Married with the Broken Hearted CEO novel Chapter 67

Two hours passed by. 
Onward while Chadwick and Adira waited for the water to decrease, no sound broke the stillness, except the occasional moving of their bodies, the dripping of the water inside the cave, the gushing of the river flowing towards the ocean, the waves, and the wind. 
They kept quiet with one shaking nerve that couldn’t bear. After their conversation before, Adira suddenly fell into quietness and avoided his gaze for a long time. 
For hours, Chadwick has been thinking what part of his words offended him. Is it because he brought up a topic that he should not? Or he should not indirectly talk about her father? Maybe, it is because he said that he will feel better if Adira opens her heart more? 
Chadwick checked over his shoulder then glanced around the dim cave. He felt an insect bite his leg and he slap his leg. 
Pak! 
Adira glanced at him. He looked back at her. 
Then they both avoided each other’s gazes. 
Next, Chadwick rubbed his own nape as he cleared his throat. “Ahem.” 
But still, there is silence, an unavoidable nothingness; a quiet that is deafening. With their ragged breaths and the beating of their hearts, there was a noise but quite unlike one everyone is accustomed to. 
It is lonely, a constant companion nonetheless of their innermost thoughts. 
The serene that stayed not only for a minute is not lack of sound, but the misinterpretation, the misconception of what Chadwick is thinking in between his messy and chaotic mind. 
Then suddenly, a growled echoed back and forth inside the cave. 
The sound was a head turner. Chadwick quickly looked towards Adira and at her tummy. 
“Is that…” his unfinished question before his eyes tended back to hers again. 
Without making an excuse, Adira confessed. “Yes, it’s my tummy. I am hungry.” 
Who doesn’t? Even Chadwick felt hungry. But unlike Adira, he ate barbecue before running towards here. 
“I hope there’s any edible I can eat inside the cave,” Adira murmured while dreaming of the food she saw at the table in the cottage. If only she knew she would get stuck in here, she should have eaten a lot before. 
“As if you can see anything to eat in this place,” Chadwick answered. He picked up a rock and threw it into the decreasing water of the river. 
Plok. 
Plok. 
Plok. 
Plok. 
Adira heard the echoing sounds resonating inside the cave. The echoes are faint. Suddenly, she remembered the pathway she saw in the cave. 
“Maybe we can find something to eat. Like mushroom,” Adira said. 
It is only a joke. Therefore, Chadwick frowned when he saw her standing up. Adira opened the flashlight on her phone and pointed it at the corner where she discovered the pathway. 
“Where are you going right...” Chadwick stopped when he saw the pathway that Adira found. “W-What is that?” 
“A pathway. To find mushroom.” 
“Hey,” he protested. 
“Just kidding,” Adira murmured and laughed. “Maybe, there’s a way out at the end of this cave.” 
“Right,” Chadwick agreed with a nod. “Why did you only say it right now?” 
Adira shrugged her shoulder and said, “I forgot.”
“You forgot? How come you forgot it at times like this.” 
“Something distracted me,” Adira answered in a somewhat serious voice. 
The place is dim, with only the light from her phone lightening the space. But when she turned her head, Chadwick saw the sternness her gaze holds beneath. 
“Someone distracted me,” she added before walking towards the hole. 
Someone? 
Chadwick scowled, thinking deeply upon the word he muttered. The only person staying at Adira right now is him. 
‘What does she mean that I distracted her?’ 
He tilted his head in wonder and quickly followed her. 
“H-Hey, don’t leave me.” 
Like a magnet, Chadwick sticks closely to Adira as they wander inside the cave. 
Now that the sun is down, space has become pitch of dark. 
As they crawled more into the cavern, Chadwick realized that the vicinity was losing its luminosity. 
He was given two choices - stay and wait for the river to subside, which might take all night, or enter the pathway and risk his life. Neither of the two sound so good. 
Unfortunately, Adira was not one who gave up easily. And hence, she stepped forward, deeper into the rock-strewn cavern. 
“W-Wait,” Chadwick halted her, holding her wrist. 
Adira looked back at her scared husband.
“D-Do you think it is really a good idea to go inside?” 
“No,” Adira said. “But I wanted to try instead of waiting all night and die from hunger.” 
Even if Adira has her phone with her, there is no signal in the cave. Hence, she does not have the chance to call for help. Unless Hansel and Neil remember them. 
“If I don’t see a thing there, then I will go back,” Adira continued. “But if there is, that’s better.” 
Chadwick sighed. He wanted to blame Adira for coming here, that’s why they are suffering but, he knows this isn’t the good time to put blame on someone. 
“Do you want to stay here while I search?” Adira suggested. 
“Of course not!” Chadwick quickly answered. “L-Let’s go together.” 
Together, the two stepped deeper inside. The first one who entered the small pathway was Adira, followed by Chadwick. 
As they are shuffling into the cave, Chadwick’s palm magnetized onto the cavern’s even walls while following his wife. Rigid waters ebbed onto their backs. They heard absolutely nothing from their breaths and their sloppy footsteps on the wet surface of the land. 
It was torturous to invade into an alien land and have less sight of the surroundings. 
Suddenly, Adira felt faint wind brushing on her skin. 
“There’s a wind,” Adira whispered.
She stopped walking, and therefore, Chadwick bumped into her back. 
“Why? Why? Why?” Chadwick asked. 
“I felt a wind. It came from the end side of the cave. I think there is a way out of this.” 
Chadwick will thank that if it is true. 
“So, let’s go quickly. Shall we?” he offered, when suddenly a flock of winged-creatures swept across the apex, producing screeching shrieks that rang all through the cavern. 
Eiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! 
Flap! 
“Ahhhh!” Chadwick shouted. 
The two of them knelt with both of their hands, covering their heads, and kept absolutely still until the bats were gone. 
“Let’s just go back there!” Chadwick complained and pointed the direction where they came from. 
“You are really a scaredy-cat. And you call yourself a man?” 
Chadwick was crying without tears, was freaking out, but his drama king ways did not convince Adira to head back. 
“It’s not about gender,” Chadwick replied. “You are just exceptionally accustomed in extreme adventure like this.” 
“Aren’t you proud?” Adira asked while smiling. “Your wife is brave.” 
Chadwick watched her expression then soon, burst into light chuckles. 
‘I am getting annoyed at her but she’s cute,’ Chadwick said to himself while shaking his head. 
“Alright, Alright. Let’s go,” he agreed. 
The two stood up once the ranging horde finally subsided, and everything was unruffled. They continued to venture even deeper and unknowingly, they realized that it was getting warmer. 
Drip. 
Drip. 
Drip. 
The sound of dripping water was heard. Chadwick and Adira tiptoed towards the sounds until they saw something that is mind-blowing. 
They are out. 
The woods, plants, tall trees, starry night sky and the sound of the waves. They are finally out! 
“We’re out?” Chadwick murmured in disbelief. “We really escaped the cave?” 
A smile broke into Adira’s lips. Finally, she can eat. She can feast over the barbecue she saw on the table before. 
They looked at each other with smiles on their faces and then celebrated. 
“We’re out!” Chadwick shouted once again before he hugged Adira so tight. 
“Ohhh,” Adira gasped, shocked at the sudden cuddling of her husband. 
Wide eyes, she blinked swiftly with her hands up. She can understand that he’s so happy to get out, but she did not expect him to hug her like this. 
Suddenly, she felt her heart throbbing again. It pounded so hard, her wrist, neck and temple pulsed too inside her reddened skin. 
Adira hates it. She hates it when she is not sure what she’s feeling. And so, she put her hands between their chests and pushed him away. 
“Ahhh,” Chadwick winced after Adira pushed him. It took him seconds to realize what the hell did he do out of impulsiveness. But he could not bring himself to apologize. And instead, he stood awkwardly while watching Adira tilted her head to avoid his gaze. 
“I’m hungry,” Adira murmured without looking. “Let’s go back.” She pointed the flashlight onto the side and led the way. 
Chadwick took a deep breath before he wordlessly followed her. 
They walked in the middle of the dark and soon found the way back to their cottage. Thanks to the lights that were set up at the side. 
Walking side by side without talking, Chadwick stared at the back of his wife. 
‘Why does it feel that she’s mad at me for some reason?’ he thought, tilting his head, and biting his lower lip. 
As they ventured the way back to the cottage, they heard voice of man and woman approaching their sides. 
“I already told you that this is a bad idea!” a woman shouted. 
“Why are you overreacting? They will be safe! Come on! Let’s not bother them and…” 
Adira and Chadwick stopped walking when they saw Hansel and Neil. 
The two secretaries also halted when they saw them. It felt like their hearts jumped out of their chests. 
“Why are you out already?! It’s still not 10pm!” Neil gasped. 
Hansel glared at Neil with eyes that say: ‘Are you dumb?!’ 
“Ahhh!” Neil gasped, covering his mouth. 
With this, the two CEOs found out who put them together inside the dark cave. 
Adira wanted to know why Hansel teamed up with Neil just to do this. However, she does not have energy left to think. The first thing that she had to do was to eat. Thus, she jolted Hansel. 
Then, smiling at her, she tapped Hansel shoulder. 
Hansel stiffened at the touch that doesn’t seem friendly at all. 
After that, Adira passed them and continued her way towards the cottage. 
Next is Chadwick’s turn. He walked closer to the two secretaries. But unlike Adira who was smiling, Chadwick was glaring at Neil as if soon, he’ll gonna kill him with his own hands. 
“Later,” Chadwick murmured. 
Neil gulped with cold sweat running down on his forehead. 
“We’ll talk about this later,” Chadwick added before he walked away. 
Once the two were gone, both Hansel and Neil breathed in relief. 
“This is your fault,” Hansel blamed Neil. “I shouldn’t have listen to you.” She bumped his shoulder and followed her boss. 
“Haaaa,” Neil sighed while caressing the shoulder that Hansel bumped. “I am really doomed.” Then he also dragged his feet with them. 
As Adira and Chadwick approaching the cottage, they heard the loud cheers of the employees. Maybe, all are enjoying the drinks which were served. There is no work tomorrow, thus, they don’t need to worry about getting drunk tonight. 
Forgetting about the incident before, Adira excitedly entered the cottage, hoping to see foods and drink. 
There are food and drink on the table. But what caught Adira’s eyes the most is the woman who are serving the drinks. 
“Drink a lot!” the girl said to the male employees who could not take their eyes off the lady. 
When the lady lifted her head, her eyes met Adira’s. 
They stood in their place, exchanging gazes at each other in a place Adira did not expect. 
Soon, Chadwick stood by Adira’s side. He noticed that she was staring intently at something and was about to ask what’s wrong. But when he followed her gaze, he discovered the reason behind her befuddled pupils. 
The lady, who was wearing a green dress and holding the tray, stared at the married couple, and smiled widely. 
Adira came here to take a vacation. So, she felt unfair that she had to see her husband’s woman in this place.