Chapter 2

Soon, Elise heard Rowan and Regina say in unison, "Then we hope Sabrina and Daddy will always be happy and healthy!"

Sabrina chuckled and teased, "Aren't you going to pray for your mommy?"

"Mommy is mean. She always bullies you, so the heavens won't bless her!"

Elise felt cold to the core. For a long moment, she stood there, silently watching her husband and children pray for Sabrina. He was the man she'd loved for six years, and the children were her flesh and blood.

Then, she abruptly straightened up and left without another look back.

She'd been stubborn for six years. She'd waited for Calvin to turn back to her, but all she'd gotten was him shielding another woman, even praying for God to protect her. All of her persistence was just her humiliating herself.

…

Back at Serenity Estate, Elise packed up all her belongings. Then, she sent Calvin one last message. "Mr. Fulton, let's get a divorce."

She set her wedding ring down on the nightstand, turned around, and took a cab straight to the airport.

After leaving the chapel, Calvin prepared to take the twins back to Serenity Estate. There was a crowd outside, and in the commotion, Calvin's phone pinged. He was just about to check the message when…

"Catch that thief!"

The shouts rolled through the crowd. The bodyguards immediately moved to shield Calvin, but in the jostling, Sabrina was shoved forward. She crashed straight into Calvin's arms.

His phone slipped from his hand, hit the ground from a height, and shattered into pieces in the chaos of trampling feet.

"Calvin, I'm so sorry. Your phone…" Sabrina started.

Calvin only frowned for a brief second before saying mildly, "It's fine. I'll just get a new one."

That phone was mostly for family calls anyway. No one in the Fulton family liked texting. At most, it was only Elise who would send him messages. But anything to do with her had never been important.

On the way home, the twins were practically buzzing with excitement.

Regina clung to Calvin's sleeve and acted cute. "Daddy, is Sabrina really going to come stay at our house in a few days? She promised she would take me to Candy Kingdom."

Even Rowan was looking forward to it.

"Sure." Calvin nodded.

Then, Rowan grew a little worried. "But Daddy… Mommy said we're not very healthy and that the smells in Candy Kingdom would be bad for us. That's why she's never allowed us to go there. Will she stop us? And… if Mommy finds out Sabrina is going to live with us, she'll be upset…"

Calvin said gently, "Sabrina knows medicine; she once saved my life. With her around, nothing will happen to you. Your mom won't be staying much longer, anyway. Sabrina's just staying for a bit, and she'll help nurse you back to health.

Both kids were physically frail. With Sabrina's help, they were bound to get better.

"Yay!" The children cheered all the way home.

When they got back, they discovered something that made them even happier—Elise had gone back to Halston.

Calvin walked into the bedroom and saw the wedding ring on the nightstand. He was a little surprised. Ever since they got married, no matter how badly they argued, Elise had never taken off her wedding ring. This time, she'd left without a word, and she'd even taken off her ring…

Was she throwing yet another tantrum because she thought he'd been too cold to her?

All this while, Elise had been gentle and soft-spoken, very much in line with the traditional, reserved women of Halston. No matter how cold he was to her, she had never once truly lost her temper.

This was rare. He supposed even the most spineless of people could ultimately get mad.

Calvin didn't take it to heart. He casually tossed the wedding ring aside and said, "Elise won't be coming back for a while. Put her things away and clean out the room. Ms. Quill will be moving into the house in a couple of days."

Rowan and Regina's eyes lit up.

With Elise gone, Sabrina could move in! Elise wouldn't be hovering over them or grilling their doctors about their exercise routine anymore. She always made such a big deal out of everything. She insisted they exercise a set amount every month, and every time she came back, she would watch them like a hawk.

"It's just too bad Mommy didn't stay to help us do that spaceship puzzle. She promised. It's really hard to put together," Rowan muttered, suddenly losing some of his excitement.

There were thousands of pieces, and it would be a gorgeous spaceship once it was done. He'd wanted to finish it and give it to Sabrina as a birthday present. However, the thing was brutal on the eyes and took forever. He'd originally planned to wait for Elise to do it.

Regina wasn't quite as happy now, either. "Mommy should've finished sewing clothes for my dolls before she left."

Every time Elise came back, she would make a bunch of new outfits for Regina's dolls, and Sabrina would always praise how well put together they were. Elise had left so quickly this time that the dolls' clothes weren't done. Regina wasn't happy that Sabrina couldn't compliment her because she wouldn't be seeing the new outfits.

In her mind, though Elise couldn't compare to Sabrina, she was still pretty good when it came to this sort of tedious handiwork.

…

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Halston, Elise returned to the marital home she shared with Calvin.

After Calvin moved back to Ravenport with the kids, Elise remained in Halston. Aside from her work, she spent most of her time caring for Calvin's parents.

Stephen had always lived in Ravenport, but the rest of the Fulton family had moved to Halston ten years ago.

Old-money families in Ravenport were known for their strict rules and fussy standards in everything, including food, clothes, and daily routines. Calvin's mother, Helen Green, didn't get along with Stephen, and she'd grown used to a pampered life. She refused to return to Ravenport and preferred living in Halston, where everything went her way.

The Fultons didn't like their women making a name for themselves in public or being too ambitious. So, Elise stayed in Halston for Calvin's sake, playing the dutiful daughter-in-law. Her position at Fulton Group was mostly in name only.

Now that she'd decided to divorce Calvin, the Fulton family's affairs naturally no longer had anything to do with her.

She packed up all her things in the marital home. Then, she headed downstairs, intending to drop the house keys off with the butler, David Brown.

By chance, he saw her head downstairs. "Mrs. Fulton, you're back. Madam Helen was just saying that she's craving the fish terrine you made last time…"

He froze when he saw the suitcase in her hand.

Elise handed him the keys.

"I won't be living here anymore." She smiled faintly. "As for the fish terrine, you should get a professional chef to make it."

She ignored the stunned look on his face, turned, and walked out.

That day, Helen didn't get her fish terrine.

When Calvin video-called her that night, she couldn't help complaining, "Honestly, you never should've married a Halston woman. She doesn't even know how to make good fish terrine."

Calvin was a little surprised. Despite everything that had happened in the past, Elise had always been respectful and gentle toward the family elders. Her attitude was unexpectedly fiery this time.

"It's just one dish. If she doesn't know how to make it, tell the chef to do it," he said lightly.

Helen looked a bit embarrassed. She'd already tried hiring several chefs, but none of their food measured up to Elise's cooking. Still, she couldn't bring herself to admit that in front of Calvin, so she brushed it off.

David had come to drop off some things. He stood off to the side, feeling hesitant. He wondered if he should tell Calvin that Elise had moved out of the marital home.

He started, "Mr. Fulton, Ms. Elise has—"

Before he could finish, Calvin cut him off coolly. "You don't need to report anything about her to me. Just handle it however you see fit."

David's words died in his throat.