Chapter 82: Chapter 82

The players in Chadwick’s team did not know what the hell had just happened. A moment ago, they were in the lead with 9 points. But after Adira’s spike, they continued losing until they lost the first match. And this time, the opponent’s team has two points left to win the game.

Since when did it go wrong?

When they let Adira joined the game?

When they made the deal since they know they will win?

Or when they belittle Adira’s ability just because she is a woman?

Whatever the answer is, they needed to defend the last two points and scored five points to win the game.

“Yey!” team Adira cheered.

They gave a high five to the right spiker.

“Ma’am, that was an insane spike!” The libero praised.

From the other net, Chadwick looked at Adira. Even though his team was losing, he could not feel bad at all. He was just in awe and felt amazed seeing Adira shine even in this game.

“Thanks,” Adira said before giving a high five to their libero. When she stood in front of the setter, Geoffrey, she smiled at him.

“Nice job,” Geoffrey complimented and offered high five.

“Same to you,” Adira replied and gave him a high five.

Chadwick said that he does not feel bad seeing Adira’s team win. However, whenever he sees Geoffrey and Adira celebrating together, just feeling bad isn’t enough. He felt like someone removed his skin and poured salt on his wound.

‘I cannot lose,’ Chadwick thought while staring at his wife and his old friend. If he knew that it would be like this, Chadwick regretted dividing the team into companies. He should have teamed up with his wife!

“That’s okay! That’s okay!” Chadwick cheered his team who’s losing their morale.

Even Isa, who did nothing after scoring 10 points in the beginning, knew that they will lose in this game.

‘Argh! I already washed the plates. If we lose, I had to cook dinner too!’ She said inwardly before glaring at Adira.

From the other side, Adira looked at the opponent team and she received Isa’s glare very well. As her reply, she gave Isa’s a sly smirk, as if saying: ‘Loser~’

Isa felt her blood boil in high temperature. She really hates the idea of losing and that Adira is teamed up with her stepbrother!

The second match continued with 24-20 points, favored with team Crimson Meadow. At the last rotation of the Crimson Meadow, Adira will stand at the serving area.

What players far from strong spiker is the time when the spiker will stand in the serving zone and give an intense serving.

For that, players in the offense zone in Crimson Meadow team covered the back of their heads just in case. They don’t wanna end up in the hospital with a spike straight on the head from Adira.

Holding the volleyball, Adira diverted her eyes to the opponents team. They are in their guards, waiting for the referee’s whistle and at the time Adira will give her serve.

Adira stared at her husband on the other side.

When Chadwick received the gaze, he felt his skin stand on each other. He can understand that Adira holds grudges on him, but he wished she wouldn’t use this game as her excuse to relish her anger.

‘No. You won’t directly serve that to me, right?’ Chadwick prayed inwardly before he sent a faint smile to his wife.

Seeing the smile of Chadwick, Adira replied to him another beam before the referee blew his whistle.

Beep!

Everyone did not blink and clenched their teeth tight.

Adira strode up and back with her weight on her right foot. Her left hand holds the ball, extending it forward and in front of her right shoulder. Before the timer of serving ended, she tossed the ball up high, looked at it and waited for the right time. Then, she jumped and swung her arm at the ball with high speed.

Bam!

Chadwick received the ball in difficulty as the strength was enormous.

“Argh!” he winced and fell on the sand.

The ball went up high and the libero followed it. “I got it!” He passed it to the outside hitter. The left spiker tossed the ball over the net, giving a nice shot chance for Adira’s team.

“Defense!” Chadwick shouted to his team as he quickly stood up while wincing.

In Adira’s team, the attack was softly received by the outside hitter at the left, and he tossed at their setter, Geoffrey.

Geoffrey and Adira looked at each other.

As the ball falls on the setter’s hand, Adira ran towards the front line, gathering the strength she needed for the attack.

Everyone from the opposing team moved backward. They are anticipating that Adira will do the last point and it might be another intense spike again.

When the ball went to Geoffrey, he tossed it to Adira.

Adira jumped high, swinging her right arm backward as much as she can. And before she hit the ball, her eyes went to Isa.

It is so quick. The moves are quick but for Isa and Adira, it seems like the whole world turned into slow mo.

Isa noticed the gaze Adira had for her. And she knew it right then. That the next hit will be on her side. Adira has the eyes of someone who is threatening; ‘You should never mess with me.’

Then in a flash, a very fast-moving object went towards Isa. The speed like lightning ball passed beside her, Isa could feel the strong wind coming from it. Her heart stopped. All she knew that death almost come to pick her up and when her sight became clear, she’s already sitting on the sand while everyone is looking at her.

Her hands are trembling, no sign of stopping. She was engulfed with terror, than the time when she let herself drowned into the pool.

Slowly, Isa looked at Adira who’s staring at her from the other net.

Her gaze filled with disgust, spite, as if telling her to stop butting into her life or else, a single hit like that won’t end.

Isa’s face turned from white to red.

She felt so embarrassed to let Adira win against her. It is always her who got what she wants, and Isa stayed in the slum of losers. Her muscles quivered in madness.

“Team Crimson Meadow won!” the referee announced, followed by the loud cheers of Crimson Meadow’s employees. The loudest one to cheer is Hansel.

Neil and the Wine&Vibe’s employees accepted their fate with a grimace. All in all, it was a good match and they enjoyed playing and watching the game. Not until…

“Ahhhh!” Isa winced in pain. All stopped and looked at her, who suddenly covered her eyes as if she was hurt.

“Oh?! Miss, are you hurt?!” The libero from Chadwick’s team asked.

Their team members, except Chadwick, started to approach Isa and worry about her. Adira’s spike was too fast, so Chadwick’s players weren’t sure if the ball hurt Isa or what.

Of course, if Isa was hurt, there’s only one person to blame. Eyes went to Adira, who is looking at Isa with nonchalant gaze.

The ball did not hurt Isa.

Although Adira wanted to smash it at her directly, she aimed at the spot near to her instead. So why does Isa act as if she was hurt badly by the ball?

Simply because she wanted Adira to be the villain again. If people think that Adira aimed for her directly, then they will conclude that she did that because of jealousy.

‘I did not win but you will look pathetic again, Adira,’ Isa laughed internally while acting.

Will Adira beg everyone to believe her?

What will Adira do if Chadwick chooses Isa’s side again?

Isa was so confident that her acting would put Adira in a shameful situation again. However, she did not expect the next thing to happen.

“All of you had your backs when the ball went there,” Geoffrey said.

Isa froze at her stepbrother’s voice, who obviously was siding with Adira.

“But I saw it,” Geoffrey added. “The ball did not even touch a strand of your hair, Isa.”

An awkward silence, followed by buzzing murmurs settled.

“Why are you acting as if it hit you? You’re weird,” Isa said, chuckling.

So, who became pathetic?

It isn’t Adira. But her, the one who keeps on playing like the victim to gain affection.

Teary, Isa lifted her head to her brother and to Chadwick who did not say a thing but only stared at her.

Next, her eyes met Adira’s.

“Hey,” Adira’s cold voice turned the temperature low beside the seashore. “If you are going to pretend weak, you shouldn’t have joined the game. Acting like that is pathetic.”

Chadwick and Geoffrey had their eyes widened towards Adira. Isa also did not expect Adira to say that in front of everyone!

Those who heard the strong remark gasped. They knew that there’s something between Adira and Isa, but Adira’s remarks convinced them more.

Who will the public give their vote to?

Of course, they will choose the legal one.

“Adira, that’s a bit t…” Chadwick was about to interfere, but Geoffrey talked loudly, shutting him up.

“Alright!” Geoffrey said, clapping his hands. “Now that our team won, what will happen?” he asked Adira.

Adira took her eyes away from Isa, then back to the silent spectators. She laid a sweet smile on her face and announced, “The Wine&Vibe is in charge for cooking dinner!”

As if nothing happened and everything chose to ignore Isa, the employees of Crimson Meadow cheered again!

When Adira peeked at Isa, she saw her clenching her hands onto the sands.

‘Well, this sight suits her,’ Adira said to herself.

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Adira’s POV

I was scared to do the dream that I once abandoned. But after playing, I found out I was wrong.

‘Playing volleyball didn’t give me a sense of regret.’

If I would say more, then it is that I had the most fun time of my life ever since I became the CEO of Crimson Meadow.

Therefore, when Chadwick told me that there’s nothing wrong in listening to others, I believed it’s true. When Geoffrey asked me to play, I intended to decline the offer. But I listened. I put a stake, believing in my husband’s words. As a result, I enjoyed it.

‘But I guess my husband and that Isa did not enjoy cooking dinner together with the staffs.’

Not that I am guilty.

For the last night in this beach resort, employees of the Wne&Vibe cooked barbecue for everyone.

All enjoy feasting with the food and the drinks. I can understand their enthusiasm since this is the last day of their vacation. Tomorrow and the next day, hellish works will welcome them in the companies.

I looked around the cottage. Isa isn’t here, and I know why. Geoffrey on the other side is having a fun talk with the players we played with before. I guess he’s a friendly person who can easily adapt to his surroundings.

‘But he looks very introvert way back in college.’

Well, people can change.

Even though I don’t feel happy seeing Geoffrey in this place, I have to admit that I need to thank him for letting me join the game.

I explored my eyes around, as if I was trying to find someone. Not sure who that someone was, but when I caught my husband sitting alone in front of the bonfire. He’s alone there, sitting on the sand while throwing dried branches on the flame.

‘He looks quite pathetic.’

He cooked twice today, and he even lost the game. I can understand why he’s emoting like this.

From my seat, I walked towards him without letting anyone notice. Or they pretend they don’t.

Then, I sat next to him, there on the sand.

Near the bonfire, Chadwick’s face lit with reddish color. I looked at him and so did he.

His expression looks like someone who saw a ghost. I guess he did not expect me to sit by his side.

“I came here because I think we need to talk,” I said.

Chadwick checked our surroundings. We are a bit far from the people in the cottage so I know that no one will hear our conversation.

After checking that no one might hear us, Chadwick looked forth, there at the ocean.

The night sea right now is silent, smooth as if singing a lullaby. I bent my knees while watching it with him and wrapped my arms around my legs.

We stayed in that place without talking. We listened to the waves, felt the night breeze and the singing of the night birds above. Soon, we will leave this place, and it will leave memories on each of us.

“Didn’t you come here to talk about divorcing me as soon as possible?”

His sudden voice came along with the cold breeze.

I looked at his side profile, his heavy lidded eyes, his pointed nose and his Adam’s apple that moved up and down as he gulped. Not staring back at me, my husband continued.

“If you are going to talk about divorce, then don’t start. I am not in the mood for it.”

‘Not in the mood for it?’

He was the first one who offered a divorce. I am only trying to help him by making the time fast, so we don’t need to wait for five months.

When I diverted my sight back to the ocean, I remembered the words he told me last night.

[“I was… I was only shocked. But Adira is someone who does not lie without reason. You only lie when you want to blame yourself. Just like when you said that the drink has alcohol content with it when it hasn’t. You only lied for the sake of others. Because I’ve been watching you for a whole time. I was pretending I did not. But my eyes were glued to you, Adira. And right now, all I can see is you.”]

I really believed that it was his indirect confession, telling me that he had fallen in love with me. But when he chose to save Isa and failed to hold my hand, all my doubts vanished.

I had to admit that until the end, the woman that he will choose is still Isa.

‘And that won’t hurt me at all. Just like in the past, I shouldn’t care a bit and leave them alone for good.’

“I came here to tell you that I took my revenge to Isa.”

My husband stared back at me with a frown. I met his gaze.

“She embarrassed me in front of everyone I can’t let it slide. So, as my revenge, I locked her inside and alone in that cave.”

His eyes widened, staring at me like I’m some kind of weirdo passing by.

“W-What did you say?” he asked in dumbfounded tone.

“Just like the past, I am the villain,” I said. “So, what will you do? Will you stay with me or save your princess?”

“Adira,” he called me in serious tone. “That’s not a good joke.”

My husband stood up. I lifted my head to see him and to give a serious stare as much as he had.

“Do I look like I am joking?” I asked.

I know after this; you will hate me. That you will thank me for letting you realize that separating will be the best for us. So, you should go. Stop making it hard for both of us.

“I am getting so tired being played by everyone,” my husband said. He glared at me and added, “Stay here. Let’s talk after this.”

Then, I watched him back fading in the dark as he ran towards the woman, he will only love.

‘Do you really think I will stay here and wait for you after saving Bea?’

“No way.”

‘This is my last chance for you to tell whether I should regret not waiting for you. But I guess, leaving is the only best choice I have.’