CHAPTER 03

11:57 PM.

Livienne was staring at the wall clock while seated on the couch in the living room.

The room was silent because all the guests had left.

Livienne’s heart was ringing in her ears. She was trying not to bite on her fingernails, but her heel kept tapping on the carpeted floor.

At 11:59 PM.

She heard footsteps.

She knew it was Regan, so she immediately stood.

With the divorce papers in hand, Regan looked her in the eye and said, “I won’t divorce you.”

Livienne tried not to smile or show any happiness. “Then what about Selena?”

Regan’s lips pressed together. “She’ll stay here for a few more days.”

Livienne’s face stiffened. “You’re not the only friend she has in this city, Regan. She still came to you after cheating on you because she’s after you. She wants you.”

“She will leave after a month,” Regan said.

“And what if she doesn’t?” Livienne snorted. “One month can change a lot of things. A lot of hearts.”

Regan’s gaze sharpened. “Do you not trust me? I’ll only help until she can stand on her own.”

“A grown man and a grown woman can’t be just friends,” Livienne blurted, “especially not when they already had slept together. If you want to help her, then do it through your assistant or one of your friends. She doesn’t have to be in this house.”

“Why are you being so insecure?” Regan raised his voice.

Livienne’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m being insecure? I wasn’t asking you to choose me over your family. I want you to choose me over your ex-girlfriend who cheated on you. If you can’t do that, then I want a divorce.”

“I don’t accept this.”

“If you’re not going to sign these papers, then I’ll go to court,” Livienne said coldly, keeping the pain suppressed down her throat.

“What?” Regan couldn’t believe what she was saying.

“You will do what?” Evelyn entered the hall as if she had been overhearing the conversation. “Are you trying to ruin our reputation by dragging my son to court? That will NEVER happen, not as long as I’m alive!”

She was charging toward Livienne, almost wanting to attack her, but Regan stopped her.

“She wants to leave, so sign the damn papers, Son,” Evelyn both and urged him.

Regan, however, didn’t want to do that. He looked at his wife. She was still wearing the wedding ring. Smiling, he said, “You signed on the papers, so why are you still wearing the ring?”

Livienne was startled.

It hurt her to take it out, but she slowly removed it and put it on the table.

Regan couldn’t believe it, but Evelyn was all smiles.

“I still don’t understand why you’re doing this, but if it’s really a divorce you want, I will sign these documents,” Regan said. “But let me arrange for your life afterward.”

Livienne forced out a smile and said, “No, thank you. You can give that money to buy something for Selena to make her recover faster.”

Regan’s jaw tightened. Taking a deep breath, he took out his pen and signed on the documents.

His mother was quick to fetch them.

“My lawyer will be here soon,” Livienne said and walked away.

Regan sat down and picked up the wedding ring that was on the table. “Our vows… are broken.”

Downstairs, Selena approached Livienne who was heading toward the front door.

“Are you only taking one bag with you?” Selena asked. “How are you going to survive outside like this? Do you want me to give you some clothes? Or I can transfer some money to you. I’ll keep it between us. No one will know. How much do you want? A hundred dollars? A thousand dollars is too much, but I can give you that much if you want.”

Livienne smiled, then patted Selena’s shoulder and said, “It’s not over.”

Then she walked away.

“Good bye,” Selena waved her hand from behind, not at all caring about what Livienne had just said.

Livienne stepped out of the building.

The driver was bringing the car, but she raised her hand and stopped him.

She walked on foot and exited the outer gates.

A luxurious SUV stopped outside.

She looked back, and Regan was watching from the balcony, with the black box in his hand.

Evelyn approached Regan and saw Livienne entering the car and leaving. “Do you see that, Son? She already had a second option. That’s why she left you. So, don’t spare any emotion for her. She never contributed anything to our family anyway, but Selena is different. The Diore family has been one of our closest allies for decades. Selena understands this world. She understands you. She can give you children. She can stand beside you without embarrassing you. Besides, isn't she your first love? She made a mistake before, but everybody makes mistakes. So, give her a second chance.”

Saying that, Evelyn left.

Regan opened the black box. There was a custom made watch inside with the letters V and R on the minutes and hours hand.

A year and half back, Regan was not able to spend much time with Livienne, so he promised her he’d be with her when the hours and the minutes hand on the clock would meet every single day and night.

However, Regan was not able to keep his word. But Livienne never complained.

"The letter R stands for Regan, but what about the letter V?" Regan was confused. "Was it a mistake?"

“If you had a second option, why did you prepare this gift for me, Livienne?” His heart was flooded with a mix of emotions.