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Chapter 102

Author: Hibiscus 1980
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
At that moment, the phone on the desk suddenly chimed.

Calla turned, reached for her phone, and saw that it was a WhatsApp message from Mercer. His profile picture was of a landscape painting. Yet, it still made Calla's heart skip a beat.

"Where did you go today? I called Jasmine, and she said you weren't home. I've been very busy these past few days, so I haven't been in touch. Are you okay?"

Reading his text, Calla's lips twitched slightly before she replied, "I met Alicia this afternoon. I'm fine. Don't worry."

She was going to put down the phone and ignore him, but seconds later, it buzzed again.

Calla picked it up again to see another message from Mercer. "Don't overwork yourself. Take care of your health. I have something to tell you when I get back."

Calla paused for a moment, stunned by the last sentence.

Something to tell her? What could it be?

Was he going to tell her that he and Sophie had rekindled their old flames?

Did he want a divorce? Was he offering her a
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    Hearing that, Calla felt a little troubled and said, "Harlan and I haven't been in contact for a long time."Previously, Mercer had grabbed her phone and told Harlan that she had married. He then deleted Harlan's number from her phone. After that, she hadn't seen Harlan again, and he hadn't reached out to her either. Calla still felt a little guilty for not explaining the situation to him. She considered them ordinary friends, so an explanation seemed unnecessary. She kept putting it off until now.Now that Zoey wanted to apply for Harlan’s program, it seemed even more inappropriate to suddenly contact him. Calla was put in a difficult position.Seeing Calla's hesitation, Zoey immediately said, "Cal, this concerns my future! Please swallow your pride and ask him for me!"Calla knew they had to handle the college application correctly. Otherwise, all their efforts would be wasted. It could affect Zoey's entire future. Despite feeling awkward about asking Harlan for a favor, she

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    Calla smiled and caressed her slightly protruding belly. "Yes, I married after conceiving."Harlan's eyes fixated on Calla's belly, too surprised to speak. A flicker of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but he quickly masked it."Is that so? Congratulations, then. You're going to be a mother." Harlan averted his gaze."I came to see you because I need a favor," Calla said politely. She mentioned her pregnancy deliberately to show her commitment to her marriage."Go ahead, as long as it's something I can help with," Harlan replied generously."It's about my sister. She used to study liberal arts, but now she wants to switch to accounting. She also attends your university. I heard it's not easy to change majors now, so I was hoping you could help us. After all, this concerns her future." Calla smiled.Harlan immediately nodded. "The accounting program is quite popular right now, so it will be quite difficult—but I'll try my best. If you could get me her information as soon as pos

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    Upon hearing this, Mercer stepped forward and grabbed Calla's chin. "I thought you'd be happy to see me.""I'm not unhappy," Calla replied as she lowered her eyes, unable to meet his gaze. They were about to divorce, and he was set to marry another woman. How could she be happy?"You can't fool me. You're not happy," Mercer insisted stubbornly.Growing impatient, Calla jostled his hand away from her chin. A trace of disgust was evident in her eyes. How could she not be repulsed? His heart and soul belonged to another woman. Why did he have to touch her like this?Her expression angered Mercer, and his voice rose sharply. "I flew over ten hours overnight to rush back, just because I was worried about you. Why do you have to treat me like this?"Mercer's deep eyes gazed at Calla with a hint of hurt. She looked up, oblivious to his emotions, and instead, her voice grew agitated. "You've been enduring hours of arduous flights and a week of rushing around to finish your work. It'

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    Looking at her phone, Calla saw it was Harlan calling. She quickly answered."Calla, our accounting department has openings for transfer students this year. Your sister has been performing well in her current department. I've already spoken to the head of department. She should have no problem transferring. "I have the application form with me. Where are you right now? I'll bring it over to you," Harlan said on the other end.Calla was overjoyed to hear this. Zoey might be able to enroll in the accounting program at Southera University."No need. I'll come to get it myself. Don't let me interrupt your classes," Calla quickly replied."Okay, I'll wait for you in my office," Harlan said before hanging up.Calla hurried upstairs to change. Harlan usually had class at 9:00 am, and it was 8:00 am now. It would take her about half an hour to get to Southera University, ensuring she arrived without interfering with his class.Ten minutes later, Calla had gotten dressed, grabbed her ba

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    Hearing this, Calla was shocked. "Have you been following me? Or did you send someone to tail me?" she questioned angrily."Does it matter?" Mercer responded with a cold look."So what if I went to Southera University? Don't I have the freedom to do as I wish?" Calla tried to shake his hand off, but his grip was like an iron vice. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free."Why did you go to Southera University? Did you go to see Harlan? Tell me!" Mercer's veins bulge on his forehead. His voice grew louder with each question.Hadn't he already made his choice? She was a stand-in for the woman he truly loved. Why should he care if she sought out another man? This must be the inferiority complex of wealthy men like him. Even if they didn't like someone, they wouldn't allow anyone else to touch what they considered theirs."Can't I have a male friend? At least Harlan and I have clean consciences—unlike you and Sophie, sneaking around!" Calla retorted.At these words, M

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    "I said Harlan is better than you. He is a hundred times, a thousand times better than you. Is that enough?" Anger had stripped Calla of her rationality at this point. She was shouting at Mercer at the top of her lungs.Calla's words made Mercer's veins bulge, and his eyes grew cold. She watched as he breathed heavily. She felt some satisfaction from having dealt him a harsh blow. Yet fear dominated her emotions as his icy countenance terrified her.Mercer tightened his grip on Calla's shoulders, and her face contorted in pain. But she stubbornly only frowned, refusing to cry out or show any sign of weakness."Do you realize you're pregnant? You're carrying my child, and yet you go out to mess around with other men. Are you even fit to be a wife or a mother? Don't you know you're a married woman?" Mercer roared at her.Calla was shaken so violently that she felt dizzy. Her shoulder blades felt like they were about to be crushed under his grip. She instinctively used both hands

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    Life had to go on regardless. Zoey had changed majors, and her aspirations were clear. She aimed to become a certified public accountant and even asked for a few basic accounting books for herself.Calla struggled to get up, but still grabbed her bag to head out. In truth, she was intentionally defying Mercer's authority. He didn't want her to leave the residence, so she was determined to go out—acting out of spite.Seeing Calla putting on her shoes in the foyer, Jasmine hurried over to stop her. "Mrs. Garland, you can't go out. Mr. Garland gave specific instructions not to let you.""He has no right to restrict my freedom." Calla ignored Jasmine and continued putting on her shoes.Out of desperation, Jasmine stood in the doorway, spreading her arms to block Calla's path. "Mrs. Garland, what if Mr. Garland blames me? I can't bear the consequences.""If he gets wind of this, tell him to come to me. I'll handle it," Calla said. She pushed past Jasmine and left without looking back.

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    "It seems your ex-girlfriend didn't tell you she came to see me," Calla said coldly."Sophie came to see you?" Mercer looked surprised as he reached out and grabbed Calla's wrist."Don't touch me!" Calla tried to shake his hand off.Mercer held her hand firmly but without the bone-crushing force he used yesterday.The next moment, Mercer suddenly grinned."What's so funny?" Calla thought he was extremely unpredictable. Moments ago, he had been yelling loudly enough to bring the roof down. Now, he was laughing."You're jealous!" Mercer said. His eyes fixed on Calla."You... What nonsense are you talking about? Who's jealous?" His words made Calla flustered. She hurriedly denied it but didn't dare look into his eyes—because he was right. Her reactions these past few days had been driven by jealousy. But besides a marriage that was only in name, what right did she have to be jealous? He didn't love her.Calla's reaction pleased Mercer a little. He reached out to grab her chi

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    "My heart is already in pieces because of you. So what if I hit, cursed, or even stabbed you now? What's the point of doing all that? I beg this of you, Mercer, please let me live my life quietly and stop bothering me!"Stop making up all these ridiculous justifications too. I'm tired—exhausted! I don't want to deal with you anymore," Calla sobbed, tears running down her face.She knew that she shouldn't have cried in front of him. It wasn't just a sign of her weakness, it might also fuel his assumption that she still cared for him. However, she couldn't control it. Whenever she thought of the suffering she'd gone through in the past couple of years, tears ran uncontrollably down her face."I want nothing more than for you to let me tell you the truth in its entirety. I want you and Casper to not miss out on the chance to reconnect as mother and son. "I promise that I'll respect your choice once I'm done telling you everything, and I won't bother you again in the future!" Mercer l

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    Mercer's face fell. He sat on an armchair before asking Calla, "Do you dislike me that much? Are you not even willing to stay by my side for one minute?""I don't dislike you—I hate you. Also, one minute is too long—I can't even bear to stay by your side for one second!" Calla replied without hesitation.As memories—filled with love and resentment alike—flashed in Calla's mind, she felt an intense hatred for Mercer. If not for Casper, she would never have stepped inside this place again, much less take a seat across Mercer to have a conversation.Calla's words hurt Mercer. He sat there for a while with his head lowered before lighting up a cigarette and taking a long drag.Calla couldn't help coughing when the acrid smell of smoke entered her nose. Realizing that he'd made her cough, Mercer quickly stubbed the cigarette in his ashtray. Calla didn't want to waste any more time with him. She asked impatiently, "Why did you have me come here? Who is the woman you had Casper with?"

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