CHAPTER 35
When the morning came, David was surprised to see the messages on his cellphone. The ten messages coming from Agnes are enough to alarm him that he pulled himself up from the bed and showered immediately. The message read:
I need to talk to you urgently.
Are you awake? See you asap.
Please need to know, meet me.
Still asleep? Need to see you.
Chris and I have a falling out. I need to see you.
Sorry to bother you, waiting in the pavilion.
Take your time, waiting here.
CHAPTER 36 The sudden departure of Agnes Duvier, made all the tongues waggle. Even, Chris Duvier’s friends wondered what could have triggered the sudden exit of the wife of the famous billionaire. Is divorce now on the table? They wondered if there was a prenuptial before they were married. They know that Walden has a good lineage but they are not rich. Chris could stand to lose much of his wealth if a separation on the table. Money is not everything in the business world. A good name is also an asset and the Walden has that history and name that was well respected by some snobbish elite in the world they dwelled in. Marrying Agnes has given Chris Duvier an edge. “I don’t think Duvier can easily be fooled. If he entered the marriage game, I’m sure he got an ace on his sleeve.” “Hmmm… probably.” The man nod absently. “I heard from an unconfirmed source, that it was the girl who wanted the marriage.” “You know what, I think there was some grain to that
CHAPTER 37 David Bern apprehensively watched Agnes' lone figure. She is much frailer than the last time after the incident in his home. He realized too late that it was his fault that she suffered like this. If only he did not take her away from the island…if only he protected her from Chris Duvier… if only he took her away in a safe place as he always wished, nothing would have hurt her like this. He sighed; burdened with the knowledge that he was one of the main contributors to what Agnes has been feeling these past weeks. He approached her still figure. She was watching the moor. The land beyond always holds a special place in her heart. Every inch of land in Winshord Castle is so precious to her that she cannot imagine life without living in this place. She gasped when she felt a touch on her shoulder. She turns around and saw David worried face. “Hi, Agnes…” “David!” her face lights up to see her dear friend. These past days, David was he
CHAPTER 38 Chris Duvier gasped for air. He felt his heart breaking with grief. He cannot breathe, his body covered with cold sweat. “Agnes!” he screams her name in pain. The woman beside him scrambled in surprise and looked at the man beside him having a nightmare. She was scared shitless when he heard his voice, “Chris are you alright? What happen?” He stared with glazed eyes at the woman beside him. He was confused. The room looks strange. It was not his bedroom. “Where’s Agnes?” he demanded. She pouted, “Darling, I don’t care about your wife. Don’t insult me by calling her name in my bedroom!” Chris stood up and pulled his trousers and shirt. “Where are you going?” The woman angrily throws a pillow at him. He ignored her and left the room. He cannot remember what happened last night. He was too drunk. He can’t even remember where he parks his car. He walked at the side of the road, looking for his car.
CHAPTER 39 A week had passed. Chris attended the funeral of his wife. He tried to see Agnes' dead body for the last time but Lady Elizabeth refused to even see him. The coffin remains locked. All the servants, Lady Elizabeth, Lea, and the friends she made for a short time when she became his wife join the funeral. Even Barbara Barry came with her minions of old ladies. He wore his dark glasses, hiding his bloodshot eyes from the prying people and the media. He stood separated from them. Lady Elizabeth looked at him. Her eyes were full of pain but there were no tears. Barbara Barry hugged Lady Elizabeth in comfort. Still, the old woman just looked at him till the end of the ceremony After the burial in Walden's private cemetery, Lady Elizabeth approached him. The old woman together with Barbara Barry stood in front of him and said in a choking voice, “Duvier, I hope you're happy now. I hope she already paid he
CHAPTER 40 Be brave…deep breath…, Lina Summers told herself over and over. She stared at the bank façade apprehensively. She needed the loan to fund her business. If she failed to get the fund, she might be laying off people who rely on her. The idea of losing anyone of her employees felt her with dread. Lina squared her shoulder and flipped her short black hair. She took a step toward the bank. She breezes in inside, her eyes seeking the loan division. She saw the loan manager waving at her. He was a customer in her bakeshop. Once a week, Ron Palmer visited her quint shop and ordered his favorite custard cake. Lina smiled and wave back at the man. She moves towards the small table in a cubicle. Ron stood up and shake her hand. “Please have a seat, Lina.” Ron beamed at the beautiful woman in front of him. She was a sight. Her short blunt-
CHAPTER 41 Everybody is tiptoeing around the boss. Since, the death of his wife, Chris Duvier had changed drastically. He was constantly working like he was driving himself to destruction. The stress level had affected the company. They are growing exponentially but they have more employees resigning because of the stress and demands of Chris Duvier himself. He never smiled too. He never goes out to date and lost interest in women. He dropped a lot of weight and his eyes have dark circles around them. He was practically like the ghost of a man. David Bern was so worried about his friend that he moves back and work with Chris Duvier again. It was a gloomy time for the company. Joan Rogers, his secretary, had faithfully worked for the man but she too, was on the brink of giving up. She doesn’t know when he will return to normal. When he strode into th
CHAPTER 42 Barbara Barry and Lady Elizabeth retired to the study, to enjoy the tea and the goodwill cake which was served at dinner. Both of them had a sweet tooth and both loved teas. They both drink it all day long like water. Comfortably seated together with a burning fireplace near them, they assumed their usual gossip, especially what happens at dinner. “Poor Lea…” Lady Elizabeth murmured sadly. Barbara sighed, “It looks like Duvier is still stuck in the past.” “Yes...”, She sighed worriedly, “What have we done Barb? So much misery. Every time I look at Duvier, I wondered if we did the right thing.” “Shhh…quite somebody might hear us.” She look
CHAPTER 43 Autumn had arrived in Riverside. The trees have turned into a fiery glow of orange, yellows, and reds. It’s Lina’s favorite season and her son, Adam. They would go out in the afternoon and play underneath the maple trees in their backyard. She would pretend to shovel Adam inside a pile of leaves. Her son would growl and try to catch her while she pretended to be afraid. Their peals of laughter would ring the backyard. Later, Rita would call them back for a snack of muffins and warm milk. She felt at ease now. The money from their investor had been pouring on their bakeshop and she paid her bank loan diligently. Joan Rogers visited her every week to check on the progress of the business. She also brought a lot of consultants and big players in the food industry business to help her set up the bakeshop. Lina has started building a commissary near her first bakeshop and she was hiring more