Chapter 4:The Beginning of Comparison
1303 Words
Amelia sat across from Dr. Miller, trying her best to focus.
The doctor was explaining treatment plans.
Options.
Procedures.
Timelines.
But her mind kept drifting.
Back to Adrian.
Back to their anniversary.
Back to the untouched dinner.
“Mrs. Knight?”
Amelia blinked.
“Sorry.”
Dr. Miller smiled kindly.
“I asked if you’d like to begin treatment immediately.”
Amelia hesitated.
“Will it work?”
The doctor paused.
“I can’t make promises.”
Not exactly encouraging.
She looked down at her hands.
“What would you do if you were me?”
Dr. Miller leaned back.
“I’d fight for what I want.”
Amelia smiled sadly.
If only it were that simple.
That evening, Amelia arrived home carrying a folder filled with information.
She found Adrian in his study.
Working.
As usual.
“Can we talk?”
Without looking up, he answered.
“Of course.”
Amelia hated that.
The way he answered before actually listening.
She sat across from him.
“The doctor wants us to start treatment.”
Adrian continued typing.
“Okay.”
Her grip tightened around the folder.
“Okay?”
This time he looked up.
“What?”
“The treatment.”
“Do you want to do it?”
Amelia stared.
“It affects both of us.”
“If you want to try, then we should try.”
She waited.
Nothing else came.
No enthusiasm.
No encouragement.
Nothing.
Just another business-like response.
Like discussing a contract.
Not their future family.
Not their marriage.
A contract.
“I made a list.”
She slid the folder toward him.
Adrian glanced at it.
Then at his laptop.
“I’ll read it later.”
The disappointment was immediate.
Sharp.
Painful.
“Oh.”
A moment passed.
Then another.
Finally Amelia stood.
“Never mind.”
“Amelia.”
“It’s fine.”
There was that word again.
Fine.
The biggest lie in her vocabulary.
Three days later, Victoria hosted another gathering.
This time at a charity gala.
Adrian hated these events.
Unfortunately, attendance wasn’t optional.
Especially when his mother was involved.
The moment he entered the ballroom, Victoria appeared.
“You made it.”
“I said I would.”
She smiled.
“And Vanessa is here.”
Adrian immediately frowned.
“Mother.”
“What?”
“You need to stop.”
“Stop what?”
He gave her a look.
Victoria pretended innocence.
A skill she had mastered years ago.
Before Adrian could respond, another voice interrupted.
“Adrian.”
Vanessa approached.
Elegant as always.
Confident.
Composed.
“Good evening.”
Adrian nodded politely.
“Vanessa.”
She smiled.
“Your mother was just telling me about the hospital project.”
Victoria looked delighted.
“See? You already have something in common.”
Adrian pinched the bridge of his nose.
Vanessa noticed.
To her credit, she looked uncomfortable.
“Mrs. Knight exaggerates.”
Victoria laughed.
“Nonsense.”
Unfortunately, Amelia chose that exact moment to arrive.
The smile on her face disappeared instantly.
She had seen enough.
Not everything.
But enough.
Victoria standing between Adrian and Vanessa.
Vanessa smiling.
Everyone looking pleased.
The familiar ache settled in her chest.
“Amelia.”
Adrian noticed her immediately.
He started toward her.
Victoria beat him to it.
“You’re late.”
Amelia forced a smile.
“Traffic.”
Victoria nodded.
Then turned toward Vanessa.
“Vanessa, you remember Amelia.”
Amelia almost laughed.
Remember?
As though they’d met years ago.
As though they weren’t becoming increasingly impossible to avoid.
“Of course,” Vanessa said politely.
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“You too.”
The tension beneath the exchange was invisible to everyone except the women involved.
Vanessa wasn’t flirting.
She wasn’t disrespectful.
If anything, she seemed overly careful.
And somehow that made things worse.
Because Amelia couldn’t even justify disliking her.
Later that evening, Amelia found herself alone near the balcony.
The noise from the ballroom faded behind her.
For the first time all night, she could breathe.
“Mind if I join you?”
She turned.
Vanessa.
Of course.
Amelia forced a smile.
“Go ahead.”
Vanessa stepped beside her.
For several moments neither spoke.
Then Vanessa sighed.
“This is awkward.”
Amelia laughed softly.
“A little.”
“I don’t want you to misunderstand.”
Amelia looked at her.
“Misunderstand what?”
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she surprised her.
“Your mother-in-law.”
Amelia blinked.
“She’s not my mother-in-law.”
Vanessa smiled.
“You know what I mean.”
For the first time, Amelia found herself liking her.
Just a little.
“She can be difficult.”
“That’s one word for it.”
They both laughed.
The moment felt strangely normal.
Until Vanessa said,
“For what it’s worth, I think she crosses boundaries.”
Amelia looked surprised.
“You do?”
“Absolutely.”
The answer came immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without calculation.
And for a moment Amelia wondered if she’d judged Vanessa too harshly.
Maybe she wasn’t part of Victoria’s plans.
Maybe she was trapped in them too.
Unfortunately, someone else was watching.
Victoria.
And she looked furious.
The following Monday, Adrian arrived at work to find Vanessa waiting outside his office.
He stopped.
“Everything okay?”
Vanessa stood.
“Actually, no.”
That got his attention.
“What happened?”
She sighed.
“Your mother happened.”
Adrian immediately groaned.
Vanessa laughed.
“Exactly.”
“What did she do now?”
“She invited me to dinner.”
“That’s not unusual.”
“She invited me to dinner with your grandparents.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
Of course she did.
“And then she spent an hour talking about grandchildren.”
His eyes opened.
“I’m sorry.”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“Why are you apologizing?”
“Because I know my mother.”
Vanessa studied him.
Then asked quietly,
“Do you ever tell her no?”
The question caught him off guard.
“What?”
“You always look annoyed.”
She shrugged.
“But you never actually stop her.”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Because he wasn’t sure he could.
Vanessa nodded slowly.
The silence told her everything.
A moment later she smiled.
“Anyway, I should get back to work.”
As she walked away, Adrian remained where he was.
Thinking.
Because now two different women had essentially said the same thing.
Amelia.
Vanessa.
Both believed he allowed too much.
Both believed he never stood up to Victoria.
The thought lingered longer than he expected.
That night, Amelia sat alone at the dining table.
Again.
She checked the time.
Nine thirty.
No call.
No message.
Nothing.
Finally, she picked up her phone and dialed Adrian.
The call went straight to voicemail.
Her heart sank.
A few minutes later, social media delivered the answer she wasn’t looking for.
One photo.
One simple photo.
Enough to ruin her evening.
The Knight Foundation had posted pictures from a charity planning meeting.
Adrian was there.
So was Vanessa.
They stood side by side, smiling at the camera.
The comments were already pouring in.
What a beautiful couple.
Mr. Knight and Miss Sinclair look amazing together.
Power couple energy.
Amelia stared at the screen.
Then locked her phone.
Then unlocked it again.
Maybe she was being dramatic.
Maybe she was overthinking.
Maybe—
A new message appeared.
From an unknown number.
Her stomach tightened.
Slowly, she opened it.
Attached was another photo.
A closer one.
Adrian and Vanessa talking.
Laughing.
The message underneath read:
You should get used to seeing this. Everyone else already has.
Amelia’s face went pale.
She read it again.
And again.
Then she looked at the empty chair across from her.
For the first time, she wondered whether she was already losing her husband.
- Writer
