Chapter 8
~Adeline~
After saying that, Adrian turned to leave, but Elizabeth quickly grabbed his hand.
“Addy,” she called, her voice soft in a way that grated on my nerves. She held his hand close to her chest. “Please don’t be so hasty. Adeline is only acting this way because of my presence. If you agree to her demands now, she’ll regret it later.”
The false concern in her tone was unmistakable.
I felt my brows twitch in irritation as she continued.
“She’s spent the past few years tending to your family, devoting herself entirely to the household. Unlike me, she doesn’t have any real skills or a career to support herself.”
The mockery beneath her words was clear.
Yes.
While she had been building her career, I had given mine up—for a family that now sided with her without hesitation.
How ironic.
“Divorcing her now would be like cutting off her only means of survival,” she added gently. Then, to my surprise, she turned to me.
“Isn’t that right, Adeline?”
Before I could respond, she tilted her head slightly, her gaze drifting toward Thomas.
“That’s why you’re already meeting other men, isn’t it?”
Her accusation hung heavily in the air.
For a moment, my mind stalled, struggling to process what she had just implied.
Then my eyes narrowed, disbelief flashing across my face as I followed her gaze to Thomas.
What exactly was she insinuating?
“Elizabeth Sterling,” I said coldly, my voice sharp with warning, “if I were you, I’d watch my mouth.”
She flinched slightly.
“Just because Adrian tolerates your nonsense doesn’t mean I will.”
“But is she wrong?”
Adrian’s voice cut in suddenly.
My gaze snapped to him.
His attention was fixed on Thomas, who let out a quiet, unimpressed snort.
“All these years we’ve been married, I’ve never once seen you with another man,” Adrian continued. “I can count your friends on one hand, Adeline.”
His eyes finally settled on me.
“But now that you’re talking about divorce, you suddenly show up at a restaurant with a man?”
His gaze swept over me slowly, as if seeing me properly for the first time that day.
And in it I caught a flicker of irritation.
“Dressed like that,” he added.
I glanced down at my outfit.
There was nothing inappropriate about it.
A fitted work shirt paired with a pencil skirt that stopped just above my knees—this was how I had always dressed in the past. But after marrying Adrian, I had changed, dressing more conservatively under the constant nagging of his mother, Katherine Carter.
Now?
Pleasing her was the last thing on my list.
And compared to Elizabeth—who was dressed in a tight-fitting riding suit that clung to every curve—my outfit was more than modest.
“My outfit?” I echoed, my gaze shifting to Elizabeth. “Not hers?”
“Mommy!” Zora cut in again.
“You’re bullying Aunt Beth again,” she said, shaking her head in disappointment. “I really hate it when you act so uncool.”
With that, she huffed, clearly displeased.
Behind me, Thomas finally spoke.
“To think this is the family you chose, Lina?”
His tone carried more pity than mockery as he shook his head.
“A child who is ungrateful, and,” he paused, his gaze settling on Adrian before he continued, “a husband who is clearly blind.”
Adrian’s expression darkened instantly.
“What?”
“I didn’t stutter,” Thomas replied coldly. “And I didn’t say anything wrong, either.”
His voice sharpened as he continued.
“A man who takes another woman’s side without even bothering to hear his wife out doesn’t deserve to be called a husband. He’d be better off in a school for the blind than running a household.”
He wasn’t done. His gaze shifted between Adrian and Elizabeth, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
“Then again, the two of you make quite the pair. A blind husband… and a pretender.”
“You—how dare you—!” Adrian snapped, already stepping forward.
“That’s enough,” I said, turning to Thomas. “People like them aren’t worth it.”
Thomas looked like he wanted to argue, but he stopped himself.
“You’re right,” he said after a moment. “Let’s go.”
I nodded and turned back to Adrian.
“Don’t be late,” I told him.
Ignoring the tension in his jaw, I walked past him without another word.
~☆~
The drive back to Mikaela’s place took nearly half an hour. Thomas remained silent the entire time.
When he finally pulled into the parking lot, I turned to him with a small smile.
“Thank you for today. I’ll repay you,” I said.
He smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Then, unexpectedly, he reached out and gently patted my head.
“Those people don’t deserve you,” he said. “Forget them and start over. Uncle Holland, Mikaela, and I—we’ll support you no matter what.”
My heart warmed at his words, and I returned a grateful smile.
“Thank you.”
With that, I stepped out of the car.
“See you tomorrow at the office.”
He nodded, then drove off. I turned and made my way inside.
After such a long and exhausting day, I headed straight for the shower, letting the hot water ease the tension in my muscles.
Once I was done, I changed into a robe and collapsed onto the bed, closing my eyes for a moment.
Tomorrow, I would officially cut ties with that ungrateful family.
And then I could finally begin again.
That was the last thought on my mind as a yawn escaped me and sleep slowly took over.
I wasn’t sure how long I had been asleep before the persistent buzzing of my phone dragged me awake.
Groaning, I reached for it, my eyes barely open as I swiped across the screen.
The moment I brought it to my ear, Adrian’s voice jolted me fully awake.
“Zora’s fever is acting up again. She needs her mother to take care of her. I don’t care where you are—come back home immediately, Adeline.”
I nearly let out a scoff.
After everything that had happened, he wasn’t calling to apologize, but toorder me around like I was still his obedient servant.
“Have Elizabeth take care of her,” I replied coldly. “I’m not coming.”
Since Zora liked her so much, then Elizabeth could handle it.
I was about to end the call when Adrian’s voice cut through again, sharp and threatening.
“Adeline Carter, if you really want this divorce, then you’d better be back home within thirty minutes. Otherwise… you can forget about ever getting one from me!”
