Time Fractured Under Weightless Truths by Kael Drift 8

Adrian sat in the driver’s seat, his hands resting on the steering wheel, staring at the road ahead with eyes that had gone cold.

He’d tried to walk away quietly. Tried to end things with dignity, without dragging Victoria or her family through the humiliation they’d earned.

But Mrs. Stone had crossed a line he couldn’t ignore.

Confronting him was one thing. He could tolerate that. He’d tolerated worse from that family for years.

But dragging innocent strangers into it? Maliciously speculating about their relationship and hurling filthy words? That, he absolutely could not stand.

No.

Sophia stood near the hotel entrance, shifting uncertainly from foot to foot. Adrian had told her to wait, but he hadn’t explained why. She looked toward the street, wondering if she should just go back up to the penthouse and process everything that had happened today.

Before she could decide, Adrian’s car pulled up to the curb.

He stepped out and gestured toward the passenger door. “Get in.”

——

The car stopped outside a grand ballroom entrance. Crystal chandeliers were visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and elegantly dressed guests moved about inside.

“Get down,” Adrian said quietly.

Sophia looked at the banquet hall, then back at him. “Adrian, what is this?”

Sophia’s heart sank the moment she recognized the venue…the annual Bell-Ringing Charity Banquet, an event famous in high society circles.

It was a world she once belonged to, a world that had politely shut its doors on her the day her company collapsed.

Her stomach tightened. She didn’t want to be here. Not like this. A disgraced, bankrupt CEO. This felt like the final layer of humiliation.

“Adrian, I can’t go in there,” she said, her voice low but urgent. She took a half-step back, her heels scraping the pavement. “Please. Let me go back.”

Every instinct screamed at her to flee…to spare herself the embarrassment.

“Just trust me.” He stepped out first and helped her with her door.

Sophia followed, her heart pounding with uncertainty. The moment they walked through the entrance, the atmosphere became tense.

The grand doors swung inward, and a wall of warm, perfumed air, mingled with the murmur of conversation and clinking crystal, washed over Sophia.  She could hear the whisper all around them.

curious eyes ,darted from Adrian’s imposing figure to the woman at his side. Sophia kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, on a particular spot in the building.

“Is that… Adrian Cole? Who’s he with?”

“Wait, isn’t that Sophia Laurent?” The whisper, meant to be heard.

“The one from Stellar Dynamics? I heard she lost everything. What is she doing here?”

“With him, the shameful husband? How… peculiar.”

Each conversation was like a needle, pricking at the fragile composure she was clinging to. She felt her cheeks burn, a traitorous flush of shame. The air grew thicker, making it harder to breathe. With every step across the polished floor, the weight of scrutiny pressed down on her.

Victoria stood at the center of the room, with a champagne glass in her hand, surrounded by a small crowd of admirers. She looked radiant in a designer gown, her diamond earrings catching the light with every movement. This was her moment…the celebration of her IPO, her success, her triumph.

She followed the buzz of whispers and looked back. Two uninvited guests had appeared in the hall—her ex, Adrian Cole, and some stranger. What the hell was going on?

“Adrian,” Victoria said, her eyes flicking over Sophia without acknowledging her. “What a surprise. We weren’t expecting you.” Her gaze settled squarely, pointedly, on Sophia. “And who is this… companion?”

“I and my companions are none of your business Victoria.”

A flicker of cold fury passed Victoria’s face. “You don’t have to be so rude, I’m trying to hold a conversation with you.

“Victoria, if you have something to say, do it quickly. I have business to attend to.”

Victoria laughed lightly, the sound filling the room. “Oh, there’s nothing much. I just wanted to know what you plan to do with all that junk you left at the house. I’m having the place cleaned out next week, and I’d hate for your precious belongings to end up in the trash.”

“Handle it however you want,” Adrian said flatly. “I don’t need any of it.”

“Don’t be so stubborn,” Vincent stepped forward slightly, his expression was one of exaggerated concern. “Victoria’s just trying to help. Look at your pitiful savings—without her, how long would a stay-at-home husband like you survive? Why not grab your worthless junk while you’re at it? At least it could buy you a meal, right?”

The surrounding guests snickered. Can’t even afford a proper meal, and yet here you are, parading around like you’re someone.

“Man, if I were you, I’d be begging the great Miss Victoria to spare a little for me. A bit from her fingertips could keep you fed for a year, don’t you think?”

“That’s not a bad idea. But as Victoria’s fiancé, I think it’s my duty to help her poor ex get through this rough patch.” Vincent waved his hand and pulled a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet. “Here, take it. Bet you’ve never seen this kind of money in your life—consider it a gift.”

Adrian’s face darkened. His eyes locked on Victoria, who was letting all this happen, and he realized today just how ruthless this woman really was.

“What, not enough?” Victoria sneered, her eyes taunting him. “Too little? I can add another hundred, if you like.”

“Enough!” Sophia’s sharp voice cut through the scene,“Is this fun for you?! Playing everyone like they’re idiots? Or do you really believe you’ll be rich forever?!”

The laughter stopped from the crowd stopped.

Victoria’s face transformed, her polite mask cracking to reveal something ugly underneath. She took a step forward, pointing at Sophia. “Who the hell do you think you are? A bankrupt nobody, and you dare lecture me? You think you’re qualified?”

Her voice rose. “Your company collapsed three months ago. Stellar Dynamics is dead, and so is your reputation. What are you even doing here? Did you sneak in to mooch food and drinks?”

Victoria snapped her fingers at the security guards stationed near the entrance. “You two! Check if this woman has a valid pass. I want her credentials verified immediately.”

The guards started moving toward Sophia.