Married with the Broken Hearted CEO novel Chapter 41

When Isa’s father died, she received a huge amount of inheritance. The money is enough that she doesn’t need to work for her entire life. Besides, a business partner continues her father’s business, and 3/4 of the profit goes to her. That is why she has lot of time volunteering in charities and helping kids in need. When it comes to taking care of children, Isa is sincere since she also lost her parents in young age. 
Being a daughter of a millionaire, Isa also received an invitation for the launching of the new wine worked by Crimson Meadow and Wine&Vibe companies. She did not have the chance to say this to Chadwick, since during their last conversation, they talked about his wife. 
[“I fell in love with my wife.”]
Every time she remembers his confession, a resentment blossomed within her, stayed there without a plan of escaping out of her heart. 
At the time she lost her parents and Geoffrey avoided her, Chadwick was the only person who stayed by her side unconditionally. But now, ever since Adira came into Chandwick’s life, she lost her comfort zone. It made her feel that someone stole Chadwick from her and that she had to get back, even if she does not have the plan to give him love. 
Call it selfishness, but Isa believes she cannot leave with Chadwick’s care. 
Can she bear seeing him staring at another woman?
Can she endure hearing that she isn’t Chadwick’s priority anymore? 
‘No. I can’t endure that.’ 
Thus tonight, Isa decided to appear to the party and surprise Chadwick.
At the afternoon, she went to the salon. 
“Good afternoon ma’am. May I know what kind of style do you prefer?” 
Looking at her own innocent face through the mirror, Isa smiled as she answered, “Something that makes me pretty. A style and face which are scene-stealer.” 
Times passed by. 
Chadwick watched the sun dies, spreading crimson color in the sky which isn’t a tea that burns on lips but a vodka scorching down the throat despite its sugary mixture. 
The party holds in a spacious garden where there is a big garden and a fountain at the center. 
There are candles and corks around, upcycled vases, pretty platters on the long tables, boho lamps, cork frames, unlimited dishes prepared by exclusive chefs and were laid down on the long tables, and expensive wines serve by the masked waiters. 
Elegant cackles of men and women, who are wearing branded suits, dresses, jewelries and business-like smiles, are thick in the air, combining the smooth sound of the jazz and classical musical. 
When Chadwick and Adira entered the event space, all looked at them as if they are an icing in the middle of the ants. The excitement of the lively promising dusk has continued until there’s only silver of sun left in the sky. 
Night falls. 
Before the event starts, Chadwick and Adira parted their ways to talk with their special guests who came here to witness the collaboration of two big companies. 
While Chadwick is busy talking to people he knows, he just met and persons he had to be aware of, he never forgets to take a small glance to his wife, who is also busy talking with people around her. 
His eyes couldn’t just leave her, especially when she’s so pretty tonight and many men flock her like hungry beast seeking for her attention. 
However, every time he saw the red mark on her neck, he felt a sense of relief. That is a mark he made before they came here, a mark that tells he owns her tonight, and no men are allowed to touch his wife. 
A satisfied grin appeared on his lips. 
“Mr. McElroy? Are you listening?” asked the investors whom he failed to listen carefully because his attention was in Adira. 
Still, Chadwick smiled and lied, “Yes. I listened very well.” 
They continued being on their own, talking to different important people. At their young ages, Chadwick and Adira learned the way in the business, and the key to be successful is to master their social interaction. They greeted everyone, answered their questions with chuckles and let themselves forgot how long they have been standing while holding a glass of wine. 
Chuckling while talking to an investor, Chadwick took another glance on his wife. As usual, the gorgeous woman succeeded on getting men around her. She’s always like that, a scene stealer, a temptation. 
‘Damn it. Why do they keep on following my wife?’ Chadwick cursed inwardly while glaring at the men. 
Suddenly, Adira’s caught his gaze among the crowd. 
Chadwick flinched. He felt like a thief who was caught stealing in the middle of the night. He freezes on his spot as he gawks at the beautiful woman with red mark on her neck. 
If it is not for the man in front of him, Chadwick won’t have the chance to escape.
“Mr. McElroy?” 
Quickly tilting his head, Chadwick looked at the investor standing before. “Oh yes, where were we again?” 
“Well, I am talking about the launching of Sovereign 67 in Italy. I think it will be a success.” 
“Ahhh, you’re right. It will be.” After answering, Chadwick stared at his wife again. This time, a handsome man who recently became famous. 
“Hello, Mrs. McElroy,” the handsome man, named Nocturne, greeted. 
Chadwick frowned a terrible frown and ground his teeth. 
Mr. Nocturne, a 35-year-old owner of a luxury car brand, was recently involved in a scandal where he had a relationship with a married celebrity. That isn’t the first time he got into the same scandal, and many says that Nocturne has a fetish dating married women. 
‘Who invited that bastard?!’ Chadwick shouted inwardly. He clearly told Neil not to invite Nocturne. 
However, Nocturne was one of the stockholder in Adira’s company, and she probably cannot leave him out of the list. 
Nocturne and Adira talk to each other, and Chadwick is too far to hear what they are talking about. The scowl on his face stayed, and the smile on his sardonic mouth are contradicting. 
He wanted to charge into the two and separate them as soon as possible, especially after seeing the sly sneers on Nocturne’s eyes, as if he’s already stripping Adira’s clothes in his imagination. 
‘That sh*tty je*rk!’ 
Chadwick scrunched his fingers into angry cannonballs as he tried to suppress the anger spiking and the flicker of irritation. 
“Ahhh, come to think of it,” the investor in front of Chadwick spoke. “Your father recommended me a good medicine for…” He looked left and right, making sure no one will hear him, then leaned closer to Chadwick . Then he whispered, “…medicine for hair loss.” 
Unfortunately, Chadwick did not hear the whisper as his eyes and mind are focusing on Adira and Nocturne. He watches Nocturne smiling widely at his wife, as if seducing her. 
Scoffing, Chadwick murmured, “As if it will work.” 
The investor has his eyes opened. He asked Chadwick about the hair loss medicine and he answered that it won’t work? 
But Chadwick wasn’t talking about the hair loss, and actually meant the words for Nocturne. 
Nonetheless, the investor felt disappointed at Chadwick’s reply. 
“I k-know that my h-hair right now is so thin. However, I am not that old yet, so perhaps, there’s still hope. I am still a single bachelor looking for a pretty wife, ” he tried to save the conversation with a joke. 
However, Chadwick who was glaring intently at Nocturne and his wife, said, “Old pervert.” 
Old. 
Pervert. 
Chadwick meant those words for Nocturne, who are seducing married women when he’s old enough to have his own children. But he didn’t realize a mistake that can pull the investment deal that he worked so hard for a long time. 
“Ahem,” the investor forged a cough with stern look. 
When Chadwick stared back to him, he was startled to see the fury on the semi-bald 40-year-old bachelor, who is wearing a black wig for today’s event.
“I’ll praise your frankness, Mr. McElroy.” 
“Huh?” Chadwick stuttered. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. 
Chadwick remembered that a moment ago, they were talking about Sovereign 67 wine which they will launch in the Italy. The investor said that he accepted the deal because there are low-quality wine which some company calls ‘Sovereign’. As an answer, Chadwick told him that in making wine, they cannot fool  the people by making a fake. 
‘Is he praising my frankness for saying that the Sovereign 67 wines of the other companies are fake?’ Chadwick wondered. 
Thinking it might be, Chadwick nodded his head. He smiled at him and answered, “We can’t tolerate fake things.” 
At the same time, a leaf fell down on the investor’s head. Chadwick looked at the lead on the man’s wig. 
The investor thought Chadwick is referring to the fake wig he’s wearing! 
“If you may excuse me,” the investor grunted. There was a frown on his brows and a smile on his sarcastic mouth deviating each other. He turned around and left Chadwick alone and confused. 
“Did I say a wrong answer?” Chadwick pondered. He shrugged his shoulder and looked back at his wife again. 
This time, Nocturne is out of his sight. He cannot guess what Adira did to push the silly bastard away, but he’s happy. 
‘Well, Adira is Adira.’ 
Even him finds it hard to beat his wife. If there’s one time he beat her, then is marking her neck will be count as his first? 
From Adira’s neck, he diverted his eyes back to Adira’s eyes and soon caught her looking at him for the second time. His short-sightedness prevented him from noticing the frown which passed over the face of her wife, but the sour look fled immediately when Adira tried to smile back at him. 
He wanted to approach her and ask her what happened. What did Nocturne say for Adira to display such terrifying look?
Chadwick began to march towards her. There’s a lot of reason for them to be together since she is his partner, and everyone cheers for their relationship; a relationship that looks like a delicious food from the outside. 
He walked towards her, and Adira stayed on her position while waiting. However, someone from behind held Chadwick’s wrist and pulled him to turn around. 
As he turned around, he saw Isa. 
“Chadwick!” Isa greeted enthusiastically. 
His eyes went round while observing the woman in white dress, as if she’s an angel descent from the sky. She’s striking pretty tonight, someone who shines in the dark with her big rounded eyes, fluffy cheeks and sweet smile. Opposite to Adira, who is like an ice fairy with red hair, Isa resembles a princess of the far away kingdom. It was not only Chadwick, who noticed her beauty, but also some of the men around who are glancing at the lady whom they saw in this kind of event for the first time. 
‘Who is she?’ all asked inwardly, watching her and Chadwick together. 
Chadwick knew her identity. Isa is a daughter of a millionaire and he guessed she probably received an invitation for this event. But still, he wanted to know why she bother coming in this party when she hates attending one before? 
“W-Why are you here?” he asked. 
“Why?” Isa repeated his question. “Hey. My friend will launch a new project together with his wife. Of course I should support you. So I came here and gave you a surprise. Tada!” 
Isa spread her arms. 
“Do I look okay?” she asked. 
Chadwick gulped. He appreciated her effort for coming but… 
‘But if she is here, Adira might think that I invited her.’ 
Wondering about his wife, Chadwick turned around to see her. From the same spot, Adira is still standing, watching him and Isa with a wine glass on her hand. 
“Isa,” Chadwick murmured while staring at the composed Adira. “My wife might misunderstand this.” 
“Huh? What do you mean?” playing ignorant, she asked. Then she set her eyes to the beautiful wife standing from a great distance. “You mean, your wife might get jealous.” 
Chadwick clenched his fists. He knew it will be impossible to make Adira jealous.
“Then if she gets jealous, isn’t it a good thing?” 
Scowling, Chadwick tilted his head to Isa. 
“You wanted to know if there’s a chance for Adira to reciprocate your feelings. If she’s jealous, then you will get the answer,” Isa murmured in low voice. 
Deep in Chadwick’s heart, he slightly agreed. He said that it doesn’t matter even if Adira likes him back or not. But after they kissed inside the limo, he felt for the second time how painful it is to love someone in unrequited way. 
He’s in the verge of believing that maybe, making Adira jealous might be the only way. However… 
“Jealousy did not work on Geoffrey,” he said. 
Isa’s eyes trembled.
Looking at his solemn and deep eyes, she found out that all along, Chadwick was only acting like an idiot. 
He knew that Isa is using him to make Geoffrey jealous. And he let her did that because he loved her and he pitied her situation. In the end, did they become happy? 
No. 
If they continue hanging out, they will just bring trouble to the people around them. Chadwick came to the realization that he had to let go of his past and welcome the new life awaiting for him. And in the end of the march, he’s hoping there’s Adira who won’t turn her back, but instead will welcome him with a smile. 
Putting a beam on his lips, Chadwick detached his lips.
“I appreciate your help, Isa. But I don’t want to do the same way.” 
After saying that, Chadwick left Isa alone and walked towards his wife.