Chapter 3:The Perfect Woman
1290 Words
CHAPTER 3: The Perfect Woman
Amelia spent the entire drive home replaying Victoria’s words.
“Such a shame you never met sooner.”
The sentence had been aimed at Vanessa.
But the message had been for Amelia.
She wasn’t blind.
She knew exactly what Victoria was doing.
What she couldn’t understand was why Vanessa had agreed to be part of it.
The woman had seemed uncomfortable.
Almost embarrassed.
Yet she had stayed.
She hadn’t corrected Victoria.
She hadn’t left.
She had sat there and smiled.
Amelia unlocked the front door and stepped inside.
The house was quiet.
Adrian wasn’t home yet.
Lately, that seemed to be the only thing she could count on.
It was almost nine when she heard the front door open.
A few moments later, Adrian entered the living room.
He loosened his tie.
“You haven’t eaten?”
Amelia looked up from the couch.
“I wasn’t hungry.”
Adrian frowned slightly.
“You should eat.”
The irony almost made her laugh.
“You noticed?”
“What does that mean?”
She sat up.
“It means you’ve been too busy to notice anything lately.”
Adrian sighed.
“We’re doing this again?”
Again.
As if she was the problem.
As if she enjoyed these conversations.
“No,” Amelia said quietly.
“We’re not.”
For a moment, Adrian seemed surprised by her calmness.
Normally she pushed.
Normally she tried.
Tonight she was tired.
Very tired.
“How was your day?” she asked.
Adrian looked relieved by the change of topic.
“Busy.”
Of course.
“Anything interesting happen?”
“Not really.”
Amelia nodded.
Then she looked directly at him.
“I had lunch with your mother today.”
The relief vanished from his face.
“How did that go?”
She laughed.
The sound wasn’t pleasant.
“Take a guess.”
Adrian sat across from her.
“What happened?”
“Vanessa happened.”
His expression didn’t change.
Not even slightly.
That bothered her more than it should have.
“Mother invited her?”
Amelia stared.
“You knew?”
“I heard she was attending.”
She waited.
Nothing else came.
“That’s all you have to say?”
“What do you want me to say?”
There it was again.
That question.
The one he always asked whenever she needed something from him.
Amelia stood.
“I don’t know, Adrian.”
She shook her head.
“Maybe tell your mother to stop treating another woman like your future wife.”
His jaw tightened.
“That’s not what she’s doing.”
“Really?”
“You’re overthinking it.”
Amelia laughed.
A bitter laugh.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“Every time your family hurts me, I’m overthinking.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s always what you mean.”
A tense silence filled the room.
Finally Adrian stood.
“Mother likes Vanessa.”
Amelia blinked.
“That’s your defense?”
“It’s not a defense.”
“Then what is it?”
Adrian rubbed his forehead.
“Vanessa comes from a family we’ve known for years.”
Amelia felt her stomach sink.
Because suddenly this wasn’t about Vanessa.
This was about something bigger.
Something she had known for years but never wanted to admit.
Status.
Family name.
Social standing.
Everything the Knights valued.
Everything Amelia lacked.
“Your mother never liked me.”
Adrian remained silent.
She laughed softly.
“See?”
“Amelia.”
“No, tell me.”
She crossed her arms.
“What exactly is wrong with me?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why am I never enough for them?”
Adrian looked away.
Again.
Always away.
Never at her.
Never when it mattered.
“They just had different expectations.”
The words hit harder than he realized.
Different expectations.
Not because Amelia was cruel.
Not because she was unfaithful.
Not because she was a bad wife.
Simply because she wasn’t who they wanted.
And now she couldn’t even give them an heir.
Amelia suddenly felt exhausted.
“Goodnight, Adrian.”
She turned and walked upstairs.
This time he didn’t stop her.
The following evening, Adrian arrived home later than usual.
As he entered the dining room, he paused.
The table was set.
Dinner was ready.
Candles were lit.
For a brief moment, he looked confused.
Then he remembered.
His wedding anniversary.
Four years.
Exactly four years.
A knot formed in his stomach.
He checked the time.
10:47 PM.
The chair opposite Amelia was empty.
Cold food sat untouched.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Victoria.
You missed dinner with Vanessa and her parents tonight.
Adrian frowned.
He had completely forgotten.
Another message followed.
We’ll reschedule.
Adrian tossed the phone onto the table.
A moment later, Amelia entered.
She was carrying a glass of water.
When she noticed him standing there, she froze.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Adrian cleared his throat.
“I forgot.”
Amelia looked at the table.
Then at him.
“Clearly.”
“Amelia—”
“It’s fine.”
The words sounded rehearsed.
Like she’d said them too many times.
“It’s not fine.”
She smiled.
A sad smile.
“You’re right.”
Adrian took a step forward.
“I’ve had a lot going on.”
Amelia looked at him.
And for the first time, he noticed something different.
She wasn’t angry.
She wasn’t crying.
She wasn’t trying to make him understand.
She looked… defeated.
“You know what’s funny?” she asked quietly.
“What?”
“I spent all day convincing myself you’d remember.”
Adrian’s chest tightened.
“Amelia.”
“I even defended you.”
Her smile widened slightly.
“Sarah asked if you were coming home early and I told her you wouldn’t forget.”
She laughed.
A small, broken sound.
“Guess I was wrong.”
The guilt hit harder than he expected.
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
No accusation.
No argument.
No tears.
Just acceptance.
For some reason, that felt worse.
Much worse.
The next morning, Victoria walked into Adrian’s office without knocking.
He barely looked up from his laptop.
“Mother.”
“We need to talk.”
“About?”
Victoria sat down.
“Vanessa.”
Adrian immediately sighed.
“No.”
Victoria ignored him.
“She’s perfect for you.”
“Stop.”
“She’s intelligent.”
“Mother.”
“She’s respected.”
“Enough.”
Victoria’s expression hardened.
“She can give you children.”
The room fell silent.
Adrian slowly looked up.
For the first time all morning.
For the first time all week.
For the first time, there was actual emotion in his eyes.
“That’s enough.”
Victoria leaned back.
“Is it?”
Neither spoke.
Then Victoria delivered the blow.
“The board is talking.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“What?”
“They know about Amelia.”
His stomach dropped.
“They know she can’t produce an heir.”
The silence stretched.
“People are beginning to ask questions.”
Adrian looked away.
Victoria noticed.
And smiled.
Because for the first time, her son wasn’t arguing.
For the first time, he was thinking.
Exactly what she wanted.
“Think about your future, Adrian.”
She stood.
“The future of this family.”
Then she left.
Alone in his office, Adrian stared out the window.
For the first time, the question entered his mind.
A question he hated himself for even considering.
What if his mother was right?
And miles away, Amelia sat in a doctor’s waiting room for a follow-up appointment.
Completely unaware that the first c***k in her marriage had just become a fracture.
- Writer
