Chapter 234 103
“SO, you mean you guys had tea, together? You went into that mansion and sat down for tea?”
Clara’s voice exploded through the phone speaker so loudly that Amelia had to pull the device slightly away from her ear.
Amelia lay back against her pillows, one leg crossed over the other, staring up at the ceiling of her bedroom. She had barely changed out of her clothes since returning home with the boys. The night had been longer than she intended.
“Yeah,” she replied calmly. “I’m speechless myself.”
“Speechless?!” Clara shrieked again. “Amelia, this is not a random neighbor. This is Adrian. Your ex-husband. The same Adrian.”
“Yes, my ex-husband,” Amelia said patiently. “He invited me in for tea. The boys practically staged a protest at the gate. George joined in. Adrian stood there looking all… sincere. Before I knew it, I found myself saying yes.”
There was a dramatic gasp on the other end.
“You crossed that threshold again?”
Amelia sighed softly.
“It was just tea, Clara.”
“Just tea?” Clara scoffed. “That is how these things start. First tea. Then ‘oh, stay for dinner.’ Then ‘oh, it is late, the boys are already asleep.’ Then boom— reconciliation tour!”
Amelia burst into laughter.
“Oh please, don’t start.”
“I’m serious!” Clara insisted, though she was clearly smiling. “You walked into that house again. After everything.”
Amelia grew quiet for a second.
“It felt… strange,” she admitted. “Familiar, but strange. The house hasn’t even changed much. Maybe a few new faces. A butler now and his daughter.”
“A butler?” Clara repeated.
“Yes. His name is George. Very respectful. Apparently he manages the house.”
“Oh wow. Look at Adrian upgrading.”
Amelia chuckled faintly.
“The boys were so happy, Clara. You should have seen their faces.”
There was a softer pause this time.
“I can imagine,” Clara said gently. “They miss seeing you two in one space.”
Amelia swallowed.
“We sat at the dining table. All of us. For a moment…” She hesitated.
“For a moment what?” Clara pressed.
“For a moment it felt like nothing ever happened.”
The line went quiet.
Clara exhaled slowly.
“And how did that make you feel?”
Amelia shifted on the bed.
“Confused.”
“That man has changed, though,” Clara said carefully. “Even I can see it from a distance. The way he talks about the boys. The way he respects your space now. The fact that he didn’t overstep tonight.”
Amelia frowned slightly.
“You don’t know that.”
“Oh please. If it were old Adrian, he would have turned tea into a three-course emotional speech.”
Amelia laughed again.
“Seriously,” Clara continued, voice softening. “If not for Charles already in the picture, I think you should give that man a second chance. I don’t even need to tell you. You can see he regrets every single thing he did.”
Amelia went silent for a few seconds.
Regret. Yes, she had seen it tonight. In his eyes. In the way he spoke. In the way he seemed reluctant for her to leave.
“He asked me to come in for tea,” she said quietly. “And when I agreed… he looked almost relieved.”
“Exactly,” Clara said triumphantly. “That is a man holding himself back.”
Amelia shook her head lightly.
“You are romanticizing this.”
“No, I’m observing.”
Amelia smirked.
“You would push me back to my ex.”
“I would push you toward happiness,” Clara corrected. “And if that man has truly learned his lesson, why not?”
Amelia didn’t answer immediately.
Clara suddenly shifted tone.
“Speaking of men who haven’t learned any lessons, what’s up with Charles?”
Amelia made a face automatically.
“You wouldn’t believe that this guy hasn’t called me since I returned. Not even a single message.”
There was a dramatic pause.
“You do not mean it! Since the last call?”
“Since the last call,” Amelia confirmed. “He is probably somewhere waiting for me to call first and start apologizing.”
Clara snorted.
“For what exactly?”
“For breathing wrong, perhaps,” Amelia replied dryly. “He likes to twist things.”
“That man’s ego is taller than a skyscraper,” Clara muttered.
Amelia rolled her eyes.
“He must think I’m going to beg.”
“Please tell me you won’t.”
“I won’t,” Amelia said firmly. “I have done enough of that in my lifetime.”
Clara laughed loudly.
“His sister would have to grow beards for that.”
Amelia burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching her stomach.
“Oh my goodness, Clara!”
“I’m serious! That family and pride? Please.”
Amelia wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
“You are terrible.”
“I’m realistic.”
They both laughed again, the tension easing.
After a moment, Clara’s tone softened.
“So what are you going to do about Charles?”
“Nothing,” Amelia said simply. “If he wants to talk, he knows my number.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then that tells me everything.”
Clara hummed thoughtfully.
“And Adrian?”
Amelia stared at the ceiling again.
“Adrian for now is… complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
“He is trying. I can see it. But seeing effort doesn’t erase betrayal.”
“No,” Clara agreed. “But it can rebuild trust. Slowly.”
Amelia sighed.
“I’m not rushing into anything. Not Charles. Not Adrian. I’m focusing on my children and my peace.”
“Good,” Clara said. “As long as you are not lying to yourself.”
Amelia smiled faintly.
“I’m not.”
“Because if you ever end up back in that mansion permanently, I want front-row seats.”
“Clara!”
“I’m joking! I’m joking… kind of.”
Amelia shook her head, still smiling.
The night had grown deeper, quieter.
“Thank you for waiting for my call,” Amelia said softly.
“I was about to drive to the bar,” Clara replied. “Then I remembered you said you would call.”
“I know. Sorry about that.”
“As long as you are safe and not secretly married again, we are fine.”
Amelia laughed one last time.
“Goodnight, Clara.”
“Goodnight, Amelia. And please, no more surprise teas without briefing me first.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They hung up.
Amelia placed the phone beside her and stared into the dimly lit room.
Two men. Two very different silences.
And somewhere in between… her heart, trying to decide which one deserved to be heard.
The night swallowed her thoughts as she finally closed her eyes.