Billionaire, Let's Divorce!

CLARA

I glanced around the room as I chewed on the takeout that had just been delivered. I gave myself a pat on the back, proud of myself. No, not a mental pat. I actually pat myself on the back, it feels better than an imagined one.

Few hours ago, the room had been filled with boxes and furniture that needed to be assembled. I had first dealt with the room. I wanted to have a place where I could easily crash in case I ran out of the buzzing energy to continue cleaning. Now all that was left was to shift the chairs to my desired spots and-

I frowned at the brown boxes beside the chair.

"Come on! I thought I already took those inside," I said as I took a gulp from the carton of orange juice before I walked toward the boxes.

I kicked them before I crouched down and opened them.

My brain was already wondering what was in the box and how I'd fix them in the parts of the house that it might belong to. I did not really leave any space in my room for more boxes or anything at all. And my-

I came to an abrupt halt as my gaze settled on my favorite shirt. Despite being aware that it was my favorite, Ana had loved it so much that she took it from me and made it hers. Obviously, I left it for her for only one reason. I love her. And she always looked so happy whenever she had the shirt on.

I sighed. I wished I had treated her relationship with Aiden the same way I treated the shirt. If I did, I wouldn't have this gaping hole that refused to fill up in my chest.

I swallowed and continued to dig through the contents. Her hair brush, her old wallet, her heeled shoes, the one she hated so much and stopped wearing only after once... I wondered if she noticed that they were missing. I must have mistakenly packed them with my boxes while I was packing, through my hazy vision after our fight.

I sniffed one of the shirts and a smile curled on my lips. It's been so many years and it still smelled of her. It's been so many yea-Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Wait, years? It hasn't been up to a year, has it? How long has it been? Five months? Seven? Lesser than that? Well, I lost count. I didn't exactly enjoy keeping count on how long I'd been apart from my best friend who now hates me.

And yeah, it feels like it's been years since that fight.

After the fight with her, I had to leave town to clear my head. There had been no plan to return but I got a new job at a charity. Not only did it pay well but it was fulfilling.

There was this sense of fulfillment I get whenever I help people. The thought that I was among a team that helped people live better lives filled me with a sense of fulfillment to the extent that I even take up more jobs than what I'm paid for. The feeling just could never be bought.

As I fingered the content of the second box, I contemplated using it as an excuse to see her again. But I knew I was the only one who missed the other. She had said she never wanted to see me again. She wouldn't want to see me.

*

The next day, as I prepared for work, I came across the boxes a couple of times. I finally gave you and picked them up and dumped them in my backseat.

"I'd just mail it to her," I said to myself as I drove to work.

Work was good as always. I successfully put a smile on the faces of several people. I even managed to make a friend. An adorable boy who thought he was ugly just because his bullies said so.

I gaped at him before I blurted. "You're so cute that I wish I could steal you and put you in my house for my view alone!"

I laughed to myself as I remembered how his eyes had widened as he took a step back.

"Hey, I'm sorry," I had giggled. "I didn't mean to scare you but trust me, you're nothing but beautiful. can easily picture you as a hot handsome hunk when you grow up."

"Hunk?" he had whispered, puzzled.

IMS

From there onward, we became friends as I explained things to him and we got some of my job done together.

When his sister, a girl in her mid teens, who had come to volunteer came looking for him that they had to leave, I felt my heart squeeze tight in my chest.

As I plopped into my seat with a heavy sigh, my gaze caught the boxes in the backseat through the rearview mirror.

"Shit," I muttered as I glanced at my watch. It was too late to mail anything. Well, not too late but I'd rather go home to my bed than go through that stress by this time. Or I could just drive to her house.

I toyed with the idea as I started my car.

I thought I was still contemplating until I found myself on the familiar road to the house.

Oh well. It wouldn't hurt to say my congratulations to them. I heard she and Dennis got married. Finally.

I smiled as I remembered how much Dennis loves her and wished to be with her.

I took a deep breath as I parked on the roadside where the house was.

"So I'm not going to see my bestfriend that I miss. Absolutely not. I'm going to return her old stuff that I mistakenly parked with mine and think she might still need and also congratulate them.

Besides, I was just driving by, so I decided to stop by and do these things. Yes."

I placed the two boxes on top of the other and balanced it in my arms. Then I made the short walk up the driveway.

I took another necessary deep breath as I pressed the doorbell.

My heart dropped. No response.

I pressed the doorbell again. And

there was still no response. By the time I was on my fifth try, I realized was pouting and that it wasn't my fifth try at all. I was repeatedly

pushing at the button with

él

no space

for whoever would answer to even

do so.

I caught myself and snatched my hands back. "Come on, you can just come back another time."

I pressed the doorbell one more time. When there was still no response, I turned around and headed for my car.

But I came to an abrupt halt when a piercing scream emanated from inside.