Chapter 03

ADESSA. 

The whole day went by in a blur. People came and went. Everyone was fuzzing over Kael. I had attempted to reach out to him, but Miranda blocked me all the time. 

There was a time when I screamed at her out of frustration, and it was the scene Kael accidentally witnessed. Of course, he didn’t like it. 

So, instead of letting me speak with him, he took his stepmother, who kept pretending I was the mean one, and they left the house. I had no idea where they went, and no matter who I asked around, no one could tell me. 

So I didn’t get any sleep at all. I watched the clock tick, and the moment it hit six in the morning, I was already up and began managing the housemaids in the kitchen, hoping Kael would be back for breakfast.

Breakfast came and went, and there was still no sign of him. 

After eating, I went to my office and called the central hall to check if he went there, as he would usually do during work days. But he didn’t. They were actually surprised to find out he had woken up.

So, up to this moment, I had no idea where he was, and I couldn’t reach Dexter, who went home after Kael and Miranda left the house yesterday. 

I was pacing back and forth, contemplating my next move, when I heard the sound of an approaching car. 

I walked toward the window and peered outside. My office window was facing the parking lot, so I saw Miranda’s car driving in her assigned parking space. 

My heart began thudding loudly as if it would jump out of my chest. I didn’t like it. It felt like an omen that something terrible was about to happen. 

Miranda exited the car and was followed by another man, but not Kael. It was Mr. Toledo, Kael’s attorney and legal advisor. 

What is he doing here? And where is Kael?

Goosebumps rose from the skin at the thoughts that flooded my head. I tried to shake it off when I heard another sound of an approaching car.  

It took a while before Dexter’s car came into view, and the moment the backseat door opened, I already knew why I was feeling agitated. Kael got out of the first before he laid out his hand to someone.

And I was right, she was here.

Desiree placed her hand on his, and soon they were holding hands. I didn’t see any more because a knock came through the door. I turned away from the window and walked back to my table. 

My heart was breaking, but I couldn’t let them see that. I cleared my throat before allowing the person outside.

Miranda entered, followed by Mr. Toledo. 

“Is there anything I can do for you?” I asked as I eased back in my chair.

“You need to sign this document so we can all move forward,” Miranda said as she strutted toward me and dropped a clear folder on my table.

My gaze slowly shifted from her to the document in front of me. I didn’t need to open it. I could clearly see what’s inside the folder. 

Divorce papers. 

“Sign it,” she said arrogantly.

“No,” I answered firmly.

“Kael wants a divorce.”

“He’s the one who wants to divorce, then he should be the one asking for it. He’s not a baby anymore that needs his nanny to do things for him.”

Miranda hissed as her eyes narrowed. “Look at you. You have grown horns in just over a year. Kael no longer wants you…”

“Kael doesn’t remember me, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want me,” I told her in the same arrogant voice she was using, even if I didn’t believe my own words.

“Really? Well, if you don’t know who he spent the night with, let me tell you. He was with Desiree, and they were excited to be with each other.”

“Really? I didn’t feel anything. Either you’re lying, or they’re so excited to be with each other that they just decided to stare at each other for the entire night.” I told her sarcastically.

It was the truth. I didn’t feel any pain in my chest, so I was sure they were not intimate.

Her palms slammed against the desk as she glared at me. “Sign the damn paper, Adessa. Do not piss me off!”

I grabbed the folder and rose from my seat before heading toward the door, ignoring her words.

“Where are you going?” she asked. 

“To my dear husband. I want to know what he’s been up to.”

I could still hear Miranda talking, but I had already walked out of my office and shut the door. I prepared myself for the worst because I knew Desiree was with Kael. 

But even if I did my best, I still came unprepared when I walked into his office and found Desiree sitting on his lap, talking to him in her angelic voice — the exact opposite of her attitude.

This was not my first encounter with her. A few weeks after my wedding, I bumped into her a number of times, and in every instance, she attempted to harass me in public by calling me names. 

“I want to speak with my husband,” I said in a cold tone, and their heads snapped to look at me. 

“Don’t you know how to knock?” Desiree asked in a mocking voice. 

“Don’t you know how to be decent? You are worried about me invading my husband’s office when you should be checking yourself because you’re sitting on his lap.”

“Adessa…” It was Kael. He didn’t say anything to her, but he must have motioned for her to stand up because she lazily got up from him.

“Tell her to leave. I want to discuss things with you.”

Kael took a deep breath and looked at Desiree. They stared at each other for a while before he nodded his head.

Desiree pouted, her shoulders slumping, but I knew it was all for the act. I didn’t move until she was out of the office. After her, I closed the door and walked toward Kael’s table, sliding the folder onto him.

“So, you want a divorce,” I stated. I was trying my best to keep my voice from breaking.