When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17

The moment Chiara caught Elaine’s voice over the phone, she instinctively turned her face away, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Titus. His expression hardened instantly, a chill settling over him like a shadow.

Paul remained silent, unwilling to insert himself into the thickening tension.

“Titus?” Elaine’s voice came softly from the other end, hesitant yet probing.

Titus held Chiara’s frosty gaze for a long, unreadable moment before abruptly spinning on his heel and exiting the hospital room, phone still pressed to his ear.

The nurse, sensing the heavy awkwardness lingering in the air, continued her duties with quiet professionalism. “Seriously, you can’t pull out the IV again this time,” she reminded Chiara gently.

Chiara closed her eyes briefly, whispering an apology. “Sorry for the trouble.”

“No trouble at all. Just rest, and if you need anything, press the call button,” the nurse replied kindly, carrying her tray out of the room.

After a pause, Paul finally broke the silence, his voice low and cautious. “Mrs. Goodman, you just had your stomach pumped. Mr. Goodman asked me to bring you some clam chowder. Let me get it for you.”

“Leave,” Chiara said hoarsely, her voice barely above a whisper.

Paul didn’t linger. “Okay, I’ll go now.”

“Take the chowder with you. I don’t want it,” she added, her tone sharp and cold.

Paul hesitated, conflicted. “But you need to—”

“I said leave,” Chiara interrupted, her voice icy and unwavering.

With no choice, Paul grabbed the thermos and slipped out, head bowed. Not even a few steps down the corridor, he spotted Titus standing at the hallway’s corner, just out of sight.

Titus had just ended his call and turned around, immediately noticing Paul. “Why are you out here?”

Paul sensed Titus was about to re-enter the room. Awkwardly, he held up the thermos. “Mr. Goodman, Mrs. Goodman said she doesn’t want it.”

Titus cast a frosty glance at the container in Paul’s hands and scoffed, “Ungrateful. Then let her go hungry.”

Paul forced a weak smile. “So, are you going back in?”

Titus laughed coldly. “She already kicked you out. Why would I go back?”

Paul fell silent, the tension thick between them.

“Let’s head back to the office,” Titus said abruptly.

Without another word, they turned and left, their footsteps echoing down the empty hallway.

Back on the phone, Elaine’s face darkened as she watched the video Jeffrey had sent her—Titus leading Chiara away from Jeffrey’s arms, his grip possessive and firm. A tight knot of anger clenched in her chest.

“Chiara,” Elaine muttered under her breath, “I really underestimated you.”

“Chiara? You mean Mrs. Goodman?” Sharon asked, puzzled.

Elaine snorted. “Mrs. Goodman? She’s more like a pretty ornament.”

“Of course,” Sharon replied quickly. “Mr. Goodman still cares about you the most.”

Elaine’s smirk faltered, her lips pressing into a thin, hard line. She thought about how Titus had just refused to see her—a first. He had never denied her before, especially not because of another woman, even if that woman was his wife. It felt like a warning she couldn’t ignore.

“Sharon, book me a flight to Halinston. I need to go back and rest,” Elaine said, her voice steady but resolute.

“I’ll arrange it right away,” Sharon answered promptly.

Late into the night, Heather finally finished work and hurried to the hospital, exhaustion evident in her hurried steps and weary eyes. Seeing Chiara sitting alone in the sterile hospital room, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you here by yourself? Where’s Titus?”

Chiara looked up at her, expression blank. “He left.”

“He left?” Heather frowned, confusion knitting her brows. “But he said he’d stay with you.”

“After Elaine called, he just left,” Chiara replied, voice flat and tired.

Heather’s face hardened, a flash of guilt crossing her features. After a moment of silence, she said softly, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left you alone with him. Chiara, let’s go home.”

“Whether you’d still be in Halinston tonight,” Wilbert explained.

Titus reclined, attempting a casual air, though his expression remained tense. “If I’m not in Halinston, where else would I be?”

“Jeffrey bet you’d go to Harborton to see Elaine. I said you wouldn’t,” Wilbert said smugly. “Looks like I won.”

Titus’s face darkened, his gaze sweeping coldly over them. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Jeffrey shrugged. “Not really. We just wanted to see who you care about more—Chiara or Elaine. Honestly, the result surprised me.”

Titus’s expression hardened further. “Surprised about what?”

“I’m surprised you actually seem to care about Chiara,” Jeffrey said. “I remember what you told us when you married her. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”

Titus remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.

“You said she was a pretty, well-bred socialite who’d fallen on hard times,” Jeffrey continued. “That after marrying you, she’d never dare interfere in your private life. Sound familiar?”

Titus shot Jeffrey a frosty glare. “Can you just shut up?”

Jeffrey shrugged again. “But since you’ve already made your choice, why not go home and check on your wife?”

Wilbert noticed the darkening look on Titus’s face and nudged Jeffrey under the table. “Enough. If he hits you, I’m not stepping in.”

Jeffrey scoffed. “Who says I’d lose?”

Wilbert rubbed his forehead in exasperation. “Seriously, are you guys teenagers or what? Every time you meet, it’s drama.”

Jeffrey studied Titus’s grim expression for a long moment before speaking calmly. “I just wanted to remind you—don’t forget what you promised her.”

Wilbert fell silent, while Titus fixed Jeffrey with a cold, unreadable stare.

The room was heavy with unspoken tension, the silence stretching between them like a fragile thread ready to snap.