"We are so glad that you are moving on in your life," Liana said with tears in her eyes. She attempted to smile but tears didn't stop streaming down her cheeks. She hugged Calliope and wished her the best for life once again.
Calliope merely smiled but didn't say anything. It wasn't that she didn't want to say it but because she didn't know what the most appropriate words were at a time like this. She was not bad with words. It was just that… she was too good at goodbyes.
She wouldn't say to Liana that she was going to miss her or this place because it wasn't true. And it wouldn't be right to lie to the girl who had been nothing but loyal and honest to her since the beginning for no favour at all.
It was the ultimate truth that she wasn't going to miss this place or the people she met here because the place was the remembrance of all the lonely and unpleasant times she had survived for more than two years.
"Goodbye, Cali," Liana whispered as she watched Calliope walk away without turning back.
A chapter of Calliope's life was over.
A new chapter of Calliope's life was waiting for her, far away from here.
Calliope had moved back here after recovering from the fire incident. It had been around six months since the day she met Callum for the last time in the hospital canteen. She hadn't ever expected that she would act on Callum's advice but she did. And look where she is now…
For the first time in life, she realised that being the villain of someone's story wasn't as bad as it seemed. Sometimes, it was a necessity. She had been playing the hero for so long. It was time that she let this habit of her go.
The eccentric agent of hers acted faster than she had acted. He was thrilled when her paintings won some awards in the USA. She was declared as one of the potential artists of the year. As insane as it might sound, she wasn't aware that painters just like celebrities were signed under management companies. She was officially signed under a USA company now.
Calliope had to pull some strings before signing with a new company. Little did people know that Calliope Wilding was going to use her power and influence in order to acquire that USA based management company just for peace of mind. She wasn't the richest woman in the country for nothing. Now and then, she had to enjoy the perks that came with the title.
Currently, she was in a cab and it was taking her to the place that her agent had gotten her. She was told that the place belonged to the agent's wife who inherited the property from her deceased parents many decades ago. When she saw the address, she was confused as to how the agent's wife could own even a small plot of land in this area. It wouldn't be exaggerating to say that this community was some of the most expensive gated communities to live in this country. The richest of the rich lived here.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. Cabs are not allowed to go inside with the visitors," The driver said as he parked the car outside the gated community.
It was common knowledge for everyone that instead of private vehicles, cabs and other public transports were not allowed to go inside without a pass.
"I'm renting a property here," Calliope said with a small smile. She passed him the pass. "This is the pass. Maybe, it could be of some help."
The driver squinted his eyes suspiciously at her but silently took the pass to present it to the guards.
Even Calliope knew that she didn't belong here much less than the driver that was judging her based on her clothes and belongings. Who would have thought that the woman sitting in his cab was no one else but Calliope Wilding? Yes, the richest woman in the country.
Not only was she the richest woman, but also greater in rank than many. She holds the third most important position in the hierarchy. After King/queen, prince/princess, duke/duchess were the most powerful.
Even if she had passed down the title to Amadeo Wilding, it couldn't be denied that she was one of the most powerful women in the country. It was a pity that she was happy being a background character.
…
Author Note: Calliope Wilding is a powerful woman but artist Cali is not. It's not that Calliope didn't like to use her influence, it's just that she is too lazy to act. Even when the driver judged her on the basis of her clothing sense, she didn't say a word to him. Because to her reacting over every single thing is too tiring.
We took a small leap and soon we will meet all the cast of The Villain. Are you excited for Calliope's future? Well, I'm more than you people!
PS: Since the chapters are not locked yet you can always send me an ice cola! I won't deny it. *grins*