The Bracelet He Stole

PART 2 — NINETY-EIGHT MISSED CALLS

While I slept, Adrian’s perfect evening began falling apart.

At the wedding reception, Ethan’s father, Robert Walker, approached him.

“Where’s Claire? I thought you two were coming together.”

“She’s not feeling well,” Adrian replied casually.

Robert nodded, then noticed Sophia’s wrist.

His expression immediately changed.

“Wait. Isn’t that Eleanor’s bracelet?”

Sophia instinctively covered it.

Robert looked directly at Adrian.

“Your grandmother gave that to Claire. I was standing beside her when she did.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“It’s being borrowed.”

“Borrowed?” Robert repeated. “From your own wife?”

Sophia lowered her eyes, pretending embarrassment.

“Adrian said Claire wouldn’t mind.”

Robert didn’t look convinced.

For the first time that evening, Adrian had no convincing answer.

After driving Sophia home, he checked his phone.

No messages from me.

He called once.

Then twice.

Straight to voicemail.

He tried again, growing increasingly irritated.

Finally, his mother called from New York.

“Adrian, why is Sophia wearing Claire’s bracelet?”

“Mom, it’s a misunderstanding.”

“Don’t insult my intelligence. That bracelet belongs to your wife!”

His father took the phone.

“Where’s Claire?”

“At home.”

“Put her on.”

“She’s not answering.”

There was a long silence.

Then his father spoke coldly.

“Your mother and I are taking the first flight to Chicago. And you’d better have a good explanation.”

By midnight, Adrian had called me dozens of times.

By morning, the number had reached ninety-eight.

When sunlight entered my bedroom, I finally switched on my phone.

Ninety-eight missed calls.

Thirty-seven messages.

The last one was from Adrian.

Baby, my parents know about the bracelet. They’re flying here. Please answer me.

I hadn’t even finished reading when my bedroom door opened.

Adrian stood there in yesterday’s wrinkled tuxedo.

His hair was messy, his eyes bloodshot, and his expression was somewhere between anger and panic.

“Claire, do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”

I glanced at my phone.

“Apparently, ninety-eight calls’ worth.”

“Why did you turn it off?”

“You told me to stay home and rest.”

He rubbed his forehead.

“Don’t start this. Sophia needed my help last night. It was just one evening.”

I looked at him quietly.

“Then why did you give her my bracelet?”

His expression hardened.

“She liked it. I thought you’d understand.”

“Did you also think I’d understand when you told everyone your wife was sick so you could arrive with another woman?”

“Claire, you’re making this bigger than it is.”

I looked toward the nightstand.

My wedding ring was lying beside my phone.

Adrian followed my gaze.

His face changed.

“Why aren’t you wearing your ring?”

I met his eyes.

“Funny. I was about to ask why Sophia was wearing my bracelet.”

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then several car doors slammed downstairs.

Adrian turned toward the bedroom door.

His parents had arrived.