Clarabelle's POV
I woke up this morning feeling strange. I feel nauseous and like I'm starving at the same time. The smell of Darren is all over the room and me and I feel like throwing up. I rush to the bathroom barely in time to get to the toilet and throw up what I'm assuming is my dinner and I sit on the floor feeling drained. Mustering up the little strength I have left, I push off the ground and strip before stepping into the shower. I make the water as hot as I can without burning myself, trying to feel some type of warmth. A sensation I'm well acquainted with. I wash my hair and my body, subconsciously rubbing my lower abdomen. As I stand under the water holding my stomach I get a feeling like I'm not completely alone. As if someone was watching over me, sending me reassuring energy as if trying to soothe my aching soul. I don't understand it but I'm grateful regardless. Once I'm finished I put on a long knitted sweater dress and a pair of black, knee-high boots. I tie back my hair leaving out a few pieces to frame my face, and I notice my skin looks surprisingly clear. Usually when I'm stressed, I break out a bit. I smile to myself and walk out of the room, deciding to find something to eat. Since I had already finished the details of my final project at Silver Law, I wasn't in a rush to get to the office. There wouldn't be much to do there anyways. I hear a commotion as I make my way to the kitchen, and I stop in my tracks when I realize that Darren is still here. It's like 10 in the morning… What is he still doing here? I compose myself and continue on my way.
"Good morning, Ms. Maxine! Good morning, Mr. Pierre!" I sing out cheerfully, pretending I didn't notice Carter or Darren across the room.
"Good morning, Mrs. Sylvester. You look even more beautiful today." Pierre jests with his usual playful mischief.
"And you, evermore handsome, Mr. Pierre." I muse back with a smile.
I feel a weight on my back coming from where I know Darren is standing in the room.
"Good morning, Mrs. Sylvester. I hope you had a good night's sleep." Carter greeted, clearly intending to bring Darren and himself into my attention. I keep up my act and look over in their direction surprised.
"Mr. Sinclair, I apologize, I hadn't noticed you and my husband there. Good morning, Mr. Sinclair. Good morning, my husband." I say making sure to keep up my front of a happy, head-over- heels wife in front of Pierre and Maxine.
"Here, darling, I prepared your breakfast for you. What would you like to drink?" Maxine mentions and walks me over to the table where Darren and Carter are sitting with a plate of fruits in her hand. I sit directly in front of Darren and smile, suddenly remembering last night and how sick I felt this morning, I subconsciously stiffen and turn my head away from him.
"Thank you, Ms. Maxine. I'll just have some orange juice, I woke up feeling a little stuffy." I say ignoring Darren.
"Hm hm. Did you need a ride to the office today, my wife?" Darren cleared his throat and asked me with a bite in his tone. I scoff internally. He's mocking me, really?
"That'd be nice, thank you. We still have important things to discuss." I remind him.
"Of course. How could I forget?" He says dryly. I hum in acknowledgement and start eating. I don't really have much of an appetite even though I still feel a little drained after earlier. We leave after I finish and Carter opens my door for me to get in. As I step up I fight the light headedness I suddenly got and try to play it off. The whole time Carter was very attentive and helped me up steadying me, which made me feel both worried and grateful. Hopefully they didn't notice that. I don't want any problems today. I breathe out in relief once I have on my seat belt and I feel Darren looking at me. Staring would be more accurate. I look in his direction with a brow raised in question. When suddenly Carter hands me a dark blue folder. I open it and see the divorce agreement.
"Since you aren't my lawyer anymore I had to get someone else to review and add to the agreement. I've signed it. You can look it over first and we can discuss if you have any problems later." He says in the tone he always uses when he's discussing business. Of course he would, how else was I expecting him to see our divorce. I take out the papers and read everything over. What the hell is this? This is ridiculous. Once I get to one of his 'added' stipulations I nearly laugh out loud in hysterics.
14a. ii Party A (Clarabelle Laney), will continue relational duties until the certificate of divorce is finalized and received.
14b. ii Party B (Darren Rein Sylvester), thusly shall uphold their relational duties, and pay out a sum of $1.7 billion ($1,700,000,000.00) to Party A (Clarabelle Laney) as alimony and consolation for infidelity, thus breaking clause (12a.) i of page 3 of the marriage agreement.
That's what I get to before I turn to Darren. I huff out a breath and try to process what I should even say.
"Can I borrow your pen, please?" I end up asking with my hand held out waiting for the pen.
"You are really something, Mr. Darren Rein Sylvester." I mutter out as he takes the pen out of his seat pocket.
"Is there something you don't agree with? We can talk about it." He says in a surprisingly almost pleading tone. I don't even want to begin to understand what that means.
"We'll talk once I'm done reviewing. I'm following you to your office. Who did you assign as your attorney? We'll need to go over it with them. Carter will be a witness." I say seriously as I continue reading and circling the clause numbers I find need further review. We make it to the office and I'm still reviewing and muttering as I follow Darren, Carter following with my bags in hand since I was too occupied with reading and marking. We stepped into the elevator and I could sense everyone around us looking and whispering. It was definitely unusual that I came to the main building, even more so that I came with Darren. We stepped out of the elevator and I still had my head buried in the papers. I was walking without looking where I was going, following the peripheral view of Darren, and I accidentally bumped into someone.
"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" I hurriedly say looking up. I calm down again when I realize it was just Kaedon Bailey.
He's the older brother of the one and only Lucas Bailey, and it wasn't very hard to tell. They were both very tall and handsome and carried an air of aristocracy. The difference was mainly in the mischief in Lucas' eyes, while Kaedon had more of a confident sureness that made it seem he might know the future. That and Kaedon was a little bit broader and more muscular, Lucas being more tall and lean. Anyone would mistake them for twins if they didn't know Kaedon was actually 37 and Lucas was 34.
He flashes a smile and holds my shoulders. "No worries, Belle. I was in your way. What has you so concentrated?" He says and looks down at me reassuringly. I drop the hand that was holding the agreement and laugh a little awkwardly. I smile back at him and ready a lie.
"It's just something regarding our latest project. When did you get here? Have you been waiting long?" I redirect. He grins, but I can sense in his eyes that he knows I'm lying. He lets it slide though and looks at Darren before replying. "Actually, I came to discuss something with Dare. Would you like to join us? I would prefer to be in your company instead of his, anyway." He says jokingly. I giggle and hum as a response and we all head to Darren's office. He's been really quiet ever since earlier in the car. It's honestly making me a little nervous. But honestly, why should I care how Darren feels? He's the one who's been suspecting I want to divorce him for another man.
We all make it to Darren's office and sit in the seating area attached to the room. I hand the divorce agreement to Carter, not wanting to accidentally let it slip and have Kaedon see. "So, Kaedon, what was it you wanted to talk about?" Darren starts off. Kaedon grins at me and looks back at Darren. "I wanted to discuss the contract for the upcoming production. I know I could have just sent someone else, but I wanted to see my little brother as well." He confesses with a shining look on his face. It makes me smile, I hope my kids get along with each other as well as Kaedon and Lucas. I snap back when I notice Kaedon looking at me, wanting to say something. I can't let him unwittingly ruin my escape plan so I decide to speak up. "That's very sweet, I'm sure Lucas would love that. So what did you want to discuss about the contract? Lucas and I finished our revisions yesterday. It should have been sent to your legal department." I look him in the face seriously, feeling relieved and hopeful he won't notice anything off. "I did yes, thank you, I actually wanted to talk about the facility agreements. I'm aware that it's a pretty large production, thus needing more space. I want to reassess the exact spacing. There's going to be a lot of traveling involved and the team is projected to be quite large, I think we should revisit some of those numbers. The locations are all under my company and I need to make sure nothing is being left out." He says seriously, I guess he caught my intention to change the subject. "That makes sense. What made you feel that the numbers need reassessment? Just to have an idea in mind for when we reappraise." I say as I take my tablet out from my bag and start making notes for emails. "It's nothing serious, just making sure nothing gets overlooked. There have been instances in the past where a production suddenly required more resources and I want to make sure we get a jump on any surprises." Kaedon chuckles and I chuckle back. "No problem, I'll have the bank send an appraisal team and plan it over with Lucas. We should have the new numbers back within the week and we'll move forward from there." I perfunctorily respond and finish my notes and send them out to Lucas and Ashley. I email Amy, who works in S & G bank group as our chief in investment funds. I can feel all eyes on me as I press send on my email and look up to see Darren, Kaedon and Carter looking at me suspiciously. I look back at them in confusion and subconsciously sit up straighter and place my tablet on the table in front of me.
"Wha- what's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" I say with a nervous laugh.
"I'm just confused as to why Darren was suddenly staring at you." Kaedon immediately says.
I pause for a moment wondering what's wrong with this man now. I have a bad feeling, like he's going to do or say something ridiculous.
"Is it him?" Darren suddenly asks, with confusion and hurt in his eyes. Dear God, what is this man doing?
"What?" I ask completely aghast.
"Is it Kaedon? Is it him?" I look at Darren with my mouth hung open. Then I look over at Carter hoping to find an answer. Carter leans down and whispers in my ear, "he means the divorce." I nearly burst out laughing and stood up. "For the millionth time, Darren. No. It's no one but you. I'll see you later, Kaedon. Send my blessings to your family." I say and walk out of Darren's office over to the bathroom. I feel a little nauseous after all the commotion and I try to compose myself and take deep breaths. I look at myself in the mirror and notice I look a little pale. Maybe I shouldn't have come in today with Darren. I contemplate whether I should just leave or go to the firm. I leave the building after deciding I need air and walk over to a coffee shop, then I realize I left my bags in Darren's office. Today has it out for me. It's okay. It's going to be okay. I try to reassure myself. I open my phone to call Carter and ask him to bring me my bags, when suddenly I get a call from Noah and decide to answer.
"Clare! How are you?" I hear Dana, my sister in law, ask with worry and happiness.
"Hi, Dana. I'm okay. Where's Noah?" I respond knowing they can hear the tiredness in my voice.
"Hey Clare, I'm right here. What's wrong? You don't sound okay. Where are you?" My brother immediately says with concern in his voice. I feel tears start to sting my eyes, I don't even know why.
"I'm, I don't know? I feel so tired." I say quietly trying to hold in my overwhelming emotions.
"Send me your location. I'll be right there." Noah says then hangs up the phone. I smile knowing he's probably already running around getting his things to rush over to me. He's always been so protective of me and made sure to show that. I send my location and order a cup of hot chocolate and wait for him in the warm, cozy cafe. I start to feel a little calmer and a sense of comfort spreads throughout my soul and body. I see my brother's dark-green Maybach pull into a parking spot. I get up and thank the barista before exiting to the parking lot. Noah gets out of the car and walks to me and pulls me into a very warm and loving hug. I smile and wrap my arms around my brother, feeling safe and reassured. "Thank you for worrying, thank you for coming to help me. I love you so much." I say feeling overwhelmed once again. I start to cry and he just holds me. "Of course, little sister. Don't thank me for this." I finally calm down and he looks at me with his smile. I hope my kids have a smile just like that. "Let's go. Dana's waiting for us." We get into his car and go to our family home. Noah kept it after our parents passed away. We get there and I'm greeted by a majestic garden. So many different flowers are still in full bloom. He pulls into the roundabout past the gates and I see a beautiful blonde with a protruded belly on the steps waiting for us. I get out of the car and Dana walks over to give me a hug with a bright smile. Being back home makes me feel like I'm finally free. We go inside and everything is so familiar but so strange at the same time. The same rooms I played in as a little girl, the same table I'd eat at with my family. The only difference is that the paint and decorations are different. It feels like that time was forever ago.
"How are you feeling?" I turn around and see Noah holding Dana as they look at me. I can't help but smile at how mature and in love Noah looks. I chuckle and answer with amusement, "It feels like I'm the outsider. You've done so much with the manor, it's so beautiful and homey." I say reaching out to Dana so we can sit in the drawing room. "Tell me, what's it been like being with my brother for so long? You're even carrying his spawn." I joke with mischief in my eyes. Dana laughs and kisses the annoyance off of Noah's face. "I think I can do it for a few more years. I mean, he's proved himself so far." She plays back with a matching look of mischief. We laugh our way over to the large sofa.
"Tell me about you. Lili told me a bit about what happened, but I want to hear it from you. What's going on?" Dana asks with that perfectly aristocratic worried face of hers. Noah sits across from us in the large armchair, waiting for my explanation. I take a deep breath to try and process the last month.
"Where do I even start?"