CHAPTER 63: LUNCH WITH FRIENDS

Adrian, who had been quietly listening to Rafael, suddenly gave a sad smile. "I know, Raf. I trust my wife, and I trust you, my best friend. I know you wouldn’t do something like that, especially to me. I know what kind of man you are, and I’m really glad to have a friend like you. But that’s not exactly what I wanted to talk about right now."

"If it’s not that, then what do you want to talk about, Ad?"

Even though he’d felt uneasy earlier, it didn’t last long. As he’d told Rafael, he trusted both of them. If he didn’t, his life would be full of suspicion, and he’d constantly doubt Bianca and Rafael. And Adrian didn’t want that.

Besides, because he trusted her, Bianca—who really didn’t have to—chose to be honest with him about her relationship with Rafael.

Adrian felt it was only fair to return that trust. Like many people say, a relationship has to be built on trust. Without it, it won’t last and will eventually fall apart.

"Like I said before, Raf. I know about your relationship with my wife. I mean, before I married Bianca, I already knew that the woman you loved was her."

"You knew about my relationship with Bianca before you married her?" Raf asked, frowning in disbelief. "If you knew, why didn’t you say anything? And why get involved with her? Didn’t you think about me as your friend?" His voice sharpened, tinged with both anger and hurt.

Rafael had already accepted Bianca marrying Adrian. Yet, hearing Adrian admit he knew who Rafael truly loved made him feel deceived and betrayed.

Adrian understood. He could see Rafael’s anger and sense of betrayal. But when he asked Bianca to be his contract wife, he didn’t know about her relationship with Rafael. By the time he did, she had already agreed to the contract. Adrian also didn’t want to disappoint his grandfather, so he went ahead with the marriage plan.

Adrian tapped his fingers on the table and looked Rafael straight in the eyes. "I didn’t know about you and Bianca back at the club. I just knew you were heartbroken. I only realized it was her when I told you and Zak I was going to marry her. If Bianca still had feelings for you and wanted to be with you, I would’ve let her go."

Rafael let out a quiet sigh. He loved Bianca, but he couldn’t go against his family. He told himself not to be upset. After all, what they had wasn’t official and it probably wouldn’t have lasted anyway since he was already engaged. Still, he kept thinking about her. Maybe it was because she was the only woman who had ever touched his heart and letting go wasn’t easy.

Rafael gave a faint, almost pained smile. "That won’t change Bianca’s choice, Adrian. She left me because she didn’t love me. She married you because that’s what she wanted. I get it, and I respect her decision. Honestly, it seems like the right one. I’ve never seen her this happy before. I just hope you’ll keep it that way."

"Of course, Raf."

Rafael’s eyes sharpened. "But if I ever see a single tear from her, best friend or not, I won’t hesitate to take her back from you."

Adrian met his gaze firmly. "I won’t hurt her. And you won’t be able to take her from me either."

Something in Adrian’s voice eased Rafael. He gave a faint smile and nodded.

By the time Bianca returned from the restroom, Adrian and Rafael were already chatting and laughing lightly. Relief washed over her, Adrian wasn’t just pretending to act normal.

Not long after, the one they’d been waiting for finally showed up—Zakari.

The moment he spotted Bianca sitting next to Adrian, Zak grinned. "Oh, I didn’t know this was a plus-one kind of lunch. Where’s yours, Raf?" he teased.

"Sit down, Zak," Rafael said flatly.

Zak chuckled, then turned to Bianca. "Hi, Bianca. How was the honeymoon? Any good news yet?" he teased the couple.

"Shut up, Zak," Adrian cut in, rolling his eyes.

Zak’s arrival instantly made the table livelier. Their chatter grew louder, to the point that Bianca had to apologize a couple of times to nearby tables for the noise.

"By the way, Bianca, you’re looking even prettier these days," Zak said with a playful raise of his brows. "Got a sister? Introduce me, will you?"

Bianca smiled politely. "I don’t have a sister, Zak. I’m an only child."

"Then a cousin will do," Zak shot back without missing a beat.

Adrian slid an arm around Bianca’s shoulders with a smirk. "You’re really desperate, huh? What’s up? Thinking about getting married already? Feeling jealous of me?"

Zak put on a serious face. "Honestly, this is the first time in my life I’ve ever been jealous of you, Ad."

Adrian and Rafael burst out laughing at his straight-faced reply, while Bianca just smiled softly. Her eyes brightened with relief and happiness. She was glad Adrian and Rafael seemed fine now, and even happier to see the two of them joking around again, just like they used to.

After lunch, they lingered at the table, chatting about little things. Most of the talk was between the three friends, while Bianca only adding a few words here and there.

As the lunch hour was almost over, they decided it was time to head back to the office.

"Next time, let’s do this again with the four of us. I want to know my sister-in-law better," Zak said, still teasing Adrian and Bianca.

"Sure," Adrian agreed. Bianca and Rafael only smiled lightly.

Zak and Raf then returned to their office in their own car.

When Bianca was about to head back to Adrian’s apartment, Adrian stopped her. "Did you bring your car?" he asked.

"No, I came by taxi," Bianca replied.

Without a word, Adrian simply took her hand and led her to his car, insisting on driving her home.

***