“He’s already sure about divorcing Belle?” Frederick asked for the third time. He still can’t believe that his grandson was stupid enough to let go of someone like Belle. He can’t believe he would rather go with a woman who doesn’t know anything but shop and travel at the expense of his own money than someone who can actually work for herself.
Jacob nodded, he was also sad about his boss’ decision, but just like the old De Clarion, he couldn’t do anything about it either.
Frederick’s frown deepened, he let out an exasperated sigh, took the paper from the table, and put it back again.
He’s feeling uneasy from all of these. He still can’t think of what Tristan and Joyce will become once they get married. ‘I doubt she even knows how to cook’ he mumbled to himself.
“Call Belle, ask her to visit me here…” Frederick instructed Jacob, who immediately stood up. Before he could take another step, the old De Clarion cleared his throat, “tell her to bring me some mango cake.”
Jacob turned around to look at Frederick, who instantly averted his eyes, pretending to pick up the newspaper to read it. The assistant couldn’t do anything but scratch his head. ‘This old man’s as hard-headed as his grandson, tsk.’
He went straight to Belle’s apartment after leaving the De Clarion Villa. “Hey! What brings you here?” Belle asked as soon as she saw him standing right outside her door.
“I brought you some bad news.” Scratching the back of his head, Jacob walked towards the couch. He took out the documents and laid them down on the coffee table before he sat down.
Eyeing the papers Jacob placed on her table, Belle couldn’t help but frown, “What’s all this trash?” she asked as she sat down next to him.
Jacob picked up one of the documents and placed it right in front of her. “Here’s your divorce certificate, Tristan wanted you to sign it,” frowning, he stole a glance at Belle, as if weighing her reaction.
He was surprised, however, when Belle took the pen straight from his chest pocket and signed the document. She didn’t even seem to have given it any second thought.
“What else?”
Jacob shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts again. “This,” again, he laid another document in front of Belle. “This is a bungalow house inside De Clarion Subdivision, when you sign it, the title will be transferred under your name. It’s a gift from Tristan, an apology gift actually.”
Belle lifted her head to look at Jacob, creasing her forehead at him. “Apology gift for what?”
“He said he’s sorry for getting you involved in all this, the scheme that the Williams put you thru.”
“So he believes I know nothing about it?” Belle asked, but instead of confirming, Jacob just shrugged at her.
Finally, he took out a bank card and handed it directly to Belle. She was at first hesitant to accept it, but she did anyway.
“That card has one billion dollars in it,” Belle’s eyes widened immediately.
“What is this for?” she asked, more confused than ever.
“That’s some sort of alimony,” Jacob snorted. “a payment for your signature on the divorce paper.”
Belle laughed at how he put it. “Imagine that? One billion for my signature, tsk. I should have married more rich men or maybe I can after this. I would be a multi-billionaire in no time,” then they both laughed.
When Jacob bade her farewell, Belle apologized for not even offering him anything to drink or to snack on. Jacob, however, just dismissed her apology.
“Oh, by the way, before I forget. Frederick De Clarion asked you to visit him, tomorrow maybe?” Belle smiled lazily before nodding at him. “And don’t forget to bring him a mango cake,” he added before leaving.
Belle giggled. She suddenly remembered that one time when Frederick asked for a mango cake. Tristan ordered her to find one that would not spike his grandfather’s blood sugar.
She visited three of the biggest pastry shops in Bree and even checked with the patisserie for the cakes’ sugar levels. However, none of them matched Frederick’s requirements.
She then asked for a custom-made one and took it to the old man. He liked it, but he said he wanted something else added.
The second time Frederick asked for the same cake, Belle decided to make it herself. Baking was one of her hobbies back in Dale. So a mango cake is just a piece of cake for her.
With the right amount of sugar and the secret ingredient Frederick wanted, he brought it to him and the old man was delighted. After that, she can’t recall how many more times he asked her for it.
Frederick would often send her a message asking for the cake. Sometimes, John would do it for him and whenever Belle received such a message, she too felt happy for some reason.
Belle checked her reflection in the mirror. She then grabbed her purse on top of her dresser and went out of her apartment.
She dropped by the closest grocery store to buy the ingredients for Frederick’s cake. After that, she went to the bank to check her bank card. Indeed, a sparkling one billion dollars was displayed on the screen of the ATM.
Thinking about what else she needed before moving to the house Tristan gifted him, she went to the car store. Looking at the cars on display, something caught her eye right away.
It’s a metallic silver BMW that’s worth a hundred million dollars. She inhaled and exhaled several times before stepping into the store.
A salesman approached her immediately, asking for her preferences and whatnot. But she went straight to the BMW on display. “I want this,” she told him, grinning.
The man assisting her was dumbfounded. He was unable to speak for several seconds. Belle handed him the card and it was only then that he was able to react.
After the transaction was finished, Belle went straight home in her new BMW. She wanted to drop by to pick up Nathalie but decided against it. ‘I’ll just meet her at Eden tonight,’ she thought.
When she reached home, Belle left her groceries on the table. She then went straight to her bedroom, plopped down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling.
She suddenly recalled the document she had signed earlier. It was just then that she realized, ‘I became Tristan’s wife… on paper.’
Tears suddenly streamed down her eyes. She suddenly felt hurt. It wasn’t like this when she first heard of it, maybe it just sank in.
‘It would have been better if we had become real husband and wife. I would have made sure we wouldn’t go through this divorce.’
Rolling on her stomach, Belle let her tears flow. She still couldn’t believe that even if Tristan trusted her words, he still decided to divorce her.
‘If Tristan believed me, does that mean it wasn’t him who plotted against me?’ she couldn’t help but think. ‘If that is the case, was it Esme who did?’