When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 87

**TITLE: Silent Roads Remember by Sawyer**
**Chapter 87**

Titus gazed at Chiara, his thumb gently caressing her lips, his voice a low, husky whisper that sent shivers down her spine. “He’s been watching you all this time. Didn’t you notice?”

A sharp pang of realization struck Chiara in her chest. She had felt it—the weight of Jeffrey’s gaze—but the reason behind it eluded her. “Like I said, you two are friends. If you’ve got questions, don’t ask me. I’m just as clueless as you are,” she replied, trying to deflect the intensity of the moment.

Titus let out a low chuckle that reverberated through the quiet confines of the car as he gently pulled her to her feet. Chiara instinctively lowered her head to adjust her collar, feeling a mix of embarrassment and curiosity, when suddenly, his phone began to ring, slicing through the tension.

Titus glanced at the screen, allowing the phone to ring for a few seconds before finally answering. “Mr. Goodman, it’s Vera,” a woman’s voice chimed through, clear and bright against the backdrop of their silence.

The car felt like a cocoon, the air thick with unspoken words, and Chiara could hear every syllable of Vera’s voice as if it were echoing in her mind. She turned her gaze to the window, the scenery outside blurring into a haze as her thoughts spiraled.

Titus’s eyes remained fixed on her, though his cheeks were still flushed, his demeanor now icy, as if he had shut off some part of himself. “Is there something you need?” he asked, his tone sharp.

“I was thinking of going shopping tomorrow. Do you have time to join me?” Vera’s voice was laced with a hint of eagerness that made Chiara’s stomach twist uneasily.

Vera’s intentions were as transparent as glass. Having grown up overseas, she had never learned the art of subtlety. If she fancied someone, she pursued them without a second thought, her upbringing leaving no room for hesitation.

Titus drummed his fingers against the phone, his voice gravelly as he replied, “Miss Combs, if you’d called three days in advance, maybe I could’ve made some time. But sorry, my schedule’s full tomorrow.”

The silence that followed Vera’s rejection was palpable. Chiara could almost feel the weight of her disappointment hanging in the air. “Sorry, I almost forgot about something so important,” Vera finally said, her tone shifting to one of forced lightness.

Titus wasn’t the type to change his plans on a whim. His life was a meticulously crafted schedule, and there was no way he’d rearrange it at the last minute. “So when will you be free, Mr. Goodman?” Vera pressed, undeterred.

A faint smile flickered across Titus’s lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “My free time might not match yours.”

“If you have time, I’ll make sure to fit my schedule,” Vera replied, her determination unwavering.

Titus turned his gaze to Chiara, searching her face for something—perhaps a reaction, perhaps an answer. But she remained impassive, her expression unreadable.

In that moment, he recalled how, in the past, when Elaine used to call, Chiara would always try to maintain her composure, but there would be a flicker of emotion that betrayed her. Now, however, her face was a mask of neutrality, as if she hadn’t heard a single word.

Titus’s expression hardened. “Alright, I’ll have my assistant reach out to you.”

“I’ll be waiting to hear from you, Mr. Goodman. Can’t wait for our next meeting,” Vera said, her enthusiasm almost tangible.

As soon as the call ended, Titus grasped Chiara’s chin, turning her face to meet his gaze. “Now what are you doing?” Chiara frowned, bewildered by his sudden proximity.

He searched her eyes, his voice heavy with unspoken questions. “Should I say yes to Vera?”

Chiara met his gaze, her thoughts swirling. There was a hint of confusion in her eyes, but impatience bubbled just beneath the surface. “That’s your call,” she said, her tone calm but firm.

Titus’s expression turned frigid. “I’m asking you, right now.”

Caught off guard, Chiara couldn’t evade his penetrating gaze. “Is that what you want? Do you actually want to go with her?” she shot back, her voice rising slightly, betraying the tension in the air.

“She’s a guest,” Titus replied, his tone icy and detached, as if he were discussing a mere business transaction rather than a personal matter.

Chiara couldn’t help but inject a hint of sarcasm into her response. “Sure, like you said, if someone comes from far away, you should roll out the red carpet.”

Before she could finish her thought, a sharp pain radiated through her jaw as Titus tightened his grip. “You’re hurting me,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Seeing the flush of red creeping onto her skin, Titus cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer. “Chiara, does it really not bother you at all who I’m with, what I do with other women?” His voice was low and edged with frustration, a storm brewing behind his eyes.

Chiara ceased her struggle, meeting his stormy gaze with an unexpected calmness. Instead of anger, a laugh escaped her lips, surprising both of them.

“Why are you laughing?” Titus asked, his face hardening further, confusion mingling with irritation.

“I’m laughing at you,” Chiara replied, her amusement genuine, as if she found his seriousness amusing.

Titus let out a cold laugh, the atmosphere around him thickening with tension. “Do you really think I’m funny?”

Chiara held his gaze steadily. “Don’t you think you’re kind of funny?”

“Then tell me, what’s so funny about me, huh?” Titus shot back, his curiosity piqued.

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