The Spark He Showed Her, the Flame I Lost Chapter 02
The next evening, Adrian pushed open the front door.
He was carrying an elegant paper bag, which he set casually on the dining table.
“Still mad?” he asked, loosening his tie as he walked toward me, his tone unusually gentle.
“I was too harsh yesterday. I was on the south side earlier, so I brought you your favorite cinnamon rolls from that bakery you love.”
I looked at the logo printed on the bag and did not move.
In the past, I had once stood in line for two hours to buy those cinnamon rolls, just because he had mentioned in passing that he wanted them.
“Why aren’t you eating?” He frowned slightly, opened the bag himself, pulled off a piece, and held it to my lips.
“I bought them especially for you. Eat it while it’s warm.”
His hand paused.
The cinnamon roll was already cold.
I looked at him. “Do you not know that I just had surgery and can’t eat anything cold?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you.” Adrian withdrew his hand and tossed that piece into the trash.
“Sophie said she saw this new way to eat them online. She said cinnamon rolls taste better after being chilled overnight in the fridge, so I put them in the mini-fridge in my car yesterday.”
He pulled out a wet wipe and cleaned his fingers. “The taste should be about the same. Try one. Don’t be so delicate all the time.”
I said nothing. I simply swept the entire paper bag into the trash.
Adrian’s face darkened instantly.
“Claire, that’s enough.” He looked at me coldly.
“I’ve already swallowed my pride to make this up to you. How long are you going to keep giving me the cold shoulder?”
Just then, the screen of his phone lit up on the table.
It was a long voice note from Sophie.
He did not bother hiding it from me. He tapped the speaker button directly.
Sophie’s sweet, syrupy voice echoed through the spacious living room. “Adrian, that inside gossip you told me last night about the M&A deal was hilarious.”
“I told my coworkers in the department about it today, and they all said I sounded so knowledgeable. Thanks for the private crash course, Adrian.”
I listened quietly and found it deeply ironic.
Adrian was an intensely private man.
In all thirteen years we had been together, he had never once told me anything about work.
Every time I tried to care about his stress, he brushed me off with, “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
“She just started at the company and doesn’t know how things work yet.” Adrian locked his screen.
“You don’t need to explain it to me.” I turned and walked toward the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water.
The moment I opened the cabinet, I froze.
The custom forest-green insulated ceramic mug I always kept in the most visible spot was gone.
It was the one I had made by hand at a pottery studio for our wedding anniversary three years ago. Our initials were carved into the bottom.
“Mrs. Parker, where is my mug?” I asked the housekeeper, who was wiping down the counter.
Mrs. Parker rubbed her hands together nervously and glanced toward Adrian in the living room.
Adrian walked over, his tone flat. “Oh, that mug. Sophie saw it yesterday when she came by to pick up some documents and liked it, so I let her take it.”
I turned my head and stared hard at him. “That was my mug.”
“It was just a stupid mug. How much could it possibly be worth?” Adrian’s frown deepened, his eyes full of irritation at what he saw as my overreaction.
“She thought it was cute, so she took it to use for a few days. Tomorrow I’ll have my assistant pick out ten expensive mugs for you from a high-end store. Is that enough?”
“My name was carved into that mug.” My voice was still calm, but my throat had tightened.
“Claire, are you insane?” Adrian finally lost his patience and gave a humorless laugh.
“Sophie was right about you. You’re possessive and selfish. She only borrowed it. Do you really have to be this petty?”
He tugged at his collar and turned toward the study. “I’m sleeping in the study tonight. Think about your behavior.”
The study door slammed shut.
I stood where I was and looked at the empty cabinet.
I did not argue, and I did not cry.
I simply took out my phone, opened a luxury resale app, and listed every designer bag and piece of jewelry Adrian had ever given me.