Chapter 37 Adeline finished her dinner and curled up on the sofa She started and deleted multiple messages to Liam, eventually giving up entirely [] What was Zarek's game?] He'd sent her his measurements but didn't actually want the suit?] Was he just toying with her?] She couldn't decipher the cryptic billionaire's intentions, nor did she want to. Besides this unresolved suit situation, their lives would likely never intersect again.[] Footsteps approached from outside the living room.] Adeline quickly closed the chat window and put her feet down.[] "Where are all your clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry?" Tristan demanded the moment he entered.[] 1 Adeline's heart skipped a beat. He'd noticed? Wait-what was with this guy today? Coming home for dinner without warning, then inspecting her closet? My clothes and shoes are at the dry cleaner's. The bags and jewelry are being serviced," she replied with feigned nonchalance and a hint of irritation at the interrogation] "All of them? At once? A Teah, why not?" she snapped. Tve been bored with nothing to do, so I've been organizing the house. I couldn't remember which clothes I'd worn and which I hadn't, so I just took everything to be cleaned. Same with the bags and jewelry-the diamonds had lost their sparkle, the leather had faded. I took everything in for maintenance while I had the time. Her explanation was logical and coherent.[] There seemed no reason for her to lie.[] Tristan felt something was off, but her explanation made sense, so he believed her.[] She had been home a lot lately, and thinking back, she had been busy organizing the house every time he returned.[] There's no rush. You're not jus! home for a few days-you can take your time. "But I'm going on that trip soon," she replied with an edge to her voice. Tll be leaving in a few days, and I want everything clean before I go.1 There was nothing objectionable about her statement, yet it still bothered Tristan [ ] He spotted the navy blue shopping bag on the sofa and bent to pick it up. "Is this for me- No-T 1 Adeline instinctively interrupted, leaning forward to stop him.] Both sentences remained unfinished as they froze simultaneously.[] Tristan's fate turned fr Adeline recovered quickly, adding, "It's for my dad 1 Tristan's happointment was painfully obvious. You bought something for your father but didn't think to get anything for your husband?"] Adeline commerd with a bitter sale, "Do you read more suits? Your collection probably rivals Brooks Brothers at this point Ho, the suits be kept at Evelyn's place probably outnumbered the ones at home![] Tristan was speechless [ Adelme grated ham, granted the suit from the auf slipped on her shoes, and hurried upstairs [] She retreated to her study and you heard a car driving away!] She called in relies The next day was Sunday with perfect weather!) She valled Stuyvesant High School , where she had Tristen had altered together Thurgh was the weekend a few students were around-same for club activities, others for extra academic help Strolled casually around campus, revisiting places from her shared past with Tristan-Classrooms where they'd set together the les paths they'd walked, the track field where they'd rula ( The armors washed over her lattersweet rather the pantal now. She best the cool nasal of the bathers, as her fingers along wooden desky carved wat generations of data] Tully she reached the bamboo grove by the artifist lake and dug up a box they bad buried in a ludden carver () It had been the right before their surge entrance exam After evening study hail Tristan had dragged her here. The area had been pick black , and they'd used these phones as darklights, writing co paper balancet on their knem He said they wad up together twenty years later ( I was get fed monated has eyes, making them brighter than the stars!) Chapter 37 Adeline smiled gently as she removed her time capsule from the box. There was something cathartic about this-not destroying the past, but acknowledging it and letting it go.||| Goodbye, Tristan [ Not the man you've become, but the boy you were 0 At that same moment, Tristan was in the project manager's office] The bands were drawn, the door closed The project teamsdently seethed outside]] Tristan frowned deeply as he reviewed Evelyn's project proposal, growing more frustrated with each page. This wasn't just subpar-it was a complete disaster. [] Evelyn paid no attention to his mood, leaning against his shoulder, her hands constantly wandering where they shouldn't.] Though not as beautiful as Adeline, she was wild enough, provocative enough, and bold enough in her pursuit that few men could resist her persistent advances.[] For men, the heart and body could operate independently. Tristan, don't you want to do it right here?" Her hand moved toward his crotch. "No one would dare come in... "For Christ's sake, stop it! Tristan snapped, his patience wearing dangerously thin] Tristan wasn't in the mood. He removed her hand and slammed the project proposal on the desk. This is what you came up with after supposedly working seven or eight all-nighters?"] He knew she wouldn't be as competent as Adeline, but he hadn't expected this level of incompetence. Was this some kind of joke? I was complete nonsense, absurdly bad! The financials were wrong, the timelines impossible, and the basic business case fundamentally flawed Tristan massaged his temples in frustration. He found himself longing for the days when Adeline ran the project department. Everything had flowed so smoothly then-problems were solved before they reached his desk, opportunities were identified before competitors saw them. She had made him look like a genius.] Evelyn pouted, hurt by his criticism Why couldn't he just admire her and overlook her mistakes like all her other conquests?] Just then, Tristan's phone rang. He glanced at it, walked to the window, and answered curtly. "Report."] "Ms. Paige went out again today. She spent quite a while at Stuyvesant High School, then went to an upscale residential complex called Orchard Gardens. It's very expensive with strict security-non-residents can't enter. The person monitoring Adeline provided a detailed account.] Tristan grew increasingly suspicious. High school? Residential complex?] Suddenly, his eyes darkened. "You said non-residents can't enter? What if she knows someone inside?"] If a resident vouches for her, she could certainly enter.1] "Send me the address. Keep watching her. "Yes, sir."1 Tristan hung up irritably. His mistress had created a disaster of a project proposal, and his wife was behaving strangely. He turned to find Evelyn right behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to him like a leech. Why do even care about her? You don't love her anymore. You have me now Tristan suppressed his growing disgust and pried her octopus-like grip from his body. He gripped her shoulders firmly, his expression grave. "Redo the proposal Take it seriously. If you don't understand something, ask the team leaders for help" With that, he left, his face cold. What had he gotten himself into with this girl? She was fun in bed, but utterly useless in business. Adell supposedly working for over a week Evelyn sinashed everything in the office in her rage Ask for help? He expected her to ask for help? Those infertors weren't worthy of teaching her anything![] Wan The team leaders were all Adeline's people. Was Tristan telling her to learn from Adeline's subordinates?] Immediately, she summoned all three team leaders via intercom and verbally eviscerated them. When the Team One leader, Sharon Gu, The other two team leaders were furious but remained silent.[] This wasnt a lady-this was a raiad dog! would have completed a professional proposal in a day, where Evelyn had produced garbage after "Evelyn slapped her Adeline placed her time capsule on a shelf in her new home.[] There was no need to throw away or burn it! It wasnt just about Tristan-her life had never been only about Tristan, even if he'd consumed so much of it Her phone rang. She checked-Tristan? Perhaps he sensed their marriage was of death's door and was experiencing its final "flicker" before extinction Adeline reither areswered nor declined the call, letting it ring out with indifference When it stopped ringing a message notification appeared [] She rolled her eyes as she opened it, then realized it wasnt from Tristan but from Liam Morgan] Mal lus employer finally provided new instructions?] Chapter 38