It's been three months since I moved out and moved into my brother, Arvin's place. And during that period, I met Carden three times.
Once during my father-in-law's 60th birthday party.
Once when we submitted our divorce papers.
And the third time is now.
I looked at the monitor which was showing the image of the doorbell camera. He was standing there soaking wet. I couldn't read his face neither could I see it very clearly.
How did he know I was staying here? I don't remember telling him. What if he changed his mind and doesn't wanna get divorced? This isn't good.
No!
I will no matter live on my own.
I pushed down the doorknob and pulled the door open. "How did you know I was here?"
"Your brother told me awhile back."
He didn't speak up about why he was here so I assumed he was here to talk about the divorce.
"You know I won't change my mind just because you're here?" I spat at him.
His head dropped down. "Right."
Now that I paid close attention he was tensed up. I stared down at his hands where water was dripping from, not to mention his right hand was curled up into a fist. Why was it curled into a fist?
He punched someone with that hand before. Wait. Is he going to punch me?! Don't tell me he's going to threaten me to take me back home.
Shaking away all those thoughts I tried speaking when my eyes fell once again on his right hand.
He's not wearing his engagement ring...
"S-so what brings you here?" I asked.
"I just wanted to ask how you were doing." Bullshit. "Anyway." He dragged his hand across his face whipping away the raindrops. "Take care." Without uttering another word he turned his back on me and walked out that door. I didn't respond, not a single word. I stared at him as he made his last steps out of this house. Did he come here just to say that? Why did he come here? It's so out of the blue.
But then again our marriage was quite unexpected too.
The day I met Carden again, who was my university senior. The day I hoped he didn't recognise me.
He didn't just recognise me that day, in fact he...
"Do you want to get married?"
"Excuse me." my eyes shot wide in confusion. "I have to get married immediately but I don't have a bride."
"Why do you want me to be your bride." I had been given the compliment that I was a very curious girl, I never sat still by a simple answer but never dared to ask questions either.
"To start off you have a good academic background. Also, you seem to be someone who can hold one's tongue, which is a rare trait these days. And you don't seem like that annoying type." True, but a guy like him rich, handsome, basically has what every girl wants surely he had other options.
"It's a win-win. I need this so-called system of marriage. And you need to escape your current situation. Plus if you become part of my family Mrs. Adams won't look down on you anymore." At the sight of me sitting silently staring at him in complete doubt, he continued "What I mean is, you no longer have to get slapped by people like her if you marry me."
A world where my family will no longer be enslaved by Mrs. Adams's household. And where I never have to get slapped by Mrs. Adam again...Is this fate? This may be a lifeline sent by heaven. If there really is a world like that...
"I accept your offer." I confidently let out. "Wise choice. You..."
"I can't remember what Carden said after that. Ugh, what use is it if I think about that now?" It's all history.
March 2nd, the official day of the divorce.
The divorce has been finalised. At 26 I have gone through both marriage and divorce. I may forever be known as the divorcee and former Cinderella. But I can finally breath now.
"Pfft." I looked to my right to see Carden have the most amused expression on his face. Did he just laugh? So he's acting cocky now too?
"How have you been?" He asked. "Good." I kept it short.
"I've...been pretty sick. I burned my arm. And fell down the stairs on the day we submitted our divorce papers. So I had my arm in a cast and took it off just four days ago." A cast? That can't be true. He was fine when he came to visit me two weeks ago!
"Seems like you've been through a lot yourself." He spoke looking at my finger wrapped in a bandage. "Oh, this is just...I just myself while playing around with my friend."
"You should be careful." Why does he care? We're strangers now.
"There's only one reason why I agreed to the divorce, it's because you wanted it." But you're the root cause! My eyes fell down onto his hands, he was still wearing his engagement ring. "You can take your wedding ring off now." He didn't wear it two weeks ago so why now.
He lifted his hand up, I assumed to take the ring off. But he just stared at it and dropped it back next to his thighs. "Should we grab some tea?" Tea? When I left the house I told him that we didn't even enjoy a cup of tea while we were 'married'. Did what I say that time bother him?
"I'm sorry I have plans."
"Let's meet some other time. After several months, if you're free that is. Alright take care. I hope you feel liberated now. And I'm sorry." He gestured his hands towards me, and as indicated I grabbed and gave it a firm shake. "I'm grateful to you." I said as I let go.
"Your birthday is coming up, should I send you a flower basket?"
"You're joking right?" I scoffed. That flower basket wouldn't have any special meaning to it. Just something superficial for others to see. I don't want those things anymore.
Why is he following me? "The parking lot's that way..."
"I didn't bring my car." He spoke. "You didn't?"
"I can just take a cab." I wonder why he didn't drive here. Is it because he doesn't want anyone to find out about it? "Oh right. I sent you a gift to celebrate our divorce. It will arrive sometime today." A gift to celebrate our divorce? "What is it?" He smirked and walked away waving his hand in the air "Bye."
He left me there on the road in utter confusion. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket so I grabbed it. It was a notification from UZ-bank. 9 million DOLLARS? What in the world?! He sent me 9 million dollars as a divorce gift? This isn't why I wanted to divorce him. I wanted to erase him from my life and start off with a clean slate. Not as someone's wife, not as a fake Cinderella...but as Evelyn Delancy. Why isn't he letting me do that? I have to tell him I can't accept this money. I should be able to catch up with him if he didn't get a cab yet. I ran as fast as I could in the direction I saw him go.
Cardens POV
I stood there waiting for the traffic light to turn green. "You can take your wedding ring off now." I never took it off after getting married. I slid the ring off my finger but I lost grip of it. It rolled off onto the road and I rushed after it to get it. I grabbed the ring and looked up seeing...Evelyn. She was running towards me yelling something I couldn't quite hear.
Evelyns POV
He was there kneeled down onto the road. I yelled at him, screaming to get up. But he wouldn't. Until it was too late. A long honk was heard before the bus and Cardens body came into contact. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. His limp body rose up, slamming over the hood of the bus. Carden landed on the ground with a sickening sound. I rushed over to his body as well as everyone around me. "NOOO...!!!"
March 2nd, the official day of the divorce. On the day I thought that I'd finally start a new life...my husband died.
