Chapter 20
At the fast–food restaurant, the cashier asked, “Dr. Lester, the usual combo again?”
Alexander had just finished a surgery and hadn’t eaten all day. His face looked worn. He pulled out his wallet from his coat and handed a card to the cashier. “Yes.”
Every shop near the hospital had closed for the night. Only this fast–food restaurant remained open 24 hours.
After checking out, Alexander carried his tray to a seat by the window. As he looked around, he spotted a familiar figure slumped over a table, fast asleep.
The moment Calista turned her head, Alexander froze in shock. He never expected to see her in this place.
No one knew her condition better than he did. After the car accident and miscarriage, she needed at least two months of rest at home to
fully recover.
Before he could sit down, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and saw that it was a call from the hospital.
He gently placed the untouched food in front of Calista, then walked over to the counter to ask for a piece of paper.
The cashier asked curiously, “Dr. Lester, do you know her?”
Alexander was remarkably good–looking. He often came by for a late–night meal when nowhere else was open. The cashier had been working there for years and knew him reasonably well.
H
“Yeah. She’s one of my patients. Her health isn’t great, so please do me a favor and look after her if you can.”
“Of course, Dr. Lester.”
Rain started falling around midnight. A chilly breeze swept in through the door and woke Calista up.
11
She felt something slide off her shoulders. When she looked down, she realized that it was a man’s coat and bent to pick it up.
Calista quickly came to her senses. She looked around curiously, but the place was nearly empty except for her.
Her gaze landed on a note on the table. She picked it up and saw that it read, “You might catch a cold resting here. Don’t worry about returning the coat right away.”
The elegant handwriting ended with a name she didn’t recognize–Alexander Lester.
“Alexander?” she murmured.
The name didn’t ring a bell at all.
The rain outside grew heavier, droplets sliding down the glass as thunder rumbled through the night, setting her nerves on edge.
Calista reached up and wiped the mist from the window with her hand.
The street outside was pitch dark, with nothing but a few cars passing by.
Calista wrapped her arms around herself, and a wave of loneliness washed over her. She rested her chin on her arm and watched the rain pour down nonstop.
At that moment, she suddenly felt that after losing certain things, her heart no longer carried the same heaviness and burden as before.
After the rain stopped, she dozed off until 5:00 am. When she touched her forehead and felt a slight warmth, she went to buy some medicine as soon as the pharmacy opened.
The moment Calista arrived at the courthouse, a luxury car pulled up right beside her.
The window rolled down, and Lucien’s deep gaze met hers. “Get in,” he said.
Calista climbed into the rear passenger seat. Aside from Lucien, a lawyer was also in the car.
“Ms. Marchand, this is the agreement signed by Mr. Fenwick. There are two copies, and this one is yours.”
Lucien’s presence filled the car. His gaze settled on the men’s coat draped over her shoulders, and his expression turned cold. Yet, he didn’t say a single word.
The lawyer said, “Because of Mr. Fenwick’s status, it’s inconvenient for him to appear in person. Someone will come by to manage the signing later. It’ll only take about three minutes.”
Indeed, the public had no idea that Lucien was married. If he showed up at the courthouse, it would inevitably attract attention and
spark rumors.
Two staff members from the courthouse got into the car. After recording their information, Lucien and Calista were prepared to sign the documents. Once their names were signed, their marriage would officially be over.
“After the divorce, could you help me one last time? I’ve never asked you for anything before, but I’m begging you now. Lucien, please help my brother.
“I promise, after the divorce, I’ll never show up in front of you again. I’ll disappear from your life completely.”
Calista lowered her head, her fingers tightening around the worn hem of her shirt.
Since the day she married into the Fenwick family, she had rarely asked Lucien for anything, not wanting to cause trouble for him or anyone else.
She always knew her place in that household. Beyond fulfilling her duties as Mrs. Fenwick, she held no say in the family.
In their three years of marriage, this was the first time she had asked him for help.
“If we’re already getting divorced, why should I help someone who has nothing to do with me?”
Lucien’s gaze was cold as he looked at the courthouse staff member sitting across from him. “What are you waiting for? Do I have to do it myself?”
The courthouse staff member quickly realized what was happening and said, “Sorry, Mr. Fenwick. I’ll handle it right away.”
Just as the courthouse staff member was about to officiate the papers, Calista stopped her without a second thought. No one but her could feel how much her hand was trembling at that moment.
She couldn’t bring herself to meet Lucien’s eyes as she awkwardly asked, “Is it still possible to change my
mind?”
Calista was doing this for Anthony’s sake. She couldn’t let his whole family get dragged down because of her. Aside from Lucien, there was no one else she could turn to.
She had run out of options.
Calista couldn’t tell how much courage it took just to say those words. Her chest felt heavy and knotted with pain.
She felt that she hadn’t been a good mother to her unborn child.
After surviving so many years in the Fenwick family, she didn’t think a few more would make much of a difference. It just meant enduring more judgmental stares and more whispered rumors.
Lucien rested his hand on his knee and closed his eyes as he leaned back. He remained silent for a long while, as if unable to make up
his mind.
Even the courthouse staff member hesitated, unsure of whether to proceed.
“Think carefully. There won’t be another chance.”
