19.6%
Chapter 31
Chapter 31
ROGERIO
The sun had just begun to set when I arrived at the penthouse. The movers had completed their task of hauling the properties I had brought from the estate. Once they finished, they dispersed as swiftly as they had gathered, leaving me with the staff members who had packed up their things and moved with me. I studied them for a few minutes, waiting to see if anyone would speak up, but none did. It dawned on me then that my decision to divorce Charlotte had brought about unforeseen consequences.
First on that list was her refusal to sign the papers. She claimed to love me, but I doubted it. Our relationship was
built on different terms–love was never one of them. We both knew it, so I couldn’t fathom her delusion. It was
pointless, considering we both acknowledged that our union wasn’t working. I attempted to push the encounter out of my mind and focus on what I could currently control, but the expressions on the faces around me made it futile.
I stood in the corner of the room, observing as everyone worked with the interior designer to arrange things. The tension in the room was palpable; their expressions ranged from confusion to curiosity and occasionally a blend of awe and disgust. I understood it and didn’t care what they thought. None of them dared to ask the questions swirling in their minds, and that was sufficient for me. Leaving Charlotte had become necessary; she hadn’t committed any seemingly unforgivable act, but her purpose here was fulfilled.
We had met during one of the roughest times of my life. I had been spending my nights drinking and resenting the world around me. She provided solace during that period, and knowing her, she offered a solution to my immediate problem, so I seized it. A few hours later, the workers filed out of the apartment, leaving me with the staff who had followed me. I scanned the small crowd and noted that a handful of them remained. Their presence would simplify my life, and I was grateful for it, but I also desired a different dynamic. Thus, I instructed the agent to provide them with apartments in the building.
The divorce meant that the estate now belonged to Charlotte, so being here implied that I was starting from scratch. I intended to do it on my terms; they could have access to the penthouse for their duties, but I wanted some peace afterward. They willingly accepted the offer and departed as swiftly as they had arrived.
I settled in and pulled out my laptop to finish the work I had brought with me. Tomorrow, I would go to the company and meet with my lawyer to ensure the divorce was airtight and Charlotte had no means to object. Once done, I stood up from my seat, glanced at the sheets, and headed toward the bathroom. I had crossed a few things off my list today, with one more task to complete before considering it a fairly good day. Stepping into the bathroom, I flicked on the light switch, turned on the tap, and washed my hands thoroughly.
The cold water brought a sense of calm, and I sighed as a wave of emotions washed over me. My thoughts drifted to Charlotte once more. “Charlotte Edwards,” I muttered, grimacing as the sound of my voice echoed in the room.
The memory of our first encounter flashed through my mind, and I began to pace. I needed to find a way to push these thoughts aside, but for the first time in hours, I succumbed to them. We hadn’t always been the couple who couldn’t stand each other. At some point, we were friends, or, as Mother liked to say, acquaintances who could tolerate each other’s presence.
Charlotte and I had spent two years living together as a couple, and frankly, I grew bored of it. Several reasons contributed to my waning interest, and the desire to separate from her intensified each day until I acted upon it.
21.20
Dancing into the Heart of Mr. Ced
19.9%
Chapter 31
Soon, it became clear to me that I had little use for her, our agreement had originated from necesity and had run its
course.
1 stopped walking and gazed out of the bathroom window, observing the city’s skyline. The beautiful soenery contrasted with the vibrant city buzzing below. My family owned numerous buildings in the city, and this was my favorite because it offered a perfect environment for quiet while still being within Milan. I shoved my hands into my pockets and groaned in frustration as an old memory surfaced–an incident that acted as one of the catalysts for this entire situation: Elena La Guerta. The wind carried the sound of her laughter into the room.
I recalled our inside jokes, the late–night conversations, and the plans we had made before she disappeared witho a trace. Being with Charlotte paled in comparison. I had met Ms. Edwards at the bar the evening I visited Elena’s apartment and found it empty. My thoughts were interrupted by the voices of drunken men walking toward the building. I watched as they attempted to persuade the guards to grant them access, to no avail
The commotion reminded me of my state during that time. Elena hadn’t left a note or given any indication of her departure from Milan, making that week undoubtedly one of the toughest I had ever experienced. Hiring private investigators to locate her proved futile; no amount of money made any difference. It left me feeling as though my world had come crashing down. Despite growing up with a shield around me due to my family’s status, nothing prepared me for her disappearance. It was a blow from which I never fully recovered. Yet now, I had the opportunity to make things right.
Elena La Guerta was the daughter of Don Huilo La Guerta. We had grown up in the same circles but had never really conversed until our parents forced us on a date. I anticipated that our parents would eventually arrange a marriage for political purposes, but I expected to have some say in the matter. That wasn’t the case, and we both resented the idea of an arranged marriage. By the end of the dinner, we were eager to see each other again and arranged a private date in this apartment.
Our relationship flourished after that encounter, and we began planning for marriage. However, her sudden departure left me heartbroken and scrambling to find a solution. Her disappearance also jeopardized my inheritance, as marriage was a condition for gaining access to the Thuthai heritage. My grandfather insisted that it would demonstrate a level of responsibility convincing enough for the board to hand things over to me. With Elena gone, I risked losing everything to a distant cousin, Alfonso Matterier.
Introducing Charlotte as a replacement suited me. My family didn’t object, and we proceeded with the plan until I learned of Elena’s return to Milan. This presented me with the opportunity to finally be with someone I truly adored. I was ready to put everything behind me and rekindle our relationship. However, I couldn’t achieve that while married to Charlotte. She had to go.
