Hate Me, Love Me
Introduction
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
MC (Main Character):
Name: Adrian Blackwood
Role: The charming, sharp playboy who hides a powerful side (both in influence + brains).
Personality: Flirtatious, confident, calculating. Hates losing.
Secret: His past with ML.
Ethan vale (Ml)
ML (Male Lead):
Name: Ethan Vale
Role: The untouchable, intimidating figure in the modern corporate/political world. Nobody dares cross him.
Personality: Cold, commanding, ruthless in business. Secretly lonely.
Secret: Knows more about Adrian than he lets on.
Sienna Cruz (Adrian bff/assistant)
Sienna Cruz (Adrian bff/assistant)
Side Character (Best Friend):
Name: Sienna Cruz
Adrian’s best friend. Loyal, sarcastic, the one who always calls him out.
Acts as comic relief but also the “glue” between MC and ML sometimes.
Lila Vale (Ethan younger sister)
Lila Vale (Ethan younger sister)
Family Tie:
Ethan’s younger sister (Lila Vale) – sweet, kind-hearted, but plays a dangerous role in the mystery later.
author dumb
Umm *laugh awkward*
author dumb
Some of you might know me.
author dumb
please don't read this chat story
author dumb
The purpose of this story is to empty all my ideas..
author dumb
Nice to meet yah
Chapter 1 – The Reunion
The boardroom fell silent the moment Ethan Vale walked in. His presence was like a storm—cold, heavy, demanding attention. Everyone straightened in their seats, but Adrian Blackwood didn’t bother to move.
He leaned back lazily, legs crossed, smirk tugging at his lips. If Ethan expected him to look impressed, he was in for disappointment.
Ethan vale (Ml)
You never learn, do you?
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(smirking)
Depends. Are we talking business… or the way you’re glaring at me right now?
Ethan vale (Ml)
Business. Personal. Doesn’t matter. You’ve got five minutes before I end you.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(chuckling)
Oh, Ethan. Always so dramatic. Still pretending you don’t remember.
Gasps rippled across the room. Adrian’s words were light, but the way his eyes locked onto Ethan’s was anything but playful.
Ethan’s jaw tightened, his composure slipping for the briefest moment.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(tilting his head, voice low)
Did I strike a nerve?
Ethan vale (Ml)
You haven’t changed. Still reckless. Still a liar.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
And you’re still angry about a ghost.
At the far end of the table, Sienna Cruz, Adrian’s best friend and assistant, was furiously typing on her phone under the table. Adrian knew exactly what she was doing—commentary in their private group chat.
Sienna Cruz (Adrian bff/assistant)
(whispering under her breath)
He’s going to murder you.
Adrian’s smirk deepened. He enjoyed this. He enjoyed him.
Across the table, Ethan’s hands curled into fists against the polished glass. His voice dropped, each word deliberate, a warning carved in stone.
Ethan vale (Ml)
I don’t play games, Adrian.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(leaning forward, eyes glittering)
Good. Because I never lose.
Their stares collided—fire against ice. For one brief, dangerous heartbeat, the boardroom ceased to exist.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(smiling faintly)
What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Or are you remembering the night you swore you’d never let me go?
Ethan froze. His mask slipped. And for the smallest fraction of a second, his eyes betrayed him.
Ethan vale (Ml)
(through clenched teeth)
Don’t. You. Dare.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(soft laugh)
Too late. 😉
The room was silent, everyone pretending not to watch. But Adrian knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning.
Chapter 2 – The Aftermath
The meeting ended, but the storm hadn’t.
Adrian was the last to leave the boardroom, deliberately slow, just to feel Ethan’s gaze burn into his back. He liked that fire. He liked knowing Ethan wasn’t as unaffected as he pretended.
But when the door shut and it was just the two of them, the temperature shifted.
Ethan vale (Ml)
(voice sharp)
What the hell are you doing here, Adrian?
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(casual)
Attending a meeting, obviously. Or was I supposed to ask for your royal blessing first?
Ethan vale (Ml)
Don’t play dumb. You knew this was my territory.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(smirking, stepping closer)
Oh, I knew. That’s why I came.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed, dangerous. He always wore control like armor, but right now—Adrian saw the cracks.
Ethan vale (Ml)
You always did like to provoke me.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
And you always rise to the bait. Some things never change.
For a moment, silence stretched. The years between them pressed down like lead. Then Ethan’s voice dropped, rougher, bitter.
Ethan vale (Ml)
Do you remember what you did?
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(pausing, then softly)
I remember everything.
Ethan vale (Ml)
(cold)
Then you should remember how you betrayed me.
Adrian’s smirk faltered for the first time.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
…Is that what you still believe?
Ethan’s jaw tightened, and he turned away as though looking at Adrian too long would burn.
Ethan vale (Ml)
I don’t believe. I know.
Adrian’s chest ached—not that he’d ever admit it. He let out a soft laugh instead, masking the crack in his expression.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(voice smooth again)
Fine. Keep your ghost stories, Vale. But one day… you’ll learn the truth.
Ethan spun back to face him, fury in his eyes.
Ethan vale (Ml)
I don’t need the truth from you.
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(smirking again, though his eyes were sharp)
Oh, Ethan… you’ve always needed me. That’s the one thing that hasn’t changed.
The tension hung between them, electric and unbearable, until the sound of heels clicking against marble echoed down the hall.
Lila Vale, Ethan’s younger sister, appeared at the end of the corridor. Her bright smile lit up the space, innocence in her eyes as she waved.
Lila Vale (Ethan younger sister)
Adrian? Is that really you?
Ethan stiffened. Adrian’s smirk returned, but this time it was different
Adrian Blackwood (Mc)
(softly, to Ethan)
Well. Isn’t this… interesting.
And just like that, the war between them had a new battlefield.
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