Chapter 21 021
ADRIAN noticed the sad look on her face but chose not to comment. Amelia, ever graceful, flipped her expensive hair backward, composing herself.
“Well, since… you won’t be available this weekend, I plan to take Hazel somewhere, like a park.”
“Oh, right,” he agreed with a nod.
“Yeah, and Clara said she would be visiting with the kids, I don't know when.”
“Oh, ok,” he muttered, already reaching for his phone and scrolling through his screen.
“I’m going to make a transfer of 500 thousand—”
“Oh! And… the pantry is at its lowest. We need to restock, you know.”
“One second—” he cut in gently, eyes still fixed on the screen as his fingers tapped quickly. A second later, ping— her phone chimed on the table.
She picked it up and glanced at the alert.
“I just sent you 3 million. Use it to take care of the house, yourself, and Hazel,” he said, finally dropping his phone.
Her lips curved into a smile, one painted with genuine gratitude.
“Thank you,” she murmured. This was her man, always taking care of his family.
He extended his palm across the table, and she placed her hand in his.
“No, you, thank you,” he corrected softly.
“You are always spoiling us,” she chuckled, her voice light.
“You and my Hazel deserve it,” he replied warmly, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing the back of her palm.
“You said you would be back when? Sunday? Monday?” she asked, tilting her head.
“First thing Monday morning, I will be back,” he assured her with a boyish grin. “Missing me already?”
She laughed, that delicate, musical laugh of hers.
“Little,” she teased.
Adrian laughed heartily, winking at her.
“I see,” he said.
“You mean he still hasn’t changed?” Amelia said, her brow furrowing as she turned to her friend Clara. They stood between two glass racks in Satin and Sage that afternoon, the faint smell of fresh fabric softener still clinging to the new stock.
“Change?” Clara scoffed, adjusting the strap of her handbag on her shoulder. “I don’t think Leonard is ever going to change.”
Amelia let out a soft, unbelieving laugh and shook her head.
“Unbelievable.”
“You see this weekend funeral in Arizona?” Clara continued, lowering her voice as though Leonard could materialize at any moment. “I am pretty sure he is going to mess up.”
Amelia sighed, her arms folding across her chest.
“This isn’t good.”
Before Clara could respond, one of the sales representatives hurried past them with a bright smile, carrying two long gowns on hangers.
“Ma, excuse me,” she said politely before vanishing toward the fitting rooms where a customer was waiting.
Clara waited for the girl to pass, then leaned in, whispering with almost dramatic emphasis.
“Change is something I don’t think is going to happen with Leonard. You need to see the numerous calls and text messages he is getting from different contacts, different people, numerous, every single day.”
Amelia’s eyes widened.
“Woah! Clara, you mean you go through his phone?”
Clara shrugged casually, though there was a playful glint in her eye.
“Oh well, of course. Leonard has changed his password so many times so I don’t get access, but that man isn’t smart enough. He keeps making use of our children’s names, so I always decode it easily.”
Amelia let out a slow sigh, shaking her head. She absently touched one of the mannequins nearby, its glittering evening gown catching the light.
“Well, I don’t go through Adrian’s phone,” she said softly, “and that is because he hasn’t given me any reason to.”
Before Clara could react, a tall customer in a red blouse approached, holding a silk dress.
“Excuse me, please, how much is this one?”
Amelia immediately put on her professional smile.
“That is sixty-five thousand, and it comes with a matching scarf if you would like.”
The woman nodded, thought for a moment, then handed the dress back.
“Keep it for me, I will come back.”
“Of course, ma’am,” Amelia said warmly. The customer left, and Amelia returned her attention to Clara.
“You were saying?”
Clara smirked, lowering herself into one of the boutique’s waiting chairs.
“I was saying, Amelia, all men cheat. Some are just very good at hiding it.”