4. Back to being strangers.

Two weeks had passed after my staged ‘accident,’ and I was discharged from the hospital with a divorce certificate in hand. When Raven’s lawyer appeared with the divorce agreement, Edmund had no choice but to scribble his signature, seeing my seriousness in the matter. The procedure went smoothly since both parties were determined to go through the process.

I hobbled toward the parking area with Mrs Winfrey. Disappointment was written all over her face as she opened the car door for me.

“My dear, I can’t believe he’d really let go of you like this.” 

My lips formed into a cynical smile. “This is nothing, Mrs Winfrey. It’s about time for us to go on separate ways, anyway.”

“But you are still unwell! How about you stay home until you are fully healed, Maggie? I’m sure Edmund wouldn’t mind,” she proposed somberly.

I smiled and shook my head. “I would love to stay with you. But I can’t. Edmund and I are nothing but strangers now. I can’t be living under the same roof anymore. You know, we cannot stand each other.”

Mrs Winfrey sniffed. “My poor child. Where will you go after this?”

“Oh, come on! You know I’m a girl scout! I never make a move without prior preparations,” I joked, wiggling my brows as we settled in the back seat. “I’ll text you my address when I’ve settled down. You will visit me, right?”

“Of course, darling!” Mrs Winfrey replied, pulling me into a tight embrace.

Guilt gripped my heart when I felt the old woman shudder while sobbing softly in my arms. When Edith passed away, Mrs. Winfrey gave me the motherly love I never had. I was certain I’d miss her more than I would ever miss Edmund.

That afternoon, I packed the things I brought with me when I first moved in. After a moment of contemplation, I rejected the idea of bringing the things I bought with Edmund’s money. They would only remind me of the horrible time I spent being his wife.

I stared at the unopened shopping bags from several luxury brands in the corner of the walk-in closet. Those were the items I bought that day. My lips curled into a contented smirk when I recalled how Edmund had called me out for spending his money.

Thirty million. It wasn’t enough to compensate for the psychological and emotional damage he had caused me.

Clutching my crutches, I called for Mrs Winfrey and a few maids to take the bags to the living room. I gathered all the servants working in the villa and ordered them to pick whatever they fancied from the heap of expensive things.

I was a philanthropist to the core, for I had known what it was like to live in poverty. It was better to give them to those who were in need rather than returning them to the stores.

They were of no use to Edmund anyway. 

“B-But Mrs Grant, each of these is worth hundreds of thousands. W-We can’t possibly take it,” said Gina, a maid in her late twenties. The glint of greed in her eyes betrayed her words.

It almost made me believe that Edmund's prejudice toward women without a background was not unfounded.

“No worries. These are all mine and I’m giving them away so you can make better use of them. You can always take them to the shops and ask for a refund in cash. That would be more helpful. The receipts are intact for your assistance.”

The crowd gasped in awe. I was aware that, for people without wealth, cash was more practical. Only those born with silver spoons found those luxury items a necessity to display their fortune and status.

“Alan, I know that your daughter is undergoing chemotherapy. Please take this as my farewell gift and I hope she overcomes her illness and gets well soon,” I said sincerely, handing the most expensive piece of jewelry to the aged gardener.

Surprised, the man trotted to accept the velvet box with a tearful expression. “Madam, thank you very much. It is very thoughtful of you to even remember my family situation. You are the most down-to-earth and generous person I have ever met. May the Almighty bless you!”

I smiled and nodded politely. One by one, I called out the names of every worker, finding the smallest reason to encourage them to accept my presents.

The sun was already kissing the horizon when the event ended. I was pleased with how it turned out and the grateful expression on the worker’s face made me feel warm. After giving my farewell speech, I reminded them that I would no longer be the madam of the house—no longer Mrs Grant as they used to call me.

For the last time, I went back to my room to take a little breather. There, I took off my wedding band, and engagement ring, placing them on top of the dresser along with Edmund’s black credit card. On a piece of onion skin paper, I penned a short poem while staring at the portrait we had taken on our wedding day.

[I longed for you like a breath of fresh air on warm summer eve;

Your voice, your touch, and your scent are seared in my bone,

I loved you the way the sun refused to set on a summer night;

Your eyes, your lips, and your heart reject every shade of my tone,

I miss you as the earth yearned for water in a drought;

Twenty-four months later and I’m still alone.

Goodbye, Edmund.]

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I folded the parchment into a butterfly origami. I knew my ex-husband loved literature. And like a pathetic fool, I wished that it would reach him—for the first and the last time.

An hour later, I grabbed my handbag and went down the stairs. I saw Edmund’s familiar figure leaning by the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze was intense and there was an unfathomable amount of depth in the way he was studying me.

“You can stay until you find a place to move in,” he offered placidly, his eyes never leaving my face.

“Thanks. But I can manage Mr Grant. Staying in a place where I do not belong is not only an imposition on your kindness but also disrespect to myself,” I declined flatly.

“Stop being stubborn, Margaret. You refused everything I have offered you. Your pride will take you nowhere. Pearl City isn’t a place where you can survive without money and connections.”

My mouth curled into a mocking grin. I glanced at the luggage beside me and then looked at him coldly. “I came with nothing but a few pieces of clothing so I’m leaving with what only belonged to me. As for the properties you promised to give me, you can donate them to the foundation I have established with your grandmother. It could support the studies of over a hundred of less fortunate kids. That way, you would be doing the world a favor of reducing illiteracy.”

Edmund’s eyes widened in surprise ever so slightly, but he quickly masked it.

“Did you honestly believe I married you because of all the material things you can give me? I hate to break it to you Mr Grant, but you don’t know anything about me. You are free now, and this is goodbye,” I added.

“You’re such a clown. I know you’ve gotten used to the act of being a philanthropist. Grandma is no longer around, you can put an end to it.”

I scoffed and cocked a brow. “Of course, you always found my existence nothing but hilarious. But you are so wrong on so many things on so many levels. One day, your prejudice will come back and bite you in the ass. Now, please move, I have people waiting for me.”

He opened his mouth to retort, but I waved dismissively, pushing him aside with my crutches. Without sparing him another glance, I marched out of the villa, tossing away the burden weighing over me.

Mrs Winfrey and Alan assisted me to the driveway where Raven had already parked his BMW X5. My brother got out of the vehicle and attentively opened the passenger seat.

“Welcome back, princess,” he whispered, leaning over with a proud and sly smile plastered on his lips. He kissed my forehead softly and buckled my seatbelt.

Looking up, I saw him gazing in Edmund’s direction and I didn’t even have to squeeze out brain juices to understand what he was trying to do.

“Save it, Rave. You’re wasting your breath. He doesn’t give a shit about me. Let’s go.”

Rolling his eyes, Raven settled back behind the steering wheel and drove away. He was chatting excitedly, but I dozed off in the middle of the conversation, overwhelmed by exhaustion.

When I opened my eyes again, the car had already stopped in front of a Victorian mansion. The driveway was lit with warm lights and the rest of the building illuminated the gorgeous architecture. There was a glowing fountain by the front yard, too.

My jaws dropped. It was like a castle from a fairytale.

“Do you like it?” Raven asked, unbuckling his seatbelt.

“What the freak, Rave? This is too much?! How much did you spend on this?”

“Not much. Just a year's worth of dividends.”