Adam was merciless when he wanted to humiliate someone, stripping them of their dignity without a second thought. He’d cut them down to the bone. Celine hadn't asked Hailey to call him, but even if she had, so what? He was the one who hadn't used protection.

"I understand. Don't worry, I won't call you again, Mr. Alvarez. You can leave now," Celine said, her voice brittle. She lifted her head, fighting back the tears stinging her eyes. She wouldn't let them fall, not in front of him.

Adam's sharp gaze caught the redness in her eyes, and a twisted satisfaction stirred within him. Her pain seemed to fuel his need for revenge. He hated her. He hated her for not coming that night. He'd called Leo, knowing Leo would look for her, but she hadn't shown up. Now, he hated her even more for calling him after she fainted—calling him about a birth control pill for Nathan, as if he were nothing more than a tool.

Adam's thin lips curled into a sneer. His voice was cold and cutting, like shards of ice. "Let's get divorced as soon as possible. We'll keep it from Grandma for now, but we can finalize the paperwork—"

Before he could finish, Celine hurled a pillow at him. "Get out!" It struck his face before falling to the floor.

In an instant, Adam pinned her to the bed. Celine struggled, but his grip was unyielding. He caught her wrists, pressing them firmly to the bed. His tone was sharp. "Celine, who gave you the right to lay a hand on me? Have I been too lenient with you?"

Celine fought back tears, but they spilled down her face like a broken string of pearls. Her vision blurred. She was crying.

Adam's chest tightened. A moment ago, he'd wanted to see her break down, but now, her tears unsettled him. She was always like this—twisting his emotions.

Celine sniffled, her voice cracking with emotion. "Adam, I hate you I really, really hate you" She repeated the words several times, each laced with raw pain.

Adam knew she was always trying to seduce men, manipulating them. His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice low and hoarse. "And why do you hate me?" She was the one in the wrong; she was still his wife!

Tears streamed down Celine's face. Her voice trembled as her grievance poured out, hitting him like a storm. "Because you don't want me because you always take advantage of the fact that I like you to hurt me." He'd said he wanted her, but he didn't.

In all their years of marriage, he'd never treated her well. He'd only hurt her, again and again. She really, really hated him. Why did he have to treat her this way?

Adam felt an unfamiliar sensation—a dull ache mixed with guilt and numbness. He opened his mouth to speak, but his eyes dropped to her collarbone. The way he had her pinned revealed faint love bites scattered across her skin. The bruises trailed downward, vanishing into her clothing. He didn't need to see more to imagine her with Nathan.

A sharp, blood-red fury ignited in his eyes, obliterating the fleeting softness he'd felt. This was her way of playing men, seducing them. She didn't care about him at all.

Adam let go of her, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. Celine turned away, wiping her tears. "I can get divorced anytime. Just let me know when you've chosen a date."