Chapter 9
But then, she encountered love.
Benedict couldn’t join her on her journey, nor could he bear the thought of letting her
- go.
So, for Benedict‘ s sake, she chose to stay.
Her name had been on the South African medical aid project for months, but she had never found the right moment to leave. Now, the opportunity had finally arrived.
“Tomorrow’s your birthday. After dinner with your parents, remember to come home early,” Odette reminded him.
“Alright, I’ll do as you say,” Benedict
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agreed, nodding with a smile.
“I have a surgery to attend. You should head back now,” Odette added softly.
Benedict nodded and left without a word of
protest.
But twenty minutes later, as she walked past the storage room, she heard his voice-
“Didn’t I warn you to stop causing trouble?”
Millicent, unbothered, whined playfully, insisting, “But I’m pregnant. I’m not lying. Aren’t you afraid…”
“Pregnant? Nonsense. Silly girl, just stay in the villa and wait for me. You don’t need to be pregnant; just keeping me company in bed is enough.”
Chapter 9
After Benedict‘ s sugary words, the room was
filled with the sound of kissing and tangled
bodies.
Odette turned to leave, but in her haste, she knocked into a trash can by the door. Startled, Benedict’s voice rang out, “Who’s there?”
Millicent, distracted by his words, tugged at his collar and pouted. “You were so harsh with me earlier. You need to make it up to
me…
99
But to Odette, it felt like a battle unworthy of fighting. Dirty trash was better left behind.
With a steady hand, Odette wiped her tears and walked toward the director’s office.
The director handed her a plane ticket for the
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next day. “After
‘After your final surgery, go home
and pack. Does Benedict know about this?”
“Please keep it quiet. I want to leave without a word,” Odette said seriously, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Though reluctant, the director nodded.
The countdown had begun, just one more day.
Benedict kissed Odette‘ s cheek, and the words slipped from his lips, a delayed realization. “I feel like something‘ s
وو
different at home.
He noticed but couldn’t quite grasp
- it.
Over the past ten days, Odette had quietly
removed every trace of herself from their
Chapter 9
home. Now, it stood empty of her presence.
“Go home,” Odette urged, her voice soft yet firm.
Benedict hesitated, a knot of unease
tightening in his chest. “Alright. When I get back, I’ll open your gift. Whatever it is, I’m sure I’ll love it.‘
وو
“Okay,” Odette replied quietly, her heart heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Inwardly, she wished he would truly love it.
Benedict‘ s parents had never approved of their marriage, unable to accept that Odette couldn’t give the Evander family an heir. And so, Benedict had to return home alone.
Once he left, Odette placed the signed divorce
Chapter 9
papers, her wedding ring, and her phone on
the table. Without a word, she pulled her
suitcase behind her and walked out–no glances back.
Her steps were steady, resolute, as though each one marked the distance between them.
Birds of the mountains and fish of the sea
take separate paths, never to meet again. And so, from this moment, their lives would never again cross.
As Odette boarded her flight to South Africa, Benedict sat at the Evander family dinner table, his heart suddenly racing, a feeling he
couldn’t shake.
His hand trembled, the glass slipping from his grip and shattering on the floor with a
Chapter 9
sharp, echoing crash.
“How could you be so careless? Can’t even
handle a little scolding? Is Odette really so difficult that she won’t even look at us again?”
“Son, you need to come to your senses. You‘ re the only heir to the family. Even if she did save your life, you can’t let her leave you without a child!” His mother’s biting words only made Benedict grow uneasy.
His face darkened, his voice a cold whisper.
“Mom, if you keep pushing this, don‘ t expect to see me again, let alone Odette.”
“Have you grown wings, Benedict? How dare you speak to your mother like that?” His father‘ s growl rumbled through the room.
Chapter 9
sharp, echoing crash.
“How could you be so careless? Can’t even handle a little scolding? Is Odette really so difficult that she won’t even look at us again?”
“Son, you need to come to your senses. You‘ re the only heir to the family. Even if she did save your life, you can’t let her leave you without a child!” His mother’s biting words only made Benedict grow uneasy.
His face darkened, his voice a cold whisper.
“Mom, if you keep pushing this, don’t expect to see me again, let alone Odette.”
“Have you grown wings, Benedict? How dare you speak to your mother like that?” His father‘ s growl rumbled through the room.
