Chapter 12: The Resort
1572 Words
On the drive home, Adrian found himself genuinely thinking about what Zane had said.
He went over it again and again ?he and Willow had grown up under the same roof since childhood, through their teenage years and beyond. Willow had always been like his little shadow, quietly waiting for him, those starry eyes fixed on him, her whole face radiating nothing but adoration. They'd been practically inseparable every single day.
Until Grandpa Arthur passed away. That was when Adrian had said he would marry Willow.
And then... nothing happened.
In his excitement, Grandpa Arthur had arranged everything for them in no time. But because of Grandpa Arthur's death, Willow hadn't wanted a wedding ceremony. So before anyone knew it, they'd gone down to the registry office and gotten their marriage certificate ?just like that.
There hadn't been any real romance to the process at all.
Was it romantic? Well... Adrian had never been particularly good at that sort of thing.
But Adrian had always been a man of action. Once he knew what needed to be done, he did it.
Lost in these thoughts, he walked into the house to find Willow staring at her phone with a silly grin on her face.
"What's got you so happy?" Adrian came closer.
Willow jumped. She'd been listening to the recording of the baby's heartbeat.
"Nothing." She quickly locked her screen.
"Why are you back so early today? No work?" Willow asked.
"Wanted to come back early and keep you company," Adrian said.
"Oh..." Willow nodded.
It felt strange ?him being thoughtful like that, out of nowhere. She wasn't used to it.
"Are you free next week?" Adrian asked after a moment's thought.
"For what?"
"The resort in H City next door just finished construction. I want to take you there before it officially opens. Sophie's coming too." He'd added Sophie as an afterthought ?he was afraid Willow would turn him down if it was just the two of them.
The resort. Willow remembered Sophie mentioning it more than once, how badly she wanted to go.
Thinking about Sophie...
What a good friend, making such a big sacrifice for her!
"Sure. A break sounds nice," Willow nodded.
Only then did Adrian finally relax.
"I have to go to City A for a business trip over the next few days. I'll come back to pick you up before we leave," he said.
"You don't have to come all the way back. I can just meet you at the resort." Willow calculated the distance in her head ?having Adrian drive all the way back just to pick her up would be a massive detour.
"I'll come get you," Adrian insisted.
Honestly, the fact that she could take care of herself so well now, that she didn't seem to need him at all... it left Adrian feeling strangely hollow.
Back in her room, Willow changed into pajamas and stood examining herself in the mirror. The baby was only about two months along *?barely visible. How big would she have to get before it showed? Four or five months? By then it would be summer.
Summer meant light clothes. There'd be no hiding it.
She would have to separate from Adrian before the bump became obvious.
Willow sighed. She hadn't expected Adrian to be so... stubborn about this. For some reason she'd thought he'd agree right away.
Was it because... he actually had feelings for her?
She shook her head.
Stop fooling yourself. Feelings don't just appear out of thin air just because of a divorce.
With that thought, Willow hugged her pillow and drifted off to sleep.
While Adrian was away, Willow occasionally met up with Sophie for meals, spent entire days painting at home, and chatted with Dr. Harrington from time to time. Time didn't slow down just because Adrian wasn't around. The earth kept spinning. The truth was, she'd grown used to Adrian not being there.
Soon enough, the day of the resort trip arrived. Adrian came home early. Despite looking tired from just getting off a flight, he quickly showered, changed into fresh clothes, and waited for Willow looking sharp and refreshed.
Even though it was only a three-day, two-night trip, Willow had packed quite a lot of things. She'd nearly stuffed Mrs. Wright into her suitcase too.
By the time they were finally ready to leave, it was past ten. The drive from S City to H City took over two hours, and Willow had packed herself plenty of snacks *?she got hungry easily these days, and hunger made her nauseous.
Watching Willow nibbling away in the passenger seat like a little hamster, Adrian felt his mood inexplicably lift.
"You've put on some weight," he remarked with a smile.
Willow, who was happily demolishing a Swiss roll, shot him a glare. Was he running out of things to say? She'd gained maybe three pounds, tops. Was it really that obvious?
She poked at her cheeks, feeling dejected. Only two months along and already up three pounds. What about later on?
"But a little extra looks good on you." Noticing the corners of her mouth drooping visibly, Adrian quickly added something reassuring.
Willow ignored him and kept eating her Swiss roll.
He should just stay on his business trips forever.
Then again, even if she set that aside for a moment *?couldn't she have just come to this resort with Sophie alone? Why hadn't she thought of that sooner? Some regrets crept in.
They'd been driving for two hours. Willow had been eating for two hours straight.
Adrian was a bit surprised. Had her appetite always been this good?
Finally, the car pulled up to the resort entrance.
And there they were *?two grinning third wheels shining brighter than streetlights. Adrian could feel a throbbing vein forming on his forehead.
Sophie he could forgive *?he'd added her to the trip himself. But who was this guy standing next to her? What the hell was Zane doing here?
"I gotta hand it to you, Mr. Ashford *?your efficiency is off the charts. Already at the seaside!" Zane grinned, clearly enjoying himself at Adrian's expense.
Adrian's face darkened.
"Come on, it's a vacation. Drop the corpse face and smile a little. Besides, who knows *?your buddy here might just help you polish up that wife-chasing plan of yours." Zane patted Adrian's shoulder, looking thoroughly amused.
He had the distinct feeling Zane was just here for the show.
Great. One third wheel was bad enough. Now he had two. Adrian's head was already starting to hurt.
"One's awkward, two's awkward either way *?I'm not about to be the lone third wheel for you two." Sophie linked her arm through Willow's.
Great *?so she knew she was a third wheel too. Adrian shot Sophie a pointed look.
At the hotel entrance, Yan, Adrian's assistant, had been standing at attention for a while now. Word had come through that the boss was bringing his wife on vacation *?he'd brought his A-game. On top of that, the boss had given him specific instructions. Yan was determined to execute flawlessly.
"Mr. Ashford, your rooms are ready. Here are your key cards. Lunch has been prepared for everyone at the restaurant on the second floor *?please head up once you've settled in." Yan adjusted his glasses professionally.
Zane's lip twitched. Only someone like Adrian Ashford would delegate a vacation to his assistant like this. What was this, a business dinner? Two straight men planning a romantic getaway *?what kind of cringeworthy setup was this going to be? Zane shook his head. hopeless case.
Lunch was H City's signature seafood feast.
For Willow, though, it was anything but friendly.
From the moment the first fish dish appeared at the table, Willow had a bad feeling. And by the time Adrian peeled a shrimp and placed it in her bowl...
She knew exactly what was coming.
The smell of the ocean, amplified a hundred times, hit her like a sledgehammer. Willow bolted for the restroom and retched into the sink.
"Ugh, this shrimp *?ugh, it's so fishy!" Sophie pinched her nose dramatically.
Really? Adrian sniffed. He couldn't smell anything.
Chef somewhere: Does nobody appreciate my craft?!
Adrian got up, went to the restroom, and gently rubbed Willow's back. He brought her a glass of warm water.
"Ate too much. Too many sweets in the car." Willow's face was pale as she took small sips of the water.
Adrian nodded. True enough *?she'd been snacking for two solid hours.
"Should I ask the chef to make you some century egg and pork congee?" he asked.
Century egg and pork congee had been Willow's comfort food whenever she felt unwell as a child.
"No century egg." Willow shook her head instinctively.
"Just vegetables and pork. Something light." She caught herself.
The kitchen whipped up a bowl of vegetable and pork congee with impressive speed and reverence. Along with some of the non-seafood side dishes on the table, Willow polished off the entire bowl.
"Your appetite's been pretty good lately." Adrian said, adding another piece of pork rib to her bowl.
"Hehe, it's delicious! I want seconds!" Sophie's acting skills drew another silent head-shake from Zane.
Between Sophie and Zane playing their parts on either side, Adrian didn't suspect a thing. He simply noted that Willow's appetite seemed perfectly fine these days.
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