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Novel Catalog
Chapter 14: Let’s Divorce
Manuel paused for what felt like an eternity. Ainsley waited, wondering if he would respond at all. Finally, his voice broke the silence, flat and distant. “It’s a friend.”
His tone was peculiar, detached in a way that left Ainsley sensing there was more to the story. But she wasn’t one to pry into other people’s lives, so she quickly shifted the conversation. “Mr. Gage, please forgive my curiosity, but may I ask about your sister’s symptoms?”
Manuel’s expression grew even more distant as he explained. “She can’t see blood. She suffers from amnesia from time to time. When she encounters a stranger, she will retch and scream. There are moments when she can’t control her fear, and she will scream uncontrollably.”
His words were matter-of-fact, almost as though he’d said them a thousand times. Ainsley listened carefully, her mind analyzing the symptoms. It sounded like hyperstimulation syndrome, a condition that could stem from traumatic memories. It made sense that Serina’s past might have triggered these violent reactions.
Before Ainsley could offer her thoughts, Dixie entered the room, holding a set of clothes in her hands. “Ms. Easton, the hot water is ready, and these clothes belong to Ms. Gage. Your figures are quite similar, so you can wear them.”
“Thank you,” Ainsley said gratefully, taking the clothes from Dixie before heading to the bathroom to shower and change.
However, as Ainsley changed, she felt an unexpected weakness sweeping over her. When she finished drying her hair, she glanced at herself in the mirror, noticing her flushed cheeks and slightly blurry vision. Her body felt heavier than usual, and she knew something wasn’t right.
As she returned to the living room, Manuel’s gaze immediately fixed on her. His sharp eyes softened with concern, and he stepped closer, placing a hand gently on her forehead. His voice was low and filled with a quiet helplessness. “You have a fever.”
Ainsley, already dizzy from the heat coursing through her body, tried to shake it off. “I’m fine,” she muttered, though her voice sounded weak and almost childlike. “Please, call Lainey. She’ll take me back.”
Manuel’s eyes darkened slightly, but his expression softened. Without another word, he bent down and scooped her into his arms. Ainsley, too tired to protest, simply let herself rest against him. The warmth of his body felt comforting as his breath brushed past her ear. “Dixie,” he said softly, “I’ll take her to the hospital first.”
Ainsley barely registered the movement as Manuel carried her out to the car. Everything felt hazy, and she sank into unconsciousness, the rhythmic sound of his footsteps lulling her into a state of half-sleep.
When she awoke, the first thing she heard was Lainey’s voice, filled with relief. “Aisy, are you awake? Are you hungry? I brought you some porridge.”
Ainsley blinked, disoriented as she sat up. She realized she was no longer in the hospital room but in her own bed. “What happened?” she murmured.
“You were so sick last night, I was really worried. But don’t worry now; you’re okay. I got you some porridge,” Lainey explained with a grin. “By the way, where did you meet that man? He’s gorgeous and such a gentleman.”
Ainsley’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Manuel. She immediately remembered the events of the previous night and everything that had happened. “It was Manuel… the man who helped me,” she said quietly.
Lainey raised an eyebrow. “Manuel? Ooh, I see. And here I thought I had a new friend in town.” She then went on to praise Manuel, her voice teasing, “He’s so much better than Cason. Why would he send you to the hospital? Aisy, what happened between you two?”
Ainsley’s head throbbed at the flood of questions. She quickly explained the situation, skimming over the details of Manuel’s help. When it came to Manuel, she only mentioned that he was a friend. Lainey didn’t press further, but her anger flared when she heard the part about Cason.
Lainey’s face flushed with frustration. “Cason is a scoundrel! How could he make you sick for the sake of Kaliyah and her family? I’ll call him and ask what he was thinking!”
Ainsley sighed, putting a hand on Lainey’s arm to stop her. “No need,” she said softly. “Cason didn’t do anything wrong. The house is still under his name. He hasn’t transferred it to me yet, and the paperwork is still in progress.”
“But he promised!” Lainey protested, her voice high with indignation. “He said he would give it to you! What kind of man does that?”
“I’ll be fine,” Ainsley reassured her. “No one can bully me. I just need to figure out where to live in the meantime.”
Ainsley opened her phone to check if there were any available apartments nearby. Just as she was about to browse through listings, a notification popped up. She had a new friend on Line. Curiously, she opened the message to find two unread texts from an unknown number.
Manuel: “I am Manuel.”
Manuel: “Yesterday, your friend was taking care of you. I got your account from your friend.”
Ainsley paused, thinking for a moment. Then, she typed a quick reply: “Thank you for what you did yesterday.”
She hesitated for a moment before adding, “Mr. Gage, may I ask how your sister bought the apartment? I’m planning to attend the University of Washington soon and am looking for a place nearby.”
After hitting send, Ainsley felt a bit embarrassed. She didn’t want to impose, but she also needed to find somewhere to stay.
To her relief, there was no immediate reply. Ainsley breathed a quiet sigh, grateful for the brief reprieve. She had almost fully recovered, and she didn’t want to remain in the hospital longer than necessary. After finishing her porridge, she got up and went through the discharge formalities with Lainey.
When she stepped out of the hospital, her mind was already occupied with another matter. She needed to call Cason. She dialed his number, her finger hovering over the phone.
When Cason answered, his tone was cool and distant. “What is it?”
Ainsley didn’t waste any time. “Come to the local court. Let’s divorce.”
