Chapter 4

I still had to stay with them for another week. I just nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go make the soup."

After setting up the ingredients in the kitchen, I walked out and saw Adrian and Celeste messing around on the couch.

Adrian pressed his ear against Celeste's belly. "This is the first time I've ever heard the baby moving around. That's so cool."

They glanced at each other and laughed, sharing a secret bond no one else could break into.

I remembered what Adrian had once told me.

"Brielle, if we ever have a kid, I promise I'll do my best to be a great dad, and I'll put even more effort into looking after you," he said.

But I wasn't satisfied with his answer. "Wait, so you'll only treat me better if we have a kid?"

"Oh no, I said it wrong. You can punish me if you want. But really, I'll take care of you with all my heart, starting right now," he said.

He had been sincere, but now, it looked like Adrian had forgotten all about the promises he had made to me.

We never had a kid, and he never really tried to take care of me.

The soup still needed some time to cook, so I turned the heat down low and let it simmer.

I decided to head back to my room and grab a few things, but when I walked into the master bedroom, I froze. The whole vibe of the place had changed; my photos were gone, and even my clothes in the closet had disappeared.

I stood there, frozen in shock, staring at the room, when Adrian came over to check on me.

He said, "I had your things and clothes moved to the guest room. Celeste's pregnant, and she really needs her sleep. It's just a room. Hope you don't mind."

Guest room? In my own home, I had become just a guest.

"So, where are you sleeping?" I asked.

Adrian replied, "Either in the study or at the office. You know I'll keep my distance."

I scoffed. Did Adrian really think he could just mess with me because I didn't come from some fancy family?

Maybe I loved him too much all these years, so much that he had forgotten the promise we made as husband and wife. We were supposed to be each other's number one.

I went to the guest room to check on my things, then got back to work in the kitchen.

Adrian reminded me that soup alone wasn't enough. I should slice up some lean meat or toss in a few more ingredients to make it healthier.

After that, he headed off to the study to deal with work, leaving me and Celeste alone together.

"Celeste, your soup," I said, setting it down on the table.

She scooped up a spoonful and took a careful sip. "It's so hot. Did you do that on purpose? Is this payback for Adrian sticking up for me at the hospital the other day?"

"I'll go cool it down a bit," I said.

I let the bowl sit in an ice bath to bring the temperature down, then gave it to her again. She just felt the bottom and put it down without even taking a sip.

"It's way too cold. You really expect a pregnant woman to drink soup like this?

"Brielle, I know I make things awkward for you in this house, but after all these years as Adrian's wife, you still can't even get a bowl of soup to the right temperature?" Celeste snapped.

Just as she finished, we heard Adrian's footsteps. Celeste shot me a look. One second, she was making a fuss, and the next, she switched gears in a heartbeat, grabbing the bowl and dumping the soup all over herself, her face instantly full of panic.

"Brielle, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought up the soup," she cried out.

As soon as she finished, Adrian shot a cold look at Celeste, who was a mess, then at me, still frozen in shock, and let out a mocking laugh.

He didn't even bother listening to my side. He just walked straight into the kitchen, grabbed the rest of the steaming soup, and splashed it right onto me.

"Brielle, seriously? You can't even handle making soup without turning it into a whole ordeal? Go back and do it over," Adrian barked.

The soup had been slow-cooked in the pot, so even though it wasn't boiling anymore, the moment it splashed onto me, a scalding pain shot through my body.

God, it hurt.

I took a deep breath, my voice barely above a whisper. "Alright, I'll make it again."

I ended up making the soup three times before Celeste, finally feeling sleepy, just took a couple of lazy sips and pretended to be satisfied.

As Celeste headed back to her room, she shot me a smug grin.

I just tuned Celeste out, dropped my gaze, and stared at my clothes, ruined and dripping with soup, clinging to me and making me feel absolutely miserable.

Back in the guest room, I looked at our divorce papers and those old, shabby wedding photos Adrian and I once took together.

All those memories came flooding back, and I let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh.

Marrying Adrian was hands down the dumbest thing I had ever done.

Adrian, thank goodness, just six more days, and I would finally be free of you for good.