When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 98

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**Chapter 98**

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Chiara found herself encased in an evening gown that left little room for practicality. The fabric hugged her curves, shimmering under the streetlights, and there was no way she could drive herself in such attire. With a firm grip, Titus ushered her into his car, his demeanor both commanding and protective.

“Don’t stop at the main entrance of the company,” Chiara instructed, her voice steady yet tinged with urgency.

Titus cast a quick glance at her, taking in the sight of her elegant silhouette. “You really think you can walk down the street looking like that?” he replied, a teasing lilt in his voice.

Chiara felt a rush of indignation at his words, leaving her momentarily speechless. She glanced down at her gown, feeling a mix of helplessness and frustration. “You’re the one who insisted I wear this! Queenie said I could just wear a suit. Why did you have to make me put on a gown?”

“It looks good on you,” Titus stated matter-of-factly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Caught off guard by his bluntness, Chiara turned her gaze to the window, the city lights blurring past her. “Just pull over near the office and let me out. I’ll grab a cab from there,” she urged, desperate to escape the confines of the car—and the conversation.

Titus studied her for a moment, his eyes tracing the elegant lines of her profile. Then, without preamble, he asked, “Should we go public?”

The question hung in the air, leaving Chiara momentarily stunned. She whipped her head around to face him, confusion etched on her features. “Go public with what?” she queried, her voice betraying her surprise.

“What do you think?” he shot back, a playful glimmer dancing in his eyes.

In that instant, Chiara realized exactly what he was hinting at. Her heart raced, and a wave of nervousness washed over her, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words. “I…” she stammered, struggling to articulate her thoughts.

Titus’s gaze remained steady, unwavering as he awaited her response. “What is it?” he pressed gently.

Clutching her pearl handbag tightly, Chiara took a deep breath. “I’ve gotten used to keeping our marriage under wraps, so I’m not ready to make it public yet,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Titus narrowed his eyes, his tone dropping to a serious level. “Is it that you don’t want to, or simply that you won’t?”

Chiara felt the weight of his words. He wasn’t easily deceived. “Let me ask you this: When you chose to keep our marriage a secret, was it because you didn’t want to go public, or were you just unwilling to?”

Titus clicked his tongue, unfazed by her counter. “Neither,” he replied, his voice calm.

Chiara fixed her gaze on him, searching his eyes for clarity. She had always assumed he preferred to keep his relationship status a mystery, perhaps even to avoid the scrutiny that came with it. “Then what is it?” she pressed, her curiosity piqued.

“I just don’t see the need to make a big deal out of it and let the whole world know,” he answered, his voice steady, yet there was an underlying intensity.

Chiara’s eyes flickered, and she slowly turned away, her heart heavy. “Honestly, I don’t think everyone needs to know our business. Keeping things as they are works fine for me,” she murmured, a hint of resignation in her tone.

After a long, contemplative silence, Titus broke the stillness. “Don’t you want a wedding?”

Chiara’s mind momentarily blanked. ‘A wedding?’ she pondered, the thought swirling in her head.

Of course, she had dreamed of a wedding once. But the stark reality that their marriage was merely a legal formality had dulled that dream, leaving her to dismiss the idea entirely. “No need. It’s all just for show anyway,” she replied, her voice laced with a hint of bitterness.

The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable, as neither dared to speak.

Finally, Chiara leaned forward and addressed Paul, the driver. “Paul, just drop me off at the next intersection.”

Paul glanced at Titus, gauging his reaction. When he saw that Titus remained silent, he nodded. “Sure thing, Mrs. Goodman.”

The car slowed to a halt. Just as Chiara was about to open the door, Titus gently grasped her wrist, his touch both firm and tender.

She turned to him, confusion written all over her face. “What is it?” she asked, her heart racing.

“The only reason we didn’t have a wedding back then was because I didn’t have the time,” Titus explained, his voice steady yet filled with unspoken emotions.

Chiara paused, absorbing his words. “Mm, I know. Anything else?” she replied, trying to keep her tone light, though her heart was anything but.

Titus kept his gaze locked on hers, a mixture of determination and vulnerability in his eyes. “I won’t be so busy anymore. The Harborton branch is stable now, so I’ll be spending most of my time at headquarters. About the wedding…”

Chiara felt a surge of panic. She didn’t want to hear any more. She was still grappling with her own feelings, unsure of what she wanted.

But one thing was undeniable: her resolve was beginning to waver, and it terrified her. She couldn’t handle Titus’s sudden warmth or his attempts to bridge the gap between them.

“I’m going to be late. I need to go,” she said, her voice trembling slightly as she brushed off his hand and stepped out of the car.

Titus’s expression darkened, a frown settling on his features. He wasn’t oblivious to the fact that she was avoiding him.

“What does it mean, her dodging me?” Titus thought, the sting of her actions cutting deeper than he expected.

It meant she had never truly stopped wanting to leave him. The realization was painful, and he let out a dry, self-mocking chuckle, the sound bitter on his lips.

Paul swallowed hard, starting the car and glancing at Titus in the rearview mirror. Titus’s face was a storm of emotions, dark and brooding.

“Mr. Goodman, you know, these things don’t happen overnight. If you want to win Mrs. Goodman back, you’ve got to be patient. Good things take time, right?” Paul offered, trying to sound encouraging.

Titus shot him a cold look, irritation flaring in his chest. “So you think you’ve got all the answers now?” he retorted.

Paul rubbed his nose and cleared his throat, feeling the weight of Titus’s gaze. “I just think Mrs. Goodman’s pretty stubborn. Sometimes, you can’t push her too hard. I read in a book once that when it comes to relationships, you’ve got to take it slow, let things happen naturally, and everything will fall into place…”