A Clean Slate
Celeste stood in the middle of their bedroom, surveying the small pile of things she had gathered.
Their matching toothbrushes. Their couple mugs—the ones she had excitedly bought but Adrian never used. Their pair of stuffed bears, which she had proudly displayed in the living room, despite Adrian's disapproving stare.
And finally, their wedding photo.
There weren't many pictures of them together. Adrian never liked taking them. On their honeymoon, she had begged for a selfie, and he had sighed before giving a stiff, forced smile.
She had treasured that picture back then. But now...
Celeste bit her lip, shoving the frame into a drawer.
With Emily back, there was no reason to hold onto these things anymore. If Adrian loved her—and Celeste knew deep down that he did—then maybe this whole process would be easier.
Their divorce was inevitable.
They would be free of each other soon.
The thought should've hurt, but all she felt was relief.
She took one last glance around the now impersonal room, then sighed. I should shower and get some sleep.
Just as she reached for her towel, her phone buzzed.
Adrian.
She hesitated before answering. "What?"
"Come pick me up." His voice was steady, but she could hear the faint edge of irritation.
Celeste frowned. "Pick you up? Why can't you just stay out? It's not like you've never done that before."
A pause. Then, "I need a ride."
She rolled her eyes. "Get a cab. Or better yet, stay with Emily. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
Silence.
Then his voice, sharper this time. "What kind of wife tells her husband to stay with another woman?"
Celeste scoffed. "The kind who's trying to sleep because she has work tomorrow."
"I am your work," Adrian shot back. "You're my secretary. And I'm ordering you to come pick me up. Now."
Celeste clenched her jaw.
There it was. Not as my wife. As his secretary.
Somehow, that made it easier to bear.
She exhaled through her nose. "Fine."
Before he could say another word, she hung up.
Grabbing her keys, she muttered under her breath, "Arrogant jerk."
Little did she know, Adrian was just as frustrated on the other end of the call.
Something about Celeste's indifference tonight—her lack of jealousy, her willingness to push him toward Emily—was rubbing him the wrong way.
And for reasons he didn't understand, it bothered him.