Chapter 8

Carina stayed home for the next few days so that Aster wouldn't get suspicious of her. She didn't go anywhere and just stayed put at home, just waiting for time to pass.

Initially, she thought that had settled everything regarding her new rented place. But to her surprise, the landlord suddenly changed his mind on the day they were supposed to sign the leasing contract.

Delphine called Carina. "The landlord said that some guy, a Mr. Ducant, rented the apartment for another woman, Ms. Winters, and he offered double the asking rental price. They signed the contract immediately, and the apartment is now rented out to them."

Delphine knew about Aster's relationship with Stella. Coupled with Carina's weird antics lately, she could already guess what had happened.

Carina didn't say much and just asked Delphine to find another place for her.

That night, Carina tried testing the waters with Aster.

"I heard that you rented a place for Stella. Is that true?"

She hadn't meant it as a provocation or anything else. She just thought that she would steer clear of that area if that was the truth.

To her surprise, Aster got all flustered and hurriedly raised his hands in defense, shaking them and saying, "Don't get the wrong idea, Carina! You know how terrible the place Stella was renting is, always getting the electricity cut off for no reason.

"I just thought that since Stella is a company employee, this could also count as part of her employee benefits. That's what that rental is for! Employee benefits."

Carina nodded in understanding. She didn't cry or make a fuss about it and even joked with him for a bit.

Aster looked at her, who was weirdly calm after receiving the news, and a flash of fear suddenly surfaced in his eyes.

"Carina, are you hiding something from me?"

Carina froze very slightly while scrolling on her phone. However, she quickly composed herself. She looked up at him and said, "No, I'm not. But why would you think that way?"

Aster kept quiet. He had an inkling that Carina was keeping something from him. However, he didn't have proof of it. So, he just smiled back forcefully at her and said, "No reason."

A few days later, Carina finally managed to find another rental apartment far away from the first, with Delphine's help.

After signing the lease, Carina immediately moved everything she owned from the mansion into the rental. She didn't even leave a single towel behind in Aster's mansion.

Tonight would be the last night Carina was spending in Aster's home.

She sent him a text message early that day, planning to tell him everything that night over dinner.

She made a seven-course meal for dinner that night. This was her last dinner with him before she divorced him.

However, Aster never turned up.

When the clock struck 10:00 pm, Aster still hadn't come home.

Carina took out her phone, tapped into Instagram stories, and saw that Aster was busy celebrating with Stella. She only learned then that Stella had coincidentally moved into her new place today as well, and they were celebrating it together.

She watched the stories calmly.

So, Aster wasn't willing to spare her any time for Stella's sake.

Carina took all the food that she had made and threw them into the trash can.

She wondered if Aster would regret standing her up if he knew that today was the very last day before their 30-day waiting period was up.

She left him a letter. However, after some thought, Carina didn't think that there was any need to bring up the past again since they were getting divorced anyway.

So, she tore the letter up, threw it into the trash can as well, and left a copy of the divorce agreement on the table, along with the wedding ring from her finger.

After making sure that there wasn't a single trace of her left in the mansion, Carina walked out the door and left.

Aster finally got home long after Carina had left.

He tidied up his shirt, checking himself twice in the reflection, and then put an apologetic smile on his face, immediately apologizing as he stepped into the mansion.

"Sorry, Carina. I was just about to come home when I bumped into our biggest client, Sirius Jackson, and he invited me out for dinner. We ended up chatting for a long time."

This time, however, there was no other sound besides his own voice echoing throughout the empty halls.

Aster then called out to Carina again a few more times, but the place was still as quiet as ever.

His expression changed immediately, a look of horror and disbelief on his face.

The night breeze blew right past him, slightly rustling the pages of the divorce agreement and resignation letter on the table.

The agreement fluttered in the wind, and he suddenly caught sight of his signature on the very last page.

Aster's eyes widened at once. He mumbled in shock, "No, this can't be! This has to be fake! I never signed something like this!"

He flew over to the table, flipping the document open and reading the agreement. Then, he shakily took out his phone and called Carina.