All Chapters of Playing Mrs. Beckett: Chapter 1 - Chapter 7

Three years. Turned out Sophie could only live as Mrs. Beckett for a mere three years. “How disappointing,” she said as she put down the photos in her hands. On the coffee table, there were even more photos of Adrian Beckett. Nation’s ideal husband, they said. Sophie snickered, her eyes scanned the spread. Adrian at a private beach. At a park after midnight. Coming out of a cinema, dressed as incognito as his presence could hide. Each time, the same woman was at his side. Not Sophie. Three years was not a long time, but Sophie had enjoyed the time she spent playing a ‘good wife’. She had thought that she wouldn’t mind. That it was role-playing, and she was so good at compartmentalizing that this information wouldn’t hurt her.Still, this ache seemed to settle.She took another photo, one that clearly depicted the woman Adrian had cheated with. Julia Hall. Twenty-six years old. A junior associate at Beckett Holdings. Young, fresh, with a soft smile but sharp mind. Julia had wide brow

Their dinner ended on an unsatisfactory note.Adrian had to leave because of a work emergency. Sophie couldn’t even tell if it was real or not—if Adrian was just stealing fractions of time to be with Julia Hall.“I’ll make it up to you,” Adrian had said.But it had been two days, and Adrian was nowhere to be found.Let alone making it up to her, he hadn’t even had a meal at home since. For two days, Sophie slept by herself. This had happened before, back when Adrian was still establishing his company. Sophie had been understanding, so she tried to be now.But by the third morning, Sophie grew restless.Sophie really didn’t want to do this. Her role was a calm and understanding wife, not clingy and insecure. But whether it was insecurity or simple curiosity, she couldn’t help but call Adrian.No. This made sense. An understanding wife would want to know where her husband was after two days of not seeing him.One call. Two, then three. On the fourth call, Adrian’s phone was turned off a

Early in the morning, Sophie woke up to yet another charade.When she opened her eyes, she couldn’t find Adrian. She found him in the kitchen, operating the coffee machine. It was what she got for their first wedding anniversary, back when Sophie said she wished to enjoy espresso anytime she wanted.Now, Adrian stood there, making two shots. Before, Adrian would have one shot and Sophie the other. Not today. What she saw was Adrian and Julia, sitting across from each other. Before them were a glass of espresso and Adrian’s special sandwich. He used to make it for Sophie back when they were still struggling students. A simple toast with a slice of ham, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and a special sauce that Adrian refused to disclose even today.Sophie exhaled. She never knew that even those memories were no longer theirs alone.Julia Hall sat there with comfortable ease, as if it was her own place. It didn’t help that Adrian was there, smiling with undeniable tenderness, like he was looking

The next thing Sophie knew, they were on a trip to Long Island.It was summer, and the beach provided a perfect summer escapade. Sophie heard the name a lot, and had been curious for a long time. Finally, one more thing to cross from her to-do list in America.When they started driving, it was dark, so Adrian had insisted on Long Island. It was a short, an hour and a half drive. Perfect for this kind of impromptu trip. Sophie said nothing. She was just nodding, going along with it.The entire drive, Adrian had played a lot of music. Nostalgic ones, those that reminded them of simpler times.“Do you remember this, darling?” Adrian said, turning up the volume slightly. Just The Way You Are flowed out of the speaker, bringing along memories of their youth. This used to be their song, one of the tracks that Adrian added to their playlist. Because you’re amazing, Sophie, he had said.Sophie smiled, bobbing her head. She never knew how hard it actually was, trying to appear normal. Like the