The Ex-Wife's Billion Dollar Comeback - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

~ Soraya ~
“Who is the investor, Uncle?” Soraya asked on the phone.
“The investor wished to remain anonymous for the time being. The investment was facilitated through a private law firm that manages the client’s finances,” Philip explained. “The investor intends to invest long term, which means we can allocate the funds to a high-potential, income-generating company.”
“I’ll look into it, Uncle,” Soraya promised.
The news left her in a good mood, and Soraya continued to smile throughout the morning as she went about her work.
In the middle of the day, Soraya received a pop-up from her messaging app.
It was Angela.
She smiled, seeing the little girl’s message: [Mommy, I miss you.]
Soraya had left Jacob’s estate on Sunday mid-morning. So, she hadn’t seen Angela for twenty-four hours.
She hesitated, but then sent a reply: [Be a good girl. Listen to your therapists. Eat well. I’ll see you on Friday.]
Angela: [I want cake.]
Soraya: [Let’s bake a cake together on Saturday.]
Just as Soraya ended the conversation, she received another message. She thought it was Angela again, so she swiftly opened the app. However, the message came from Sage, her daughter.
Sage: [Mommy, where are you? Can you pick me up from school later?]
Soraya swallowed hard. She remembered how, at the hospital, Sage had quickly chosen to go with Rose instead of her. So she replied: [Mommy is busy. You can ask your dad.]
What were the chances that Sage was using her again, and she’d end up seeing Calum and Rose together? She didn’t want that at all.
Unexpected, Sage replied: [What about Saturday? I miss your cooking, Mommy. Can you cook for me?]
Soraya: [I can’t. I have things to do. You can ask your Aunt Rose to take you to a café.]
She saw her daughter typing again. The three dots lingered on the screen for a while before Sage finally replied: [Okay, Mommy.]
Then came another message.
Sage: [Mommy, I’ve been having a cough again at night. Sometimes in school.]
Soraya frowned. She didn’t expect that. Instead of replying to Sage, she texted Calum: [Sage messaged me. She said she’s been coughing? You need to make sure it’s not the asthma acting up again.]
Sage had been diagnosed with asthma in the past, but she hadn’t had any attacks in the last two years. Still, Soraya had always been attentive to her health. Now, she wondered what conditions her daughter was living in.
As expected, Calum didn’t answer.
After some thought, Soraya decided to pick Sage up from school later—not to bond, but to check on her well-being and assess her current living conditions. She also had a few belongings left at the house, so it seemed like the right time to retrieve them.
She texted Sage that she would pick her up, and her daughter seemed happy. Then, she informed Calum and the family driver.
At around two in the afternoon, Soraya left her desk. She wasn’t required to stay the entire day since she was only a consultant.
Her new peers, the team she would be working with for the next six months, waved goodbye with smiles. So far, Soraya had been warmly welcomed.
She was already in the lobby when she saw Silas walking in. He had been out meeting a client.
“Soraya,” he called. “Good thing I caught you.”
“Silas, good to see you,” Soraya greeted.
“There’s a business gala we must attend this Thursday. I’m taking you as my date,” he declared, flashing his dimples and that suave look.
Soraya laughed. “Really?”
“It’ll be good exposure for you. You’ll catch up on the latest business trends, and maybe you’ll come up with an innovation that shocks the world.” He winked, and Soraya smiled.
“Okay, I’ll be there,” she said. She pointed toward the door and explained, “I need to fetch Sage.”
When Silas gave her a questioning look, she added, “I still have a few things at home I need to get.”
Silas nodded. “Okay. Don’t get involved with Calum anymore, Soraya.”
“I’m not, and I won’t. We’ve already filed for divorce,” she responded.
“Did your lawyer confirm it?” Silas asked.
Soraya had already signed the divorce agreement. She received her alimony and the company shares, but whether or not the divorce had been officially filed, she had yet to find out.
She nodded and said, “I’ll ask my lawyer to check on it.”
Soon, Soraya arrived at Sage’s school. Her daughter rushed toward her and hugged her. “Mommy!”
Soraya caressed her back but said nothing. She merely took Sage’s hand and said, “Let’s go.”
“Can we drop by a café somewhere, Mommy?” Sage asked.
“No, I don’t have time,” Soraya said. “I’ll take you home.”
Sage looked disappointed, but Soraya truly had other things to do. She had a trade scheduled at eight in the evening and needed to return to her apartment early.
When Soraya stepped into the house she used to live in, her chest tightened. It had only been a few days since she left, yet it no longer felt like home.
It looked different.
The photos she had placed on the shelves—pictures of her and Sage smiling together—were all gone. In their place were new frames, showing only Sage and Calum, like Soraya had never been part of their lives.
She turned to the wall across the room.
The wedding photo of her and Calum was missing. Well, Calum had never wanted it there in the first place. That was Amanda’s idea.
“Mrs. Montclair! It’s so good to see you!” Belinda, the maid, rushed toward them.
Thankfully, Sage had run off to the kitchen to grab a snack. Soraya responded, “I’m no longer Mrs. Montclair.”
“I came to get my things, Belinda. Do you mind if I go and get them?” she asked.
“Oh.” Belinda pursed her lips. “Mr. Montclair had the rest of your belongings already packed. Let me get them for you.”
It was another punch to the gut. But of course, what did Soraya expect?
Her expression must have revealed something, because Belinda explained, “The—um—Miss Becket didn’t feel comfortable seeing your things around, so Mr. Montclair asked for them to be packed away.”
“It’s fine. I understand,” Soraya said. Then, she walked into the kitchen and observed.
Sage was eating one of those ready-to-eat cakes. Soraya checked the fridge and noticed plenty of unhealthy food. She frowned and took mental note.
When Sage returned to the living room, Belinda and another maid had already brought her things out.
Belinda said, “We’ll help you carry them to your car, Mrs.—I mean—”
“Soraya is fine,” she said, her expression unreadable this time.
“I won’t be around anymore, Belinda. You need to make sure Sage eats healthy. Does she still have her bronchodilators in her room? She told me she’s been coughing. Make sure she brings her inhaler every day. You know what to do, right?” Soraya said.
Belinda nodded. “Yes, Soraya.”
“I’ll speak to Sage first,” Soraya said.
After calling her daughter into the living room, she inspected Sage, even listening to her back. If Sage’s asthma was acting up, it would be apparent in the way she breathed. So far, Soraya hadn’t heard anything.
Still, she knew that some bronchial tightening wasn’t always obvious. So she told her daughter, “Just make sure to bring your inhaler every day. Just in case.”
“Okay, Mommy,” Sage said, smiling before hugging her.
The embrace caught Soraya by surprise, but she hesitated to return it. She merely patted her daughter’s head and said, “Mommy needs to go.”
“Already?” Sage frowned.
“I’m very busy,” she said. “Take care.”
And just like that, she left.
But just as she and Belinda were loading her things into the car, two vehicles pulled into the driveway.
Soraya’s ex-husband stepped out of his car, along with Rose. Claire and Melvin hopped out of the other.
Calum looked at her with cold eyes, full of judgment. The air felt heavy—like something bad was about to happen.
“What are you doing here?”