Chapter 11
As soon as Clifford opened the door, he was met with silence.
The living room was empty. Lilibeth was gone. The slippers she always wore were nowhere in sight, and even the throw blanket she loved to curl up in had been neatly folded, as if no one had ever touched it.
re were no
He furrowed his brow at that sight. Without hesitation, he headed upstairs. But there familiar footsteps, no cheerful voice calling him honey” as Lilibeth ran into his arms.
There wasn’t even the sound of a slamming door–the kind Lilibeth made when she was throwing a tantrum. The entire house felt as silent as the grave.
Clifford’s frown deepened. Then, he opened the bedroom door. Yet, her closet was empty, and the skincare products were gone from the vanity. Even the book she always kept on her nightstand was missing.
The room was spotless, like no one had ever lived there..
Right then, Joel trailed in behind Clifford.
“Mr. Sinclair, is Ms. Quimby not home?” he asked cautiously,
With an indifferent look, Clifford said calmly, “She ran away.”
He pulled out his phone and called her. “The number you’ve dialed is currently unavailable.”
Clifford hung up, then tried again. Alas, the same cold, mechanical voice repeated, “The number you’ve dialed is currently unavailable.”
So, he opened WhatsApp to send her a message. But there was only one tick
It seemed like Lilibeth had blocked him.
Clifford’s gaze darkened slightly, a flicker of inexplicable irritation rising within him. Even so, he maintained his composure.
He then turned to Joel and instructed, “She’s probably with her best friend. Call Amelia. Ask her to tell Lilibeth to stop being dramatic and come home.”
Joel hesitated for a moment. “Mr. Sinclair, what if she doesn’t come back?‘
Clifford scoffed before replying, “She will.” He spoke with certainty, as if he was already used to her always giving in. “At most, she’ll stay away for three days. It’s always the same,” added Clifford.
In the past, Lilibeth would get mad, throw a fit, and slam the door behind her as she stormed out. But eventually, she would return with tear–filled eyes, tugging at his sleeve and pleading, “Clifford, I’m really upset this time. Can you please say something nice?”
Chopo
In turn, he would give her a half–hearted response. Just like that, she would smile again and return to her usual clingy self.
Joel stared at Clifford, unsure whether to speak or remain silent. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. The favored ones often thought they were above it all. But what if Lilibeth no longer cared for Clifford?
Joel was about to call Amelia when the door burst open, the sharp click of heels following close
behind.
Tiffany strode in with a triumphant smile plastered across her face. “Don’t bother. She’s not coming back.”
Clifford looked up. “What are you talking about?
“She divorced you, Cliff,” Tiffany replied while showing off the wedding band on her finger. With a sweet smile, she added, “She gave me her wedding ring and said she wants to live her life now. She’s never coming back.”
Clifford’s breath caught in his throat. It was as though an invisible hand had clenched around
his heart.
“What are you saying? Explain it to me!”
So, Tiffany told him everything–how Lilibeth had met with her and how she had mentioned the life–sized doll in the meditation room and the night Clifford had kissed her.
She spilled every little detail, including Lilibeth’s parting words, “I wish you both happiness.” When she finished, Tiffany threw herself into Clifford’s arms, tilting her face up to his. “I had no idea you felt this way about me. Why didn’t you say anything sooner? I’ve always liked you too,” she said coquettishly.
Then, she rose on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Since we’re not blood–related, why don’t we get together?”
But Clifford stood frozen, his mind buzzing.
It turned out that Lilibeth had found out the truth.
She knew he was in love with Tiffany, that he had been venting his desires in the meditation room, and that their marriage had been nothing more than an attempt to suppress his obsession for Tiffany.
Lilibeth wa
And now, she was gone. really gone.
Clifford’s breathing grew ragged. He instinctively pushed Tiffany back and asked in a hoarse voice, “Did she say where she was going?”
Tiffany’s face fell instantly. Tears welled up in her eyes as she shoved him away.
5 Chap 11
“What the hell is that supposed to mean? You were thinking about me the entire time you were married to her. Now that she’s gone, all you care about is where she is?”
Her agitation grew, and her voice rose in a shrill scream. “Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for her!”
