The Spring She Grew Into

Later that night, Adrian was on the phone again, chewing Janice out for being headstrong, not backing down, and blowing cash as though it grew on trees.

Janice's patience was wearing thin, especially with her wedding makeup trial still on the to-do list. She chucked her phone aside, leaving Adrian to talk to thin air.

Once Adrian had finished his tirade, he tried to sound all generous, clearing his throat. "Fine, I'll let it slide this time. Just think about what you've done.

"Oh, and hey, I'm heading out of town tomorrow. No signal on the plane, so don't bother calling."

Janice gave a wry smile and murmured a compliant, "Okay."

On the other end, Adrian paused, taken aback.

Lately, Janice had been giving him the silent shoulder, often clashing with him. So her sudden return to her old, gentle self threw him for a loop.

After a long silence, he finally stammered, "You're not curious about...where I'm heading for my business trip?"

Janice let out a soft laugh. Once upon a time, her love for him meant she hung on his every word, every little detail.

However, she would be someone else's bride by the next day. His whereabouts? Irrelevant to her then.

"You're the one who said I shouldn't pry into your work stuff, right?" she replied, her voice feather-light.

Adrian was at a loss for words.

Since he had been wrapped up with Yvette, he had often fobbed Janice off with the excuse of work. When Janice tried to dig deeper, he would snap at her to back off.

Adrian figured she must be throwing a fit out of jealousy.

With that thought, he let out a relieved sigh and cooed, "I'll be back before you know it. Just wait for me at home, and I'll treat you to that diamond ring you've been dreaming of."

The call ended, and Janice's laughter was tinged with tears.

The diamond ring she had wanted so badly?

Perhaps in his eyes, she was just someone he could mistreat and then smooth things over with a token apology.

She dabbed at the tears and gazed at her reflection. Crowned and clad in a wedding gown that sparkled with diamonds, she looked every bit the proud princess.

Too bad she had no more use for his diamond ring.

'Adrian. Starting tomorrow, you'll have your lovely wife. I have my loyal sidekick.

'We're done for good once we part ways in this world or the next,' she mused.