Chapter 7

The following morning, Damien arrived at Schrett Holdings earlier than usual.

He left Violetta's house at dawn and went home only to change into new clothes for work.

He went into his bedroom and noticed Cindy was sleeping beside Shirley so he placed a little kiss on her forehead before leaving, trying not to disturb either of them. 

But unbeknownst to him, Shirley saw him. She just refused to speak.

In the office, the city was only beginning to wake yet the building was alive with assistants moving from one office to another. 

He shut his office door and sank into his chair. 

His desk was covered with contracts waiting for his signature, but his attention remained fixed on something else.

The divorce.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number on the speed dial.

The call connected after the second ring.

"Mr. Lewis speaking." 

"I need you to prepare the documents."

There was a brief pause.

"For a business acquisition?"

"No."

Damien leaned back in his chair.

"A divorce."

"I understand."

"I want everything done quietly."

"It'll be ready before the end of the day."

Damien ended the call and rested his elbows on the desk.

For reasons he couldn't explain, he didn't feel relieved.

Instead...

He remembered Cindy's little voice and somehow, Shirley was on his mind.

He shut his eyes.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

Violetta entered without waiting for permission.

She carried two cups of coffee and placed one before him.

"I knew you'd skip breakfast."

Damien managed a faint smile.

"Thank you."

She circled behind his chair and rested both hands on his shoulders.

"So?"

"So?"

"Did you call the lawyer?"

"I did."

She smiled, "It's about time."

He remained silent.

Then she leaned closer.

"You're hesitating again, aren't you?"

"I'm thinking about Cindy." 

"But Cindy will still have a father."

Damien sighed, "It's not that simple."

"It is."

She walked around the desk until she stood directly in front of him.

"You've spent three years living for everyone except yourself."

She reached for his hand.

"Don't stop now just because you feel guilty."

Damien looked into her eyes.

"I'll go through with it."

Her smile widened.

"I knew you would."

                                    ***

Around noon, the mansion was unusually peaceful.

Cindy sat on the living room rug coloring inside a picture book while Shirley folded freshly dried clothes.

Daisy dusted the shelves nearby.

"Ma'am."

Shirley looked up.

"Yes?"

"I'll go to the market after lunch."

"That's fine."

"I won't be long."

Shirley nodded.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Daisy said.

A minute later, footsteps echoed through the hallway.

"Ma'am…”, Daisy sounded uncertain.

"You have a visitor."

Shirley walked into the foyer.

Her steps stopped immediately.

Violetta stood at the entrance wearing oversized sunglasses and an elegant beige dress.

She smiled politely.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you."

Shirley's expression hardened.

"What are you doing here?"

"I left an important project file in here the other day and Damien is aware of it."

"He isn't home."

"I know”, Violetta smiled again.

"He told me where to find it."

Shirley doubted that.

Every instinct told her to close the door.

After a long silence, she stepped aside.

"Be quick."

"Thank you."

Violetta walked in as though she had visited countless times before.

She glanced around the mansion with quiet satisfaction.

"I couldn't admire your house properly the other day but it's pretty, I must say."

Shirley ignored the remark.

"The study is upstairs."

"I know", Violetta said. 

The words caught Shirley's attention.

Before Shirley could speak, Violetta had already climbed the staircase.

Something about the woman unsettled her.

She couldn't explain it.

                                    ***

A few minutes later, Shirley returned to the kitchen to prepare fruit juice for Cindy.

She opened the refrigerator.

The orange juice was gone.

Strange…

She clearly remembered taking out a fresh carton that morning.

"Daisy," she called.

"Did you move the juice?"

"No, ma'am."

Before Shirley could think further, Cindy's cheerful voice drifted from the living room.

"Thank you, pretty aunty!"

Shirley's heart skipped.

She hurried toward the sound.

Violetta was kneeling beside Cindy with a glass of orange juice in her hand.

"I found some in the kitchen," she said casually.

"I thought she'd be thirsty."

Cindy reached for the glass with both hands.

Something felt wrong…very wrong.

Shirley's eyes dropped to the drink.

She noticed a faint white residue floating near the rim.

It wasn't much but enough to catch the light. 

"Cindy!"

Shirley lunged forward.

The glass flew from Cindy's hands and shattered across the marble floor.

Orange juice splashed everywhere.

The entire room fell silent.

Cindy burst into tears.

Violetta stood slowly, "What was that for?"

Shirley pulled Cindy into her arms, her heartbeat pounding against her ribs.

"Where did you get that juice?"

"The kitchen."

"And how did you get into my kitchen? You went to the study", Shirley's voice turned cold.

Violetta folded her arms.

"Are you accusing me of something?"

"I..."

Shirley looked down at the broken glass.

The white residue had already dissolved into the juice.

There was nothing left to prove what she'd seen.

Daisy rushed in after hearing the glass break.

"What happened?"

Before Shirley could answer, Violetta sighed dramatically.

"I was only trying to be kind."

She picked up her handbag.

"I think I'll leave."

As she reached the front door, she turned back with the faintest smile.

One that disappeared before anyone else could notice.

Only Shirley saw it.

And it chilled her to the bone.

She kept Cindy by her side all through the day and at night.

Then Damien returned. 

“Daisy!” he called, the minute he saw Shirley playing with Cindy in the sitting room. 

“Take Cindy to her room.” 

“Yes sir.” 

When they had both gone upstairs, Damien set his suitcase down. 

“Violetta told me what happened here. What was the need to embarrass her like that?” 

Shirley was about to speak but she remembered that she had no evidence to prove that Violetta wanted to harm Cindy. 

“It was nothing”, she finally replied. 

Damien sighed.

Then he pulled out a brown envelope from his suitcase. 

“I'm tired of how you put me to shame everyday. Sign these.” 

He slammed the envelope on the table and turned his back to Shirley. 

She picked it up with trembling hands, with a gut feeling of what it could be. 

“Di-divorce papers?” She stuttered.

Damien rubbed the back of his neck, still looking away. 

“Just sign them without creating a scene.” 

“But…” 

“If you're thinking of Cindy”, he interrupted, “then don't bother. We can co-parent…I'll figure something out.”

“But…”

“No buts and ifs. I've already made up my mind.” 

With that, he turned to leave.

Shirley stood mortified with the document in hand and pain engulfed her but she didn't shed a single tear. 

“And yes”, he stopped mid-step.

“Violetta will be moving in next week.”