Chapter 210 Counting the Days
My head buzzed and then went blank for a moment.
Jerry, often appearing unreliable, always had a cunning plan behind his nonchalant facade. Avery's anxiety must mean something serious was amiss.
Turning swiftly, I saw Elissa's troubled expression as she dashed out. "Elissa, what happened? You know it, don't you?"
She had been acting strange since she entered my office, likely trying to conceal any news about Jerry.
"Hope." Elissa said, nervously licking her lips, reluctant to speak.
The more she hesitated, the more my fear grew. Desperation clawed at me, and I grasped her arm. "Tell me, Elissa. Please."
Still, she wavered, her silence only stoking my panic.
"If you don't tell me, I'll find out myself." I began dialing on my phone while moving towards the door. "I’ll head to Maple Valley if I need to."
No answer from Avery. Next, I tried Kyle, but his phone rang unanswered too.
Frantically, I stabbed the elevator button until the doors opened to reveal Christopher's composed figure. He approached me gently. "In such a hurry, where are you going?"
Tucking my phone away, I stared him down. "Christopher, what happened to Jerry?"
He chuckled, seemingly amused. "What could happen to him? Did you hear some baseless rumor?"
"Give me your phone." I demanded, extending my hand.
Elissa probably tampered with mine, but if something had indeed happened to Jerry, Christopher was sure to know.
Christopher smiled as if humoring me, handing over his phone. "Why so paranoid?"
He seemed like the picture of a cooperative husband.
I looked at him. "Password."
He answered smoothly, "Wedding anniversary."
I entered the date and skimmed through his phone, desperate for any clue about Jerry. Instead, I found a live video feed.
The Hammer Group's pharmaceutical division had made a significant breakthrough and was holding a press conference. In the live footage, Jerry, dressed in casual attire at odds with the formal setting, answered reporters' questions with a calm, unapproachable demeanor. His voice, low and controlled, left no room for doubt.
Christopher, for once, didn't mock me and softly asked, "Feeling better now?"
"Yes." I handed the phone back, relief settling in.
Elissa hustled out, managing to conclude her tasks, and after exchanging a glance with Christopher, she turned to me with a resigned smile. "I told you there's nothing wrong. Believe me now? Jerry's luck is too good for anything serious to happen to him."
Christopher's eyes were gentle. "Do you want to continue working or go home?"
I said, "Work."
Having completed the custom orders for Maple Valley last week, our clients were so pleased they had immediately placed more orders and passed on referrals. With sales, both online and custom, elevating ElevateJoy beyond our wildest expectations, it felt like we were touched by divine favor.
Christopher put his arm around my shoulder and led me back to the office, settling comfortably on the sofa. "You go ahead and work; I'll wait for you to finish."
A chill settled over me as I responded curtly, "Aren't the RF Group and the Valence Group keeping you busy?"
"With my people watching over them, nothing will go wrong." he replied, completely unperturbed by my coldness. His tone was sincere, his demeanor unflappable.
At RF Group, aside from Daniel, there was also Price—a name I was familiar with only through Christopher’s guarded phone conversations. The bond they shared seemed forged in life-and-death circumstances, a trust Christopher held close.
Nodding thoughtfully, I relented, "Alright, suit yourself. We are set to finalize the divorce after tomorrow. Ensure you arrange the time."
Christopher's blue eyes flickered, a self-deprecating smile touching his lips. "Are you counting the days?"
"You could say that." I answered candidly.
His long lashes lowered as he pressed his lips into a firm line. "Alright, whatever you say."
I corrected him, "It’s not about what I say. Christopher, this is something we agreed on a long time ago."
His gaze lingered on me before he sighed deeply, "Was I just like this before?"
I took a measured sip of coffee. "Like what? Cold, perfunctory, or hypocritical? Don’t worry, I don’t need to be hypocritical with you."
Once upon a time, I had hoped for a dignified end, but now, dignity seemed a distant concept.
Christopher's expression stiffened, and he stared at me, hesitating before finally asking, "When did you stop loving me?"
The question caught me off guard, sending a torrent of fragmented memories rushing forth—chaotic, unbearable. Shaking my head, I replied, "I don’t know. Maybe a long time ago? Perhaps it was as early as our wedding anniversary when you lied to me."
Our past was filled with my reluctance and struggle. In retrospect, I couldn’t distinguish whether I had been unwilling to let go of Christopher or unwilling to let go of the efforts I had invested. It had taken over half a year to crawl out of a quagmire that spanned years.
Christopher hunched forward, elbows resting on his knees, avoiding my gaze. His voice was hoarse. "Over this past month, did you never think about turning back...?"
"No," I cut him off before he could finish.
I had already given half my life to him. There were no regrets.
Silence stretched between us, so long that I thought he might not speak again. Then, with a heavy exhale, he murmured, "The day after tomorrow morning, we’ll go through the divorce procedures."
I nodded. "This time, it won't be fake, right?"
"No." His voice was a low rumble, his eyes tender. "Go ahead and work, Mrs. Valence. Soon, you’ll be free. I will no longer have any reason or identity to come and take you home."
His words left me momentarily dazed, but I pretended not to hear. My pen moved briskly, smooth lines flowing without interruption.
Later that evening, back at the Valence family Manor, I accidentally broke a cup again. It was an unusual slip; I rarely made such mistakes.
An unsettling thought passed through my mind. After calling for a servant to clean up the shards, I rushed upstairs and grabbed my phone, eager to find the live video I had seen on Christopher's phone earlier.
It was gone, completely erased with no playback available online.
Countless scenarios raced through my mind, making my skin prickle with unease. Attempting to call Avery again, I discovered my phone had no signal, and the WiFi was down.
I quickly went downstairs to find Barry. "Why is there no internet or signal at home?"
Barry avoided my gaze. "Mrs. Valence, we just received a notice that the nearby base station is down and is being repaired."
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