I Buried Him for Five Years, Then He Came Back with Another Woman Chapter 05

I Buried Him for Five Years, Then He Came Back with Another Woman Chapter 05

[Tessa taught Adrian the meaning of true love.]

I turned the page over.

Another paragraph followed.

[We thank Maren for supporting the Caldwell family for five years and wish the happy couple a lifetime

together.]

I picked up a pen and flattened the corner of the page.

The assistant offered me another document.

“Mr. Caldwell said he would arrange a video call with Wesley tomorrow if you signed the audit suspension.”

I looked at the speech.

“Tell Adrian I’ll be there.”

On the day of the engagement party, reporters from across Port Sterling crowded onto the Moonwake.

White roses covered the hull.

A carpet ran from the dock to the main deck.

Tessa appeared in a pearl white wedding gown.

It was the dress I had commissioned five years earlier.

The waist had been altered.

The skirt had been shortened.

She rested a hand on her stomach and walked slowly.

The guests applauded.

“Ms. Lane looks beautiful.”

“Mr. Caldwell waited five years and finally found true love.”

I stood at the edge of the crowd in a black dress.

Adrian approached me.

“Did you bring the speech?”

I answered,

“Yes.”

He lowered his voice.

“Wesley took his medication this morning.”

“If you behave, you can see him for ten minutes tomorrow.”

I looked at the white flower on his lapel.

“You wore one just like that at your memorial service.”

Adrian’s expression chilled.

“Don’t bring up the past today.”

Tessa stepped beneath the lights.

The heirloom sapphire gleamed on her left hand.

A silver compass pendant hung around her neck.

It had belonged to my mother.

I moved forward.

Reid blocked me with one arm.

“Don’t make Wesley suffer, Maren.”

Adrian followed my gaze.

“Tessa likes it, so she can wear it for now.”

“We’ll discuss it after the party.”

The emcee invited me onto the stage.

Every camera turned toward my face.

Livestream comments rolled across a screen.

[The ex is blessing the new fiancée. Only in Port Sterling.]

[People say Maren was so controlling that Adrian had to fake his death.]

[Poor Tessa is pregnant and still being harassed.]

The emcee handed me the microphone.

“Ms. Hale, you helped the Caldwell family through difficult years. What would you like to say to the couple?”

Adrian stood below the stage with his phone in hand.

The screen showed Wesley’s locked hospital room.

I unfolded the speech.

The paper rustled in the sea wind.

“Adrian and Tessa have supported each other for five years.”

Applause rose from the guests.

Tears ran down Tessa’s cheeks.

Adrian wiped them away.

I continued reading.

“Tessa’s kindness taught Adrian how to love.”

Guests began shouting.

“Kiss her!”

“Ms. Hale is so gracious!”

I gripped the microphone.

“I wish you both a joyful engagement.”

“And a long life together.”

Confetti cannons exploded the moment I finished.

Bright paper covered my shoulders.

The emcee smiled.

“Thank you, Ms. Hale.”

Reporters surrounded me.

“Ms. Hale, do you admit that your behavior placed Mr. Caldwell under excessive pressure?”

“Will you resign from Caldwell Maritime?”

“Will you and Ms. Lane remain friends?”

Reid shoved me off the stage.

“Move.”

After the engagement party, I returned to the Caldwell house.

My luggage had been piled outside the front door.

One suitcase had burst open.

My clothes lay soaked in the rain.

My mother’s framed photograph had been tossed into a box of junk beneath a broken picture frame.

I bent down to retrieve it.

A housekeeper blocked my hand.

“Ms. Lane said all these old things had to be removed.”

I lifted my eyes.

“Who gave her that authority?”

The front door opened.

Tessa walked out in a casual dress.

My mother’s silver compass still hung around her neck.

“I’ll be managing this house from now on, Maren.”

“Adrian gave it to me and the baby.”

I looked upstairs.

That bedroom was the suite Adrian had prepared for our marriage.

I had chosen the wallpaper.