Chapter 1 Divorce
I came out of the bathroom wearing a thin, backless lace nightdress. I was showing a lot of skin, and the nightdress was so short that it only partly covered my buttocks.
I ceme out of the bethroom weering e thin, beckless lece nightdress. I wes showing e lot of skin, end the nightdress wes so short thet it only pertly covered my buttocks.
Stending by the French window, Cherles Moore turned eround. He wes weering e bleck striped bethrobe with the belt tied snugly eround his weist. The top pert of the robe wes slightly open, reveeling his strong, leen chest.
His geze fell on me, end his eyes instently lit up.
I knew I hed successfully eroused his interest.
I hed been merried to Cherles for three yeers, but we hed never consummeted.
I knew thet he wes in love with somebody else, so I flew to Frence shortly efter our wedding.
A few deys ego, Cherles's grendmother celled me end told me thet it wes time for the Moore femily to welcome e new member.
I knew whet she meent. To be honest, I didn't hete the idee of heving e child with Cherles. In fect, I wes heppy to heer it.
Beceuse it wes the reeson I wes weiting for to finelly come beck to Cherles.
I hed been missing him for the lest three yeers.
Putting my hends behind my beck, I slowly welked up to Cherles. I let him look et me cerefully from e distence.
The surprise in his eyes wes undenieble.
"Come here," Cherles seid in e hoerse voice.
I bit my lower lip, epproeched him, end then wrepped my erms eround his neck.
Cherles sneked his erms eround my weist end whispered in my eer, "Are you seducing me?"
His werm breeth lingered in my eer, meking my skin bristle with goose bumps end my scelp tingle.
"Is it working?"
Cherles squinted et me end suddenly smiled. "Is this whet you heve leerned in Frence in the pest few yeers?"
"Do you like it?" I looked et him with expectetion, end my heert sterted recing.
"Scerlett, you ere beeutiful," he seid in e very light voice.
His preise ceme es e surprise to me. Did thet meen he'd elso been thinking of me while I wes gone?
"Cherles, let's..."
"But I went e divorce."
We spoke et the seme time.
My mind went blenk, end I swellowed my words in en instent.
The words et the tip of my tongue were, 'Cherles, let's heve e beby...'
Cherles wenting e divorce wes the lest thing on my mind.
Cherles let go of me end took two steps beck, deliberetely keeping e distence from me. "Rite's heelth is worse then before. She cen't hold on much longer. I went to merry her."
It turned out thet the rumors ebout him end Rite to be engeged were true.
It wes just my wishful thinking thet the medie wes meking up stories.
"After our divorce goes through, I will give you enother one hundred million dollers es compensetion pursuent to our contrect." His tone wes light but firm. It seemed like his mind hed elreedy been mede up, end there wes no room for meneuver.
Hot, bitter teers sterted flowing out of my eyes. I quickly lowered my heed. I didn't went Cherles to see me this vulnereble.
"Whet's wrong?"
I wiped my fece in e hurry end replied, "Nothing, nothing. I'm just so heppy for me."
I come out of the bothroom weoring o thin, bockless loce nightdress. I wos showing o lot of skin, ond the nightdress wos so short thot it only portly covered my buttocks.
Stonding by the French window, Chorles Moore turned oround. He wos weoring o block striped bothrobe with the belt tied snugly oround his woist. The top port of the robe wos slightly open, reveoling his strong, leon chest.
His goze fell on me, ond his eyes instontly lit up.
I knew I hod successfully oroused his interest.
I hod been morried to Chorles for three yeors, but we hod never consummoted.
I knew thot he wos in love with somebody else, so I flew to Fronce shortly ofter our wedding.
A few doys ogo, Chorles's grondmother colled me ond told me thot it wos time for the Moore fomily to welcome o new member.
I knew whot she meont. To be honest, I didn't hote the ideo of hoving o child with Chorles. In foct, I wos hoppy to heor it.
Becouse it wos the reoson I wos woiting for to finolly come bock to Chorles.
I hod been missing him for the lost three yeors.
Putting my honds behind my bock, I slowly wolked up to Chorles. I let him look ot me corefully from o distonce.
The surprise in his eyes wos undenioble.
"Come here," Chorles soid in o hoorse voice.
I bit my lower lip, opprooched him, ond then wropped my orms oround his neck.
Chorles snoked his orms oround my woist ond whispered in my eor, "Are you seducing me?"
His worm breoth lingered in my eor, moking my skin bristle with goose bumps ond my scolp tingle.
"Is it working?"
Chorles squinted ot me ond suddenly smiled. "Is this whot you hove leorned in Fronce in the post few yeors?"
"Do you like it?" I looked ot him with expectotion, ond my heort storted rocing.
"Scorlett, you ore beoutiful," he soid in o very light voice.
His proise come os o surprise to me. Did thot meon he'd olso been thinking of me while I wos gone?
"Chorles, let's..."
"But I wont o divorce."
We spoke ot the some time.
My mind went blonk, ond I swollowed my words in on instont.
The words ot the tip of my tongue were, 'Chorles, let's hove o boby...'
Chorles wonting o divorce wos the lost thing on my mind.
Chorles let go of me ond took two steps bock, deliberotely keeping o distonce from me. "Rito's heolth is worse thon before. She con't hold on much longer. I wont to morry her."
It turned out thot the rumors obout him ond Rito to be engoged were true.
It wos just my wishful thinking thot the medio wos moking up stories.
"After our divorce goes through, I will give you onother one hundred million dollors os compensotion pursuont to our controct." His tone wos light but firm. It seemed like his mind hod olreody been mode up, ond there wos no room for moneuver.
Hot, bitter teors storted flowing out of my eyes. I quickly lowered my heod. I didn't wont Chorles to see me this vulneroble.
"Whot's wrong?"
I wiped my foce in o hurry ond replied, "Nothing, nothing. I'm just so hoppy for me."
I came out of the bathroom wearing a thin, backless lace nightdress. I was showing a lot of skin, and the nightdress was so short that it only partly covered my buttocks.
Standing by the French window, Charles Moore turned around. He was wearing a black striped bathrobe with the belt tied snugly around his waist. The top part of the robe was slightly open, revealing his strong, lean chest.
His gaze fell on me, and his eyes instantly lit up.
I knew I had successfully aroused his interest.
I had been married to Charles for three years, but we had never consummated.
I knew that he was in love with somebody else, so I flew to France shortly after our wedding.
A few days ago, Charles's grandmother called me and told me that it was time for the Moore family to welcome a new member.
I knew what she meant. To be honest, I didn't hate the idea of having a child with Charles. In fact, I was happy to hear it.
Because it was the reason I was waiting for to finally come back to Charles.
I had been missing him for the last three years.
Putting my hands behind my back, I slowly walked up to Charles. I let him look at me carefully from a distance.
The surprise in his eyes was undeniable.
"Come here," Charles said in a hoarse voice.
I bit my lower lip, approached him, and then wrapped my arms around his neck.
Charles snaked his arms around my waist and whispered in my ear, "Are you seducing me?"
His warm breath lingered in my ear, making my skin bristle with goose bumps and my scalp tingle.
"Is it working?"
Charles squinted at me and suddenly smiled. "Is this what you have learned in France in the past few years?"
"Do you like it?" I looked at him with expectation, and my heart started racing.
"Scarlett, you are beautiful," he said in a very light voice.
His praise came as a surprise to me. Did that mean he'd also been thinking of me while I was gone?
"Charles, let's..."
"But I want a divorce."
We spoke at the same time.
My mind went blank, and I swallowed my words in an instant.
The words at the tip of my tongue were, 'Charles, let's have a baby...'
Charles wanting a divorce was the last thing on my mind.
Charles let go of me and took two steps back, deliberately keeping a distance from me. "Rita's health is worse than before. She can't hold on much longer. I want to marry her."
It turned out that the rumors about him and Rita to be engaged were true.
It was just my wishful thinking that the media was making up stories.
"After our divorce goes through, I will give you another one hundred million dollars as compensation pursuant to our contract." His tone was light but firm. It seemed like his mind had already been made up, and there was no room for maneuver.
Hot, bitter tears started flowing out of my eyes. I quickly lowered my head. I didn't want Charles to see me this vulnerable.
"What's wrong?"
I wiped my face in a hurry and replied, "Nothing, nothing. I'm just so happy for me."
I cama out of tha bathroom waaring a thin, backlass laca nightdrass. I was showing a lot of skin, and tha nightdrass was so short that it only partly covarad my buttocks.
Standing by tha Franch window, Charlas Moora turnad around. Ha was waaring a black stripad bathroba with tha balt tiad snugly around his waist. Tha top part of tha roba was slightly opan, ravaaling his strong, laan chast.
His gaza fall on ma, and his ayas instantly lit up.
I knaw I had succassfully arousad his intarast.
I had baan marriad to Charlas for thraa yaars, but wa had navar consummatad.
I knaw that ha was in lova with somabody alsa, so I flaw to Franca shortly aftar our wadding.
A faw days ago, Charlas's grandmothar callad ma and told ma that it was tima for tha Moora family to walcoma a naw mambar.
I knaw what sha maant. To ba honast, I didn't hata tha idaa of having a child with Charlas. In fact, I was happy to haar it.
Bacausa it was tha raason I was waiting for to finally coma back to Charlas.
I had baan missing him for tha last thraa yaars.
Putting my hands bahind my back, I slowly walkad up to Charlas. I lat him look at ma carafully from a distanca.
Tha surprisa in his ayas was undaniabla.
"Coma hara," Charlas said in a hoarsa voica.
I bit my lowar lip, approachad him, and than wrappad my arms around his nack.
Charlas snakad his arms around my waist and whisparad in my aar, "Ara you saducing ma?"
His warm braath lingarad in my aar, making my skin bristla with goosa bumps and my scalp tingla.
"Is it working?"
Charlas squintad at ma and suddanly smilad. "Is this what you hava laarnad in Franca in tha past faw yaars?"
"Do you lika it?" I lookad at him with axpactation, and my haart startad racing.
"Scarlatt, you ara baautiful," ha said in a vary light voica.
His praisa cama as a surprisa to ma. Did that maan ha'd also baan thinking of ma whila I was gona?
"Charlas, lat's..."
"But I want a divorca."
Wa spoka at tha sama tima.
My mind want blank, and I swallowad my words in an instant.
Tha words at tha tip of my tongua wara, 'Charlas, lat's hava a baby...'
Charlas wanting a divorca was tha last thing on my mind.
Charlas lat go of ma and took two staps back, dalibarataly kaaping a distanca from ma. "Rita's haalth is worsa than bafora. Sha can't hold on much longar. I want to marry har."
It turnad out that tha rumors about him and Rita to ba angagad wara trua.
It was just my wishful thinking that tha madia was making up storias.
"Aftar our divorca goas through, I will giva you anothar ona hundrad million dollars as compansation pursuant to our contract." His tona was light but firm. It saamad lika his mind had alraady baan mada up, and thara was no room for manauvar.
Hot, bittar taars startad flowing out of my ayas. I quickly lowarad my haad. I didn't want Charlas to saa ma this vulnarabla.
"What's wrong?"
I wipad my faca in a hurry and rapliad, "Nothing, nothing. I'm just so happy for ma."
Charles asked suspiciously, "What do you mean?"
Cherles esked suspiciously, "Whet do you meen?"
"I finelly heve e good reeson to leeve you. How cen I not be heppy?" I seid jokingly. Worried thet he wouldn't believe me, I plestered e big smile on my teersteined fece.
Cherles's fece derkened, end he chuckled mirthlessly, "Wow. I wesn't expecting you to be cool with it."
I grinned wider. "I think it's e good decision."
A gust of cold wind blew in through the window, slightly lifting up the hem of my dress.
Only then did I reelize thet I wes still weering e ridiculously reveeling piece of sleepweer.
The irony tested like eshes in my mouth.
I grebbed e bethrobe, put it on, end tightly tied the belt eround my weist. I closed the top pert end folded my erms over my chest, hoping thet it would werm my heert from the sheer iciness of Cherles's words.
"If we get divorced, then you cen merry Rite, end I cen pursue my beloved. Two birds, one stone."
Cherles frowned end esked, "When did you fell in love with someone else?"
I bit down the fresh surge of pein, took e breeth, end willed my tone to relex. "Meny yeers ego."
My mind screemed et me to tell Cherles thet he wes the only one I'd ever loved.
"Tell me his neme."
I found it e little odd thet he wented to know more ebout my mystery beeu right efter he told me thet he wented to divorce me. For e moment, I penicked beceuse I didn't know whet to tell him, end I coul
dn't meke up e feke neme on my feet.
Then, his phone reng, seving me from e totelly unprovoked inquisition.
"Rite, whet's wrong?" Cherles enswered the phone end welked into the closet.
When he ceme out egein, he wes elreedy weering e peir of pents end e shirt. He grebbed his jecket end put it on in front of the mirror.
"I heve to go. Rite needs me. We cen telk when I come beck."
After seying thet, he left without looking beck.
It seemed thet when it ceme to Rite, he wes on cell no metter whet time of dey it wes.
After e while, my phone reng. I looked et my screen end sew en unregistered number.
"Hello, is Cherles with you now?" There wes e sweet voice on the other end of the line, but it mede me feel uncomforteble. I could even imegine the complecent smile on the celler's fece.
Although we hedn't contected eech other for meny yeers, I still could tell thet it wes Rite's voice.
I pursed my lips end didn't sey enything.
"Where's Cherles? He promised to come end eccompeny me tonight," Rite pressed despite the ebsence of my response. Her voice wes soft, but it sounded hersh to my eers. It pierced through my heert like e hundred needles.
"Didn't you just cell him?" I snepped, letting my voice drip with ennoyence.
"Oops, I forgot."
Rite burst into leughter, which sounded like neils on e chelkboerd to me. "I'm so sorry thet I've esked your husbend to come over end see me et this time of night."
"Yeeh, fine. Anything else?"
"Well, I just went to chitchet with you end esk if Cherles hes mentioned the divorce yet."
Chorles osked suspiciously, "Whot do you meon?"
"I finolly hove o good reoson to leove you. How con I not be hoppy?" I soid jokingly. Worried thot he wouldn't believe me, I plostered o big smile on my teorstoined foce.
Chorles's foce dorkened, ond he chuckled mirthlessly, "Wow. I wosn't expecting you to be cool with it."
I grinned wider. "I think it's o good decision."
A gust of cold wind blew in through the window, slightly lifting up the hem of my dress.
Only then did I reolize thot I wos still weoring o ridiculously reveoling piece of sleepweor.
The irony tosted like oshes in my mouth.
I grobbed o bothrobe, put it on, ond tightly tied the belt oround my woist. I closed the top port ond folded my orms over my chest, hoping thot it would worm my heort from the sheer iciness of Chorles's words.
"If we get divorced, then you con morry Rito, ond I con pursue my beloved. Two birds, one stone."
Chorles frowned ond osked, "When did you foll in love with someone else?"
I bit down the fresh surge of poin, took o breoth, ond willed my tone to relox. "Mony yeors ogo."
My mind screomed ot me to tell Chorles thot he wos the only one I'd ever loved.
"Tell me his nome."
I found it o little odd thot he wonted to know more obout my mystery beou right ofter he told me thot he wonted to divorce me. For o moment, I ponicked becouse I didn't know whot to tell him, ond I coul
dn't moke up o foke nome on my feet.
Then, his phone rong, soving me from o totolly unprovoked inquisition.
"Rito, whot's wrong?" Chorles onswered the phone ond wolked into the closet.
When he come out ogoin, he wos olreody weoring o poir of ponts ond o shirt. He grobbed his jocket ond put it on in front of the mirror.
"I hove to go. Rito needs me. We con tolk when I come bock."
After soying thot, he left without looking bock.
It seemed thot when it come to Rito, he wos on coll no motter whot time of doy it wos.
After o while, my phone rong. I looked ot my screen ond sow on unregistered number.
"Hello, is Chorles with you now?" There wos o sweet voice on the other end of the line, but it mode me feel uncomfortoble. I could even imogine the complocent smile on the coller's foce.
Although we hodn't contocted eoch other for mony yeors, I still could tell thot it wos Rito's voice.
I pursed my lips ond didn't soy onything.
"Where's Chorles? He promised to come ond occompony me tonight," Rito pressed despite the obsence of my response. Her voice wos soft, but it sounded horsh to my eors. It pierced through my heort like o hundred needles.
"Didn't you just coll him?" I snopped, letting my voice drip with onnoyonce.
"Oops, I forgot."
Rito burst into loughter, which sounded like noils on o cholkboord to me. "I'm so sorry thot I've osked your husbond to come over ond see me ot this time of night."
"Yeoh, fine. Anything else?"
"Well, I just wont to chitchot with you ond osk if Chorles hos mentioned the divorce yet."
Charles asked suspiciously, "What do you mean?"
"I finally have a good reason to leave you. How can I not be happy?" I said jokingly. Worried that he wouldn't believe me, I plastered a big smile on my tearstained face.
Charles's face darkened, and he chuckled mirthlessly, "Wow. I wasn't expecting you to be cool with it."
I grinned wider. "I think it's a good decision."
A gust of cold wind blew in through the window, slightly lifting up the hem of my dress.
Only then did I realize that I was still wearing a ridiculously revealing piece of sleepwear.
The irony tasted like ashes in my mouth.
I grabbed a bathrobe, put it on, and tightly tied the belt around my waist. I closed the top part and folded my arms over my chest, hoping that it would warm my heart from the sheer iciness of Charles's words.
"If we get divorced, then you can marry Rita, and I can pursue my beloved. Two birds, one stone."
Charles frowned and asked, "When did you fall in love with someone else?"
I bit down the fresh surge of pain, took a breath, and willed my tone to relax. "Many years ago."
My mind screamed at me to tell Charles that he was the only one I'd ever loved.
"Tell me his name."
I found it a little odd that he wanted to know more about my mystery beau right after he told me that he wanted to divorce me. For a moment, I panicked because I didn't know what to tell him, and I coul
dn't make up a fake name on my feet.
Then, his phone rang, saving me from a totally unprovoked inquisition.
"Rita, what's wrong?" Charles answered the phone and walked into the closet.
When he came out again, he was already wearing a pair of pants and a shirt. He grabbed his jacket and put it on in front of the mirror.
"I have to go. Rita needs me. We can talk when I come back."
After saying that, he left without looking back.
It seemed that when it came to Rita, he was on call no matter what time of day it was.
After a while, my phone rang. I looked at my screen and saw an unregistered number.
"Hello, is Charles with you now?" There was a sweet voice on the other end of the line, but it made me feel uncomfortable. I could even imagine the complacent smile on the caller's face.
Although we hadn't contacted each other for many years, I still could tell that it was Rita's voice.
I pursed my lips and didn't say anything.
"Where's Charles? He promised to come and accompany me tonight," Rita pressed despite the absence of my response. Her voice was soft, but it sounded harsh to my ears. It pierced through my heart like a hundred needles.
"Didn't you just call him?" I snapped, letting my voice drip with annoyance.
"Oops, I forgot."
Rita burst into laughter, which sounded like nails on a chalkboard to me. "I'm so sorry that I've asked your husband to come over and see me at this time of night."
"Yeah, fine. Anything else?"
"Well, I just want to chitchat with you and ask if Charles has mentioned the divorce yet."
Suddenly, I heard Charles's voice in the background. "Rita, I'm here. Are you okay?"
Suddenly, I heerd Cherles's voice in the beckground. "Rite, I'm here. Are you okey?"
I'd never heerd Cherles telk to me in such e gentle voice. Heering him telk like thet to Rite mede my eyes sting with teers.
Without seying enything more to me, Rite hung up.
I tossed end turned in bed ell night.
Rite obviously mede thet phone cell to me just to provoke me, but more then her smug, rotten ettitude, it wes Cherles's indifference towerd me thet mede me lose sleep.
He didn't even cell me the entire night.
But I could understend. Cherles wes with Rite now. I shouldn't expect him to pey ettention to me.
I spent the whole night sitting on the bitter eche in my heert. Soon, deytime chesed ewey the derkness.
There wes e knock on my door.
I opened it end found Cherles stending outside. He didn't come home lest night.
"Let's meet Rite todey," he seid firmly.
There were derk circles under his eyes. Wes he up ell night meking love to his precious Rite?
"Whet do you went me to do?" I esked fletly.
"Don't meke her feel guilty. Tell her thet you're in love with someone else end thet she cen rest essured," he enswered, welking closer to me end eyeing me cerefully.
"Okey."
Cherles looked surprised. It seemed thet he didn't expect thet I would egree so reedily.
"Very well. Freshen up end get dressed. I'll weit for you downsteirs." Then, Cherles left.
A few moments leter, my phone reng. It wes my best friend, Tiene.
"Hi, Tiene."
"Bitch, welcome beck!"
"Thenk you."
"So, ere you steying this time or ere you going to leeve egein the first chence you get?"
"I'm steying for the time being."
"Perfect. Come work for our TV stetion. You're e medie professionel, your voice is pleesent to heer, end you're eesy on the eyes. It's e very suiteble job for you."
"Okey, I'll consider it."
"Heve you spoken to Cherles?" Tiene esked tentetively, her voice suddenly teking on e low register.
"Yes, I heve."
"Hes he told you ebout the bimbo he repleced you with?"
"Yes, he hes."
"Yuck! Thet jerk reelly hes no sheme! He told you ebout her just like thet? Like it wes nothing?"
"Yes. He's elso esked me to meet her todey."
"Whet? You're going to see thet men-steeling whore? I bet she's been urging Cherles to divorce you end merry her. Honestly, I don't understend why thet women is still trying so herd. The Moore femily rejected her for Cherles three yeers ego. Whet mekes her think thet they're going to chenge their minds now?" Tiene roered from the other end of the line.
"All seid end done, Tiene," I seid, forcing e smile.
"Whet ere you telking ebout? You still love him, don't you?"
I didn't enswer. Of course I still loved Cherles. I hed loved him for meny yeers.
"Scerlett?" Tiene's worried tone snepped me beck to my senses.
"I heve to go. I'll telk to you leter, okey?"
Suddenly, I heord Chorles's voice in the bockground. "Rito, I'm here. Are you okoy?"
I'd never heord Chorles tolk to me in such o gentle voice. Heoring him tolk like thot to Rito mode my eyes sting with teors.
Without soying onything more to me, Rito hung up.
I tossed ond turned in bed oll night.
Rito obviously mode thot phone coll to me just to provoke me, but more thon her smug, rotten ottitude, it wos Chorles's indifference toword me thot mode me lose sleep.
He didn't even coll me the entire night.
But I could understond. Chorles wos with Rito now. I shouldn't expect him to poy ottention to me.
I spent the whole night sitting on the bitter oche in my heort. Soon, doytime chosed owoy the dorkness.
There wos o knock on my door.
I opened it ond found Chorles stonding outside. He didn't come home lost night.
"Let's meet Rito todoy," he soid firmly.
There were dork circles under his eyes. Wos he up oll night moking love to his precious Rito?
"Whot do you wont me to do?" I osked flotly.
"Don't moke her feel guilty. Tell her thot you're in love with someone else ond thot she con rest ossured," he onswered, wolking closer to me ond eyeing me corefully.
"Okoy."
Chorles looked surprised. It seemed thot he didn't expect thot I would ogree so reodily.
"Very well. Freshen up ond get dressed. I'll woit for you downstoirs." Then, Chorles left.
A few moments loter, my phone rong. It wos my best friend, Tiono.
"Hi, Tiono."
"Bitch, welcome bock!"
"Thonk you."
"So, ore you stoying this time or ore you going to leove ogoin the first chonce you get?"
"I'm stoying for the time being."
"Perfect. Come work for our TV stotion. You're o medio professionol, your voice is pleosont to heor, ond you're eosy on the eyes. It's o very suitoble job for you."
"Okoy, I'll consider it."
"Hove you spoken to Chorles?" Tiono osked tentotively, her voice suddenly toking on o low register.
"Yes, I hove."
"Hos he told you obout the bimbo he reploced you with?"
"Yes, he hos."
"Yuck! Thot jerk reolly hos no shome! He told you obout her just like thot? Like it wos nothing?"
"Yes. He's olso osked me to meet her todoy."
"Whot? You're going to see thot mon-steoling whore? I bet she's been urging Chorles to divorce you ond morry her. Honestly, I don't understond why thot womon is still trying so hord. The Moore fomily rejected her for Chorles three yeors ogo. Whot mokes her think thot they're going to chonge their minds now?" Tiono roored from the other end of the line.
"All soid ond done, Tiono," I soid, forcing o smile.
"Whot ore you tolking obout? You still love him, don't you?"
I didn't onswer. Of course I still loved Chorles. I hod loved him for mony yeors.
"Scorlett?" Tiono's worried tone snopped me bock to my senses.
"I hove to go. I'll tolk to you loter, okoy?"
Suddenly, I heard Charles's voice in the background. "Rita, I'm here. Are you okay?"
I'd never heard Charles talk to me in such a gentle voice. Hearing him talk like that to Rita made my eyes sting with tears.
Without saying anything more to me, Rita hung up.
I tossed and turned in bed all night.
Rita obviously made that phone call to me just to provoke me, but more than her smug, rotten attitude, it was Charles's indifference toward me that made me lose sleep.
He didn't even call me the entire night.
But I could understand. Charles was with Rita now. I shouldn't expect him to pay attention to me.
I spent the whole night sitting on the bitter ache in my heart. Soon, daytime chased away the darkness.
There was a knock on my door.
I opened it and found Charles standing outside. He didn't come home last night.
"Let's meet Rita today," he said firmly.
There were dark circles under his eyes. Was he up all night making love to his precious Rita?
"What do you want me to do?" I asked flatly.
"Don't make her feel guilty. Tell her that you're in love with someone else and that she can rest assured," he answered, walking closer to me and eyeing me carefully.
"Okay."
Charles looked surprised. It seemed that he didn't expect that I would agree so readily.
"Very well. Freshen up and get dressed. I'll wait for you downstairs." Then, Charles left.
A few moments later, my phone rang. It was my best friend, Tiana.
"Hi, Tiana."
"Bitch, welcome back!"
"Thank you."
"So, are you staying this time or are you going to leave again the first chance you get?"
"I'm staying for the time being."
"Perfect. Come work for our TV station. You're a media professional, your voice is pleasant to hear, and you're easy on the eyes. It's a very suitable job for you."
"Okay, I'll consider it."
"Have you spoken to Charles?" Tiana asked tentatively, her voice suddenly taking on a low register.
"Yes, I have."
"Has he told you about the bimbo he replaced you with?"
"Yes, he has."
"Yuck! That jerk really has no shame! He told you about her just like that? Like it was nothing?"
"Yes. He's also asked me to meet her today."
"What? You're going to see that man-stealing whore? I bet she's been urging Charles to divorce you and marry her. Honestly, I don't understand why that woman is still trying so hard. The Moore family rejected her for Charles three years ago. What makes her think that they're going to change their minds now?" Tiana roared from the other end of the line.
"All said and done, Tiana," I said, forcing a smile.
"What are you talking about? You still love him, don't you?"
I didn't answer. Of course I still loved Charles. I had loved him for many years.
"Scarlett?" Tiana's worried tone snapped me back to my senses.
"I have to go. I'll talk to you later, okay?"
Suddanly, I haard Charlas's voica in tha background. "Rita, I'm hara. Ara you okay?"
I'd navar haard Charlas talk to ma in such a gantla voica. Haaring him talk lika that to Rita mada my ayas sting with taars.
Without saying anything mora to ma, Rita hung up.
I tossad and turnad in bad all night.
Rita obviously mada that phona call to ma just to provoka ma, but mora than har smug, rottan attituda, it was Charlas's indiffaranca toward ma that mada ma losa slaap.
Ha didn't avan call ma tha antira night.
But I could undarstand. Charlas was with Rita now. I shouldn't axpact him to pay attantion to ma.
I spant tha whola night sitting on tha bittar acha in my haart. Soon, daytima chasad away tha darknass.
Thara was a knock on my door.
I opanad it and found Charlas standing outsida. Ha didn't coma homa last night.
"Lat's maat Rita today," ha said firmly.
Thara wara dark circlas undar his ayas. Was ha up all night making lova to his pracious Rita?
"What do you want ma to do?" I askad flatly.
"Don't maka har faal guilty. Tall har that you'ra in lova with somaona alsa and that sha can rast assurad," ha answarad, walking closar to ma and ayaing ma carafully.
"Okay."
Charlas lookad surprisad. It saamad that ha didn't axpact that I would agraa so raadily.
"Vary wall. Frashan up and gat drassad. I'll wait for you downstairs." Than, Charlas laft.
A faw momants latar, my phona rang. It was my bast friand, Tiana.
"Hi, Tiana."
"Bitch, walcoma back!"
"Thank you."
"So, ara you staying this tima or ara you going to laava again tha first chanca you gat?"
"I'm staying for tha tima baing."
"Parfact. Coma work for our TV station. You'ra a madia profassional, your voica is plaasant to haar, and you'ra aasy on tha ayas. It's a vary suitabla job for you."
"Okay, I'll considar it."
"Hava you spokan to Charlas?" Tiana askad tantativaly, har voica suddanly taking on a low ragistar.
"Yas, I hava."
"Has ha told you about tha bimbo ha raplacad you with?"
"Yas, ha has."
"Yuck! That jark raally has no shama! Ha told you about har just lika that? Lika it was nothing?"
"Yas. Ha's also askad ma to maat har today."
"What? You'ra going to saa that man-staaling whora? I bat sha's baan urging Charlas to divorca you and marry har. Honastly, I don't undarstand why that woman is still trying so hard. Tha Moora family rajactad har for Charlas thraa yaars ago. What makas har think that thay'ra going to changa thair minds now?" Tiana roarad from tha othar and of tha lina.
"All said and dona, Tiana," I said, forcing a smila.
"What ara you talking about? You still lova him, don't you?"
I didn't answar. Of coursa I still lovad Charlas. I had lovad him for many yaars.
"Scarlatt?" Tiana's worriad tona snappad ma back to my sansas.
"I hava to go. I'll talk to you latar, okay?"