Playing Mrs. Beckett

Chapter 10

Adrian’s jaw tightened, he ran his hand through his hair. There was conflict in his face, but then he inhaled, an attempt at calming himself, seizing back control of the situation. Sophie waited. She had time. She had all the time she needed, and didn’t mind watching what Adrian’s response would be—what his next scenario was.

Adrian grabbed Sophie’s shoulders, caressing with his thumbs. “Look, Sophie, I know that you’ve been restless lately. But by doing this, you’re making this hard for me.”

Sophie's brows lifted.

"Making this hard for you?"

Adrian opened his mouth, then closed it again.

"That's not what I meant."

"No?" Sophie tilted her head. "Because I'm trying very hard to understand."

She took a step back.

"Yesterday you told me I was reading too much into things. Today I discovered your employee has the same necklace you accidentally bought me, coming out from a room with fingerprint authorization, and somehow this is becoming difficult for you."

Adrian's expression stiffened.

Sophie smiled.

"Help me understand, Adrian."

"What exactly am I making difficult?"

It was fortunate that Sophie had her expressions under control, because if that wasn’t the case, she would probably laugh right now. “Okay, nevermind. So I’m restless,” Sophie nodded, “and making things hard for you. Anything else?”

Adrian stared at Sophie, face full of disbelief. Sophie had always been predictable. Adrian had always known how to soothe her. A thoughtful gift, a weekend together, a few soft words spoken at the right moment—and Sophie would smile again. Adrian gave her love, and she would love him back. She had always been content. Content being a housewife, content being a homemaker.

But the Sophie currently standing before him was different. There was a tinge of fierceness, and for a moment, his memory flew back to their college days. Sophie used to be this fierce back then, too.

At the realization, his heart started to race.

Seeing as Adrian went quiet, Sophie sighed. One that jerked Adrian back from his daze, from the smitten gaze he himself didn’t realize making. Sophie knew that gaze—of course she did. It was what made her steeled herself to become Mrs. Beckett, after all.

But now, in this specific situation, along with all the events that preceded it, Sophie could find it nothing but ironic.

Sophie looked at him for a long moment. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet—not soft. Quiet.

“Eight years together, three years married. I spent all those years making myself easy to love, Adrian. And somehow you still found it difficult.”

Without waiting for Adrian’s response, Sophie walked towards the door. “I’ll see you at home, Adrian,” she said. “I’ll see what I can do to make your life easier.”

And then the door closed.

She heard Adrian rushing towards her. She heard him hitting the elevator door when it was closed, not giving him the chance to catch Sophie. Too bad, Sophie was actually quite interested in hearing what he had to say. Not because she cared, but because she was sure that it would be ridiculous.

Adrian would spat about how he only had her, and his love was only hers, or something along those lines. He would try to coax, and Sophie had to admit that she liked the feeling of Adrian coaxing her. She had thought that it meant he cared.

But no. His coaxing was not him caring for her. It was him thinking that she was easy.

As the elevator descended, she opened up her phone. She sent her investigator to look into Mr. Abbott, because if she really wanted to enter this battle called divorce, she wanted to have all the cards she could get.

For some reason, she believed that Adrian wouldn’t agree that easily.

Not because he loved her. No.

Because from what Sophie could see the last few days, she could confidently say that he thought he could manage. His marriage, his affair. He thought if he just played smart enough, he could get it both. And Adrian, ever the man with a big ambition, would do everything to achieve it. Just like how he confidently built this company from scratch.

No way in hell would Sophie let that happen.

The elevator ding brought Sophie back to reality, and she took resolute steps. She saw Julia Hall, talking with her co-workers near the receptionist desk. When Sophie walked by, all of them turned. Their stare lingered a little bit too long, and Sophie could catch the glimpse of amusement. But ultimately they knew who she was, so they quickly managed their expressions and threw some polite greetings.

“Mrs. Beckett, is everything okay?” Julia Hall had the guts to initiate further conversation.

“Yes, Ms. Hall. I decided to go home on my own. It seems my presence here has made things a little … complicated.”

“Oh, no. Mrs. Beckett. That just can’t possibly be.”

Sophie just smiled, then excused herself. Three steps in, she stopped and turned. Her face met Julia’s and once again she gave her a smile.

“Once again, happy birthday, Ms. Julia Hall,” she said. “But it would be better if you don’t wait around for a midnight congratulations.”

Julia’s face went white in an instant, but Sophie just couldn’t care less. She walked, and walked, until she reached the main road and hailed for a cab.