Chapter 6 – Divorce

Dwayne

I paced back and forth in my room after handing the divorce papers to Nancy. I couldn't quite figure out why I was so angry; after all, it wasn't a big deal to me whether anything happened between Nancy and me.

It was just sex.

Technically, we were married, so that sort of thing was normal, right? Even if we weren't a real couple.

I felt a twinge of regret for calling her "ugly." The truth was, she wasn't actually ugly—she was just a nerd with a terrible sense of style—but the night before, I had seen and felt just how beautiful and smooth her skin was.

When I heard a knock, I was certain it was Nancy on the other side of the door. Maybe she was coming to apologize. Since she was the one worried about my mom, I decided to let it slide.

I would just make it clear to her that I viewed her strictly as a secretary and nothing more. I started to smile, but it vanished instantly when I saw that it was actually Manang Gloria, our housekeeper, standing outside.

"Sir, Madam Elena is crying; she refuses to take her medicine or even eat," she said worriedly.

"Why don't you call Nancy?" I replied, then called out, "Nancy! Go check on Mommy!"

"Sir, Ma'am Nancy has left. I saw her rushing out earlier with suitcases, and she left this envelope in the living room," Manang Gloria said. I stared blankly at the envelope after seeing Nancy’s signature and a note stating that a copy had already been sent to Attorney Bernard Sandoval, meaning the matter was settled. I immediately ran outside, but Nancy and her car were already gone. I tried calling her, but her phone was turned off.

“Nancy! Help!”

I heard Mommy’s tearful cry, so I rushed back inside the mansion; my mother was pushing the helpers aside and had even thrown the food from the tray.

“Mom!” I immediately hugged her to calm her down.

“Where is Nancy? She’s the one I want to eat with!” my mother said tearfully. How could I tell her that I didn’t know either?

Mommy quickly snatched the envelope I was holding and opened it; it was too late to stop her from seeing the contents.

“D-Divorce papers? You separated from Nancy? But why?” Mommy asked angrily.

“Mom, you know we aren’t a real married couple. Besides, last night... I woke up to find that something had happened between us. Nancy probably just wants to get money from us. She left after signing our divorce papers; she took the check and walked out,” I explained. “She had a right to that check because it was the agreed-upon price for marrying you—but it wouldn't have been a bad thing if something intimate happened between the two of you. Did you say hurtful things to her? Weren't you thinking? Did you think your dad and I didn't know that ever since Nancy became your secretary, she was practically the one running the company? Did you ever lose even a single peso? No, right? That’s because she’s a good person—but you threw it all away!” Mom said, weeping.

I felt a deep sense of regret; I was furious with myself. What was I supposed to do now that Nancy was gone? From the moment I woke up until I went to sleep, I never had to worry about a thing because she handled it all.

Could I really manage without her? What the hell was I thinking?

Memories of our passionate lovemaking suddenly came flooding back. With other women, it was usually just about lust, but last night was different. I can't explain it, but I hadn't even felt that way with Janella.

“Find Nancy and bring her back here!” Mom shouted, shooing me out of her room.

I went to the house I had given Nancy; the car I’d gifted her was there, but I was shocked to find the place empty. A passing neighbor told me they had driven Nancy to the airport but had no idea where she was headed.

I rushed to the airport and summoned the head of security to help locate her, but the CCTV footage showed she had already boarded a flight to Milton. That’s a country far away, so I had no idea if she knew anyone there or simply wanted to get as far away as possible. I returned home empty-handed; no one I asked knew why Nancy had gone there. I took Mommy to the hospital to get her settled, promising I would look for the woman.

“I’ll agree to be confined, but don’t just *say* you’ll look for Nancy—actually do it! I don’t want Janella for you, so don’t you dare bring her into my house, or I will truly disown you!” my mother said angrily before being wheeled into the recovery room.

I went back to Nancy’s old house; I had never stepped inside before, so I didn’t know what I might find. Even though Nancy had been staying with us for days, her house remained clean and tidy.

I wanted to find a clue as to where she might be going in Milton. I headed straight to her bedroom and my eyes fell on a framed photo on the side table. It was a picture of the two of us from last year’s Christmas party; I looked drunk, practically embracing her as I had my arm around her shoulders.

I opened a photo album and almost...

I froze when I saw a picture of Nancy and me there.

What is this?

Why is this here?

Does she have feelings for me?

One picture fell, so I picked it up and read the message written on the back. It was a photo from my 30th birthday.

“My love—or rather, Sir Dwayne,

Happy Birthday. I know so many people have already greeted you, so I felt too shy to express my true feelings out loud; that’s why I’m writing this on your picture instead. I love you. I have loved you since the very first moment I saw you. I loved you so deeply that, even though the job was hard—and even though I was dying of jealousy whenever you were with your girlfriends—I forced myself not to show how much it affected me. I didn't want to ruin whatever bond we shared. I was content to be your secretary forever if that meant being near you. I know you’ll never love me back. I’ve accepted that reality. I just hope you find a genuine woman who will love and cherish you—and respect your parents and your wealth, too. I hope you don’t end up with women who are fake or deceitful. That’s all. I hope the chance comes for me to confess my feelings, though I also know that the day I finally do will be the day I have to walk away.”

I hadn't even realized my tears were falling. Shit! What is this feeling? Do I love Nancy, too?

I wept even harder when I returned to the mansion and saw the traces of blood on the bed we had shared the night before. Nancy was a virgin, and I was the one who took it.