The Spark He Showed Her, the Flame I Lost Chapter 05
The next morning, sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows and into the living room.
When I dragged my suitcase out of the bedroom, I happened to see Adrián walking out of the kitchen in an apron.
He was carrying two plates of bacon and eggs. When he saw the suitcase in my hand, his movement paused for a fraction of a second, but he quickly recovered.
“Have you finished packing?” He set the plates on the dining table, his tone indulgent.
“Come have breakfast first. I got up early to make it for you. I made the eggs sunny-side up, just the way you like them.”
He pulled out a chair and poured me a glass of warm milk.
If this had been before, I would have sat down and accepted this tenderness from him, then swallowed every grievance from the day before.
For thirteen years, he had always been like this.
He would hurt me, then toss me just enough tenderness to keep me there.
He knew exactly how to control me.
“I’m not eating. I’m in a hurry.”
I did not look at him. I walked straight to the entryway and put on my shoes.
Adrian’s face darkened. He untied the apron, tossed it onto the couch, and strode over to block the door.
“Claire, haven’t you made enough of a scene?”
He held back his anger, his voice restrained.
“Yesterday at the office, telling you to apologize to Sophie was damage control.”
“The German clients had just left. If things had blown up in the conference room and word got out, do you know how bad that would have looked for the company?”
“As my wife and the public face of this company, shouldn’t you have some sense of the bigger picture?”
That was his so-called bigger picture.
Those words had weighed on me for thirteen whole years.
“I’ve already swallowed my pride and made you breakfast. What else do you want from me?”
He reached for my suitcase.
“Put the suitcase back. It’s the weekend. I’ll cancel my afternoon engagement and take you out to pick a few pieces of jewelry as compensation. How does that sound?”
His voice carried a coaxing gentleness.
That was probably the most terrifying thing about Adrian.
After hurting you, he could always put on a deeply affectionate front and make you believe that he truly loved you and had only hurt you because he had no choice.
“No need.” I avoided his hand and tightened my grip on the suitcase handle. “Nine o’clock. I’ll see you at the courthouse.”
At the word courthouse, Adrian gave a furious laugh. He took two steps back and crossed his arms as he looked at me.
“Fine, Claire. Looks like you’ve grown a spine. I’d like to see whether you actually dare to show up today.”
He was certain I was bluffing.
He was certain I could not leave the life he provided, and he was certain I could not let go of thirteen years of feelings.
“Do you have all your documents?” he reminded me, his eyes full of mockery.
“I do.” I opened the door and walked out.
The moment the elevator doors closed, I saw Adrian still standing inside the apartment with a cold smile on his lips.
At eight thirty that morning, I sat in a cab on the way to the airport.
My phone screen lit up with a message from Adrian.
Adrian: [I’m outside the courthouse. Where are you?]
Another message followed right after.
Adrian: [Claire, that’s enough. I’m giving you ten minutes. Get your ass home right now, and I can pretend yesterday never happened.]
I did not reply. I blocked his number.
Then I opened WhatsApp and sent him the photos of the reprinted divorce settlement agreement I had signed, along with the photo of the abortion consent form.
Finally, I added one last line.
Me: [Adrian, I wish you and Sophie a lifetime of happiness.]
After tapping send, I deleted the WhatsApp account I had used for ten years.
Outside the car window, Riverton blurred past.
At exactly nine o’clock, the plane lifted into the sky.
I looked at the thick clouds beyond the window and let out a long breath.
Goodbye to my thirteen years with him.