When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Paul kept his gaze fixed on the floor, deliberately avoiding any eye contact. “Some kind of accident during the stage rehearsal. She injured her leg. The details are still fuzzy,” he murmured.

“Hurt her leg?” Titus’s voice was so cold it could have frozen water.

“Yeah,” Paul replied quietly. Otherwise, he would never have dared to interrupt that private moment between Titus and Chiara.

Titus started to walk past him, but after just a few steps, he halted abruptly. “You stay here.”

Paul, about to follow, stopped in his tracks. “What?”

Titus cast a sharp, icy look around the room. “Take her home.”

Paul fell silent, his mind racing. ‘Seriously? You’re just leaving me to clean up this mess alone? Doesn’t your conscience bother you at all?’

Once Titus was gone, Chiara emerged from the room.

“Mrs. Goodman, can I give you a ride home?” Paul offered, his voice hesitant, still avoiding her eyes.

Chiara glanced back toward the room, suspicion flickering across her face. “You set this up, didn’t you?”

Paul didn’t deny it. He knew that even if he blamed Titus, Chiara wouldn’t believe him. For all the complicated things between Elaine and Titus, Paul was the one who managed everything behind the scenes.

“Ms. Jensen likes mango pudding, right?” Chiara asked suddenly.

Paul’s head snapped up, surprise evident in his expression.

Noticing his reaction, Chiara smiled faintly. “Too bad. I’d love to try it, if I weren’t allergic.”

Paul froze, a sinking feeling settling in his chest. ‘I’m completely caught.’

Still, as Chiara began to walk past, Paul hurried after her. “Let me give you a ride home, Mrs. Goodman?”

“No, thanks.”

“It’s not easy finding a ride out here.”

Chiara stopped and turned back, realizing she was left stranded again. “Alright, I’ll accept your help,” she said reluctantly.

Paul quickly added, “It’s my job, Mrs. Goodman.”

Trying to make amends for his earlier mistake, he added, “Mr. Goodman went all out planning this yacht trip.”

Once they boarded, Chiara noticed the yacht’s number. “What are you trying to say?” she asked.

Paul scratched his nose awkwardly. “Notice anything special about that number?”

Chiara’s hopes had long since faded, her voice flat. “You mean it’s the same as the number on our marriage certificate?”

“Yeah,” Paul confirmed.

She turned to him, her eyes steady and calm, without any accusation. “Then why hasn’t he spent a single anniversary with me in three years?”

A cold shiver ran down Paul’s spine. “Well, he’s always swamped with work, so…”

“Busy?” Chiara repeated softly.

After a pause, she continued, “If I’m not mistaken, Ms. Jensen’s birthday is June 7th. And he always makes time for her, right?”

Paul’s brow twitched in surprise. “How did you…”

The relationship between Titus and Elaine was complicated. Titus was notoriously private, and whenever rumors surfaced, he shut them down immediately. Chiara shouldn’t have known any of this.

But this year, with Elaine’s big shows and publicity needs, Titus stopped controlling the gossip online.

Out of curiosity, Paul had once asked Titus, “Aren’t you worried Mrs. Goodman will be upset about you and Ms. Jensen being so public?”

Titus had simply replied, “She won’t.”

And true to his word, Chiara never complained.

Paul had almost convinced himself that Chiara was a pushover.

Paul wiped sweat from his brow and exhaled deeply.

*****

“Why are you here?” Heather stood up when she saw Chiara enter.

Chiara embraced her tightly. “He won’t give me a divorce. What else am I supposed to do?”

Heather was taken aback but wrapped her arms around Chiara, gently patting her back. “Why? Isn’t he completely wrapped up with Elaine?”

“I don’t know,” Chiara whispered.

Heather’s heart ached. Chiara had always been the family’s youngest, the baby. When Chiara first said she wanted Titus, Heather had been against it. But seeing Chiara’s room filled with everything about him, she couldn’t say no.

If Chiara could marry her dream man and save the Lynch Group, Heather thought it wasn’t so bad.

But three years later, she realized she had been wrong.

“What’s your next step?” Heather asked gently.

“I’m moving back home. If he won’t let me go, I’ll wait him out,” Chiara said firmly.

Heather stroked her hair, worry etched across her face. “Whatever you decide, I’m here for you.”

Chiara nodded. “There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

Chiara looked up, determination blazing in her eyes. “I want to work at Lynch Group.”

Heather studied her carefully. “Why now?”

Chiara forced a smile that hurt more than tears. “I’m done feeling trapped. I want to be myself—no more depending on anyone.”

Heather smiled with relief, though her eyes were already glistening with tears. “Okay.”