The Spark He Showed Her, the Flame I Lost Chapter 03
Early the next morning, I got up before dawn.
The study door was still shut. Adrian was probably still angry.
I did not go wake him. I walked straight into the closet and began packing my suitcase.
It would be colder in Paris, so I picked out a few coats and tucked them into the suitcase.
As I was sorting through a drawer, a file slipped out from the very bottom.
It was the roster for the Rising Scholars Sponsorship Program from three years ago.
Back then, Adrian’s startup had just gotten on track. To improve the company’s public image, he decided to sponsor a group of low-income college students.
The first name on the list was Sophie Moore.
I looked at the girl in the photo, her hair tied in a ponytail and her eyes timid, and my thoughts drifted back to three years earlier.
At the time, Adrian handed me the roster and put me fully in charge of coordinating with the students.
“Claire, these kids haven’t had it easy. Put in a little extra effort. Take care of them in their day-to-day lives if you can,” he had said.
I believed him.
Every month, besides sending the sponsorship money on time, I used my own money to buy Sophie clothes and send her snacks.
I thought I was helping my husband put a little good into the world.
I never imagined that the person I had personally helped would one day stab me in the back.
“What are you looking at?” Adrian had appeared at the closet doorway at some point.
He was wearing pajamas and holding a cup of black coffee. His gaze swept over the suitcase on the floor, and one brow lifted slightly. “Going on a business trip?”
“Yeah.” I calmly tossed the sponsorship roster into the trash. “Out of town for a few days.”
He did not ask where I was going. He only gave a faint “oh,” then went straight to the real point.
“That works out perfectly. Go to the office today. There’s an issue with the German-language contract Sophie is handling, and the client’s representative is coming in for a meeting this afternoon. Provide simultaneous interpretation for her and help smooth it over.”
I was a professional conference interpreter.
Normally, I billed by the hour, and clients had to book me at least two weeks in advance.
But in Adrian’s eyes, I was just free labor he could summon at any time to do Sophie’s work for her.
“My throat isn’t feeling well today. I can’t do it.” I zipped up my suitcase, my voice hoarse.
I had just had surgery. My body was still weak, and there was no way I could handle a high-intensity interpreting assignment.
Adrian’s face went cold at once. “Claire, are you still throwing a tantrum?”
“That contract is important to the company. Sophie stayed up until three in the morning last night checking the data. She’s already exhausted. What’s wrong with helping her out?”
“She’s exhausted, so I’m supposed to be the one cleaning up after her?” I stood and looked straight into his eyes.
“You sit around at home anyway. Would helping out kill you?” he said.
“Besides, Sophie came through our sponsorship program. Now she can join the company and help me. Shouldn’t you be happy about that?”
I was supposed to be happy?
I looked at the man in front of me and felt as if I no longer knew him.
Last month, I had a terrible flu and a high fever. In the middle of the night, I called him and begged him to take me to the hospital.
He was extremely impatient over the phone. He said he was busy, told me to call a cab myself, and added that his being there would not bring my fever down anyway.
But the moment Sophie posted on Instagram that she wanted cinnamon rolls from the south side, he canceled a meeting and drove across half the city to line up for them.
He only ever had time for Sophie.
“She only has me in this city. If I don’t help her, who will?” Seeing that I said nothing, Adrian softened his tone.
“You’re different. You’re independent. You can handle anything on your own. Claire, you’re reasonable. Don’t put me in this position.”
“Fine.” I lowered my eyes. “I’ll go.”
Adrian smiled with satisfaction and came over, reaching for my head. “That’s more like it. I’ll take both of you out to dinner tonight.”
I tilted my head slightly and avoided his touch.
His hand froze in midair, and a flash of surprise and displeasure crossed his eyes.
But I no longer cared.
The moment I walked out of the house with my bag, I muted Adrian’s priority notification alert on my phone.