Chapter 5
Briseis could distinctly hear the sound of her heart breaking apart.
Those seven years with Aldric were already a regret in themselves. Now, everything had turned to complete dust.
Briseis dug her nails deep into her palms, barely managing to keep her emotions in check as she forced herself to speak calmly. "Mr. Vance, you truly dote on Ms. Thornwood."
Aldric's face darkened, and he frowned ever so slightly.
Briseis didn't pay it any mind and went on.
"In that case, give me seventy thousand dollars for my medical bills. I won't hold them accountable anymore," she said.
Calanthe asked, a hint of doubt in her voice, "Only seventy thousand dollars?"
Briseis nodded firmly. "Yes, only seventy thousand dollars."
Seventy thousand dollars was the price for seven years, from falling in love to divorcing Aldric.
She was putting an end to this love, to this marriage, ending it once and for all.
Aldric didn't ask anything else. He transferred the seventy thousand, then left with Calanthe in tow.
The hospital room fell silent once more.
Briseis rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head.
Maybe the pain tugged at her wound, and before she knew it, her pillow was soaked with tears.
She spent almost ten days in the hospital.
During that time, Aldric came alone to visit her.
But Briseis didn't want to see him. Every time he showed up, she would feign sleep, refusing to face him.
After she was discharged, Briseis got together with her few close friends for a meal, sharing the news of her upcoming move abroad with each of them.
When they learned she was about to make a comeback in the entertainment industry, everyone was thrilled for her.
In the last few days before leaving, Briseis was practically counting down the days.
On the very last day, as soon as the courthouse opened, Briseis was already there.
The waiting period was finally over, and she walked out with her divorce certificate in hand.
Just as she stepped out of the courthouse, her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Calanthe, inviting her to meet at an exclusive club.
Briseis glanced at the divorce certificate in her hand, then made up her mind to go.
When Briseis arrived at the private lounge, Calanthe was already waiting for her.
Calanthe picked up her glass of milk, took a small sip, and smiled at Briseis.
She said, "Ms. Wexley, I didn't invite you here for anything else. I wanted to thank you for making it possible for Aldric and me to be together.
"I actually wanted to thank you right after you two got divorced, but Aldric has been so clingy these past few weeks. He won't even let me out of his sight for three hours.
"He insists on being with me all the time. Even on set, he's always watching me, and he even lowered himself to be my assistant. Today, I finally found a chance to get away."
Briseis's grip on her glass tightened unconsciously.
Back when they were together, Aldric used to be just as clingy with her.
But now, he no longer cared about Briseis at all.
Calanthe noticed the subtle shift in Briseis's expression, and the smile in her eyes deepened with satisfaction.
She said, "Still hung up on Aldric, aren't you, Ms. Wexley? Too bad you two are already over.
"When Aldric started chasing after me, I made it clear. I'd never be anyone's mistress. He dumped you right away for me. Guess that proves I'm the one who really matters to him now. You are history, Ms. Wexley."
Briseis could see right through Calanthe. She was sharp and ambitious.
If she weren't, Aldric wouldn't have been wrapped around her finger for three months, and he sure as hell wouldn't have filed for divorce.
Briseis kept her cool as she spoke. "You didn't invite me here to rub it in my face, did you?"
Calanthe chuckled lightly, "As expected, you're pretty clever, Ms. Wexley."
She took a sheet of paper from her bag and handed it to Briseis.
Briseis frowned, wondering what Calanthe was really up to.
As she took the paper, she found it was a pregnancy test report.
Her mind went completely blank, a chill wrapping around her heart, icing it over inch by inch.
'Calanthe is pregnant?' Briseis thought.
Calanthe looked thoroughly satisfied with Briseis's reaction.
She tilted her chin haughtily, one hand resting on her stomach, her tone dripping with smugness. "Ms. Wexley, Aldric and I have only been together for a month, and I'm already carrying his child.
"But you were married to him for three years and never managed to have a kid. Isn't that just sad?" she said.
Briseis clenched the pregnancy test report so tightly, leaving deep creases in the paper.
She and Aldric had once been expecting a child together.
It was during their second year of marriage. She had found out she was a month pregnant.
She was about to share the good news with Aldric when she noticed a lipstick mark on his collar. That was the first time he ever cheated on her.
That night, Briseis cried all night long, and the next day, she lost the baby from heartbreak.
Aldric had sat by her hospital bed, swearing he'd never cheat on her again.
But after that, he kept having an affair and another.
However, no matter what, he always made sure none of them ever got pregnant.
That lost little life was a taboo between them.
But now, it was obvious that Aldric had already forgotten all about it.
Well, at least the divorce was final now.
She couldn't care less who Aldric chose to be with and who he wanted to have a kid with anymore.
Briseis swallowed her feelings and handed the pregnancy test report back to Calanthe. "Congrats. Looks like you two are about to tie the knot."
Calanthe's smug expression froze for a second. She hadn't expected Briseis to accept the news so calmly.
She stood up, grabbed Briseis's wrist, and flashed a mocking smile. "Ms. Wexley, you might say congratulations, but deep down, I bet you absolutely hate me.
"Well, tough luck. I can't stand having an ex-wife like you anywhere near Aldric. I'm going to make sure you vanish from his life completely."
Before Briseis could even figure out what Calanthe meant, Calanthe suddenly dropped heavily to the floor, letting go of her wrist.
Blood ran down Calanthe's leg as she went pale, clutching her stomach.
Briseis's heart tightened. She grabbed her phone and instinctively dialed 911.
The door burst open with a bang. Aldric yelled, bursting in, "Calanthe!"