Chapter 4

~Adrian~

Watching Adeline walk away, my gaze lingered on her back longer than it should have.

Normally, she would have thrown a tantrum. But today, she was unusually calm. She didn’t even try to correct Zora like she always did.

Something about that stirred an unfamiliar feeling in my chest.

“Addy,” Elizabeth called softly beside me, gently tugging at my hand.

I looked at her. Her gaze was warm and innocent, but there was a flicker of worry in her eyes before she lowered them.

“My being here didn’t cause any misunderstanding, right?” she asked, her voice soft. “Adeline won’t… she won’t think there’s something going on between us, will she? She won’t be upset, right?”

She looked up at me again, and I could see the faint shimmer of tears forming in her eyes.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Zora spoke first.

“Mommy’s always like that,” she said, pouting. “She’s always angry, mean, and bossy. That’s why I don’t like her.”

Still in my arms, she reached out and gently patted Elizabeth’s head as if comforting her.

“That’s why I like you more, Aunt Beth.”

Elizabeth smiled softly, but her expression faltered slightly when I pulled Zora’s hand back.

“Zora,” I said, a note of warning in my tone. “What have I told you about saying things like that? If your mother hears—”

“She’ll become a big grouch,” Zora finished with a bright, toothy grin. “Don’t worry, she’ll never find out.”

Elizabeth let out a soft laugh and pinched her cheek. “What a clever and naughty child you are.”

Zora giggled, then pointed toward a random aisle.

“Ice cream, Aunt Beth. Zora wants ice cream,” she said.

Elizabeth let out a soft laugh before glancing at me. “Shall we?” she asked.

I didn’t answer immediately.

My gaze drifted toward the entrance again, lingering for a moment longer than necessary before I looked away.

“Sure,” I said, leading the way.

Why the hell was I paying attention to Adeline’s behavior now?

It was obvious this was just another one of her attempts to get my attention. Why else would she show up there?

There was no need to indulge her.

Whatever tantrum she was throwing would be over by the time I got home. She would go back to her usual self.

There was nothing to worry about.

~☆~

The rest of the day passed in a blur.

By the time Zora and I returned home, we were both exhausted from shopping.

Rubbing her eyes, Zora looked around the living room and frowned.

“Where’s Mommy?” she asked.

I scanned the space, only then realizing that Adeline wasn’t sitting on the couch where she usually waited. The familiar scent of her cooking didn’t linger in the air either.

A slight frown formed on my face.

“Adeline!” I called out.

No response.

“Adeline!” I called again.

Footsteps approached, and I turned—only for the part-time maid to appear instead.

“Good evening, Mr. Carter,” she said, bowing slightly.

My frown deepened slightly.

“Where’s Adeline?” I asked.

“Mrs. Carter hasn’t returned yet,” Lucia replied, then gestured toward the table. “Dinner has been prepared. Would you like me to heat it up?”

My gaze shifted to the covered dishes, lingering there.

Ever since we got married, Adeline had never missed a single day of preparing dinner for the family.

And now…

She wasn’t even home?

Since when did her tantrums last this long?

“Is Mommy being a grouch?” Zora asked, yawning softly. “Is that why she’s not back yet?”

I tore my gaze away from the table and dismissed Lucia before adjusting Zora in my arms and heading upstairs.

“Your mommy is probably busy,” I said as we made our way to her room. “You’ll see her tomorrow.”

I placed her gently on the bed and tucked her in.

“Then… can I have Mommy’s porridge tomorrow?” Zora asked.

I smiled faintly and nodded. “I’m sure she’ll prepare it before you even wake up. Now sleep.”

Zora smiled and suddenly sat up, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

“That one’s for you,” she said, before placing another kiss on my cheek. “And that one’s for Aunt Beth.”

She slipped back under the covers, her smile lingering.

“Good night, Daddy.”

I smiled, kissed her forehead, and walked out of the room. When I returned to my bedroom, I paused at the doorway, a slight frown forming.

Something about the room felt… empty.

Before I could dwell on it, my phone rang.

I glanced at the screen, and some unacknowledged part of me expected to see Adeline’s name.

She used to call me constantly.

But it wasn’t her. It was Elizabeth.

A faint trace of disappointment stirred in my chest as I answered the call.

“Beth,” I said.

“Addy,” Elizabeth’s voice came through softly. “Did you get home safely? How’s Zora?”

“She’s fine,” I replied, walking into the room as I loosened my tie and shrugged off my suit, tossing it onto the chair. “We just got back. What about you?”

“Mhm,” Elizabeth responded gently. “I’m home safe as well. Thank you for asking.”

There was a brief pause before she spoke again.

“And Adeline?”

I clicked my tongue at the mention of her name. “She’s just being childish. I’ll deal with her,” I said dismissively.

“I see…” Elizabeth murmured softly before letting out a quiet sigh. “I still have some documents to go through, so I’ll end the call here. Good night, Addy.”

“Good night, Elizabeth.”

The call ended.

I tossed my phone onto the bed and headed into the shower.

If Adeline wanted to throw a tantrum, it wasn’t going to interfere with my rest. By tomorrow, she would be back to normal anyway.

So there was no reason to bother.

With that thought, I showered, changed into my pajamas, and went to sleep.

~☆~

The next morning, I woke up not to the familiar sound of Adeline moving around, but to the sharp ring of my alarm.

It had been years since I last heard it. Adeline always woke up before me and turned it off.

But today was different.

I glanced at the empty space beside me and exhaled softly.

She must have woken up without waking me.

As I got up and prepared for the day, a thought crossed my mind.

What time had she come back last night?

No matter how hard I tried to recall, I couldn’t remember.

After picking out a tie—one I was used to her helping me knot—I headed out of the room.

Halfway down the stairs, the aroma of food drifted through the air and realization dawned on me.

Of course.

She must have woken up early to prepare breakfast as a way to make up for her behavior yesterday.

Typical.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I called out, “Adeline, my tie.”

Without looking toward the kitchen, certain she was there, I walked over to the dining table and took a seat.

A moment later, footsteps approached, and a plate of pancakes and baked beans was placed in front of me.

“Adeline,” I began, lifting my head, only for the words to die in my throat.

It wasn’t Adeline, but instead Lucia.

A frown formed on my face. “Where’s Adeline?” I asked.

“Mrs. Carter isn’t here,” Lucia replied.

My frown deepened. “She’s already left?”

Lucia shook her head, catching me off guard. “Mrs. Carter hasn’t returned since yesterday.”

I froze slightly.

“What?”

Adeline hadn’t come home since yesterday? Was she really taking this act of hers that far?

“Daddy?”

Zora’s voice came from the stairs. I looked up to see her still in her pajamas.

“Zora, it’s a school day. Why aren’t you dressed yet?” I asked.

“Mommy didn’t wake me,” she said, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Then she looked around before her gaze landed on the table.

“My porridge,” she said. “Did Mommy make my porridge?”

Before I could answer, Lucia spoke.

“Your mommy didn’t, because she’s not back yet. But I can make it for you if you want.”

Zora frowned immediately and turned to me.

“Daddy, where did Mommy go?” she asked.

I didn’t know.

And quite frankly… did I care to find out?

No.

I turned to Lucia. “Get me a cup of coffee, and make a bowl of porridge for Zora.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lucia hurried off, while Zora walked over and took her seat beside me.

“Is Mommy still angry?” she asked, then scoffed, crossing her arms. “This is why I don’t like her.”

She looked up at me. “Daddy, hurry up and marry Aunt Beth.”

This time, her words had no effect on me.

My gaze drifted toward the door, as if expecting someone to walk in.

It wasn’t until Lucia returned—placing a cup of coffee in front of me and a bowl of porridge before Zora—that my attention shifted back.

“I knew the young miss would want some, so I prepared it myself,” Lucia added.

I gave a brief nod and waved her off.

As she walked away, I picked up my coffee and took a sip. The next second, I slammed the cup back onto the table.

“Lucia!” I called.

She hurried over immediately.

“I asked for coffee, not plant water.”

“I—I’m sorry, sir,” she said quickly. “Mrs. Carter is usually the one who prepares your morning coffee, but now—”

Before she could finish, Zora’s voice cut in.

“Ew, this is disgusting!”

She spat the porridge back into the bowl and pushed it away in disgust.

“I want Mommy’s porridge,” she demanded. “I want Mommy’s porridge!”

Lucia looked flustered, clearly at a loss, and opened her mouth to speak—but I cut her off.

“Leave. And take these away.”

She nodded quickly and rushed back to the kitchen with the tray.

The moment she was gone, Zora spoke again.

“Did Mommy abandon us? Is this just another way of being a grouch? I don’t like Mommy.”

She turned to me, her eyes bright with expectation.

“Daddy, ask Aunt Beth to move in with us. Since Mommy doesn’t want to come home and cook for us, Aunt Beth can do it instead. Come on, Daddy!”

She leaned forward and tugged eagerly at my shirt.

Under normal circumstances, I would have refused. But if Adeline wanted to leave the house like this…

Then it was only fair I taught her a lesson.

Right?

I pulled out my phone, found Elizabeth’s contact, and dialed.

The call connected on the second ring.

“Beth,” I said without hesitation, “how would you like to move in with me?”