Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce-Chapter 40: Mr. Lancaster, Mrs. Lancaster, Get a Little Closer
The birthday party was in full swing, with all the customary ceremonies observed.
Before dinner began, Lucia Lancaster suggested the photographer take more pictures of her with her family and friends—especially group shots—instead of just recording video.
The birthday girl had spoken, so no one present objected.
Lucia Lancaster’s friends were all enthusiastic, scrambling to take photos with her and striking all sorts of poses for the camera.
Just then, Maya Marshall grew impatient. "Let’s go take a picture with Lucia, too," she said to Adrian Lancaster.
Adrian Lancaster didn’t say anything, his gaze drifting toward Wren Sutton nearby.
"Come on." Maya Marshall linked her arm through his and started walking. "Everyone’s taking pictures. I want one, too."
Seeing Maya Marshall drag Adrian Lancaster off for a photo, Caleb Caldwell immediately went to find Wren Sutton.
"Wren, let’s go take a picture, too. Sean, you come with us!"
"Mm-hm."
"Okay." Wren Sutton didn’t want to be a killjoy. She’d been wanting to get a photo with Lucia anyway.
Group after group of people took their turn for photos. Once finished, they would step aside for the next group in line.
Maya Marshall, arm in arm with Adrian Lancaster, walked right to the front, beaming as she approached Lucia Lancaster.
"Lucia, let’s the three of us get a picture together."
’She had already planned their positions. She would stand between Lucia and Adrian, linking arms with both brother and sister. No matter how you looked at it, they would seem like a close-knit family.’
’Then, without her having to say a word, everyone would know just how high her standing was in the Lancaster family.’
’So what if Wren Sutton was Mrs. Lancaster? *She* was the one taking a picture on Adrian’s arm, not Wren.’
Lucia Lancaster saw right through Maya’s scheme and gave an innocent smile. "Maya, a picture with just three of us isn’t lively enough. Let’s get a few more people in here."
...’Not lively enough?’
Just then, Wren Sutton, Sean Sterling, and Caleb Caldwell walked over.
Lucia Lancaster waved them over happily. "Come on, get in the picture! We were waiting for you guys."
Maya Marshall’s brow furrowed in displeasure. ’There are too many people here, I can’t make it too obvious.’
’That bitch Wren must be doing this on purpose. She can’t stand to see me getting a photo with Adrian and Lucia, so she came to ruin it.’
’Damn it!’
At Lucia Lancaster’s direction, the group gathered for the photo.
There was no specific arrangement; everyone stood wherever they wanted, leaving it all up to creative freedom.
The one constant, however, was Lucia, who stuck close to Wren Sutton, her arm linked intimately through Wren’s.
To create an air of intimacy, Maya pressed herself tightly against Adrian Lancaster for the photos, tilting her head to rest on his shoulder, her expression a picture of bashful sweetness.
CLICK, CLICK. The photographer worked diligently.
Adrian Lancaster was cool and aloof, while Wren Sutton was gentle and graceful. Though they weren’t standing next to each other, they were the pair with the most chemistry on camera.
After the photos were done, Sean Sterling and Caleb Caldwell stepped away. Maya Marshall, still holding Adrian Lancaster’s arm, was about to leave as well.
Just then, Lucia Lancaster called out, "Brother!"
Adrian Lancaster turned back. "What is it?"
Lucia said, "Don’t go yet. That was a group shot. The three of us haven’t taken our own picture."
Maya Marshall’s eyes lit up. Thinking Lucia was inviting her, her heart leaped with joy, and she immediately turned back.
"Lucia, great minds think alike! Before the group shot, I was just saying the three of us should get a few pictures first."
As she spoke, she didn’t forget to shoot Wren Sutton a provocative glance.
Lucia Lancaster put on an apologetic expression, her face a mask of innocence.
"Oh, I’m sorry, Maya, you misunderstood. The three people I was talking about are me, my brother, and my sister-in-law. Not you."
"..." Maya Marshall froze as if struck by lightning.
The corners of Lucia Lancaster’s mouth curved up as she maintained her smile.
"Maya, if you still want a photo, you and I can take one after I’m done with my brother and sister-in-law."
Her words were flawlessly polite, leaving no room for argument.
"..." Maya Marshall’s face was a mess of embarrassment, flushing red then turning pale. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
’Was I imagining it? Why does it feel like Lucia did that on purpose—deliberately humiliating me in front of everyone?’
Maya Marshall looked to Adrian Lancaster for help, her eyes red and welling with tears of grievance.
’He had always defended me, without fail. He’ll do it this time, too... right?’
She was both nervous and hopeful. Every second she waited was agony.
"Brother, hurry up and come over here," Lucia urged.
Maya Marshall gripped Adrian’s arm tightly and shook her head, tears finally falling.
’If he goes over there for that photo, it’s the same as admitting Wren Sutton is Mrs. Lancaster.’
’Then what does that make me?’
Adrian Lancaster glanced down at Maya Marshall, then gently pried her hand off his arm.
"It’s Lucia’s birthday today. Let’s just let her have her way." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Maya’s world came crashing down.
For the first time, Adrian Lancaster had abandoned her. He ignored her humiliation and distress, walking resolutely over to Wren Sutton to stand beside that woman.
"Miss Lancaster, Mr. Lancaster, Mrs. Lancaster, look at the camera."
The photographer framed the shot.
"A few more... good... hold that pose, just like that..."
Her goal achieved, Lucia Lancaster beamed. But she felt it wasn’t quite enough.
"Brother, Sister-in-law, let’s get a shot of just the two of you," she said. "Don’t worry, I won’t let it get out."
She stepped aside, leaving the stage—and the camera’s focus—to Adrian Lancaster and Wren Sutton.
Wren Sutton’s feelings were complicated. Distracted, she didn’t really want to have her picture taken.
’In four years of marriage, they didn’t have a single photo together besides the one on their marriage certificate.’
’Now that they were on the verge of divorce, what was the point of taking a photo together?’
’She had never gotten the things she once wanted, and now, she no longer wanted them.’
"Mr. Lancaster, Mrs. Lancaster, could you move a little closer?"
The photographer’s voice broke through Wren Sutton’s thoughts.
She looked up and met Lucia Lancaster’s expectant, encouraging gaze—so clear and warm.
Wren Sutton couldn’t bear to disappoint her.
’She understood. Lucia was acting out of kindness. She respected her, wanted to validate her position, and was taking the opportunity to put Maya Marshall in her place.’
With that thought, Wren’s awkwardness dissipated. A small, accepting smile touched her lips as she obligingly turned to the camera.
’It was just a photo, after all. It had nothing to do with love and wouldn’t change a thing.’
Compared to Wren’s complex thoughts, Adrian’s were much simpler.
He raised a hand and placed it intimately on her waist, his body leaning slightly toward her. He didn’t seem the least bit reluctant.
"Brother, Sister-in-law, may you have a long and happy life together!"
Lucia shouted her blessing, and a round of enthusiastic applause broke out.
Standing in the crowd, Maya Marshall wept silently, her heart twisting in agony.
Suddenly, a man’s handkerchief was offered to her.
"Adrian has been married for four years. It’s time to forget him."
Maya looked up, her vision blurred by tears.
"Sean, why is everyone on Wren Sutton’s side? I’m the one who’s supposed to be Adrian’s girlfriend."
Sean Sterling stared straight ahead, his tone earnest. "You can’t live in the past forever. No one waits in the same place for someone else indefinitely."
"But Adrian and I love each other. He loves *me*."
"Then why did you leave four years ago?"
"I..."
"Love isn’t something that can just be put to the test. Let him go. It’s for the best, for both you and Adrian."
Maya only cried harder.
Sean, who thought of her as a little sister, put an arm around her shoulder. "Let me take you home. It will only be more painful for you to stay here."
Wren Sutton happened to see Sean Sterling leading Maya Marshall away. Adrian Lancaster saw it, too.
His narrow, dark eyes stared intensely in the direction the pair had gone, and the hand at his side slowly clenched into a fist.
Once the photos were finished, the butler announced that dinner was served. The meal had been personally prepared by a three-star Michelin chef.
After they were seated, Lucia Lancaster noticed the chair next to Wren Sutton was empty. She scanned the room but couldn’t find Adrian Lancaster.
"Sister-in-law, where’s my brother?"
