87

CH 87.
Andrianne’s car pulled up to the driveway of her mansion, the engine roaring to a stop as she turned off the ignition. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach. As she stepped out of the car, the cool breeze of the evening air hit her face, making her shiver slightly. She wrapped her arms around herself and walked towards the front door of the house.
The mansion was a sight to behold, standing tall and imposing in the middle of a vast expanse of lush green lawn. The elegant architecture and exquisite landscaping were a testament to the opulence and grandeur of the family that owned it. Andrianne had grown up in this mansion and had never grown tired of its beauty.
She walked up the steps to the front door and fished her keys out of her bag. As she unlocked the door and stepped inside, she was immediately hit by the scent of her favorite lavender-scented candles. She smiled softly, feeling comforted by the familiar smell.
The mansion was quiet, almost too quiet. Andrianne felt a pang of loneliness, as she realized that Lucas wasn’t back from work yet. She walked towards the living room, hoping to find something to distract herself from her thoughts. As she walked in, the first thing she noticed was the grand piano sitting in the corner of the room. She had always loved playing the piano, so she walked over and sat down on the bench.
As she started playing a soft melody, her thoughts drifted to the events of the past few days. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off with her husband. Lucas had been distant and distracted, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he was keeping something from her. She sighed and let her fingers glide over the ivory keys, losing herself in the music.
Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening jolted her out of her thoughts. She stopped playing and turned her head, watching as Lucas walked in. He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and a frown on his face.
“Andrianne, I’m sorry I’m late,” he said, his voice hoarse.
Andrianne stood up and walked towards him, her eyes scanning his face. “What’s wrong, Lucas? You look so tired.”
Lucas let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair. “It’s been a long day. I had some work to finish up at the office.”
Andrianne’s eyebrows furrowed. “Is that all?”
Lucas hesitated for a moment before answering. “Yes, that’s all. Just work.”
Andrianne wasn’t convinced, but she decided not to push it. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I missed you,” she murmured.
Lucas wrapped his arms around her too, pulling her closer. “I missed you too,” he said softly.
For a moment, they stood there in silence, just holding each other. Andrianne felt a surge of love and affection for her husband, and she realized that she didn’t want to lose him. Whatever was bothering him, she was determined to help him through it.
“I have an idea,” she said suddenly, pulling away from him. “Let’s have a movie night. We can cuddle up on the couch and watch your favorite movie.”
Lucas smiled weakly. “That sounds nice. What do you want to watch?”
Andrianne grinned mischievously. “Star Wars, of course.”
Lucas chuckled. “You know I love you, right?”
Andrianne’s heart swelled with happiness. “I know. And I love you too, Lucas.”
Andrianne snuggled up to Lucas on the couch, the movie playing in the background, but her mind was still preoccupied with the encounter with Emily at the hospital. She knew she had to bring it up to Lucas, but she didn’t want to ruin their peaceful evening together.
“Luce, I need to tell you something,” Andrianne said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas turned his head to look at her, concern etched on his face. “What is it, love?”
“I saw Emily at the hospital today,” Andrianne said, her eyes locked on his.
Lucas tensed up at the mention of Emily’s name. “What was she doing there?” he asked, his voice laced with apprehension.
“She said she was there for a routine check-up, but I don’t know,” Andrianne said, shrugging her shoulders. “It just felt odd to see her there.”
Lucas let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. “I know it’s hard to believe, but maybe she was telling the truth,” he said, trying to reassure Andrianne.
“I guess,” Andrianne said, but she still had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.
Lucas sensed her unease and decided to change the topic. “So, what do you think of the movie?” he asked, pointing to the screen.
Andrianne sighed, knowing he was trying to distract her. “It’s good, but I can’t focus on it right now,” she said, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Lucas wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. “Don’t worry about it, love. We’ll figure everything out,” he said, placing a kiss on her forehead.
Andrianne smiled, feeling a sense of comfort in Lucas’s embrace. They spent the rest of the evening watching the movie, but Andrianne couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was brewing with Emily.
As the movie came to an end, Lucas turned to Andrianne. “Let’s go to bed, love. You must be tired after your appointment today,” he said, standing up and holding out his hand.
Andrianne took his hand and got up from the couch. “Yeah, I am,” she said, following him to their bedroom.
Lucas helped her into bed, tucking her in and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Sleep well, love,” he said, turning off the light and walking out of the room.
Andrianne lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of Emily and their encounter at the hospital. She knew she couldn’t keep ignoring her gut feeling, but she didn’t know how to bring it up to Lucas without causing a rift between them. With a heavy heart, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.