Falling for the Goddess

Are You... Jealous?

"Marital fun?"

Ethan Brown stood frozen in place, his mind spinning.

"You... you two..." His gaze darted from Adrian Blake to Sara Hart, his eyes wide in disbelief. "You're married?"

Sara lowered her head slightly, her voice apologetic. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to hide it from you. It's just that..."

Ethan Brown blinked, processing her words. The revelation hit him like a thunderclap. Married? Sara?

His gaze fell on their intertwined hands, and Adrian stood protectively by her side, exuding a quiet but unmistakable claim. Ethan Brown felt like he was seeing her for the first time—no longer the girl he'd known, but someone who belonged to another man entirely.

Clearing his throat, Ethan Brown shoved a gift box into Sara's hands, his words stumbling out. "Uh... here. Consider it a wedding gift."

Then, without waiting for a response, he spun on his heel, got into his Koenigsegg, and sped off. The engine's roar echoed through the quiet street as the car disappeared.

Sara glanced down at the gift box, then back at Adrian. "Why did you say that to him?"

Adrian's expression was unreadable. His gaze dropped to their hands before quietly responding, "Was it wrong to say that?"

His tone held a trace of melancholy.

"No, no," Sara hurried to explain. "That's not what I meant. I just thought I should explain things to him more gradually."

The last time Ethan Brown asked about her relationship with Adrian, things between them were distant and tense. She'd been in a bad mood and had brushed it off by calling Adrian her "brother." She hadn't meant anything by it, but now... things had changed.

Adrian's hand, resting on her waist, slipped away, falling to his side.

Noticing the subtle withdrawal, Sara reached out and took his hand again. Her voice softened, "It's getting cold out here. Let's go inside."

"Alright."

Once inside, Sara placed the gift box on the shoe cabinet while they changed into slippers. Adrian's gaze lingered on the box.

"Aren't you going to open it?"

"Hmm?" Sara glanced at him. "Right now?"

"It's a gift for you. Open it if you want to."

Something about his tone seemed off. His expression remained calm, but there was an undercurrent of tension that Sara couldn't quite place.

She carefully opened the black box, revealing a collection of Harry Potter merchandise—a music box watch, metal badges, and a keychain.

Sara blinked in surprise. The items weren't particularly expensive, but they carried a thoughtful sentiment.

During a casual conversation, she vaguely recalled mentioning her love for Harry Potter to Ethan Brown. Seeing that he'd remembered and gone out of his way to get her these items made her pause.

Adrian's gaze flicked to the box's contents, then to Sara's thoughtful expression. "You like Harry Potter?"

"Mm." Sara nodded.

Adrian's lips pressed into a thin line, his brows drawing together slightly. There was something unreadable in his gaze—a flicker of self-reproach.

Sara closed the box and turned to him. "Would it be okay if I invited him to a meal to thank him?"

She didn't want to leave things awkward with Ethan. He'd helped her a lot, and it didn't feel right to let him be the only one always giving.

Adrian's gaze remained steady. "You don't need to ask for my permission. Do what you think is right."

Later that night, Sara emerged from the bathroom in her pajamas, drying her hair with a towel. She noticed Adrian already in bed, scrolling through his phone—a rare sight.

"Did you shower in the guest bathroom?" she asked.

Adrian looked up briefly. "Mm. It's faster that way."

Setting his phone aside, he stood and grabbed the hairdryer. With a small smile, he motioned for her to come over. "Come here."

Sara obediently sat down, and the soft hum of the hairdryer filled the room. Adrian gently ran his fingers through her damp hair, ensuring it dried evenly. His touch was careful and tender, the warmth from his hands chasing away any lingering chill.

Afterward, as they lay in bed, Sara snuggled into his embrace. But something still lingered in her mind.

"Adrian..." she murmured, tilting her head to look at him. "Are you upset?"

"Hm?" He glanced down, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know. You just seemed... a little off tonight."

Adrian remained silent for a moment as if weighing his words. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter than usual.

"Sara... Do you think I'm not doing enough for you?"

"What?" She blinked in surprise.

"I don't know your favorite things. I don't know what makes you happy. And it bothers me that someone else seems to know you better than I do."

Sara stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"You're... jealous?"

Adrian froze, his brows knitting together in confusion. Jealous? The word felt foreign to him.

But as he thought about how he'd felt seeing Ethan Brown, or any other man, get close to Sara, he realized there was truth in it.

It wasn't just jealousy. There was guilt, too. He felt he hadn't done enough to understand her truly, and that realization gnawed at him.

"I didn't even know you liked Harry Potter..." he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

Sara wrapped her arms around his waist, her voice gentle and reassuring. "That's because I never told you."

"We started on unequal footing. I had years to observe you from afar, to learn everything I could about you. But for you, I was just a stranger. It's only been a few months since we got to know each other. Of course, you can't know everything about me right away."

She rested her head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"But you know what? We have plenty of time ahead of us. You'll get to know me—every little detail. We'll figure it all out together."

Adrian's chest tightened, emotion welling up in his throat. He gently stroked her hair, murmuring, "Sara, how can you be so perfect?"

She giggled softly, her voice playful yet sincere. "Maybe because you're perfect for me."

Adrian suddenly shifted, flipping her onto her back and leaning over her, propping himself on his elbows.

In the dim light, his features were softened, but his intense gaze burned into hers.

"You—"

Sara opened her mouth to protest, but his lips captured hers in a slow, tender kiss before she could say anything.

He poured all his unspoken feelings into that kiss—his love, gratitude, and the promises he couldn't yet put into words.

Sara gasped softly, her fingers curling against his chest. "Adrian... I have to wake up early tomorrow..."

Adrian chuckled, his voice husky, his breath warm against her ear. "I'll be quick..."

His lips brushed hers again, leaving her breathless.

And for the rest of the night, time seemed to melt away.