Chapter 14 A Sleepless Night


    Charles''s POV:


    I called it. Whenever I set foot in our family''s mansion, I got unresolved issues thrown at my face


    and then I ended up leaving in the worst of moods. There had been no single instance where I had


    left with a smile.


    I sat on the edge of Rita''s bed and recalled what happened just now. I felt so upset that I considered


    smashing something.


    A few momentster, my phone beeped. It was a message from Scarlett.


    "I''ve got our marriage certificate." I had to read the message thrice to make sure that I was not


    imagining it.


    It was the most offensive text message I had ever received to date. I clicked on the photo that


    followed the message. It was taken on the day of Scarlett and I''s wedding.


    In the photo, we were standing very close to each other. While Scarlett had on one of those cute,


    squinty smiles that she put on whenever she was delighted about something, I was frowning like a


    boy who had been dragged into some activity that he did not want to do.


    She must be very happy that day when she married me.


    I gently ran my thumb over her face in the photo and found myself falling in a vortex of mixed


    feelings. How could a cheerful little daisy like Scarlett suddenly turn into a thorny rose?


    I was not prepared to see her so determined to get out of my life.


    "Did you quarrel with your family again?" Sensing the negative energy with which I must be


    bombarding her, Rita opened her eyes and spoke in a weak voice.


    "Yes," I replied.


    "I''m sorry. It''s all my fault. I''m the reason you''re always fighting with your family. If it weren''t for me,


    you''d be at peace with them. I''m a burden to you." Rita covered her face with her hands and started


    sobbing.


    "No. Of course it''s not your fault. Don''t think too much. It''s just that Scarlett asked Grandpa for our


    marriage certificate earlier." I put away my phone and held her hand in mine.


    "Did she get it then?" Her eyes instantly lit up.


    "Yes," I answered.


    But the happy and excited look on Rita''s face did not make me feel good at all. It only reminded me


    of the unshakable resolve in Scarlett''s eyes when she asked my grandfather for our marriage


    certificate.


    At that moment, I realized how she would do anything to break away from me.


    I had two women in my life. One of them yearned to divorce me while the other was desperate to


    marry me.


    But what about me?


    What did I want?


    I suddenly came to the horrible realization that


    I had no idea what I wanted. Everyone else seemed to be sure of their choices while I mindlessly


    drifted in a sea of mine.


    But I understood that I was at that point where whatever choice I made would not serve my own


    agenda. I promised Rita that I would marry her after I divorced Scarlett.


    It was the least I could do for her, to fulfill her dying wish and put a perfect ending to her short life.


    However, it was not a choice that put me in high spirits. After Rita fell asleep, I left the hospital and


    went for a ride.


    I drove my white Maybach like a drunk, heartbroken teenager who felt lost and confused.


    I cruised around aimlessly for a while.


    Then, I found myself pulling up in front of the vi where Scarlett lived. I rolled down my window and


    stared at the light in her bedroom.


    What was she doing at this time?


    She must already be asleep with a satisfied smile on her face because she finally got our marriage


    certificate. Otherwise, she would not have sent me a message that soon.


    She was overjoyed because it was only a matter of time before she could finally divorce me.


    The idea annoyed me so much that I lit up a cigarette and took a deep drag. It was the only way left


    to help me calm down.


    Scarlett''s POV:


    I don''t have to work that morning, so instead of rushing to thepany, I decided I would go to the


    nearby breakfast ce from the vi and grab a bite to eat. I was extra cheery because I had finally


    gotten our marriage certificate. A little more time and this would all be over.


    But before I could go far, a familiar white Maybach caught my attention.


    "What are you doing here?" I walked over to check on Charles and noticed the pile of cigarette butts


    scattered beside the car. Judging from the number of cigarette butts, I had guessed that he had


    been sitting there all night. I looked at him with wide eyes.


    He was still wearing the clothes he wore yesterday, and the stubble on his face and his bloodshot


    eyes told me that he had not gotten any sleep.


    "I just got here. Those cigarette butts aren''t mine," he exined nonchntly.


    "Okay." All I could think about at that moment was that my soon-to-be ex-husband was so excited to


    divorce me that he camped out in his car all night just to drag me to thewyer''s office at first light.


    "Do you mind if I go get some breakfast first before we go to thewyer''s office?" I pointed to the


    breakfast ce not far away. I thought he could at least let me eat before formally wrecking our


    marriage.


    "Get in the car," Charles looked up at me and said firmly.


    I hesitated for a while. He did not really answer my question, so I had no idea if we were getting


    breakfast or heading to thewyer''s office. Finally, I gave up and just got in the car.


    As we passed by the breakfast ce, I caught a whiff of the delicious food they served there. I


    looked out the window and saw the owner handing a cup of coffee to a customer. Charles did not


    stop, so I guessed there was no breakfast for me.


    "You always buy breakfast at that ce?" Charles suddenly asked.


    "Yes."


    "Why don''t you just make it yourself?"


    "I don''t know how."


    I was an orphan and then an adopted daughter of the Moore family. I grew up in a sheltered


    household where everything was done for me. Life skills were not a priority to learn.


    Charles did not say anything more after that and just focused on driving.


    But he did not take me to thewyer''s office to file our divorce. Instead, he took me to his


    apartment.


    "I thought we''re going to file our divorce right now. Why are we at your ce?" I swept my eyes over


    the luxury apartment district where Charles lived. It was so fancy that ordinary people could not


    afford even the bathrooms here. "Let me make you some breakfast first," Charles answered


    perfunctorily.


    He got out of the car and went to open my door for me. I watched his face carefully. He seemed to


    be walking on air today, and once again, it confused me.


    Well, maybe he was just feeling as on a high as I was. After all, he could finally legally dump me


    today and marry the woman of his dreams.


    "Is making me breakfast your way of buttering me up before divorcing me?" I asked with a smile.


    "Think whatever you want," Charles replied, a shadow passing over his face.


    I kept silent after that and just followed him into the gatedmunity. The valet at the entrance


    bowed to Charles and greeted him, took his car keys, and went to park the car.


    We went up to Charles''s apartment. I sat on the sofa while Charles headed to the kitchen and


    started making breakfast. I watched him as he cooked and thought that Rita was a very lucky


    woman. She was going to marry a good man. He had an impressive family background and


    excellent upbringing. He was easy to the eyes, and he could cook. What more could a woman ask


    for?


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    No wonder Rita went to great lengths to be with him.


    Before long, Charles was setting the table. He made a delicious-looking ham and egg sandwich that


    smelled divine. My mouth instantly watered the moment Iid eyes on it.


    For a moment, I forgot all about the fact that I would no longer be his wife soon. That was probably


    the difference between letting go and not letting go.


    Charles lowered his head and focused on eating his breakfast. Then, he suddenly said, "If you


    really want to work, you cane work in mypany."


    "You want your ex-wife toe work for you? Aren''t you afraid of being the topic of office gossip?" I


    thought we were finally having a peaceful moment, but when Charles brought up the idea of us


    working together in the same office, I almostpletely lost my appetite.


    "I don''t care about that. Just consider it, will you?" Charles looked straight into my eyes. He still


    looked so exhausted. I almost felt sorry for him.


    "I like my job, Charles. I appreciate your offer, but I want to stay where I am now. And don''t forget


    that we''re getting divorced soon. I think it''ll be easier for both of us if we stop interfering in each


    other''s affairs as early as now," I exined as calmly as I could.


    "Can you stop bringing up the divorce every chance you get?" Charles put down his sandwich and


    then looked up at me with a sullen expression.


    "Can you stop interfering with my life?" I met his gaze. I was asking sincerely. I was not trying to


    challenge him.


    Charles averted his eyes and took a deep breath. We sat there in silence as the tension that hung


    above us grew. I was not sure what he would do next, but knowing Charles, I was certain that he


    would not give up control without a bloodbath of a fight. I was honestly surprised that he had not


    lashed out on me yet.


    But it was obvious that he was desperately holding on to thest slivers of his patience, which I


    could easily snap with the right words and tone.


    Before Charles could do anything, the doorbell rang.


    "Could it be Rita?" She was the first person that I thought of. She was the only one who would show


    up at Charles''s apartment at this hour.