Keenan opened his desk drawer, searching for a file he had left behind that he needed to bring to the office. But he accidentally stumbled upon a thick white envelope among the documents.
"What's this?" he muttered as he opened the envelope.
Keenan was shocked to find a pregnancy test with two red lines and a doctor's report in Catherine Chandra's name.
Keenan froze, reading the contents and recalling Catherine's words from their last meeting.
"What are you looking at?"
Keenan turned, unable to hide the envelope in time, as Arsila had already snatched it.
"You kept it?" Arsila asked curtly.
"I just found it; I don't know how long it's been there," Keenan replied.
"Do you regret leaving Catherine?"
Keenan shook his head. He touched Arsila's cheek and kissed her gently on her thin lips. "You're my life, Arsila. I never regret leaving anyone for you. You've helped me a lot, you're my breath and soul."
Arsila blushed; just a few words from Keenan were enough to calm her down.
"I'm afraid you'll regret it because you know I'm infertile," Arsila said with a forced tone of sadness.
The man shook his head. "I don't need anyone else, because just being with you makes me happy."
Arsila's phone rang, diverting her attention. "Hang on a moment."
Arsila smiled when she saw her assistant calling this afternoon. "Hello, what's the news? Did they accept our offer?"
"Madam, this is good news for our company. The sponsor for the charity event in Paris has agreed to collaborate with us, which means our brand can expand to that city."
Arsila jumped with joy, her heart over the moon.
"Have they already found a suitable model to represent our product?" asked Arsila eagerly.
"They have, but this time it's a new model."
"No problem, as long as they're professional and can create an extraordinary impact for our brand," Arsila said.
"Alright, Madam, but could you check the portfolio of the model before our meeting tomorrow?"
"Send it to me; I'll check it now." Arsila hung up the phone, and a minute later, an email arrived on her phone.
However, that happy smile quickly turned to shock when she read the email containing the portfolio of the model who would represent her product in Paris.
Catherine Chandra. The name displayed in the email portfolio instantly changed Arsila's mood.
How could it not? The woman she thought was dead and who had vanished without a trace suddenly reappeared and disrupted Arsila's thoughts.
"So, are you poor now?" Arsila muttered, smiling slyly as she read Catherine's resume.
"For a year, you did nothing, but now you've come back as a model. I thought you were dead, or maybe crippled and hiding."
"Hm ... alright, I know you need money now. I'm willing to meet with you; let's see what happens in Paris." Arsila stood up and asked her secretary to print out the portfolio.
"Madam Arsila...." Samuel called out, then handed Arsila a phone. "Mrs. Hart is calling, asking for some money because she's with her friends at the Louvre."
Arsila sighed and took the phone from Samuel's hand. She then transferred 20,000 Euros to her mother-in-law.
"That old crone only knows money, money, and more money, while the father-in-law only cares about sex and affairs," Arsila whispered.
She felt slightly disgusted with this family. Without her love and obsession with Keenan, she might have chosen to step away from this marriage.
"Madam, your father just called and said that Keenan requested additional funding because the project in New York is being expedited by a month."
Arsila nodded. "Do what they ask, give them what they need, and keep an eye on the stock prices. I don't want to lose money just because this family enjoys looting my family's wealth."
Samuel nodded in understanding, then excused himself. Arsila took her phone and noticed a call from someone she'd been waiting for.
"Hello, Svarga...."
***
Standing at 185 centimeters, the man, wearing a dark blue shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, waved at Arsila.
"Hey, beautiful soul," greeted Svarga as he hugged the straight-haired, brown-haired woman.
"Have you been waiting for me long?" Arsila asked cheerfully.
"Ah, don't worry about it. I haven't enjoyed the view at the Louvre in a while," Svarga replied.
His name was Svarga Kenneth Oweis, the owner of the largest and most famous modeling agency, producing models ready to become trendsetters nationwide.
"So, has my secretary contacted you? I was quite surprised when you wanted to use my company's services for your skincare brand," said Svarga.
"I've accepted it, and I was also surprised that you would accept my collaboration offer. I thought my brand was too new, and you wouldn't look at my proposal," Arsila replied politely.
"C'mon, you're Arsila Gistara. Everyone knows you and your family as brilliant business people in this city. You're young and beautiful; compared to all my models, you could actually carry the brand without anyone's help."
"That's nonsense." Arsila playfully slapped the man's arm. "I feel like I'm no longer as pretty after getting married."
"Ah, you're still the prettiest, especially since Keenan Hart is your husband."
Arsila smiled proudly. "By the way, I was a bit surprised when I found out who the model was that's taking my brand to Paris."
"You mean Catherine?" Svarga repeated.
"You know her?" Arsila asked curiously.
"I don't know all the models in my company; there are too many. I just know that Catherine is a model recruited without a trainee period like the other models," Svarga said. "But I heard she's a former supermodel who used to walk the runways in New York a few years ago."
Arsila was slightly taken aback but didn't show it. "Wow, that means I'll be getting a lot of benefits later."
Svarga nodded. "But I've also heard that she's a divorcee...."
Arsila didn't comment.
"I don't know much, and I don't want to know much," said Svarga, his expression indifferent to everything.
"You're right," Arsila spoke. "I've heard rumors that she divorced her husband because she was caught cheating."
"Really?"
Arsila nodded. "I don't really care about her; it's just business gossip because she was once married to a businessman."
Svarga nodded. "Well, she's probably down on her luck and needs money now."
"That could be true. A cheating wife usually ends up poor after a divorce. You should be careful; you've got a snake in your company."
"Why's that?" Svarga asked, surprised.
"She could damage your company's reputation," Arsila replied confidently.
The elevator door sounded as a man in a dark blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves stepped out. His confident and long strides carried him to the trainee training room.His face lit up with admiration as he saw a woman he missed dearly elegantly moving into the room."You're healthy, and I hope you're always happy, Catherine," Svarga said as he opened the door to the room.A trainer, noticing the company's boss arriving, asked Catherine to stop. She greeted him while Catherine stood frozen as Svarga walked toward her."Can we have the room to ourselves for a moment?" Svarga asked the female trainer.It was just the two of them now, only Catherine and Svarga."You—" Catherine found herself at a loss for words, her tongue-tied."Thank you for coming back. I'm happy to see you," Svarga said softly.Tears streamed down Catherine's cheeks; seeing Svarga was like a refreshing breeze entering her body, which had felt hollow for so long."Svarga...."The man hugged Catherine, rubbing the back of
CRASH! Papers were scattered all over the floor, and Arsila screamed angrily, her hands pulling at her messy hair. Her encounter with Catherine at the charity event a few hours ago had shattered her composure.Catherine had entrapped Arsila by handing her a photo of the affair between herself and Keenan from a year ago.Arsila laughed sardonically. "No, I can just tell everyone that the photo was doctored by someone untrustworthy!"The woman grabbed her phone and called her assistant. "Sam, invite Catherine and her agency for dinner next week. Tell them that the company's stock is gradually rising thanks to Catherine's influence."After that, Arsila tidied up and left her office. She picked up her car keys, but before she could go, Biana approached her."Catherine Chandra is the talk of the town," Biana said, stopping Arsila in her tracks. "You were very reckless in hiring that woman as the company's model."Arsila took a deep breath, then turned to her mother-in-law. "I've calculated
"Marry me, Cath."That was the message Svarga sent to Catherine. A velvet box containing two gold rings set with diamonds added to the atmosphere, making Catherine's heart race."Marry Svarga, dear," said Noel.Catherine closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, then her small lips said, "Papa, this is too soon.""So, are you rejecting him?""N-no, it's not like that. You and Mama surely know why I'm not ready for marriage. My wounds haven't healed, and I've just met the main person responsible for inflicting such deep wounds on me."Noel and Keira exchanged glances, regret in their eyes as they looked at their daughter's pale and sorrowful face. Indirectly, they also played a part in Catherine's mental setback."I need time, maybe not now, or whenever… I must reconcile and discuss things with my heart and mind.""Mr. and Mrs. Chandra, sorry to interrupt your conversation. It seems Catherine needs to rest now since tomorrow is
Svarga was seen intimately wrapping his arm around Arsila's waist, with Keenan following behind them carrying several shopping bags. They seemed close, their carefree faces only intensifying the turmoil in Catherine's chest."Let's go, Dhira," Catherine urged."Aren't you curious?"Catherine turned away, not wanting to let her thoughts tangle, and her heart was unsettled just to see two people who had hurt her. She was now laughing happily with someone she trusted."Svarga seems very close with Arsila," Dhira commented."They're business partners," Catherine replied.Dhira felt awkward and sped up the car without saying another word.The pounding in Catherine's heart slowly subsided, but her eyes were still teary after seeing Keenan and all the memories they had shared.They had once adored each other, professing love and expressing affection every day. Keenan, who rarely showed warmth, had been very attentive to her. He had ma
"It seems so hard to even find, let alone meet you after you married Keenan." Liam, a man who is an old friend of Catherine Chandra, raised his glass, inviting the woman's glass to clink with his.Catherine smiled, her eyes winking to the side. "I love Keenan, and I have to be a good wife to him by not seeing other men like you."The two old friends laughed heartily. Tonight, Liam met Catherine because he wanted to invite her to rejoin their company."You're beautiful and talented, Cath, but I admire that you're willing to give everything up for your husband. Ah, you're even more beautiful now that you're married." Liam teased as he folded the black folder that had been open all this time."I just don't want to be a disobedient wife." Catherine chuckled softly. "You also know, it was very difficult for me to find a well-established man like Keenan."Catherine's phone rang softly, and an alarm for tonight's schedule prompted her to grab her clutch and stand up. "I have to go tonight."
The Divorce Papers. Catherine sat with a vacant look at a deserted bus stop. It was 11 p.m., and there weren't many people on the streets—just a faint breeze and flashes of lightning indicating that rain would soon follow.The white folder Keenan had given her was still in her hand. Catherine didn't know whether she should go home tonight or not.What she experienced from her husband's behavior was truly heartbreaking. She felt she had no more chances, and even Biana, who had been like a mother to her, had joined in mocking her."You're still here." A woman suddenly stood before Catherine, crossing her arms over her chest.Arsila, the woman who had enjoyed the warmth of the bed with Keenan just a few hours ago, stood confidently, with a malicious smile, watching Catherine's misfortune."Admit your defeat and end this cheap drama you've created. You should bow your head before me, so Keenan doesn't have to divorce you," said Arsila.Catherine gave a faint smile, her body drained of en