Chapter 12
Her tactics with Ernest were smart. A few compliments inflated
his ego and made him feel like a hero. So when he saw her
struggling with the contract, he didn’t hesitate to sign.
Forty minutes later, the car pulled up outside Willard’s home.
He grabbed the contract and got out. “This is one of my spare cars. When you’re not picking me up, you can use it. Just
remember to get reimbursed for the gas.”
To be fair, Willard was professional and drew clear lines. That
was not bad.
Adrienne nodded. Only after he went inside did she drive off.
Her sister, Bonnie, called just then.
“Adri, it’s so late. Why aren’t you home yet?”
Before Adrienne could answer, Terrence’s voice came through
the phone. “Why are you bothering with her? She’s been kicked
out. I’ve looked into it. Mr. Melendez has someone new now.
She’s really useless. She spent all those years with him and didn’t
even get a house out of it.”
Bonnie’s tone instantly turned awkward. “Adri, Terrence had a
Chapter 12
rough day at work. He’s just in a bad mood. Don’t take it to
heart.”
At that moment, Adrienne had just pulled up outside Bonnie’s
apartment and was going to knock on the door.
Bonnie opened the door, concerned by Adrienne’s pale face.
“Are you sick? You just got caught in the rain last night.”
“I came to get my luggage. I’m planning to rent a place.”
“What? Why rent? Rent’s expensive here, and you don’t have
much money.”
The company had given her an advance of 1,500 dollars today.
She’d stay in a hotel tonight, and then she would look for a
place.
Bonnie wanted to persuade her more, but then a loud door slam
came from Terrence. “Didn’t I tell you? Mom’s coming soon.
There’s no extra room in the house.”
Bonnie already had little say at home. Now she stood
awkwardly, holding Adrienne’s hand, unsure of what to say.
Adrienne smiled, went inside, and grabbed her suitcase.
She’d only brought this one small case the night before.
Chapter 12
Bonnie walked her downstairs, her steps heavy. “Adri, is there
really nothing left between you and Garrett?”
Adrienne put the suitcase in the trunk and nodded. “We’ve said
everything. A few days ago, your husband mentioned taking
you to the hospital. For what?”
Bonnie touched her belly, looking downcast. “We’ve been trying
for two years, and I still haven’t gotten pregnant. I want to
check if something’s wrong with me.”
Her mother–in–law placed great importance on children. Bonnie
was now twenty–nine. If she didn’t conceive soon, it might be
too late in a few years.
“Adri, if you and Garrett had a child, maybe things wouldn’t be
like this.”
Adrienne forced a smile. She and Garrett hadn’t been intimate
in years. How could there be a child?
He loathed being around her.
“I’ll go now, Bonnie. You should head back.”
Adrienne got in the car. In the rearview mirror, she saw Bonnie
still standing there, not going upstairs. Her heart sank.
Chapter 12
She remembered when they fled their village all those years
ago. She was eleven, Bonnie fourteen.
ང་
Gerberton was suffocating. After all these years of struggling,
they were still struggling to survive.
Ten minutes after driving off, her phone rang. It was Corinne
Melendez.
“Adri, why aren’t you home yet? I’ve been waiting at your place
for a while. Garrett’s already back.”
Adrienne’s fingertips trembled slightly. Corinne had always
treated her well. She was the kindest of the Melendez family.
Back then, they only accepted her as a goddaughter to silence
the public. But Corinne genuinely hoped she and Garrett would
marry.
