CHAPTER 001
The dinner has started to lose its warmth while Callum remains absent. The evening has reached its late hours while Callum remains absent from his dinner time. Should I place all the food inside the refrigerator? Mrs. Agnes Sinclair spoke gently as she asked "You can heat it later" while showing her worry about the situation.
Eilidh understood the hidden meaning behind the older woman's words yet she decided to dismiss it. Callum would show up. He had to.
"Just leave it, Mrs. Sinclair. He could possibly remain at his workplace. She answered with forced cheerfulness despite her true emotions.
Mrs. Sinclair took her time to answer. The room remained silent while the grandfather clock continued its distant ticking. The housekeeper kept her eyes on Eilidh while displaying the same anxious expression she had shown for many weeks.
Callum failed to return home for his evening meal.
Since their last fight, he had changed his behavior. Cold. Distant. A sudden transformation occurred, which turned her into an unfamiliar presence in her marital home. She believed their marriage existed as a partnership, although he never loved her and she had no reason to think otherwise. Now, she wasn’t so sure.
Eilidh returned to the dining table to observe the untouched dinner she had meticulously prepared. His favorite dishes rested on the table as a stargazer lily arrangement which he had chosen from their wedding flowers. A small laugh of bitterness escaped from her throat. Three years. She had dedicated three years of her life to him.
"It’s late, Mrs. Sinclair. You should head home. She thanked the older woman before sending her off with kindness.
Mrs. Sinclair hesitated. The question reached her ears: "Will you be okay?"
"Of course." The words came too quickly.
Still, Mrs. Sinclair didn’t move. "Did you call him? Let him know about dinner?"
Eilidh shook her head. He becomes upset when I contact him that way.
Another pause. The footsteps faded away while the front door made a gentle closing sound. Mrs. Sinclair had vanished.
Eilidh dropped onto the couch while gazing blankly at the room.
The front door opening made her jump out of her sleep.
Her heartbeat raced while she lifted herself from the bed. Callum was finally home.
A brief wave of relief appeared before a heavier emotion took over. He showed no hurry to welcome her home. He entered without any recognition of her presence while his face showed no emotion and his jaw remained clenched with what seemed like frustration.
His presence filled the entire space despite his current withdrawn state. His suit featured strict lines, while his loosened tie and slightly disheveled dark hair created an appealing appearance after he had touched his hair too many times.
She rose to her feet while adjusting her skirt's fabric. "Callum—"
He didn’t stop. He avoided making eye contact with her. He discarded his coat by folding it before continuing his ascent to the stairs.
"Aren’t you forgetting something?" she asked, stepping forward.
He paused at the midpoint of the staircase before continuing his ascent. Turned. His gaze scanned her face, as though he were seeing her for the first time that evening. He reached into his coat pocket to produce a brown folder, which he extended toward her.
He spoke in a dull tone when he said, "I planned to give this to you tomorrow, but you keep pushing me."
Eilidh’s stomach twisted. Her hands trembled slightly as she reluctantly took the folder and opened it.
She ignored the spoken words. The words appeared before her eyes with absolute clarity.
Divorce Agreement.
A sudden wave of coldness swept through her body as if someone had dumped ice water on her spine.
"What is this?" She spoke in a barely audible tone.
Callum smirked. "You know what it is."
She did. Of course, she did. But why? She managed to read through the pages until she reached his signature, which appeared at the document's end.
"Why?" The word escaped her throat as a broken sound.
His expression remained unchanged. You must understand that this relationship has failed because we are complete strangers to each other. We’re strangers, Eilidh. This marriage—it’s done."
The breath left her lungs.
The walls seemed to close in on her as the room suddenly felt tighter. A sudden memory flashed through her mind, revealing the message her best friend had sent her the previous morning.
Nessa MacDougall is back. Callum picked her up from the airport.
The puzzle pieces assembled themselves into a brutal pattern.
Eilidh looked into Callum's eyes while a deep part of her body remained motionless. The situation revolves entirely around her.
He didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
Her knuckles turned completely white as she gripped the folder tightly.
She spoke with composure through the emotional turmoil inside her body. "Not even after all these years."
Something flickered in his gaze. Guilt? Annoyance? She wasn’t sure.
He simply ordered her to sign the document before walking away toward the staircase.
Eilidh watched him leave while her hands shook as she held the paper. Her emotions boiled inside her body as she experienced anger, heartbreak, as well as humiliation. A new idea started to form beneath her emotions.
She had loved him. She had given him everything. He never made any attempts to reciprocate her love, despite receiving everything she had given him.
She gripped the folder with increasing force.
She wouldn’t beg.
This time is not the right moment.