Nine months too late: After divorce

Sylvie lifted her hand to ring the doorbell for what felt like the tenth time, but like before, she lowered her hand, unable to do it.

She's been there for more than five minutes but still hadn't gotten the guts to ring the bell and confront Cindy.

'You can do this, Sylvie.' a voice whispered in her head.

'No, you can't. You couldn't do anything four years ago, remember?'

She wagged her head, trying to shake off the voices.

Finally, she gave it up. She'd never be able to do this. It was a complete waste of time coming here.

She turned around, heading to her car when she heard the door open behind her. She turned with a start and oxygen seemed to abandon her when she found Cindy holding the door

The world went still around her.

Cindy's brows scrunched up in surprise. "Sylvie?"

Sylvie inhaled deeply, her hand tightening around her bag.

There was no going back anyway. She wouldn't let herself flee from Cindy like a coward. No, no amount of low self-esteem would make her do that.

So, she forced her legs to move, going back to the door.

Cindy stood in the doorway, corporately dressed like she was on her way out. She looked like she had a million questions to throw at Sylvie. 'What're you doing here?' 'Have you been here for long?' 'Were you trying to leave without knocking?" But she said nothing, and it was as if each woman was waiting for the other to speak first.

"So," Sylvie slumped her shoulders. "You and Kage, huh?"

Disappointment crossed Cindy's face. Maybe she thought Sylvie would want to say a 'hello' to her as it was their first conversation in four years.

She lowered her gaze, her hand tightening sprint the side of the door where she held.

"When did you two become a thing? Few months after I left? A year? Or was it before?"

"Please! You know Kage would never cheat on you, especially not with me," Cindy rolled her eyes.

Sylvie let out a somber smile, her gaze dropping to the floor. "How did it even happen? I mean, how is it you, Cindy?"

Cindy's brows furrowed, a frown creeping into her face. "What do you mean 'how is it you? What? Do you think I am unworthy to be loved by someone like Kage?"

Sylvie was pissed that that was what she interpreted from her words. "You were my bestfriend!" She rose her voice. "Did you even look for me to know what happened? How did you just swing into a relationship with him?" "Well, you

broke his heart, Sylvie. You made a mess of him, and it was I who stood by him. So, yes! We fell in love!"

Sylvie was astonished.

"Look," Cindy closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry for what happened, okay? You were a good friend, but I saw

an opportunity and took it. Besides, it wasn't like you two were still together. So, I didn't snatch him from you."

8 75%

For a minute, Sylvie was silent, then she chuckled. "Is that the reason you wore my dress? You've been trying so hard to be me. Even your hair,"she flicked her gaze to Cindy's messy bun hair. "It's just the way I like it." Cindy shifted uncomfortably on her feet.

"Back then, you always told me I was lucky. You've always envied me, haven't you, Cindy? You've always wanted to be me."

"You're delusional," Cindy scoffed, but the look in her eyes wasn't as confident.

"Well, I do hope you're unfortunate as I've been since you want to be me so bad," Sylvie added in conclusion.

Cindy looked at her in disbelief, but Sylvie was done talking. It was the first time she was standing up to someone in four years, and she'd be lying if she said it didn't feel good.

But as she drove away in her car, she couldn't hold back the tears that came pouring. It still hurt, knowing that the one person she had considered her bestfriend had always envied her. It felt like a betrayal, and maybe it was.

*****

"I just received a call. Our office in Oasis has been opened," Galen said to Sylvie when she got home and met him in the living room.

"Whatever you had to do to get Kage to change his mind, you did a great job."

Relief flooded Sylvie, but it did nothing to take away the ache in his heart.

Simply dipping her head, she started for the stairs.

"Remember to stay out of trouble as much as you can, Sylvie," Galen's warning reached her from behind. "I didn't build Astréa Label by stepping on people's toes all the time." Sylvie nodded as she muttered. "I understand, sir."

Reaching her room, she had a hot bath, then got something to eat downstairs. Though, she was very dizzy, she felt.. sketching a little before going to bed.

But when she pulled her cabinet, she was bewildered to find one of her sketchbooks missing.

She searched thoroughly and panicked when she couldn't find it. It was the book that had her best designs - one she had never shown to anyone at all. Where was it?

*****

To the granddaughters' surprise, Galen called for a family dinner when it wasn't time.

"I was surprised when you called for this, grandpa. I wish we could eat together like this more often," June said with a bright smile, waiting for the maid who dished her food.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"Oh, don't get your hopes all high, sister. Daddy organized this dinner for me!" Astrid laughed.

Everyone except Astrid and her mother were surprised.

Astrid reached for her glass of wine, lifting it in the air. "This is to to the wonderful me who finally closed the deal with Timeless Tale Productions. Cheers!" She chuckled and drank from her glass. B B

Her mother clapped with a wide smile on her face. "I am so proud of you, my darling. You never

cease to amaze me."

! 2 4 3 75%u

Astrid giggled, her face all flushed.

June's face was pale. She tried and failed to cheer up.

"Don't you have anything to say, June?" Astrid looked at her, cocking her brows.

"Well..." She itched her nape. "That is quite... impressive. How did you um... manage to achieve it?"

"What do you mean, are you doubting my skills, June?" Astrid huffed. "Sometimes, you seem to forget you have a talented cousin. Of course, I showed him my VIP designs and he fell in love with them." June narrowed her eyes. "VIP designs? Care to share?"

"Nah," Astrid chuckled, driving some salad into her mouth. "They're confidential as of this moment. No hard feelings."

"You've done a great job, Astrid," Galen commended, wiping the corners of his mouth. "For that, you'll be getting a little gift from me tomorrow. In the meantime, you can ask for anything you want."

Astrid gasped, appearing flustered. "Oh, you don't really have to worry about that, grandpa. I do what I do for the family, the company. I don't need to be rewarded."

June rolled her eyes, finding the whole drama predictable.

Sylvie, who had been quiet, suddenly felt a sense of unease. Her sketchbook was still missing, and somehow, hearing Astrid talk about the new deal made her more uncomfortable. Now, she really wanted to find her book.