Nine months too late: After divorce

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"You're right." Galen's voice was as grumpy as always. "She won't be going with us." Sylvie's

ie's throat moved as she forcefully swallowed the chips. She should feel relieved. She had been scared and skeptical about facing Kage again. Yet somehow, her grandfather's response sent a sharp pain to her chest. They were going to leave her behind. You've never been important. You've always been-

"Are you ready to start working in the company, Sylvie?" Galen's voice pulled her out of the darkness her mind had already been journeying to. "Ruby has been insisting that you're good to go. Although, personally, I have my doubts. You don't look ready." He eyed her with hesitation.

His lack of faith in her hurt her. She had actually been following Ruby's instructions and practicing, but a part of her was beginning to think Galen might be right. Maybe she wasn't ready. "I am." Her eyes dropped to the table as she replied.

"Hm. Have you been practicing?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'll need your sketches, then. Bring them to me tomorrow."

Astrid scoffed. "I think you'll be wasting your time, Grandpa. This girl has known nothing about fashion her whole life. Trust) me, you'll be disappointed by her sketches."

Sylvie fist

fisted

her shaking hands under the table. Astrid's words sank in, but she couldn't even think of a soothing reply to give to her.

She missed the old 'her'. The her who wouldn't have let anyone talk down on her. Astrid would've gotten a sassy response that would have shut her up by now.

A soreness flared through her chest. It wasn't just her kids that she mourned these days. She mourned the old Sylvie that had died in that warehouse.

"Do you think your sketches are good?" Galen asked her.

Sylvie's thoughts spun in confusion. she shook her head. The truth was, she didn't have faith in herself anymore. "I don't... I think-"

"You have to be smart, girl!" Galen shouted at her, his voice making her shudder. "The business world is filled with hungry lions who will devour people like you that appear weak. The Cheng Empire needs a strong heart Now, if you think you're not capable, this is your time to pull out and probably go back to Australia."

For a fleeting second, Sylvie was tempted to consider his words, irrespective of how harsh it came out. But she thought of Ruby and how much effort and faith she had put in her. She'd be disappointed if she heard Sylvie pulled away.

"I'm sorry." Her hands fisted under the table again. "I believe my sketches are good."

Astrid snorted. But fortunately, nothing eie was said about her. Sylvie continued praying and hoping the dinner would come an end soon.

But how wrong was she to think they were done talking about her. When they ran out of fruit juice, to her surprise, Scarlett

wed,

asked her to get a refill from the kitchen.

Sylvie was stunned. There were maids in the house. did she need to be

"Why are you still sitting? Are you feeling

big

Seh

one to

get it for them?

an errands

glared

at her.

said anything

F

Sylvie felt hot as she stared at the empty jar on the table. Nobody in opposition.

With a tight throat, she grabbed the jar and headed for the kitchen.

As she waited for it to refill under the juice dispenser, a thought crossed her mind. What if Scarlett was responsible for her mother's death?

If there was someone with motif to kill, wouldn't it be the wife who was being cheated on?

Of course, , it t didn't make it true, Sylvie was simply assuming. Yes, her mother might have been doing something wrong, but Sylvie wished her killer had been caught. She returned to the dining with the refilled jar and after a while, she l

claiming she was done eating.

She went into the kitchen to get an extra bottle of water. While drinking from the bottle, Lex walked in, to her surprise.

Her brows furrowed. Weren't the others at the table?

She lowered the bottle from her lips, capped it and lowered her gaze as she attempted leaving. But he held her wrist when she reached his side.

"Hi."

The part of Sylvie's hand where he held burnt. She tried to free her wrist, but he would

let her

go.

"Wh... What're you doing?" Her eyes were wide with panic.

Her life was in enough trouble already to add someone walking in on her and Lex in the kitchen.

"Just holding you." He chuckled. "Is it something wrong?"

She tried again and was finally able to free her wrist from his grasp. But Lex stoodNôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

way.

"Just calm down, will you? I'm only tryna talk to you."

About what? I don't wanna talk - the words were on the tip of Sylvie's tongue, but she her arms around herself, keeping a safe distance from him. couldn't get

it

out. She just wrapped

"I just want you to know you're one beautiful lady, Sylvie." He took slow steps towards her "you' lady at that table."

more beautiful than

every

She forced her nervous eyes to look at him. Including his fiancee? What

game was he playing?

"... I have to go." She tried making a move again, but he got in her way

still

Oh, God.

"Okay, fine. I understand we don't have enough time here, but I'd love to spend more with

you, Sylvie

Dipping his hand into his pocket, he withdrew a complementary card. "Give me a call, will you? We can meet up at my apartment and-"

I don't want to." She cut him off, a frown on her face.

11.

"Fine. But just take the card, alright? We can still talk and-"

1

+

What? Was he crazy? Meet up at his apartment?

"Babe? Are you stuck?" June's voice filled the air and a second later, she appeared at the into his pocket, while Sylvie's face paled.

Displeasure shadowed June's face as her gaze flicked between Lex and Sylvie.

"Is something wrong?" Her gaze was particularly hard on Sylvie

"Of course, not. I simply met Sylvie trying to leave," Lex replied with a smile.

had her gaze dropped to the floor again, her arms protectively wrapping herself.

Sylvie had

Her anxiety was beginning to surge.

Come on, Sylvie, stay calm. You didn't do anything wrong.

Lex turned fully to

fixed the card

fixed the card

door. Lex had to June, putting a hand around her waist. "Come on. We should head back to the dining."

But June kept a straight face, her eyes glaring daggers at Sylvie as she exited the kitchen with Ler

Later at night, she had a phone call

with Ruby.

Ruby asked if she was coping well and how the family dinner went, and despite how much Sylvie wanted to talk about what had happened, she lied to her, telling her everything was going fine.

The last thing she want she wanted to

to do was to bother her aunt.

She went to bed after the call but was awoken by an unpleasant visitor.

Long black dress, heels, smokey eyes, cigar.

Her loud cries as her back was whipped and cut. The sound of her babies crying. The picture of them being snatched from her arm. Her defenselessness.

The nightmares always ended with the image of her twins burning along with her in the fire.

Sylvie awoken with a terrified scream, her body slick with sweat. She panted heavily as if she had been running for hours.

She darted her head around the room.

She was 'home. It wasn't the warehouse, She was safe.

But your kids aren't, that voice mocked her. She could hear it laughing.

Jumping out of bed, she ran into the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting the cold got mixed with it, her body wracking with sobs.

water pour down

on her. Her tears

You are weak' that tiny voice told her. "How can you defend yourself when you couldn't defend your kids? You're not when. fit to even be a member of this family!'

The more the voice spoke, the more she wept. Her pain was intense. How does one heal from this?

68% Sylvie stayed in the e room for long hours until she was hungry by noon and decided to check the kitchen for something to cat. Perhaps, when she was done eating, she'd go to Galen with her sketchbook. She didn't find any of the maids when she reached the kitchen, but she found some food in the reserver and was microwaving a potion of it when June walked in on her.

She

"Finally, I was beginning to think you were going to keep yourself locked in your room forever." Her voice dripped with disdain.

Sylvie watched in silence as June stormed towards her and fisted her hair.

"What did you think you were trying do with my FIANCE yesterday?" She demanded.

"I wasn't doing anything..."

"Oh, shut up! You think I didn't see the way you kept him admiring hin at the table? You decided to follow him to to the kitchen in hopes to seduce him or what?"

Sylvie flinched. What was she talking about? She had barely looked at anyone at the table. Plus Lex wss the one that had followed her into the kitchen. But June wouldn't believe that.

Let

"Let me warn you." Her grip on her hair grew tighter. "If I ever see you anywhere around my man, I'll make you regret the day you set foot in this family."

Releasing her hair, she shoved Sylvie. "You must really take after your mother, huh?" She glared at her. "Well, don't think I'm someone you can ride on. Know your limits."

She stormed out, while Sylvie brushed her fingers through her hair, trying to strengthen it.

Her chest heaved with restrained emotions. What would the old Sylvie had done?

The old Sylvie is dead! the voice mocked her. The one remaining was only a shadow of herself.

When she finished eating, she took her sketchbook Galen's Sylvie couldn't delay it any further.

room. Soon, they'd have to start preparing for the party. So,

Natalie was seated at the end of the room while Sylvie handed the sketch to Galen She crossed her hands behind her back, earnestly hoping she doesn't get scolded.

Was

Was

on a couch close to the window.

"Hm." Galen mumbled as he flipped through the pages.

Sylvie

had come up with the rough ideas after she finished from the Fashion School.

Contrary to what Astrid said, Sylvie had always loved fashion growing up. When she was little, she'd make playful sketches and tell her mum she'd love to get them sewn. But along the line, she dropped the passion for it and had to focus on the family business. "These are not bad," Galen mumbled, his medicated glasses on the bridge of his nose. "You did well."

Sylvie's stomach flipped. Did he just compliment her? He liked them!?

"Thank you, sir." She dipped her head.

Natalie stood up from where she was seated, marched towa