Chapter 9

“That project is indeed good. But it is USELESS right now. If you think that you can solve the problem with that, then you are wrong, miss Dale.”

A deafening silence echoed inside the office. Marie didn’t expect Adira to oppose Isa’s idea this much. And so, she was thinking of a way on how to lighten up the mood. Yet before she could, Isa’s voice returned in an unusual cold tone.

“Can you tell me where did it went wrong? ADIRA.”

Adira.

Adira.

Her own name rang inside Adira’s ear. Instead of calling her in a more formal way, Isa dared to uttere Adira’s name as if they were close. But since Isa appears like an angel to everyone, while Adira is the wicked villain, no one noticed that Isa just disrespected the most important guest in the orphanage.

Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time Adira has experienced such rude behavior.

As a female CEO, she was downgraded by her competitors from the other companies. Even so, she remained composed and undefeated, proving that gender doesn’t hinder one’s capabilities in terms of business and talents.

One brow raised, Adira crossed her legs and put her hands on her lap. Then she began to explain.

“Miss Marie said that the children’s population in the orphanage is increasing from time to time. So, we need more manpower to look over those cute kids. Right?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Isa responded, triumphantly raising her chin. “That is why I suggested to find more volunteers like me.” Then she pointed to herself as an example.

“Then, should I give the simplest solution to this problem?” adira offered, pointing herself as to imitate Isa. Adira looked at Marie and uttered, “I will give a huge sum of money for the orphanage. Please use that to find workers and pay them for looking over the kids.”

Eyes opening roundly, Marie asked, “You m-mean, you will pay for the workers who will take care of the children?”

“Exactly,” Adira answered.

“But if you use money to pay them,” Isa opposed, “what about the emotions the kids need? If they will only do it for money, they can’t give the love that every children need at this moment.”

Chadwick thinks Isa has a point. If they will use money to gather manpower, they can’t be sure that those people will treat the kids alright. Nonetheless, Chadwick waited for his wife’s answer. He is really curious how will Adira defend this.

‘What will you do, Adira?’ Chadwick wondered while looking at his wife.

“Miss Dale,” Adira called Isa in formal tone. “What miss Marie wants right now is to solve the sudden increase of the population, not their emotions. Did anyone complain that the kids aren’t receiving the proper love that they need?”

No one answered.

“None. Right?” Adira murmured.

“B-But…”

“In this world,” Adira didn’t give Isa the chance to refute and make herself more stupid. “Do you think it is that easy to find people who will volunteer with all their might, just like you? Miss Dale?”

“...”

“If only all the people have soft heart like you, Isa, then your suggestion will be great. But that is not how reality works. Everyone has their own responsibilities. We live, eat and sleep, and… pay. People need money to support their own needs.”

“There are rich people who are willing to help,” Isa defended.

“Let’s say there is,” Adira accepted the idea. “But how long does their willingness to help last? It is not that they will volunteer for the rest for their lives, right?”

Isa’s mouth opened then closed again. She really wanted to rebuke Adira’s statement but couldn’t seem to find the right words to say.

Putting her finger on the table, Adira tapped her finger on the wooden table between them. Then she added, “We need a fast action right now. If we follow your opinion, the population of kids will increase and we won’t find enough volunteers to offer service for free. So, did you get my point?”

Isa bit her lower lip. She felt so humiliated by Adira!

‘Or what if she’s only doing this because I hugged her husband last night?’ Isa guessed while looking at Chadwick’s beautiful wife.

“Miss Marie,” Adira called.

With pale face, Marie panicked and stuttered, “Y-Yes?”

“I will give an enough budget for you to hire people.”

“Thank y-you so much, Mrs. McElroy!”

“And if ever you got people who only works for money and don’t bother giving love to the children, I don’t think we need to worry about that. After all, a kind-hearted lady like miss Isa is here. I am sure Isa will manage to see and be certain that the employees will take care of the kids. Right, Chadwick?”

“Huh?” Chadwick murmured. He was surprised that Adira suddenly asked him.

Chadwick looked at Isa and saw her sour expression.

He doesn’t want to hurt Isa, but Chadwick will admit that Adira’s solution is more realistic than Isa’s. No doubt on why Adira was given the title as the “Great leader” in her father’s company.

“I will go with my wife’s suggestion,” Chadwick said in a very low tone. “I will also give financial support so that we can start hiring people for the orphanage.”

Isa had her mouth wide open. She couldn’t believe that Chadwick supported the woman, who he only married for business purposes!

She felt so betrayed by him!

Secretly, Isa clenched her fists as she glared at the torn in her eyes; It is Adira.

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“Mr. McElroy, can I ask about this?”

Marie and Chadwick moved a bit farther to privately talk about the financial support that the couple would give as soon as possible. While they were conversing, Isa took the chance to approach Adira.

“Adira!”

Adira tilted her head to the woman who called her name with familiarity.

Isa’s eyes were sparkling while looking at her.

At the way she calls and looks at her, it is as if they have been friends for long years.

Adira couldn’t tell if Isa was just a friendly person, or a thick-faced person. It’s only been a few days since Isa dared hugged her husband in front of her. If Isa can act freely like this in front of Adira, then she deserves some praise for being gullible. 

“Thank you so much for helping the orphanage. My heart was blessed by your kindness,” said Isa to Adira.

Adira’s eyes narrowed at her for a moment. Isa is not the owner of the orphanage. So why is she thanking Adira as excessive as this, as if she owes her a lot?

“Ahh right, Adira. Chadwick told me that we are almost share the same age.”

“Is that why you only called me in my name?”

“Huh?”

“You only call me by Adira.”

“W-Well…”

Isa scratched her nape, as if apologetic.

“Does calling you Adira offends you so much? If it is, then I apologize. Chadwick is a close friend of mine, so I feel comfortable with you. You are his wife, after all.”

A close friend who will visit their house and even hugged her husband in front of her? Then she said she feels comfortable with Adira? For real?

If she told this to the other wives out there, she cannot get out with all of her hair intact on her scalp. Isa should be thankful that Adira does not have interest about Isa’s relationship with her husband.

“Actually, I really wanted to get close to you,” Isa said shyly. “If you aren’t busy, is it okay to ask you to go out with me for a meal?”

“...”

Isa pouted her lips and added, “I already told this to Chadwick. I mean… my will to get close you. But he doesn’t share more details about you. So, can we eat together someday?”

“Do you think Chadwick will allow it?” Adira responded at last.

“Of course!” Isa said, gasping. “I will make it happen. Chadwick never says no to my request. Believe me.”

Whoever heard her, Isa looks more like she is Chadwick’s wife than the real one. She kept on making Adira feel that even if she was his wife, Chadwick would still choose Isa’s side.

Adira isn’t dumb to overlook the meaning behind Isa’s words.

Isa looks like a gentle ship, and so, everyone thinks she is an innocent angel who deserves love.

‘But you are not an angel. You are eviler than me,’ Adira said inside her head while gawking at the bitch.

“Let’s see about that,” Adira answered.

“Mrs. McElroy, can I have your moment?” Marie called Adira from afar.

Adira turned her back against Isa and walked toward her husband’s direction.

“Does it mean you are accepting my date proposal?” Isa asked for the last time.

Adira stopped walking. She turned around and replied, “Maybe? It depends whether we will see each other again.”

“Isn’t it more appropriate to set an exact date?” Isa commented.

Adira shrugged her shoulder. “I don’t think so. There are days when you suddenly barge inside our house. Didn’t you do it the other night? So, if you ever visit my husband again, who knows, I might change my mind and consider playing with you.”

She did not forget to wink at Isa before she walked away.

“What the hell is that?” Isa murmured, biting her lip while glaring at Adira’s back.

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Just like what Chadwick requested, Adira went inside her husband’s car after their voluntary deeds.

“I told you I’m not a fan of sex in the car,” Adira said as soon as she hopped inside the passenger seat.

Heaving a sigh, Chadwick rebuked, “Oh please. Shut it.”

“So, tell me what do you want to say? Why here? Why now? When we can see each other later in the house.”

“You told me that you are busy in work. I thought perhaps, you’ll stay in your office again.”

“Are you afraid that you’ll miss me?”

Where does Adira get the courage to ask things as easy as this? Chadwick wondered so bad. Looking at her apathetic face, he remembered the thing she did a moment ago; when she bit his finger in front of everybody.

“Why the hell did you do that?”

“Do what?” Adira asked, playing ignorant.

“Don’t act as if you don’t know what I was talking about, Adira.”

“Ahhh, so you wanted to nag at me because of that? But as far as I can remember, you asked me first to meet you here before I bit your finger.”

“Adira, please. Can you stop being so childish?”

“I only did that because I knew you have a plan of taking revenge. Thanks to that, the reporters have good pictures to post. Everyone will think that we are passionate to each other. A hot-blooded couple.”

“Aren’t you embarrassed? Doing that? Aren’t you?”

“You mean, if I am as shameless as you who hugged another woman in front of me?”

Chadwick stopped at that point. Then he thought, ‘Right. There’s no way she’ll feel okay after that.”

“It’s fair now. So, consider it like that,” said Adira with little chuckles. “Besides, you had the chance to see Isa today. Just think of it as your reward for acting as my sweet husband.”

“Isa and I are not in that kind of relationship. I was so happy to see her today, but it is not as you think.”

“All cheaters said the same thing.”

“Adira.”

“But to tell you the truth, you are quite a shocker. Never thought you would take my suggestion and disregard your dear Isa’s opinion. I thought you’ll gonna support her until the end.”

“Why would I deny that your plan is more appropriate and realistic?

“Awww. Isa would feel bad if she heard this.”

“You should admit it too.”

“Admit what?”

“That Isa’s suggestion is good. Right?”

Adira shut her lips. She paused as she looked straight at Chadwick’s eyes.

“Children need love,” Chadwick added. He said this because he remembered how Adira looked so affectionately at the kids in the orphanage.

If she’s really a cold woman, she won’t look at them with those kinds of eyes. He is hoping that there’s a soft part in Adira’s hardened heart.

“Someone can grow up without love,” Adira whispered.

She was actually talking about herself. She was born together with her father, but she doesn’t see any difference between her and the orphans.

Chadwick just stared at her. He couldn’t understand why Adira thought that way, and so nothing can come out from his lips. Because of that, it made him harder to give Adira’s present for her birthday.

“I need to go to the company,” Adira  broke the piercing silence between them.

There’s no hint of a smile in her lips. It was as if Chadwick just rubbed salt on her wounds that won’t heal.

“If you don’t have anything else to say, I’ll go.”

“...”

“I’ll go now. See you later, honey.”

Adira hopped out of his car and left her husband alone.

Even until the end, Chadwick did not have the chance to give her gift or greet her a happy birthday.

“I don’t even know what part of my words hurt her,” he mumbled as he massaged his temples.

He looked at the paper bag at the back seat of the car. If he did not have the chance to give it now, he would consider giving it to her when they meet in their house.

Hours passed by.

The sky is pitch black as the dawn scattered and broke down.

Adira just arrived home from work. When she went inside, the house was empty. She did not expect to come earlier than her husband.

“He is still not here?” Adira murmured.

If he is still at work, or he is with Isa, Adira won’t bother wasting her time worrying about that. She thinks that Chadwick is old enough to handle himself.

Adira took a bath, wore her sleepwear and ate dinner alone. She’s used to this kind of lonely life. So even if her husband is not present, she never feels lonely.

After eating, she went back to her room with the plan of watching a movie before sleeping. When suddenly she received a call from her husband’s secretary, Neil.

Wondering why his secretary is calling her, which is very rare, Adira picked up the call.

“Yes?”

[“Madam”] Neil called her with perturbed voice.

“What is it?”

[“Madam, Sir Chadwick is in the hospital. He got into a car accident.”]