Erin Brinstrone had thrown some photographs of Ari kissing Valeria in her car at her daughter-in-law and ordered Valeria to leave. She told Valeria that her son, Mark, will divorce her and that Valeria will not even get a single cent in alimony because she had committed adultery. She refused to listen to Valeria's explanation.
"Leave now," she had ordered Valeria.
Clutching the photos to her chest, Valeria left the library.
"Look at the bright side, at least you will no longer be her punching bag anymore and you will have freedom," Ari said.
Valeria can no longer stem the tears from flowing. She let the tears roll down her cheeks as she made her way to the master room. Ari followed along quietly, finally learning that it is better he doesn't say anything.
She went to the walk-in closet and dragged out a large luggage bag. Then she started throwing in her clothes, not even bothering to fold them up nicely. She chose only comfortable and nice clothes that she liked. The clothes that she had to wear to appease her in-laws and for formal functions with Mark, she left hanging in the closet. Those were never her style. As it turns out, the clothes that she liked and are her style were not many. It barely filled half the luggage bag.
Next, she went to her jewellery box. She closed it and placed the whole box in the luggage. She has expensive jewellery sets that Mark gave her early on in their marriage but all of those diamond and sapphires and emerald sets are kept in a safe in the bank. She will probably never get to take any of those. What she has at home are simple pieces that probably aren't worth much.
She looks at the large engagement diamond ring and diamond studded wedding band on her finger. She has been wearing these for 15 years. For the first time in 15 years, she took out the rings and placed it on the dresser. Next, she dug in the dresser for her documents, her passport and her bank books.
Valeria is glad that at least she had a secret savings account that her in-laws and Mark didn't know about. She had saved up quite a tidy sum for a rainy day. Looks like the 'rainy day' is now. It will be enough for her to rent a place to stay and survive for a few months while she looks for a job.
She noticed a stack of photo albums in that drawer. She took out one. It is filled with pictures of her and Mark, during happier days. On their honeymoon. On their vacation. Those were the days when they would laugh and giggle and talk till late into the night. She stuffed those albums back into the drawer. She has no need for them now.
Once she is done packing, she closed her luggage bag. It is barely filled up. Despite living here for 15 years, she just realised that she barely has anything that are really hers. Everything was bought by Mark's money. So, technically, nothing was hers. Her old clothes that she brought her as a young bride were already long gone. She can no longer fit into them.
She dragged the luggage bag with her and stood at the door. She looked at the master room. This has been her room for 15 years. As much as she hated her life here in recent years, she has had some good memories here with Mark. In the beginning, they made love everywhere in the room, not only on the bed. Every corner, even the walk-in closet, has a memory.
"Let's go, don't overthink it, you are getting a fresh start after all," Ari told her.
She ignored him. She dragged the luggage bag out with her and they went down the grand staircase. Penny Carre was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
"I am sorry Valeria, Mrs Brinstrone told me to make sure you didn't take the car or anything valuable, so I have to check your luggage too," the grey-haired woman told her sadly.
"If you say reapers are heartless and cruel, I would say your mother-in-law wins the award for being heartless and cruel," Ari remarked.
Valeria opened her luggage to show Penny. She knows the housekeeper is only acting on orders from Erin. Penny didn't even look at the contents of the luggage. She took Valeria's hands and squeezed it.
"You have been so kind to us all these years, please, do take care," Penny told her. She helped Valeria closed the luggage bag. "I will just tell the old crone that you didn't take anything," she whispered.
Valeria nodded numbly. She dragged the luggage bag with her, Ari following closely, and left the Brinstrone mansion. Outside, she took out her phone and called for an e-hailing ride.
"So, where are we going now?" Ari asked her cheerfully as if they are merely waiting for transport to go on a holiday.
She ignored him. She is filled with a mix of feelings. Heartbroken. Sadness. Anger. Disbelief. She is still trying to process the fact that she has just been kicked out of the only place she has called her home and she has no where to go.
The car came about 10 minutes later.
"Where to?" the driver asked. Her mind was a blank. She didn't know where to go.
"Tell him the address to ZAL Headquarters," Ari said beside her. She gave the driver the address to the Zen Soul Headquarters.
When they reached the headquarters, Valeria got down, waited for Ari and took out her luggage. She stood staring up at the headquarters.
"Do you have spare rooms for humans to stay in?" she asked Ari.
"As a matter of fact, we do. We used to organise yoga retreats so we have about two dozen rooms upstairs for humans," he said.
She was relieved. At least she has a temporary place to crash in for now.
"Can I stay here till my substitute job is completed?" she asked.
"Sure, that is why I told you to come here. Besides, it is easier for me, I prefer staying here," he said.
She has never thought about where the reapers live. Do all of them live here?
"No, we have our own realm, we go back to our realm when we are off duty but my powers are badly affected because a certain someone stabbed me so I have to stay on here and heal," he replied.
What's the use of talking when he will answer her every thought? Annoying mind invader demon thing.
"Hey! Stop calling me a demon thing!" Ari protested.
"So, do I need to ask permission to get a room or register somewhere or what?" she asked.
"You'll need to inform A, I think she's in the office," Ari said.
They both entered the headquarters and headed to Ari's office.