CHAPTER SIX - DIVORCING YOU IS THE BEST DECISION I MADE

“So, where do you want to go to celebrate your single blessedness?”  Tony asked cheekily, his eyes on the road. 

I mulled his words for a while and decided. 

“Can you bring me back to my hotel?  I need to get my things and check out.”

Tony was surprised. 

“When did you leave your home?” He meant the house I shared with Caleb for the past three years. 

“Yesterday. Right after our talk.  I realized there was not much to keep me there, and it would have been harder if I did it today. It had become less of a home these past months. Besides, I have to say goodbye to Mrs. West.” At the mention of our housekeeper, my eyes turned gloomy.

In my three-year marriage to Caleb, I had been quite attached to the older woman and considered her family.

I impulsively offered to take her with me, but she declined my offer. She had been Caleb’s nanny since birth and could not leave her charge behind. 

Caleb grew up alone.  His parents divorced when he was young, but he did not go with either of them.  He chose to live in their old home with only Mrs. West and a driver around. 

Mrs. West practically raised him. 

“You have grown fond of Caleb’s nanny,” Tony observed. 

I nodded.  “Mrs. West is probably the only person around Caleb who did not detest me. I will miss her kindness.   I have relied so much on her this past three years.   As you know, Caleb's mother does not like me for him while I never saw his father.”

Tony nodded.  “Yes, because Caleb's mother thinks you are a gold-digger, out to get his son’s money.” 

And we both laughed.  

“If only they knew the truth.” Tony mused after a while.  

At this, my expression became sharp.  “It’s a moot point now,” I said, remembering the countless times I tried to patch up the invisible wall between Mrs. Kingston and me.  

“Yeah.” Tony agreed. 

He and Tory were the only people privy to how I tried to please Caleb’s mom, but it was futile.  The woman looked down on me and did not even see my efforts until I finally stopped trying. 

Also, my doctor, Tony advised me to refrain from stressing myself with my lack of relationship with Caleb’s mom as my main stressor.

_____

We arrived at the hotel.  

Tony turned the ignition off and got out of the car at the same time I did. 

“Well, I have a good pair of arms to help you carry your things.  And I do not want you to strain yourself.  You are now pregnant and must take good care of yourself.” He explained at my questioning look.  

Shrugging his statement off, I walked ahead of him toward the hotel entrance, refraining from pointing out that I do not need many hands to carry my two medium-sized suitcases.  

I talked to the concierge to settle my bill before going up to my room. 

“Royal Suite.” Tony read the room name written on a golden plate out loud when we stopped outside my rented room.

I pressed the key card,  and the door clicked open.  

Then I gestured for Tony to come in.  Tony looked around my spacious suite, which had luxury stamped on it with its high-end furnishings and detailed craftsmanship on its walls and room features.  

The room screamed elegance and classy.   Tony whistled when he saw this. 

“Looks like royalty lived here. About time you splurge.” He told me approvingly.

Tony followed me when I went inside my room. Then, he pulled at the handle of the two suitcases pressed on the wall and rolled them out. 

“Are these all your things?” He was surprised that I had so little in the three years I spent with Caleb.

“I didn't have much when I came to live with him.” 

“What about the things he gave you?  Caleb is a generous man.  I don’t believe these are all the things you accumulated in your three-year marriage.”

My expression soured.  Of course, Caleb bought me things.

“I decided not to keep them.  It’s for my peace of mind.  The only thing I was taking with me that had Caleb’s stamp on it was the baby in my womb.” I said, gesturing to my stomach. 

“Savage!” Tony declared and laughed. 

We were laughing when I opened the door and was surprised to see Caleb’s scowling face. His glacial eyes ran past me where Tony was. 

“I see you did not waste your time.” He muttered. 

“Caleb, what are you doing here?” 

He let out a sardonic laugh.  “Would you believe me when I say that I came to give you this?” He waved a brown folder in the air. 

My eyes narrowed at the familiar brown folder, my lips pressing hard in annoyance.  It was our settlement contract where Caleb was giving me a sizable amount for my alimony.  

“I told you earlier that I do not need your money.  You can keep it.” I said, sounding gruff.  

Money had been a sore point in my marriage because everyone thought I trapped Caleb into marrying me for his amassed fortune as a brilliant financial whiz kid.  

After all, he was Caleb Kingston. The head of the Kingston Conglomerate that runs one of the top online shopping platforms and has investments in a television network, a movie company, and a co-owner of an NBA franchise. 

When he heard my refusal, Caleb’s sarcastic laugh floated around us. His expression became sharp. 

“Yes.  It appeared as much.  I do not think you would need my support with a capable man by your side.” he said cryptically, eyes attached to Tony’s.

His statement puzzled me.  “Don’t tell me you are jealous?” I asked.

My heart started to beat faster than normal when I saw a side of Caleb that I didn't know existed, but then he let out a belly-aching laugh that had me confused next. 

“Don’t be ridiculous!” He scoffed. 

Then the smile wiped off his face, and he tucked the brown folder in his arm.

“I had a bad case of a guilty conscience, but it seemed like it was unnecessary considering that you already found yourself another man to latch on to right after divorcing me,” 

His accusation hurt, but my pride would not let me correct his misconception if it is the only thing that would save my h*de.

“You were the one who asked for a divorce, remember?”  I added, pointing out that the divorce was not my idea but his. 

“Of course. I can never love you, Cassy.”

"Yes, becasue you have always loved another woman."  I agreed.

He nodded and turned around, but just before he stepped forward, he turned back and caught me off-guard. 

“I hate you, Cassy, for making a fool out of me. Divorcing you is the best decision I ever made.”