Bound By The Night

Jealousy Ignited

The weeks following the gala were a blur of routine and isolation for Sun. With the rumors quelled and their relationship solidified in the eyes of the public, Adele became increasingly busy with her career, leaving Sun to navigate her days alone. The house, though luxurious, felt more like a gilded cage—beautiful yet lonely.

To fill the void, Sun threw herself into various hobbies. She picked up a guitar, strumming simple melodies in an attempt to distract herself, and began learning a new language, hoping to keep her mind occupied. Despite these efforts, her thoughts frequently returned to Adele. What had started as a harmless crush had grown into something deeper, something more painful. The more time she spent alone, the more her feelings for Adele intensified, making the boundaries of their arrangement harder to bear.

Three months after the gala, they attended another event, this time a more intimate, private affair. The guest list was exclusive, the atmosphere relaxed. As usual, they arrived together, but Adele was soon swept up in conversations with industry peers, leaving Sun to navigate the evening on her own.

As Sun wandered through the crowd, she was approached by a striking woman—Marrya, a well-known actress and, as Sun vaguely recalled, Adele’s longtime rival. Marrya was captivating, with a magnetic charm that put Sun at ease. They began to talk, and Sun found herself genuinely enjoying the conversation. Marrya wasn’t interested in prying into her relationship with Adele; instead, she seemed focused on getting to know Sun, asking about her life, her interests, her thoughts. For the first time in a long while, Sun felt seen.

As they talked and laughed, Sun remained oblivious to Adele, who was watching them from across the room, her expression growing darker with each passing moment. Adele’s eyes narrowed as she observed Marrya’s clear interest in Sun. She tried to ignore it, but the longer she watched, the more a simmering jealousy took hold of her.

By the time the party ended, Adele’s patience had worn thin. The ride home was tense, the air between them thick with unspoken anger. Sun, still caught up in the pleasant evening she’d had, was unaware of the storm brewing within Adele.

The moment they walked through the door, Adele’s composure cracked. She spun around to face Sun, her eyes blazing with anger. “Why did you talk to her?” she demanded, her voice sharp and cutting.

Sun blinked, caught off guard by the sudden outburst. “Talk to who? Marrya? Oh, she was lovely. What’s the problem?”

“The problem,” Adele snapped, “is that she’s my rival, Sun! We’re supposed to be a couple, and you spent the entire night with her instead of with me!”

Sun’s stomach dropped as she realized she had crossed an unexpected line. “I didn’t know she was your rival,” she stammered, her voice tinged with confusion. “We were just talking. We didn’t do anything wrong.”

Adele’s eyes flashed with anger. “I don’t care,” she retorted. “You should have been with me. You’re my girlfriend, Sun. Understood?”

Sun felt a lump form in her throat, a deep sadness settling over her. She couldn’t understand why Adele was reacting so harshly. Wasn’t their relationship just for show? But seeing the intensity in Adele’s eyes, Sun knew better than to argue. Not wanting to make things worse, she nodded silently, her gaze dropping to the floor.

But Adele wasn’t satisfied with just a nod. She stepped closer, her presence overwhelming as she glared down at Sun. “Words,” she demanded, her tone leaving no room for disobedience.

Sun swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper as she replied, “Yes, I understand.”

Adele stared at her for a moment longer, as if searching for any sign of defiance. Satisfied, she turned on her heel and left the room without another word, leaving Sun standing there, feeling more alone and confused than ever.

As Sun watched Adele disappear down the hallway, her mind raced with conflicting emotions. She had always understood that this relationship was a facade, but Adele’s reaction tonight had shaken her. Was Adele’s jealousy simply part of maintaining the illusion, or was there something more to it? Sun couldn’t be sure, and the uncertainty gnawed at her, leaving her with a sinking feeling that their arrangement was becoming far more complicated than either of them had anticipated.