When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 117

**TITLE: Silent Roads Remember by Sawyer 117**
**CONTENT: Chapter 117**

Titus raised an eyebrow, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. “Grandma, are you really saying that this place isn’t my home?”

Debby snorted, her expression shifting to one of sharp insight, as if she were peering straight into his soul.

“This isn’t your home. A man only truly has one home in his life. Wherever Chiara is, that’s where you belong.”

Chiara felt a weight behind Debby’s words, as if they held a deeper meaning that tugged at her heartstrings.

Titus narrowed his eyes, pondering to himself, *Debby is definitely using this moment to remind me of something. As if I wouldn’t notice.*

With a quick motion, Titus reached for another orange, peeling it with deft fingers before offering it to Chiara, a small, encouraging smile playing on his lips.

“You’re right, Grandma,” Titus conceded, his voice carrying a hint of resignation.

Debby raised her eyebrows, scrutinizing Titus from head to toe, as if trying to gauge the sincerity behind his words.

Chiara glanced at the orange he handed her, a frown tugging at her brow. She hesitated, not particularly eager to accept it.

But Debby, ever the nurturing figure, patted Chiara’s hand gently, coaxing her with warmth. “Go on, have a taste. It’s from the family orchard. Super sweet.”

Finally relenting, Chiara accepted the fruit, breaking off a segment and popping it into her mouth.

“Yeah, it’s really sweet,” she admitted, the taste bursting with flavor.

“We picked a whole bunch yesterday. I was planning to bring some over for you, but since you’re here today, just grab a box on your way out,” Debby said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

After finishing the orange, Chiara nodded, her eyes crinkling into a gentle smile.

“Yeah,” she murmured, feeling a sense of warmth from the family connection.

Titus suddenly turned to her, an inquisitive look in his eyes. “You don’t like oranges?”

Chiara met his gaze, shaking her head softly. “It’s not like that.”

Debby let out a huff, her voice tinged with playful exasperation. “You don’t even know what your wife likes? Just goes to show how rarely you come home anymore.”

Titus had become accustomed to Debby’s sarcastic remarks, building up a thick skin over time.

There was a moment in his life when he couldn’t quite grasp why Debby seemed to cherish Chiara even more than he did.

Not that he minded, of course. Truth be told, the whole marriage arrangement had been more about silencing his family’s incessant nagging about which heiress or socialite he ought to marry. He figured if he had to settle down, he might as well choose someone he genuinely liked.

Yet, Debby’s affection for Chiara was growing increasingly evident, almost as if she believed Chiara was her own granddaughter rather than Titus.

“Chiara can’t eat anything sour,” Debby chimed in, her tone matter-of-fact.

Titus glanced at Chiara, feigning indifference as he asked casually, “How come you never mentioned that?”

“It’s not something I’d just bring up out of nowhere,” Chiara replied, rolling her eyes internally. *Who randomly discusses their food preferences?*

Debby shot back, a teasing glint in her eyes, “Did you ever ask her?”

Titus stared, momentarily lost for words, his mind racing as he rubbed his forehead in defeat.

“Come on, Grandma, I’ve been here less than five minutes, and you’ve already roasted me four times. Isn’t that enough?” he protested, a hint of humor lacing his voice.

Chiara’s lips curled into a gentle smile as she picked up an orange, peeling it for Debby.

“Debby, you should have one too,” she said warmly, her heart swelling with affection for both of them.

Debby beamed, accepting the orange with delight. “Yay!”

Titus watched them, speechless, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief.

He pressed his lips together, raising an eyebrow as he observed the two women bonding, feeling like an outsider. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes inwardly, tapping his fingers on the armrest in mild frustration.

“Fine, you two enjoy your little bonding time,” Titus said, rising from his seat.

With that, he turned away, unwilling to linger as the third wheel in their sweet exchange.

Chiara glanced at him, a flicker of concern crossing her face before she looked away.

“That brat. He has no clue how to keep someone around. He just pulls those bossy moves and bully tactics. Let him suffer a bit; serves him right.” Debby snorted, her indignation palpable.

Then, with heartfelt sincerity, Debby continued, “Chiara, no matter how you two ended up together, marriage is complicated. It takes work, and you can’t make it last if only one person is trying. Both of you have to put in the effort, or it just won’t work.

“But since you’re already together, you can’t just call it quits whenever things get tough. I’m not going to let you suffer. If Titus ever does something you truly can’t forgive, or if he crosses a line, and you want to leave him, I’ll support you.”

Chiara hadn’t expected Debby to see right through them so clearly.

“But Debby, there’s someone he still can’t let go of in his heart. No matter what I do, I just can’t find a way into his heart,” Chiara said softly, her voice tinged with sadness.

Debby smiled gently, her eyes filled with understanding. “He’s a few years older than you, so it’s normal for him to have a past…”

She glanced at the orange peels scattered on the table and grinned. “Don’t underestimate yourself, Chiara. Everyone has feelings. And you’re incredible. Sooner or later, he will see that. Honestly, he’s already starting to notice you. Don’t you believe you’ll be the one he truly cares about?”

“I…” Chiara hesitated, her voice trailing off as uncertainty clouded her thoughts.

Back then, she had genuinely believed that if she poured her heart into being the kind of wife Titus always envisioned, he’d finally see her for who she really was.

She was certain he would recognize her, eventually.

“Chiara, life is long. The past shapes us, but we can’t let it hold us back. We’ve got to keep moving forward, don’t you think?” Debby said softly, her voice filled with encouragement.

Chiara nodded, her voice gentle yet resolute. “You’re right, Debby.”

“That’s my good girl. I’m glad you’re really listening. Just remember, while I’m still around, I’ve always got your back. You don’t need to be scared or worry about a thing. In this family, nobody dares defy me,” Debby declared, a playful glint in her eyes.

Debby had always been easygoing, and in her old age, she had only grown more affectionate and kind.

But as long as she was there, her word held weight in the Goodman family.

The fog that had settled in Chiara’s heart was finally beginning to lift, and the confusion that had clouded her thoughts started to dissipate.

She straightened up slightly, looking at Debby with newfound determination. “Debby, don’t worry. I’ll seriously think about where to go from here.”

Seeing that Chiara had finally started to find clarity, Debby smiled warmly and gently patted her head, a gesture of love and support that made Chiara feel a little lighter.