“No, I haven’t,” Lizzie replied.
Yolanda paused. “Don’t worry about it, okay, sweetheart? You’re still the one and only woman of Adrianne. Only you are our legitimate daughter in-law. I’ll speak to Adrienne, ‘ll tell him to return immediately and make sure he apologizes to you, okay”
Lizzie forced a weak smile. She wanted to say she didn’t need an apology. This was between her and Adrienne. Her in-laws had always treated her kindly, so there was no need to vent her frustration on them. “Thanks, Mom, but you don’t need to worry. I’ll be okay. I just… I’m not sure I can face the reporters right now.”
“No, no, no, you don’t have to. We’ll take care of them. You just rest for the night, alright?” Yolanda assured her.
Not long after Yolanda hung up, Adrienne’s call came through. Lizzie answered, putting him on speaker. Shortly after Yolanda’s call ended, Adrienne finally called. Lizzie answered, putting him on speakerphone. His voice was cold, as if she were some stranger intruding on his life. “It’s late. What’s with all the calls?”
“Nothing important.”
A brief silence followed before a voice came through the phone, “Mr. Lennox, Miss Bullock is awake and asking for you.”
“In a minute,” he replied, hanging up without another word.
The dial tone echoed in Lizzie’s ears. Adrienne and Ophelia had dated off and on throughout college. Lizzie had liked Adrienne since she was a teenager and he knew it. Watching him with Ophelia had been painful, but she’d kept her feelings hidden.
Then, at a friend’s wedding, Adrienne caught the bride’s bouquet and turned straight to her with a proposal. Not wanting to embarrass him, Lizzie said yes.
That night, she tried explaining her feelings, but Adrienne just started pursuing her. It seemed like a dream—just like everyone expected, they got married.
She walked down the aisle full of hope, only to be met with a husband who remained emotionally distant. Life with him had become monotonous. But now, thinking back, she realized Adrienne had never truly let go of Ophelia.
So, what was she to him? A convenient stand-in? A painful ache settled in her chest as her vision blurred. She curled up on the couch, trembling. Finally, she took a steadying breath and picked up the phone, calling her brother. “Darius, I’m coming back to London in a few days.”
“Will Adrienne be with you?”
“No, just me.”
He hesitated, concern lacing his voice, “Did you two have a fight?”
Lizzie stood by the window, letting the cold air sting her face. Her throat tightened. “No… remember I’d talked about going back to grad school? It’s about time I actually did it. Adrienne’s busy; maybe he’ll come around the holidays.”
Relieved, Darius let out a breath. “Alright. Just let me know when and I’ll pick you up from the airport.”
