Chapter 4
Inside was a bank deposit slip.
It was 10,142,000 dollars.
Every dollar he'd sent home over the past twenty-five years, with interest, was still there. Nothing was missing.
"I never touched a single dollar you sent," I said.
The living room went quiet for about five seconds.
Vivian froze with her teacup halfway to her lips, not putting it down.
The three kids didn't really get what was going on, but seeing their dad's face, they could tell something was wrong.
The youngest, Sylvia, suddenly asked, "Dad, what's she doing?"
"Quiet," Edward said, his voice hoarse.
He stared at the numbers on the deposit slip, then looked at me.
"Why?" he asked.
"There's no reason," I said, standing up. "Edward, you left just a year and three months after we got married.
"You said you'd be back in three or five years, but you were gone for twenty-five. You had her, you had them, and spent twenty-five years away from me.
"I don't blame you. I'm just tired."
"So you're going to divorce," Edward started.
"I've thought it through. I don't want to be Mrs. Grant anymore. Once you sign the papers, we're done for good. You live your life, and I'll live mine," I said.
He slammed his hand down on the coffee table, knocking over the teacup and spilling water everywhere.
"Twenty-five years together, and you're just ending it like that?" Edward snapped.
"Mr. Grant," I said, locking eyes with him, "we were only husband and wife for a year and three months. The other twenty-three years and nine months, you were in Hudson Portus, I was here. Does that even count as a marriage?"
He fell silent after that.
Vivian jumped up, trying to steady him. "Edward!"
He shook her off, his eyes locked on me. "I'm not signing."
"Take your time," I said, grabbing my bag. "When you've made up your mind, have Uncle Bert let me know."
I turned and walked out of the Grant Manor.
Behind me, I could hear Vivian trying to comfort him, and Sylvia chattering away with her questions.
Outside the courtyard, the car was waiting. Frank opened the door for me.
"Ms. Harrington, how did it go?" he asked.
"He didn't sign," I replied.
"Figured as much. So what now?" Frank asked.
I slid into the car and settled back in the seat.
"No rush," Ms. Harrington said. "After waiting twenty-five years, a few more days is nothing."
*****
That night, Anna called.
"Mom, did he sign?" she asked.
"No," I replied.
"I knew it," Anna said.
"Don't stress," I replied.
I'm not worried, I'm pissed,' Anna snapped, her voice full of anger. "Why won't he sign? The court already ruled. What right does he have?"
"He can be stubborn all he wants. I've got all the time in the world," I said.
"Mom, you're way too chill about this," Anna said.
"It's not about being chill. It's just not worth getting worked up over," I replied.
After hanging up, I took my meds, glanced over the financial reports, and then went to bed.
Things were quiet on my end.
Over at their place, things were a mess.
Later, Uncle Bert told me that Edward totally lost it at the Grant Manor that night.
He slammed the deposit slip I returned onto the table and turned to Vivian. "Did you know about this?"
Vivian shook her head. "I had no idea."
He kept pushing, "How did she manage all those years by herself? What about Anna's dowry? Did she never need any money?"
No one answered him.
The next day, Edward made a bold move. H e brought Vivian and the three kids with him and officially moved them into the Grant Manor.
Uncle Bert relayed the message: "Mr. Grant says this is the Grant family's house, so he has every right to come back and live here. He's inviting you to move back as well, so the whole family can have a proper talk."
"The whole family."
I actually laughed out loud when I heard those words.
When he was off in Hudson Portus, starting a whole new family with Vivian and having three kids, did "the whole family" ever even cross his mind?
"Tell him I'm good here. I'm not coming back," I said.
Uncle Bert sighed. "Evelyn, if I can say one thing, these years haven't been easy for you. Don't put yourself through any more."
"Uncle Bert, I'm not putting myself through anything. I just really don't want to go back," Evelyn replied.
After Uncle Bert left, I scrolled through my phone. There was a news alert: "Edward Grant, Chairman of Grant International Holdings, Returns to the Country, Plans to Restructure Domestic Operations."
There was a photo attached., Edward and Vivian standing side by side outside the airport terminal, with the three kids behind them. The caption read: "Edward Grant arrives in the country with his wife and children."
Wife.' Evelyn thought, the word stinging more than she'd expected.