Chapter 3

Shelmaine returned to the Hasting residence to move out. After packing, she realized that she didn't have much belongings, and just a few large boxes were enough to fit all her things. The rest was Samuel's stuff, though he didn't have much either. Most of his things were work-related items. Worried that she might overlook something important, Shelmaine hesitated before deciding to call Samuel and ask him to come over and collect his things. However, when she dialed his number, Natasha answered instead. She said, "Hello, who is this?" Shelmaine's breath caught in her throat, and she couldn't find her voice. After a moment, Natahsa said, "I know who you are. Shelmaine, right?" Shelmaine didn't deny it and calmly answered, "Yes, I need to speak with Samuel." "He's not available to take your call. Whatever you need to tell him, you can tell me." Shelmaine bit her lip. Deep down, she wasn't as composed as she appeared—she still cared, but she forced herself to act indifferent. Natasha continued, "Ms. Clarke, if you still have any lingering thoughts, I suggest you drop them. The divorce papers are signed. What, are you having second thoughts now?" "I grew up with Sammy, so I know him very well. But do you? Did he ever bring you home to meet his family? No, right? Do you know why he never did? Because they would never accept you, so he didn't bother," she mockingly said. She continued, "I was the one who refused to be with him in the first place. He only married you out of spite. You were never supposed to be part of the picture. This mistake has gone on long enough, and it's time to correct it. Don't contact him again, and stop making excuses." Shelmaine was at a loss for words. She truly didn't know much about Samuel's family background. She had brought it up before, but her own family situation was complicated. She hadn't told her parents about the marriage, and out of insecurity about her own background, she hadn't asked about Samuel's either. Moreover, since he didn't mention it, the matter was left unresolved. Natasha hung up, and Shelmaine didn't try calling back. After calming herself down, she contacted Samuel's driver, Brody McGrath, to arrange for his belongings to be picked up. "Hello, Brody, it's Shelmaine. When are you available to come by and pick Samuel's things up?" "I'll have to check with Mr. Hasting first, Ms. Clarke." Shelmaine could sense Brody's hesitation and understood the situation. She said, "If it's easier, you can give me an address, and I'll send his things over. That way, you don't have to make a trip." "Well..." "Is that not possible?" "Without Mr. Hasting's permission, I can't give out his address. I hope you understand, Ms. Clarke. It's a matter of his privacy." Brody's voice was polite and careful, as if he didn't want to offend her. Or perhaps, he was worried that she might try to hold him on the line to get the address. "Alright, I understand. Please check with him then," Shelmaine simply replied. Shortly after, Brody called back and courteously said, "Ms. Clarke, Mr. Hasting said that those are just unimportant items. If you don't want them, you can throw them out." For some reason, Shelmaine's heart tightened. "Those were his exact words?" "Yes." "Alright, I understand. Sorry to trouble you then." Shelmaine hung up quickly, feeling a pang of discomfort. She had only been pretending to be carefree, but she couldn't deny that three years of marriage had left her with many feelings. After all, if she hadn't cared, she wouldn't have spent so many nights sharing a bed with Samuel. After getting rid of Samuel's things, Shelmaine left the Hasting residence. Later, she moved back into her apartment she'd lived in before she married Samuel. On her first day there, she received a call from him. Startled, she wondered why he was calling at this time. After a few seconds of hesitation, she answered, her voice barely above a whisper, "Yes?" "What do you want?" Samuel's deep voice came through the phone. "Nothing," Shelmaine flatly replied. "Brody told me that he went to the Hasting residence this morning. You're selling the house?" So, he was well-informed. Shelmaine didn't plan to hide it. The house was hers now, and how she handled it was her decision. Besides, she had done nothing wrong in the marriage and had no reason to be secretive. She said, "Yes, I'm selling it." "Where are you staying now?" "I have a place." "You don't like the Hasting residence anymore? Didn't you once say you loved the area?" Samuel's voice was calm and almost indifferent too. Shelmaine had casually said that before, but she hadn't expected him to remember. After taking a deep breath, she replied, "I don't like it anymore." Then, she added, "I called earlier to ask about your things there. I've taken care of them now. If there's nothing else, we don't need to stay in touch anymore." "Suit yourself." Was it Shelmaine's imagination, or did Samuel's voice sound a bit angry? No, she was probably just imagining it. ... Samuel ended the call first and tossed his phone onto the table. His gaze darkened, and the air around him became more oppressive. His hand pressed against his forehead, an unspoken frustration weighing on him. Brody, who had been standing nearby, felt the pressure mounting. He knew exactly where it was coming from, especially after having gone to the Hasting residence that morning. After learning that the house was already listed for sale, he had immediately informed Mr. Hasting, and Mr. Hasting didn't seem too pleased. As for why, Brody didn't dare to ask. Samuel lit a cigarette and slowly drew in the smoke. His brow furrowed deeply, and the haze obscured his sharp features. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking. "Mr. Hasting, what should we do about the house? Should I talk to Ms. Clarke?" Brody asked. Samuel flicked the ash off his cigarette. "No need. The house is hers now. How she deals with it is her business." So, Brody said no more. After a while, Samuel's expression became less irritable, though his emotions remained muted. He asked, "Do you know where she's staying now?" "I believe she's moved back to her old place," Brody answered with uncertainty. "That's what I heard from Ms. Zach." To ensure Samuel remembered who Ms. Zach was, Brody added, "Ms. Zach is Ms. Clarke's friend." Samuel's gaze turned cold, as if Brody's clarification was unnecessary. Brody fell silent.