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Lahat ng Kabanata ng Five Years Too Late: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

9 Kabanata

Chapter 1

When I didn't respond, the officer must have thought I hadn't heard her."Ma'am, you might want to check this again."That finally snapped me back to reality. I took the form from her and forced a small smile."No, that's okay. Thank you."I froze for a couple of seconds, then reached for my phone without thinking and called Richard Leigh. I needed to know what was going on.The phone rang and rang.But when someone finally answered, it was Mia Ferguson."Janet, Richard's in a meeting. Is there something you need? You can tell me, and I'll pass it along. Though unless it's about groceries or something around the house, I doubt it's anything important."We're discussing an acquisition right now, so as a housewife, you should probably stay out of it."Her voice was sweet, but every word had a sting. I couldn't say a thing.Then I heard Richard's voice faintly in the background. "What is it?"Mia laughed softly. "Nothing. Just a pointless call. Focus on the contract."The call

Chapter 2

"Janet, I was in a meeting. What's going on?" Richard asked."Are you at the office? I need to talk to you. I need to come over now."He hesitated. "Now? That's not really a good time. I have a business dinner tonight. If it isn't urgent, we can talk when I get home—""It can't wait."I cut him off so sharply that even he seemed surprised. I was usually the one who tried to be understanding, and I rarely spoke to him like that.Richard frowned. "Are you still upset about the permanent residency thing? I've told you, you're my legal spouse. Under Alverran law, it's only a matter of time before you get permanent residency."Besides, you don't even have to work. What do you need it for? Janet, I'll take care of you."He'd said those words more times than I could count. Now, they just sounded bitterly ironic.He kept promising to take care of me, but I wasn't even his legal wife. Whatever he considered me, on paper I was no different from the other woman, someone who had to stay hi

Chapter 3

Everyone in the office turned toward the door at once. The moment they saw me, they froze.Richard looked over too, and the smile disappeared from his face."Janet? How did you..."He recovered quickly and hurried over, his voice flustered. "How did you get here so fast? I told you to call when you arrived so I could come down and get you."I didn't answer. I just looked at him calmly until he started to look uneasy.After a moment, he tried to explain, "You heard that, didn't you? We were just joking around. Don't worry. I promise I'll get your permanent residency approved next month."I stayed quiet and looked past Richard, slowly taking in everyone else in the office.After a long moment, I said calmly, "Never mind. Looks like I came at a bad time. You're all busy, so I'll leave you to it."I'd heard enough from Richard.There was no point confronting him about the marriage in front of everyone. I'd only make myself look like some pathetic, bitter wife demanding answers, an

Chapter 4

Richard didn't spare me another glance. He scooped Mia into his arms as she groaned in pain. Then he barked at the others, who were still standing there in shock."What are you waiting for? Call an ambulance! No, take my car and get her to the hospital. Now!"They all rushed out.I was left alone, rubbing my bruised shoulder where Richard had shoved me.I gave a bitter laugh and shook my head. I'd given Richard five years of my life and followed him across the world without hesitation. This was all I had to show for it.Maybe it was better this way. At least now, I had no reason to look back.Richard always did what he said he would, so I didn't bother going back to pack my things.If he was so sure he'd been the one supporting me, he could keep everything his money had paid for. The thought of taking any of it with me made me sick.Luckily, I'd brought all my personal documents with me for the immigration review. That was all I needed.I hailed a cab and headed straight for t

Chapter 5

Richard jolted, his voice coming out sharp and strained. "What? Janet's at the airport? She's going back to Lydora?"His reaction caught Archie off guard. A second later, he realized something was wrong."Yeah, I think so. She was already at the gate when I saw her, so I didn't go over and say hi. I figured something urgent had come up and she needed to head home, so I called you right away."Richard, what happened? Why is Janet suddenly flying back alone? You didn't know?"Richard went silent, which was unlike him. All Archie could hear was his rough, uneven breathing.Even Archie could tell from Richard's reaction that something was seriously wrong. He was about to ask if there was anything he could do when the line suddenly went dead.Richard had hung up on him and immediately called me instead.An automated message told him my phone was turned off. He frowned and tried again, only to hear the same message.With no other way to reach me, Richard sent me a message instead. Th

Chapter 6

"I'll cover your hospital bill, but you can't stay at our house anymore. You have one week to move out. As for your job, resign, and I'll double your severance pay."Tomorrow, I'll have my lawyer meet with you to sign the divorce papers. Mia, take care of yourself from now on."Richard finally pulled free from Mia and rushed out. She was still crying behind him, but he no longer had the patience to deal with her. He headed straight to the airport.At the airline service desk, an employee checked the system and confirmed that I had flown back to Lydora."Yes, sir. Our records show that Janet Ferguson was on tonight's nonstop flight LX188 to Lydora. It landed at Vareston International Airport about an hour ago."Richard's voice turned urgent as he pressed her. "Can you call her for me? I'm her husband. I have something really important to tell her, and I need to reach her right away!"The employee looked uncomfortable and shook her head. "I understand, sir, but we're not allowed to

Chapter 7

Archie called me half an hour later, and I picked up.I didn't hang up when he tried to put in a word for Richard. Instead, I asked him a question of my own."Archie, if you were me, would you forgive Richard?"He let out a bitter laugh and answered right away, "No. You can't treat love like that and expect it to last."I let out a small laugh, but my voice stayed firm. "Then I'm asking you as a friend not to tell him where I am or give him my new contact information. Tell Richard I've started a new life. He and I are over for good."I took a slow breath. A faint stab of pain went through my chest, but it quickly passed."I'll just chalk those five years up to a hard lesson learned."Archie didn't say anything else. We exchanged a few polite words, then ended the call.Mom sat quietly beside me, listening to everything.She said calmly, "I knew you'd come back. I just didn't expect it to happen this soon. I thought you'd end up like me, staying until your 30s before finally wa

Chapter 8

Mom didn't answer right away. She calmly sipped her coffee and waited until Richard had calmed down a little before looking up at him."Richard, Janet was determined to leave with you back then, and I didn't stop her. That was her decision, and she's already spent five years paying for it. Now she wants a fresh start, and I'm not going to stand in her way."Whatever she decides, I respect it. As for you and Janet, it was over the moment you chose to treat her that way and stood by while everyone else did the same. It's too late for tears to change anything now."Go home, and don't come back. That's as nicely as I'm going to put it."Richard's face went ashen. He looked completely defeated as he stumbled away in a daze, like all the strength had gone out of him.The six months since I'd left had clearly taken a toll on him. He looked much more worn down than before.Mom had no interest in dealing with him again. She simply told the coffee shop manager that if Richard ever showed u

Chapter 9

By the time Richard reached the last few words, he could barely get them out through his sobs.Those tears had made me give in more times than I could count. Three years ago, they would've softened me. But this time, they didn't.I listened quietly until he finished.After a long moment, I shook my head, gently but firmly. Then I reached into the canvas tool bag beside me and pulled out a bright red invitation embossed in gold.I held it out to him. "No, Richard. I'm getting married."Richard froze, as if he couldn't process what I'd just said.His eyes dropped to the invitation in my hand. His hand hovered between us for a long moment, but he couldn't bring himself to take it.When he finally looked back at me, there was a hollow despair in his eyes.I didn't wait for him. I stepped closer and placed the invitation in his hand myself."He went through the whole approval process at work just so we could get married. He's from here, and our parents have already met. Everyone's

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