Chapter 5

The next day after Violetta came for dinner, the house was unusually quiet. 

Cindy was awake and her tiny giggles echoed through the living room as Daisy chased her around with a clean towel after breakfast.

It was Shirley who had gone quiet.

She simply drifted around the house in silence. 

She folded laundry and watered the flowers by the front porch.

She later helped Cindy put together another crooked castle from wooden blocks.

She did everything she was supposed to do…nothing more and nothing less.

Damien noticed everything but he simply chose not to mention it.

He buttoned the cuffs of his shirt as he descended the staircase.

His briefcase rested beside the front door, ready for another day at Schrett Holdings.

"You have a meeting with the board today," Shirley said without looking at him.

"I know."

"There'll be traffic on the expressway so take the other route."

"I know that too”, he replied and that was the extent of their conversation.

He picked up his briefcase and walked toward the door.

Halfway there, Cindy ran after him.

"Daddy!"

Damien smiled and scooped her into his arms.

"What is it, princess?"

"You forgot your kiss."

He chuckled before kissing her forehead.

"There."

She grinned.

"One for Mommy too."

The smile on Damien's face disappeared almost instantly.

For a brief second, neither of them moved.

Cindy looked from one parent to the other, waiting.

Shirley lowered her eyes.

"It's alright, sweetheart."

"But Daddy always..."

"Cindy”, Damien called in a calm but firm voice.

"Daddy will be late."

The little girl's shoulders slumped.

He set her down gently before walking out of the house without another word.

Shirley stood there, staring at nothing in particular long after he'd gone.

It was amazing how quickly children noticed when love disappeared.

                                      ***

By noon, Daisy had finished cleaning the rooms downstairs.

"Ma'am," she called from the laundry room.

"I've sorted Mr. Damien's clothes."

"I'll check the pockets before you wash them."

"Alright."

It had become a habit over the years.

Shirley would check to see if there were business cards, receipts, loose cards and so much more – Damien always forgot something.

Shirley carried the laundry basket onto the bed and began checking each pocket one by one.

She found a pen, his office card and a receipt from a gas station…nothing unusual. 

She reached for the charcoal suit he'd worn the previous evening.

Just as she slipped her hand into the inner pocket, her phone rang downstairs.

She frowned.

‘Who could be calling?’

The ringtone stopped.

Then started again.

It was probably her father.

He hated when she didn't answer.

She placed the jacket on the bed and hurried downstairs.

By the time she returned a few minutes later, the call had ended.

She picked up the jacket again.

Something buzzed and she was startled for a bit. 

It was Damien's phone. He had two phones…one strictly for work and one for personal use. 

He must have left it inside the jacket after changing.

The screen lit up before her eyes and a notification popped up. 

The name that flashed across the screen was Violetta with two red hearts attached to it. 

Shirley's breath quickened. She knew that her husband did not bother to add any emoji to her name but now, it was the least of her worry. 

She tried to stop herself from looking because it wasn't right. 

Never in her three years of marriage had she gone through Damien’s phone…not even by mistake. 

Just as she was about to look away, another message appeared.

The preview expanded across the screen.

‘Have you prepared the divorce papers?’

Shirley's fingers went numb.

Then another buzz came through. 

‘Don't lose your nerve this time.’

She stared at the screen, unable to blink.

Everything started to blur out but one thing remained certain – Damien wanted a divorce. 

This was far from any argument or misunderstanding. It also wasn't something said in anger. 

And from the look of those messages…he had already started the divorce process. 

He probably had the papers ready and was thinking of when to hand them over. 

Shirley trembled but as soon as she heard footsteps approaching, she dropped the phone. 

It was Daisy. She came in to announce Dr. Schrett’s presence downstairs. 

“I'll be down shortly”. 

Shirley went into the bathroom to wash her face but that did not help much. 

When Dr. Schrett saw her, he knew something was off. 

“You look pale, my child. Is everything okay”, he asked after hugging her. 

“Eve, you even have dark circles. Don't you get enough sleep? Do you need more helpers at home?” 

He was so concerned and kept going on and on with questions. 

His concern made Shirley emotional but she did not cry in front of him because it would only make him worried. 

“There's nothing to worry about dad. And Daisy is more than enough of a helper for me.” 

He nodded but did not look convinced. 

Dr. Schrett had always cared for Shirley. Her father was his driver for over a decade and half and he had grown fond of her. 

He insisted that she address him as ‘dad’ or ‘Theodore’ because he didn't want formalities. 

Shirley knew, without doubt, that if she told her father in-law about Damien's doings, he would take a drastic step to call his son to order. 

But she had no interest in estranging the father and son, so she just kept mute about everything that happened over the past few days. 

She promised to speak to Damien once he got home and she did. 

“Are you planning on divorcing me?” she asked the second he stepped into the bedroom. 

“Where did you get that from?”. He was startled at the rage brewing in her tone. 

“I saw the messages on your phone.” 

“So you're spying on me?” 

“No.”

“But just answer me, do you want to divorce me?” 

Her voice was cracking now as she was not sure of the answer that would follow. 

“Nothing has been decided yet”, he added and Shirley’s breath hitched. 

Her whole body burned with pain.