After Divorce

Chapter 14 Meet in person

Ending the call abruptly, Cyril had no desire to keep listening to Caroline’s excuses. He had promised to resolve this issue for her and would handle it even if things somehow still spiraled later. But if she already had too much scandalous history that could be endlessly exploited, then his efforts would be meaningless, exposing him as a perpetual cleanup crew picking up her messes.

The public wasn’t stupid. They could discern fact from fiction and constant cover–ups would eventually exhaust all patience. Once that snapped, Caroline’s road forward would be permanently blocked.

Just thinking of the impending headaches trying to salvage this gave Cyril a pounding migraine. But he had no choice except to try.

Sitting numbly for awhile after hanging up, his chauffeur finally hurried over anxiously, asking whether to go to the apartment nearby work or his marital home.

After marrying, Cyril seldom returned to the martial home, staying instead at company apartments most times. His driver’s sudden query caught him off guard. Glancing at the route, the marital home was actually closer. But the thought of traces of Sylvia still lingering there made Cyril vaguely uncomfortable.

Just then his phone rang. Seeing it was his mother, Cyril hesitated. Her calls usually meant nonstop complaints involving some female issue, which was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now. But he couldn’t ignore her either. After letting it ring off once, it promptly rang again. Sighing, Cyril finally answered this time.

The moment he did, Michelle’s angry shouts blasted through.

“Why did you take so long to answer? Do you know Sylvia barged in today and took back all the jewelry she gifted me?! Even your sister called to say Sylvia stole her things! Aren’t you going to do something?! You’re divorced! What right does she have to reclaim gifts? Outrageous!”

“Mother, is it truly that egregious? The divorce agreement she signed was Clean Break. Requesting her possessions back is perfectly reasonable then. If this call is purely to complain about that, I see no need to interfere. We’re divorced. She can reclaim whatever

she wants.”

Sylvia had insisted on Clean Break, indicating her determination to sever all ties. Getting worked up over her actions now seemed pointless. Though Cyril was surprised by her going to such extremes to cut contact completely.

“Don’t give me that! You’re not even trying to stop her, so of course you can’t! Listen, she has no right to gifts already given. Relinquishing ownership means no take–backs!”

Michelle shrilled.

Listening to her tirade gave Cyril a pounding headache despite the triviality of it all. But his mother clung stubbornly to the issue.

After tonight’s Caroline debacle, Cyril was starting to feel he had wronged Sylvia in many ways. So her current actions sparked no anger in him at all.

“I don’t care what you think! She gave those things away and has no claim over them anymore! Give me a clear response on this! If you don’t, I’m coming down to your company! “Michelle threatened.

She might look down on Sylvia’s inferior birth but the status conferred by Sylvia’s lavish gifts was what Michelle craved most. Wearing those glittering diamond necklaces lent her immense face. Under the admiring queries about their origins, Michelle had preened

delightedly. Unable to bear losing such elevated standing now, she rejected any compromise over returning them.

Too exhausted by his mother’s shrill voice to argue further, Cyril finally acquiesced to inquire about the matter.

Just after ending the call, his phone rang again. This time, it was Sylvia. A nervous tension filled Cyril. In their years together, Sylvia had called often but strangely, none of those calls left him as apprehensive as this one.

“Did

you need something?” he asked brusquely.

“Nothing special. I wanted to inform you to gather up all the jewelry gifts and meet me day after at the cafe under your company building. We can return each other’s things cleanly then and avoid any further need to meet up.” Sylvia stated evenly, an utter stranger’s polite aloofness in her tone. 

Her attitude irritated Cyril who had intended to talk things through. But clearly, Sylvia had no interest in giving him that chance.

“That works out well. I had some things to ask too regarding Caroline’s scandals. That was your doing right? You have quite the arsenal of blackmail material on her. You promised to delete it all after the divorce but seems you didn’t keep your word.” Cyril accused, unwilling to back down meekly.

After a brief pause, Sylvia gave an icy laugh. “Even if I deleted them, some things remain beyond my control now. Rather than pestering me pointlessly, perhaps consider who she has offended all these years.”

Chapter 14 Meet in person

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With that parting shot, she immediately hung up, leaving Cyril simmering in helpless anger. “To the apartment.” he barked.