When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Chiara’s gaze immediately locked onto Elaine, who was tucked away in the farthest corner of the café. Doubt gnawed at her—was coming here really a good idea? But it was too late to turn back now; Elaine had already spotted her.

With a weary sigh, Chiara slid into the seat opposite her. “What exactly did you want to discuss, Ms. Jensen?” she asked, her tone measured but cool.

Elaine offered a faint smile from behind her dark sunglasses, her black dress elegant yet understated. “Can I get you something to drink, Ms. Lynch?” she inquired smoothly.

“No, thank you,” Chiara replied after a brief pause, the deliberate use of her maiden name hanging between them like a challenge. “Let’s cut to the chase. What’s this really about?”

“Ms. Lynch…” Elaine began, but Chiara interrupted her with a subtle correction. “Actually, it’s Mrs. Goodman now.”

After a moment, Elaine removed her sunglasses, a soft laugh escaping as she studied Chiara’s calm, composed expression. “Mrs. Goodman? Does anyone actually call you that?” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Chiara met the sarcasm with indifference, a faint smile playing at her lips. Months ago, such words might have stung deeply, but not anymore. “Would you like to see my marriage license?” she asked quietly.

Elaine’s posture stiffened, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table. “We both know Titus doesn’t love you,” she said bluntly.

A subtle, almost amused smile curved Chiara’s mouth. “He might not love me, but I’m the one he married. Tell me, does he love you?”

For a moment, a tender, nostalgic smile softened Elaine’s features. “Of course he does. He’s always treated me wonderfully.”

Chiara’s fingers twitched slightly, the tension in her hands palpable before she responded, “Then why am I the one he’s married to, and not you?”

Elaine frowned, recalling how Titus had described Chiara to her—docile, compliant, the perfect obedient wife. She had dismissed Chiara as nothing more than a fragile doll who would obey any command, never truly seeing her as a threat.

Yet, against all odds, Titus and Chiara’s marriage had lasted for three years.

Elaine’s own career was finally gaining momentum, and whispers were spreading about who might be behind her sudden rise. She longed to claim Titus as her secret supporter, but since he was married, she had to keep their relationship under wraps.

Not wanting to be branded the other woman, Elaine had kept quiet—until now. But she couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Ms. Jensen, I’m busy,” Chiara said firmly.

“Just hear me out,” Elaine pressed, pulling a photograph from her bag and sliding it across the table. “Look at this first, then tell me if he loves you.”

Chiara didn’t immediately reach for the photo. Her eyes stayed locked on Elaine’s smug expression, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.

Elaine grinned, clearly enjoying Chiara’s hesitation. “What’s the matter? Too scared to see it? Or maybe you just can’t handle the truth?”

Finally, Chiara picked up the photo, flipping it over to reveal an image of Titus sitting beneath a sycamore tree. He wore a crisp white shirt and black trousers, a book resting in one hand while his other gently caressed the hair of a woman nestled in his arms.

His face was soft, his gaze tender and entirely focused on the woman—whose eyes were closed, but Chiara recognized her instantly. It was Elaine.

Chiara stared at the picture, her grip tightening as a wave of shock washed over her.

Judging by the background, the photo must have been taken during the year Titus studied abroad after graduation.

Elaine’s smile grew wider, satisfaction evident in her eyes as Chiara’s complexion drained of color. “We’ve been in love for years. If you hadn’t shown up, he’d already be mine.”

Chiara remained silent, stunned by the tenderness she saw in Titus’s expression—a side of him she had never witnessed before.

Suddenly, it dawned on her: Titus wasn’t cold-hearted after all; he simply chose never to be gentle with her.

“Ms. Lynch, why cling to a man who never loved you? The media is already sniffing around us. When the truth comes out, it will be ugly for everyone,” Elaine warned.

Turning the photo over, Chiara met Elaine’s gaze steadily. “So, what do you really want?”

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