Chapter 16: The Prices Have Risen
"This time, I will live as I please. I won't let myself get carried away by someone else's wave again," Loreen promised herself.
She was filled with determination in her declaration when her stomach growled.
'Oh my, I got so busy, I forgot to have breakfast.'
And it was already past lunch.
Loreen suddenly felt weak. She glanced at her trembling hands. She needed to eat.
All her things were packed and ready so she could check out anytime.
For now, she badly needed a meal. She mustered her strength and headed to the hotel's diner. She could not wait for room service since she needed her meal ASAP.
She picked the first thing from the ready-to-eat meals and settled at the nearest table.
"Mm~ It tastes good," Loreen gulped.
The food finally tasted good!
On her first two weeks here, the food tasted like sand no matter how pretty it was served or how delicious it smelled.
It was such a relief that she could finally enjoy a delicious meal again.
After experiencing it for herself, she finally understood why those who were brokenhearted were at times too bitter about the world.
It was because a broken heart could suck the life out of a person. To the point that the vision, tastebuds, energy, motivation, and perspective of the world become skewed regardless of logic.
She was once naïve and thought love was sweet and wholesome. But it could also be painful and deadly.
'I'd better not get involved in anything about love for a while.'
Loreen decided to shield her heart. While she's healing her broken heart, she thought it was better to prevent herself from falling in love again.
She might not be able to take another heartbreak.
***
After a quick meal, she headed to the counter for all her bills in the duration of her stay.
'Huh?'
Loreen blinked repeatedly as she stared at bill the staff handed her. She gulped and could almost feel the cold sweat run down her back at the sight of her expenses.
'I spent a million for just 2 weeks and five days?! Are the prices really this high now?'
Loreen suddenly realized that her life was very easy, financially speaking, the past three years.
She had spent three years without worrying about her living expenses that she did not even know that all the prices had risen to such extent.
'What had I been doing all that time?'
Ah, she was busy trying to have a baby.
She was doing daily exercises, preparing and eating healthy meals, getting checked by doctors, entertaining guests, and ensuring Edric could have a breather from work once he was at home.
That was all she did for three years.
'How did I survive doing all that and nothing else?'
Loreen was quite surprised at herself.
"Are you alright, Ma'am?"
The staffs were puzzled at her sudden silence. They visibly got worried since they knew she had been quite depressed during most of her stay here.
Someone even walked in her direction, ready to carry her in case she passed out.
"I'm fine, thank you. The exhaustion must have gotten to me," Loreen did her best to recover to preserve a bit of her dignity.
Thankfully, they seemed to believe her since they knew she repeated all her tours in just a few days.
"Here's my card."
'Thank goodness the money in my account can cover it!'
She would have been in debt before she even began her life anew if she had stayed here any longer.
'How embarrassing would that be?! Edric and Sera would laugh at me.'
Especially Sera. That girl would mock her so much and tell her to accept the alimony from Edric to make her look like a legit gold-digger.
Just imagining the look on their faces made her cringe.
"Here's your card, Ma'am."
Loreen got her card and returned to her room to get her things. It was time to leave.
When she checked her account online, she only had 500k left.
'What costed me the most?'
She checked her receipt. She would have at least 800k left if she did not repeat all her tours.
'Ugh, maybe I shouldn't have repeated all those.'
But she wouldn't have seen the beauty of this place if she hadn't. She wasn't really paying attention the first time which was why she had to repeat all of it.
The hotel itself costed much as well since it was fronting the beach.
Now that she thought about it, it was a five star hotel.
The room, ambiance, view, amenities, staff, and maintenance were all good.
'But now I only have 500k and I have no work yet nor a place to stay,' Loreen sighed deeply. She wanted to cry but she was done with that.
She can still use this amount to find a place to stay.
'I need to change this phone too,' Loreen eyed her expensive phone.
Just as she was about to walk out of the door with her luggage, her phone vibrated.
It was a message from Edric again. He had been calling and sending her messages every day, but she had been ignoring it.
"What is it again?" she thought in exasperation and read it.
***
Where the fuck are you?!
Go home and sign the alimony documents so I can submit the divorce documents.
What are you playing at?!
I won't change my mind no matter how long you drag this out.
Go and sign the alimony papers as soon as possible.
***
"What?! He hadn't submitted the divorce papers yet?" Loreen frowned.
She had been thinking this whole time that she was already divorced but it wasn't even submitted yet.
Loreen was so furious that she finally typed a reply.
***
Don't cuss me.
I already signed the divorce papers. Just go and submit it to get things over and done with. What are you wasting time for?
I won't sign the alimony no matter what you say.
I believe I already made it clear in my notes.
I don't need anything from you.
I did not marry you for alimony so just submit the divorce papers without it.
And don't call or message me again.
It's a nuisance.
If you feel the least bit sorry for divorcing me so suddenly, please stop harassing me with all these calls and messages.
***
Loreen pressed 'send' before she could think.