When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The following morning, Chiara’s phone rang, displaying the Goodman manor’s number. She answered hesitantly, and after the call ended, Heather immediately noticed the worried expression clouding her face.

“Do the Goodmans still have no idea about the divorce?” Heather asked, concern evident in her voice.

Chiara shook her head slowly. “No, they don’t know yet.”

Heather’s brow furrowed. “So, what’s your plan? How are you going to tell them?”

A heavy sigh escaped Chiara’s lips. “Titus’s mother, Adele, has always been distant, but she’s not cruel. His grandmother, Debby, on the other hand, has always treated me with kindness. I’m just not sure how to break the news to her.”

Heather reached over and gently tousled Chiara’s hair. “Do you want me to come with you? I can be your backup.”

Chiara smiled faintly but shook her head. “No, it’s okay. You’ve got two meetings today, right? I’ll manage on my own.”

“Alright,” Heather said, her voice soft but supportive. “If anything happens, just call me.”

“I will,” Chiara promised.

By midday, Chiara found herself pulling up to the grand Goodman manor. The sprawling estate was as imposing as ever, with tall oak trees casting long shadows across the manicured lawn. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of blooming jasmine from the garden.

As soon as she stepped out of the car, she caught sight of Adele standing near the entrance, her eyes fixed on Chiara with a cool, appraising gaze. Chiara approached cautiously, greeting her in a quiet voice, “Hello, Adele.”

Adele’s eyes scanned her from head to toe, her lips pressing into a slight frown. “What’s wrong with you? You look awful.”

Chiara blinked, suddenly aware of how pale her complexion must have become.

“How do you expect to get pregnant if you’re not even taking care of yourself?” Adele continued, her tone sharp. “I’ll have the chef prepare some supplements for you to take home.”

Chiara had long been accustomed to following Adele’s directives without question, so she simply nodded in response.

Adele sighed, almost disappointed by Chiara’s meekness. “If you truly want to win Titus’s heart, you need to give him a child.”

This wasn’t the first time Chiara had heard such words, so she lowered her gaze, choosing silence over argument.

Just then, Debby, Titus’s grandmother, appeared and called out warmly, “Chiara, is that you? Come inside.”

A flicker of genuine warmth crossed Chiara’s face as she replied, “Alright, Debby.”

Adele gave a slight nod and a subtle lift of her chin. “Go on in.”

Inside the manor, Debby’s happiness at seeing Chiara was unmistakable. She instructed the chef to prepare all of Chiara’s favorite dishes, filling the room with the comforting aroma of home-cooked meals.

Titus rarely returned to the manor. Owning multiple properties around Halinston, he often preferred the anonymity of hotels to the familiarity of home. Marriage, to him, didn’t seem like a reason to alter his lifestyle, and he had no intention of changing his habits anytime soon.

“How’s that troublemaker Titus been lately? Why didn’t he come with you?” Debby asked, her eyes searching Chiara’s face.

Chiara stuck to her usual reply, “He’s been really busy, Debby.”

Debby wasn’t convinced. “Busy with what?”

She glanced pointedly at Adele before adding, “You need to keep a close watch on your son. Don’t let him neglect Chiara.”

Adele nodded in agreement but added, “That also depends on Chiara’s efforts.”

Chiara understood the implication—Adele was subtly blaming her for not holding onto Titus. Though painful, there was truth in it.

“Don’t blame Chiara,” Debby interrupted sharply. “This is all Titus’s fault.”

Suddenly, Titus’s voice echoed from the doorway, drawing everyone’s attention. “Grandma, what have I done now?”

Debby snorted coldly. “So you remember I’m still alive?”

Titus raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. “Looks like I really upset you. Don’t be mad, Grandma.”

Chiara glanced briefly at him but quickly looked away, settling beside Debby and gently massaging her grandmother’s shoulders and arms.

Since entering the room, Titus had been watching Chiara closely—so intently that he might not even have realized it himself. But Adele noticed immediately.

She observed the subtle exchange between them, a feeling of familiarity washing over her. When Chiara and Titus first married and moved here, it was always Chiara stealing glances at Titus. Now, the roles had reversed.

Adele thought to herself, ‘The tables have definitely turned.’

Chiara was caught off guard, and the orange she was holding slipped from her fingers, falling to the floor with a soft thud. “I—”

Adele cut her off sharply. “I’m not so old that I can’t see what’s right in front of me. Don’t bother making excuses.”

Chiara bent down to retrieve the orange, hesitating as she debated whether to reveal the truth.

Finally, she gathered her courage and began, “Adele, actually, Titus and I have decided to—”

Before she could finish, Titus’s lazy voice called out from the hallway, “Mom, Dad’s calling you.”

Adele shot a pointed look at both of them before turning away and walking off.

Chiara gripped the orange tightly, her eyes lingering on Titus. He was watching her too, his gaze deep and unreadable.

She saw him close the door behind him with a casual flick. A shiver of nerves ran through her, and she instinctively pressed her back against the cool marble ledge.

Titus stepped closer, his finger gently lifting her chin as he spoke in a calm but firm tone, “What were you about to say?”

Chiara met his eyes, and for some reason, her heart began to race. She hadn’t even noticed she was squeezing the orange so tightly it was starting to crush in her hand.

“N-nothing…” she murmured.

Titus studied her face for a long moment before grabbing her hand, tossing the crushed orange aside, and turning on the faucet to wash her hands.

His touch was uncomfortably close, and Chiara instinctively tried to pull away. Things between them shouldn’t be this intimate anymore.

“Don’t move,” Titus warned, his voice low and edged with irritation.

Since they were still at the Goodman manor, Chiara obeyed cautiously.

The difference between a man’s hand and a woman’s was undeniable. Seeing their hands intertwined like this made Chiara want to look away.

“Why are you avoiding me?” Titus asked quietly.

Chiara tensed, her voice barely above a whisper. “My hands are clean now. Can you please let go?”