Chapter 2

Calvin never came home that night, but Jasmine knew exactly where he was. Sonia's Instagram had broadcast every moment of Olivia's homecoming party in real time. He'd booked the most luxurious hotel in Jesceria, where fireworks streaked across the sky until dawn. The ballroom overflowed with champagne roses, and his circle of friends toasted in Olivia's honor. The whole scene shimmered with celebration. This was a world Jasmine had never been part of. To Calvin, she would always be just the maid. He never brought her around his friends, never even acknowledged her existence to anyone. After breakfast, Jasmine received the divorce agreement Amelia delivered. She signed without hesitation, left them on the dining table, and headed out to buy groceries. The terms of the divorce were clear. She'd care for Calvin until the divorce was finalized. So she still made dinner that evening, though he might never walk through the door. At 8:00 pm, he did. She figured that he must've changed at the office as his suit still looked freshly pressed. Jasmine turned toward the kitchen to reheat his meal when his voice stopped her. "Don't bother. I'm leaving again." He strode past her without a single glance, climbing up the stairs two steps at a time. She followed just in time to see him vanish into the bathroom. Silently, she arranged fresh clothes on the hallway dresser before retreating downstairs. She sat at the dining table, waiting for him to finish his shower so they could discuss their divorce. Calvin descended while fastening his watch, his tone detached as he said, "I'm leaving for Baelbury tomorrow night on a three-day business trip. Pack my things." Jasmine quietly hummed before gathering the papers from the table. "You should look these over—" Calvin barely skimmed the pages, his impatience cutting through her words. "Another request for Delilah's medical expenses?" Jasmine had to submit a formal request monthly, detailing each expense whenever she needed money. The largest sum always went toward Delilah's medical expenses. By now, it was routine. His signature slashed across the final page before he'd even bothered to read its contents. "Done. Don't forget to pack my things," Calvin said as he pushed the door open and left. Jasmine watched his figure disappear, her lips curling into a hollow smile. The truth was, Delilah had gotten much better. Jasmine hadn't even bothered asking Calvin for her medical expenses for the past six months, though it wasn't as if he had noticed. Jasmine called for a same-day courier and shipped the signed divorce agreement to Amelia. Thanks to Amelia's connections, they could finalize everything without ever stepping into a courthouse. But the cooling-off period held Jasmine back one last month until she could finally go. Jasmine unlocked her phone and saw Sonia's Instagram post. It was a photo of a plane ticket. She was tagging along with Calvin and Olivia as they flew to Baelbury to attend a concert of their favorite celebrity. So that was why he had been in such a hurry. He was going to watch the concert with Olivia. ... Jasmine kept herself busy while Calvin was away on his so-called business trip. She reached out to a realtor, toured several apartments, and finally decided to rent a one-bedroom unit. Amelia's villa was undeniably luxurious, but the distance from her music academy made the commute a hassle, and the steep maintenance fees only added to her burden. Once the property was officially transferred to her, she intended to sell it, freeing herself from the financial pressure. Moreover, Delilah's condition had improved significantly, so the medical expenses weren't as crushing as before. Then, Jasmine returned home and continued packing her things. She glanced at the clothes in her wardrobe, which had all been brought with her before the marriage. Calvin had never bought her a single piece of clothing. And the clothes she had bought for him? He had never worn them. The tags still dangled from the fabric. Calvin had worn clothes only from two brands all these years. Thanks to Sonia, Jasmine knew that Olivia had been the one to recommend them. Seeing no reason to keep the clothes she'd bought him, Jasmine packed them up and posted everything at a steep discount on an online marketplace. Three days passed in a whirlwind of activity. By the end, everything that belonged to her had been sorted, packed, and shipped to her new home. Jasmine never had much to begin with. Even if Calvin returned, he wouldn't notice anything missing since he'd never paid attention to household matters or where things belonged. Before returning to Jesceria, Calvin had called her. "Jasmine, be ready. Tomorrow we're attending a funeral at the Langley residence." The Langleys had a close relationship with the Fords. Jasmine had accompanied Calvin to their dinners before, so attending their funeral was simply expected. She'd always loathed these gatherings because she rarely received respect in Calvin's circle. Their scrutinizing gazes prickled like needles against her skin. Social grace had never been her strength, but refusal was never an option. At least there was an end in sight. Once the divorce was finalized, these obligatory appearances would finally be behind her. Just as Jasmine expected, Calvin didn't notice a thing when he returned. The glaringly half-empty walk-in closet didn't even earn a second glance. Then again, she had always been the one to pack his bags for him. "That outfit you wore last time was inappropriate. You should let Mom advise you." Calvin didn't look up from his phone as he said it, his fingers still tapping out a text. "Alright," Jasmine replied. He'd never cared what she wore before. He only bothered to comment on important occasions—and even then, it was never out of concern, only pride. Jasmine called Amelia, who immediately sent someone to deliver a new outfit to their doorstep. She tried it on, decided it fit well enough, and put it away without another thought. … The next day, Jasmine wore that outfit as she slipped into Calvin's car, accompanying him to the Langley family funeral. Sitting in the passenger seat, she felt uneasy. Her fingers brushed against something small and hard wedged in the seat's crevice. It was a black hairpin. She already knew who it belonged to. It was clear that Olivia had been in this seat often. A faint, mocking smile touched her lips. She consoled herself with the thought that, at the very least, the divorce was already underway. Otherwise, that knowledge would have sickened her. Olivia had shown up at the funeral, too. This was Jasmine's first time seeing her in person. Olivia was slender, dressed in a black dress nearly identical to Jasmine's. Her light makeup only emphasized how delicate she looked. It was a picture of sweet innocence. Olivia approached Calvin, her voice softening as she said, "Cal." Her hand twitched as if to touch his arm, but she caught herself, glancing at Jasmine. Calvin gave her a faint smile. "Liv." Then, gesturing to Jasmine beside him, he added, "This is Jasmine Scott." It took Jasmine a moment too long to process the situation. He called Olivia "Liv" yet introduced her like a business associate. It shouldn't have hurt anymore, but the irony left a bitter taste in her mouth. Not bothering to watch their silent exchange, Jasmine announced that she was going to see Amelia before leaving Calvin behind. He watched Jasmine walk away, his expression darkening with something unreadable. Olivia noticed how his gaze lingered, a coil of unease tightening in her chest. Hadn't he said he didn't care about Jasmine? Yet the look in his eyes was anything but indifferent. She shoved the thought away. Her history with Calvin ran deep. They were childhood friends, and each other's first loves. She was confident that she wouldn't lose to Jasmine.