Dolores’ heart clenched as she wondered if he really did bring the divorce papers with him. She asked
in a low voice, “What’s this?”
Armand pulled out a luggage bag from the back of the car, walked towards her and said, “These are all
Theresa’s things.”
Dolores, looking at the bag in his hand, did not immediately take it as she asked, “What’s this all
about…”
“Wherever she chooses to live, be it here or back to City C, anywhere would be better than living with
me. If she had really thought it through, if she really wants to…Divorce, I’ll not have qualms with her.”
Armand said while looking down, concealing his emotions and added, “Thank you.”
Dolores replied, “I see. That’s not exactly a bad thing. You two should think about it long and hard after
you’ve calmed down. Though Mrs. Bernie is indeed a problem and both of you won’t be happy anyway
if it is handled poorly.”
“I understand. She’s the one who raised me, I can’t just ignore her. Theresa…I’m very indebted to
her…” He could not even begin to pay off his debt.
Dolores knew that Armand was feeling down. She did not reply as she carried the luggage back into
the house.
She opened the door to Theresa’s door and saw that she was sitting alone on the balcony. Theresa
acted as if she was the only person left in the world.
Dolores approached her slowly, as Theresa was in very deep thoughts about something and did not
realize that someone entered her room.
“Theresa,” Dolores called to her softly.
She turned around slowly as Dolores smiled and said, “What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing much.” She caught sight of the luggage bag in Dolores’ hands and asked, “Is this…”
“Umm…”
Dolores sat her down on the bed and told her everything about Armand’s visit. “He said that he will
follow whatever you wish.”
Theresa lowered her head, her eyelashes twitching as she continued looking at the bag, “So, all my
stuff is inside that bag, along with the divorce papers?”
“Theresa…”
“I’m alright, it’s not exactly a bad thing.” She stood up and took over the bag, opened it and saw that it
was indeed containing her belongings. On the top of the pile was a sealed document bag.
Theresa thought that the bag contained the divorce papers, as she hesitated when picking up the bag.
Between all that, her eyes started tearing up.
In one’s imagination, many things seemed a lot more manageable than they actually were. When faced
in reality, however, is where one’s courage magically disappears into thin air.
Thankfully, Theresa quickly composed herself and reached for the document bag. She opened the bag
and reached for its contents.
She imagined that the papers within would have the words ‘Divorce Agreement’ plastered on top. She
was proven wrong when she realized that the bag’s contents were all of Armand’s savings. She was
further proven wrong when she found out that it was not only his savings, it also had all of his assets,
his savings, and his properties deeds.
Theresa’s eyebrows raised in confusion.
In the meantime, Dolores sneaked out of the room, closing the door on the way.
Now alone, Theresa poured everything out from the document bag, which contained deeds, a banking
card, and purchased funds.
Ding dong-
Her phone on the nightstand next to her bed sounded. She stood up and looked at the phone, which
was showing ‘Armand’ and opened his message.
‘Theresa, I’ve stored all my money on this card, the password to it is our engagement date. Some of it
can’t be withdrawn quite yet, but eventually, you can withdraw and use them. Also, here are all of my
assets, I’ll hand them over to you. I’m too indebted to you, this is the least I can do, giving you enough
cash to live carefreely…I’ll give you some time, you can go wherever you want to live. Once you’ve
really thought everything through…I’ll give you freedom, for you to find love that truly belongs to you.
No matter how much I will miss you, I am still unable to provide you with love. So, I’ll let you go, I can’t
let you just wither away by my side. I’ll be waiting for you.’
Theresa’s fingers that were holding the phone weakened as she fell onto the bed. Looking through a
curtain of tears at the things that Armand left her, she sobbed and said to herself, “Are there two people
on this world that love each other, think of each other, miss each other, but are not by each other’s
sides?”
Her tears unapologetically flowed down her cheeks.
She wiped off her tears and replied, ‘I’ve received the things you sent me, I’ll accept them gladly. You’re
a lawyer, you should deal with the divorce agreement. I’ll visit you once I’m feeling better.’
She understood the meaning behind his actions. If he felt that doing so would make him feel better, she
should not stop him.
At that moment, Armand was standing in the place where the two of them lived together for a month.
While that time was short, it was the happiest moment in their lives.
He looked towards the kitchen, a very familiar place as if reminiscing the days where they were
together. Armand would be cooking, with Theresa by his side munching on apples, occasionally even
shoving one into his mouth. Sometimes, she would hug him from behind and asked him what he was
cooking.
Theresa’s smiles were more relaxed and they were comfortable with each other.
Armand moved around. The balcony from the bedroom was still the same as it was when they moved
in, the woman sitting on the hammock playing with fishes in the aquarium was long gone, however.
The slim figure was also gone from the bed.
The place remained unchanged, it was its residents that were changed.
The whole place felt empty, just like his heart.
Armand turned back to the living room and sat on the sofa. He recalled the times where Theresa was
there watching the television.
All of the memory trickled back into his mind like a never-ending cinema.
The phone in his pocket vibrated. As he took it out, he saw that it was Theresa’s message and opened
it.
After finishing reading her message, he felt even more depressed than before.
He took a long time before replying, ‘Ok.’
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