Bound By The Night

Adele's POV

From the moment Adele first laid eyes on Sun, she knew there was something different about her. It was at the hotel gym, where Adele had gone to clear her head after a long day. Sun was there, pushing herself relentlessly, as if trying to escape some invisible demon. Adele had been struck by the intensity of the young woman’s focus, the determination in her movements, and the sadness that seemed to cling to her like a shadow.

Adele had always been drawn to strength, but there was something more about Sun that intrigued her—something that pulled at her heart in a way she hadn’t expected. When she approached Sun that night, her intention was simply to offer comfort to a stranger who looked like she needed it. But as they talked, Adele realized she didn’t want to let this woman walk out of her life so easily.

The idea of a contract had come to her almost immediately. It was the perfect solution—a way to keep Sun close without revealing the depth of her own feelings. At first, it seemed like a simple arrangement: Sun needed help, and Adele could provide it. But as they spent more time together, Adele found herself falling for Sun in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

It started as a quiet admiration—Sun’s resilience, her quiet strength, her ability to keep going despite the odds stacked against her. Adele admired all of it, but as the days turned into weeks, admiration morphed into something deeper. Sun’s laughter, her smile, even the way she furrowed her brow when she was concentrating on something—all of it began to consume Adele’s thoughts.

Before long, Adele realized she was falling in love, deeply and madly. But she kept her feelings locked away, terrified of what might happen if Sun knew the truth. Adele was a woman used to control, to maintaining a perfect image in the public eye. The idea of being vulnerable, especially to someone who might not feel the same way, was something she couldn’t bear.

So she kept her distance, even as her heart ached to be closer. She told herself it was for the best, that Sun only saw her as a benefactor, nothing more. Adele had made the rules clear from the start—this was a business arrangement, and nothing more. But as the days went by, sticking to those rules became increasingly difficult.

Then came the night of the party. Seeing Sun with Marrya, laughing and enjoying herself, had ignited something fierce and possessive in Adele. She had always known Marrya was a threat—a rival in every sense of the word. But seeing her with Sun, so close, so comfortable, had driven Adele to the brink. In that moment, the thought of losing Sun to someone else had been unbearable.

Adele had lashed out, unable to control the jealousy that surged within her. But as soon as the anger subsided, she was filled with regret. The look on Sun’s face—the confusion, the hurt—had torn at Adele’s heart. She wanted to apologize, to take back the harsh words, but she didn’t know how without revealing the truth of her feelings.

How could she explain her jealousy without admitting that it stemmed from love? Adele had always been careful, always maintained control, but when it came to Sun, she felt herself unraveling. The very thought of losing Sun, of watching her fall for someone else, was enough to make Adele’s heart ache.

The days after the party were torture. Adele was consumed with guilt and longing, unable to shake the image of Sun’s downcast eyes, the way she had nodded obediently in response to Adele’s outburst. She hated herself for making Sun feel that way, for not being able to express what was truly in her heart.

Every time she saw Sun around the house, Adele’s resolve weakened. She wanted so badly to reach out, to touch her, to pull her close and never let go. But she knew she couldn’t—not without risking everything. So, she kept her distance, even as it tore her apart inside.

Living with Sun was becoming increasingly difficult. The proximity, the unspoken tension between them, was almost unbearable. Adele’s every instinct screamed at her to break the rules she had set, to let Sun know how she truly felt. But she was terrified—terrified that Sun didn’t feel the same, terrified of what would happen if Sun rejected her.

Adele had always been strong, always known what she wanted and how to get it. But in this, she felt lost, adrift in a sea of emotions she didn’t know how to navigate. All she knew was that she loved Sun, deeply and completely, and that pretending otherwise was becoming an impossible task.

She longed to hold Sun, to kiss her, to tell her she was hers. But for now, all she could do was watch, and hope that somehow, someway, Sun would come to feel the same.