He Brought His Assistant On Our Honeymoon And Gave Me A Separate Room Chapter 04

Once I was back on shore, I rushed into the restaurant, not caring how I looked, and stopped in front of Adrian.

“You said one minute! Why didn’t you come back?”

“Something urgent came up. I forgot.”

He kept typing without looking up. Lily glanced at me.

“My performance report wasn’t formatted properly. Adrian’s helping me fix it. Could you try to be understanding?”

I ignored her. I was still shaking from nearly drowning.

“Her report is that important? More important than my life? Adrian, answer me!”

He looked up sharply, baffled.

“What is it now? You come charging in here, shouting at me.”

Lily curled her lip.

“Must be nice, being a stay-at-home wife. No performance reports. All you have to do is flirt with your husband.”

Adrian gave a short, scornful laugh. He didn’t disagree. Something inside me went cold for good.

I heard myself speak.

“Adrian, I want a divorce.”

The typing stopped. I turned and walked away. Behind me, Lily spoke with mock concern.

“Did I say something wrong? Aren’t you going to go make her feel better?”

“No. Where could she possibly go without me? She’s throwing a tantrum. Don’t worry about her.”

Adrian had forgotten I was every bit as capable as he was. I’d given up my career for him. I could build a life for myself again.

Back in my room, I made a call and got straight to the point.

“That offer you made? I’m in.”

After hanging up, I booked a flight for the next day.

Before bed, Adrian burst into my room and thrust his phone at me.

On the screen, my autistic younger brother, Evan Bennett, was huddled in a corner, his hands over his ears, banging his head against the wall over and over.

Panicking, I grabbed Adrian and demanded to know what was happening. His gaze hardened.

“You spread those stories online about Lily being the other woman, didn’t you? Did you think you could stoop so low and get away with it?”

I had no idea what he was talking about. Lily came in, her eyes swollen.

“This is your punishment.”

Adrian pulled her to his side and told me to apologize.

“I didn’t do anything!”

My shouted denial infuriated him. He placed a video call to my brother’s support specialist. Evan appeared on the screen, screaming in the middle of a crowded street, terrified.

“Ev, it’s okay. I’m here.”

I called to him, fighting tears, but he couldn’t hear me.

Adrian spoke in a low, warning tone.

“Remember, Claire. Evan’s social-skills training is happening because of you.”

Watching my brother being treated like a freak tore me apart.

“Please, let him go back. Adrian, I’m begging you.”

He leaned back on the couch, his expression calm.

“You haven’t apologized yet.”

Lily stepped closer, her eyes gleaming. I lowered my head and bowed, trembling.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Mrs. Mercer doesn’t work. Her entire worldview comes from watching videos online. No wonder she’s obsessed with going after the other woman.”

Her words cut, but all I could do was force a smile at Adrian.

“Will you leave Ev alone now?”

“Lily’s my assistant. You hurt her, you hurt me and my company. If this gets out of hand, where do you think the money for Evan’s care is going to come from? Did you think about that?”

He accused me of being unreasonable, but he hadn’t even bothered to find out whether the accusation against me was true. I hadn’t spread any rumors about Lily.

He’d made himself our benefactor, our savior. He’d forgotten his promise to be good to me for the rest of our lives, his solemn vow to help me care for my brother. Now he looked down on us.

“Keep this up, and the honeymoon’s over.”

“I won’t make a scene.”

I swallowed back my tears. My voice was calm. He studied me for a few seconds, then raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll be away for the next week. Lily and I have some factory visits scheduled.”

“Okay.”

He paused, his gaze lingering on my face.

The next day, after Adrian left, I left the divorce agreement at the front desk for him and checked out. I flew home, picked up my brother, then knocked on the office door of the man I’d called.

His eyes lit up when he opened the door and saw me.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Claire Bennett.”