn’t made that goddamn mistake of letting you walk away, I’d be the one sitting next to you right now. You’d be looking at me with those eyes. Not him.’ Adrian’s chest was burning.

Adrian’s chest burned with that thought, twisting with helplessness, his heart a furnace of rage. His grip on the knife tightened even more, his face contorting with fury.