Chapter 44

Holly

We spent a week in New York then returned to Payson. I called Gertrude and told her What happened, and she informed everyone. Two days after it happened,Caleb gave an interview .The same woman from before, Jacqueline her name was I think. She didn't ask him anything,he told her everything that happened.

People were going crazy online, Everyone started pointing fingers at Catherine saying she's involved in it. They began bashing her online, They went as far as going to her house and breaking down the gates and went after her. We were there when Catherine's father called Caleb to ask him to Calm the people down and tell them Catherine had nothing to do with it. In the end Caleb hung up the phone on him.

After two weeks the detective and police gave up the search. They didn't find her body. Caleb just accepted it. We all did ,it was the end. When we got back to Payson everyone was waiting In Front of the cafe. I didn't have the strength or courage to say it. We held a funeral for her ,with an empty casket.

Gertrude took charge of it. Amanda,Cindy , Michael and Jason even the senator came down. Everyone knew who she was now, Her real identity was out. Caleb was there but he wasn't there. He just stood at the back constantly drinking. It got to a point where Jason and Ryan had to take him over to his place. He asked me to take care of the software company and the Cafe ,not to let it go if I needed help with it to call him. When he left the next day,he said goodbye to everyone . I knew he would never return to Payson ever again.

That was a month ago, and life went back to normal, Normal for everyone else. For us it would never be the same . I went to Phoenix and informed everyone in the company. They didn't want to believe it, they were also worried about their Jobs. I assured them they wouldn't lose their jobs. I hired a few more freelancers and once everything was settled I headed back to Payson.

I confided in Mya and Grace about the business Aria and I built. Aria trusted Them and so did I. I asked them to take charge, to manage the cafe so that they could hire two more employees if they needed to. Grace assured me that she and Mya could handle it alone and that they'll keep it the same.

Jason

Four months ago I walked out of my family house, distancing myself from my mother. She's been trying to contact and reach me. She even showed up at my office,I just had my secretary tell her I'm not here. I told Caleb to go ahead and do whatever he wanted to do. He just said okay, but hasn't done anything yet. I speak to Ryan, Holly, Cindy and Amanda at least once a week to check up on Caleb. I had the notion that he was going to do something fucked up.

Ryan and Amanda felt the same thing too, however he hasn't done anything. According to Cindy, he just goes to work then back home. He spends all his time in his apartment. He only leaves his side of the house during dinner time, after dinner he goes back to his side of the house. Cindy said he's been drinking a lot ,more than he should and they couldn't get him to stop. They were afraid of saying anything that would push him over the edge. Ryan was handling the ressort in Payson. He said He speaks to Caleb but Caleb is no longer the same.

I was sitting in my office, trying to figure out what to do with Caleb when my father walked in. He took a seat opposite me.

“ I'm divorcing her”, he said quietly, looking out the window at the skyline.

“ Why tell me ?, you're an adult, it's your life dad”.

“ Because she's going to raise hell. I know she did it but I don't know how . If she can do That to Aria then she can do it to me and you Also. I don't know Who she is anymore. I mentioned divorce and she threatened to kill me ”.

“ What ?”.

“ Yes ,She said if I thought I could just divorce her then I thought wrong that She'd rather see me Dead than get Divorced and she'd kill me herself”.

“ So What do you intend to do?”.

“ There's a summit Meeting coming up. I'll be gone for three months. The meeting is at the Pentagon. When I get there my lawyer will serve her with the divorce papers. I've already stated that if anything happens to me , she's responsible and everything goes to you. She signed a prenup so she leaves with nothing, however I gave her more than she deserves. I gave her a house and a couple million”.

“ Okay then”. I said,This was going to be a full out war and I wasn't going to choose sides.

“ How is Caleb?”. He asked, I told him what his family said.

“ He won't move on from her. It's the same way I felt about Cassandra. ”, he said quietly.


Amanda

My son was no longer the same. He drinks almost every single day, he locks himself away from the world. Max has been informing me about what happens at the office. He fired four secretaries because they tried to make a move on him or tried to get too close . He didn't want any woman around him.

I was worried about him, we all were and he wasn't showing any signs of stopping. He won't talk about it , we tried getting him to see a therapist but he didn't want to. After her funeral he completely changed. I couldn't explain it anymore.

I was in the living room when Ryan and Holly walked in. Jason was behind them. Holly came to me and hugged me.

“ How are you Amanda?”.

“ I'm okay dear. How are you?”.

“ Trying but not really getting anywhere ”, she said quietly.

“ Where is he ?”. Ryan asked. Just then Cindy walked in.

“ Mom, he took four more bottles back to his apartment ”, she said sitting down on the couch. I looked at them.

“ He's been drinking heavier and heavier. I don't know what to do ”.

Ryan and Jason walked away,and headed up the stairs. Holly sat besides me holding my hand.

“ I can't eat ,sleep ,or work properly. That's what he's going through too. I just can't seem to wrap my mind around it”. The

Caleb

Today marks five months since she's died, since she left me. Having a drink was the only way I could sleep , otherwise sleep wouldn't come. Everytime I close my eyes, I see her face. Her eyes. I couldn't think clearly, I just wanted her back but I knew it wasn't possible. All her belongings were still here ,still in my closet. I didn't remove them , I couldn't. Just seeing it gave me strength to continue living.

I stayed away from everyone. Ryan Called and I spoke to him. Holly would check up on me , even Gertrude. I know They were worried about me and worried I would do something crazy but I wasn't going to do anything foolish. I couldn't explain it to them. I know my parents and my sister see me bringing bottle after bottle of alcohol to my place, but I didn't drink it.

I just needed everyone to see and think I've lost it and don't care anymore. Nathan has been updating me. We sent someone to work at Catherine's and Diane's place. They reported to Nathan and he informed max. It was between me , Nathan and Max. I wasn't ready to let the others know yet. Catherine has been watching us, so has Diane. That's Why I always let someone see me with a bottle of alcohol in my hands.

They've been buying into it more now. That I had become a useless alcoholic. Catherine is about to make a move on me. She still wasn't going to give up. I was on my laptop when the door opened and Ryan and Jason walked in. Ryan walked over to me and punched me.

“ What the Fuck Did you do that for?”.

“ Wait?you're not drunk?” he said, looking at me.

“ Cindy said you took four bottles of alcohol “ , Jason said, taking a seat. I rubbed my jaw.

“ Yeah I took it. Just because I keep taking it doesn't mean I'm drinking it”.

Ryan sat down and they were both looking at me. I guess the jig was up. No one knew if I drank or not because my parents nor Cindy came to my apartment.

“ Spill it Caleb. Everyone has seen you drinking non-stop, even your mother. There's even pictures of you online,you always have a half full bottle of alcohol in your hands,so what the hell is going on?”. Ryan said, looking at me.

“ Okay Fine , I'll explain” ,