Chapter 8 · Married One Day, Divorced The Next

Chapter 8

Tears fell uncontrollably like pearls from a broken necklace.They weren't for that jerk Caelan.They were meant for me.Seven wasted years of my youth because of him.For the trust I gave away wholeheartedly.I nearly destroyed the future with no return.Mavis remained silent.She took a soft cashmere blanket from the back seat and covered my legs.Then she pulled out a tissue and handed it to me.The gesture was gentle, but it carried an unmistakable strength.*****The car glided smoothly into the night.Outside, neon lights blurred into hazy halos through my tear-stained eyes.I cried for a long time—until my throat was raw and my eyes burned. Only then did I finally stop."Mavis," I finally spoke, my voice hoarse. "How did you know?"How did you know the Drake family would be like this?"That was my biggest question.She lived abroad, visiting once a year at most.How did she know everything about Caelan Drake's family?She gripped the wheel, eyes fixed ahead.Then she spoke calmly, marked by the worn wisdom of past storms."Because I made the same mistake when I was young," she said.I was caught off guard.She added, "I once met someone like Caelan."He was gentle, attentive, cared for me deeply, and cherished me like I was his greatest treasure."I thought I had found the greatest love in the world."I even ignored my family, took my papers, and was ready to elope and marry him."So, what happened in the end?"She chuckled bitterly at herself. "The night before we were supposed to get married, I accidentally overheard him on the phone with his mother."She was on the phone, walking him through it step by step—how to string me along after the wedding, how to make me hand over the family money willingly, piece by piece, to fill their endless pit."She said girls like me, who'd never suffered and had everything, were easy targets. A few sweet words, and I'd be in his hands."And the man who claimed he loved me? He sounded happier than anyone, playing right along."Mavis spoke calmly, as if she were telling someone else's story.But I could picture how shattered and hopeless she felt then.She added, "From that day, I understood something important."Some families are poor not just in money but at their core."Greed and scheming—it's etched into their very bones."They don't see it as wrong and are proud of it."So when you first brought him to me, I noticed immediately."The way he looked at you—that wasn't love. That was a predator sizing up its prey."And the way he looked at our family's properties—that wasn't admiration. That was a man counting what he planned to take."That eagerness to get ahead and fake humility was just like the guy I met back then."That's why I said get a prenuptial agreement."That wasn't just about protecting your assets. It was about giving you a chance to see who he really was before it was too late."Because people like them can't hide their true nature."That marriage certificate? It's their green light. The moment it's in hand, the mask comes off, and the fangs come out."Every word she said confirmed my experience today.A chill ran down my spine.The seven years I loved were a scam from the start.I was a gullible mark with five apartments, targeted from the start."I understand now," I said steadily.I wiped my tears, my eyes clear and determined."Thank you, Mavis," I whispered.Thank you for saving me from the edge.Mavis glanced at me in the rearview mirror and smiled—a look that held both pride and tenderness.She said, "You silly girl, no need to be so formal with me.You're Sinclair. No one pushes you around."Go home and sleep well tonight. Don't think about anything else."Tomorrow, we'll win this in style."The car entered the luxury apartment's underground garage.It was one of Mavis's properties in the city, a sprawling penthouse with clean, elegant lines.She set out pajamas and warmed milk for me."Rest tonight. I'll be by your side tomorrow," she said gently.I lay on the soft bed, breathing in the warm sunshine from the sheets.For the first time in a long time, I felt truly safe and calm.She's right.Right. The world hadn't ended.Because my family was always there, right by my side.I slept like a baby that night.The Drake family, on the other hand, was in for a very long, sleepless night.The next morning, my phone rang nonstop.Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows.I saw an unknown number on my phone.I swiped to answer, but before I could get a word out, a woman's shrill voice came screeching through the line."Rowan, you worthless bitch! Haven't you ruined Caelan enough? Now you want to divorce him? No way!"It was Fiona.Her voice was a venomous blade, piercing through the phone.I hung up without a word and blocked the number—all in one smooth motion.No sooner had I put my phone down than Tessa called.Her anxious voice came through as soon as I picked up."Rowan, check the college alumni chat! It's blowing up!"My stomach dropped—something was wrong.I opened my messaging app, and sure enough—thousands of unread messages in the alumni group.I clicked in; the chat was full of gossip about me and Caelan.Someone had posted a long, carefully crafted post, complete with photos. It was from Caelan.The title read To My Love of Seven Years, Rowan—I Gave You Everything, and You Betrayed Me the Day After Our WeddingCaelan portrayed himself as the perfect boyfriend who sacrificed all for love.He said he started with nothing but worked hard to give me a better life.He felt insecure about my rich family, so he spoiled me like a princess.He said he washed my car daily, made me soup, and brought chamomile tea.He never missed a day for seven years, rain or shine.And me? He painted me as a spoiled, arrogant rich girl who looked down on everyone.He claimed his only request was to borrow one of my empty apartments temporarily—just a short-term arrangement for his sister before her wedding.He even promised he'd pay me back later.But I just heartlessly turned him down.The day after we married, I filed for divorce.I brought my elders and publicly called him a gold-digger from a poor background chasing my family's wealth.He wrapped up his post with a bunch of photos.One close-up showed him looking wrecked, as if he'd cried all night.Another showed his mom, Fiona, crying unconscious on the couch.And then there was Vivian, lying in a hospital bed, her wrist all bandaged up.The caption read Poor Vivian. Driven to the edge by Rowan's vicious words, she couldn't take the humiliation and slit her wrists. She's still in the hospital fighting for her life.

Chapter 8