Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 24

Chapter Twenty–Four: Regrets.

Finally, they stepped into the courtroom. The sound of their footsteps echoed against the tiled floor. Cassienne stepped forward together with Merrick and Dreston’s lawyer by her side.

Empty wooden benches lined north sides of the room. Cassienne and Merrick took on side of the benches while Dreston ayTina took the other side.

At the front sat the magistrate, he was already flipping through the documents and you could see that he was already annoyed by the delay.

Cassienne felt her chest tightened. Now everything was about to change in her life.

Five years of neglect. Five years unequal love and loneliness and the pain she had passed through. Of the lie she had to live just for the happiness of the Tremont’s family. Although, she blamed herself for it.

Now, everything was about to be over.

Was she happy No, she wasn’t happy leaving him, but she needed to do it for the peace of her mind. And for her future. It was time she had to let go and face reality.

She knew that it won’t be easy, it’s not like she planned to fall in love again. Dreston was the only love for her. But she could at least leave, just like Daisy.

Thinking about Daisy’s words have her hope. Maybe she could also live life just like her, not caring about anything in life. But deep down she knew she was only kidding.

The deep voice of the magistrate snapped her out of her thoughts and she raised her head.

“Since all parties are here.” He said, “then we shall proceed.”

Finally, this was it. She thought.

Same with Dreston. He was also battling with his own thoughts. He couldn’t believe that in a while now,

Cassienne will finally be free from him.

Despite the fact that he only loved one woman. The same woman who is just sitting by his side and holding his hand to comfort him. Why does it feel like what was about to happen was not right? Why does it feel like he couldn’t let go?

The lawyer stood up and began, he explained the petition for divorce, the reason cited as irreconcilable differences, the mutual agreement to dissolve the marriage.

The words sounded strange to Cassienne’s ears. So it does to Dreston’s.

The magistrate adjusted his glasses and directed his question to Cassienne.

“Mrs. Tremont, do you understand the content of this petition?”

“Yes, I do,” she answered clearly with a stan voice. But Dreston felt like something pierced his chest and was very uncomfortable.

“Are you making this decision of your own free will?”

“Yes,” she replied. Her voice did not shake, not a bit.

Chopter Twenty–Four Regrets.

The magistrate turned to Dreston. “Mr Tremont,”

Dreston stood slowly, his face sad.

“Do you also agree to the dissolution of this marriage?”

There was a long pause for a while.

Cassienne’s heart began to pound faster. What was he up to now?

Even Tina looked shocked. Same with the lawyer and Merrick who looked pissed.

What game was Dreston playing now?

Tina pinched him on his thigh and woke him up from whatever world he had travelled to.

It seemed her tactic worked because he finally gave a reply.

“Yes,” he answered. The word felt strange to him, like something dragged out of him. Not of his own will.

Cassienne felt relief washed through her. She couldn’t afford to go back into that world again.

The lawyer continued, he said Cassienne had refused everything Dreston had offered for settlement. The house, car and money. All of it.

The magistrate looked shocked and he asked. “Mrs. Tremont, are you sure you want to waive all claims?”

“Yes,” she replied without doubt.

Dreston’s head snapped towards her in disbelief. Cassienne also looked his way. For a few seconds there, they both locked eyes and something passed between them.

For Dreston, maybe shock–disbelief, or maybe regret.

But for Cassienne, It was pure love. The love she knew she had to let go.

“You’ve lived together for five years. You are entitled to-”

“I don’t want anything,” she cut in immediately, “I just want my freedom.”

Tina looked shocked and proud of Cassienne for a second there, and at the same time, she could swear she just saw tears glittering inside Dreston’s eyes.

No, she shook the thought away. But she knew what she saw and it upset her.

The room went silent again.

This time, the silence stretched for far longer than necessary. Cassienne’s words had a huge impact on everyone in the room. Including the magistrate.

Dreston clenched his fists

The Magistrate sighed softly, “very well then.”

The documents were placed in front of them.

Chapter Twenty–Four. Regrets.

“Please sign.”

Cassienne was fast to pick up the pen. She signed her full name without hesitating.

On the other hand, Dreston was still shocked.

He was still battling with his inner thoughts. He asked himself if he was doing the right thing. After looking at her name on the document for a while, he finally signed it.

The magistrate stamped the documents.

Dreston closed his eyes in regret. He couldn’t believe it was over between them.

“With this,” the magistrate said, “the marriage between Cassienne Tremont and Dreston Tremont is officially dissolved.”

Cassienne also closed her eyes, as tears slipped out of her eyes.

“You are now legally divorced.” The magistrate concluded.

Finally, it was over.

Cassienne stood up and without looking at Dreston or Tina, she walked out of the courtroom with Merrick following closely beside her.

Dreston stood up, his hands balled into fists. He just stood there looking at nothing, his mind blank.

“It’s over now, let’s go.” Tina tugged at his arm.

But Dreston didn’t move.

The lawyer cleared his throat. “I will contact you, sir,” he gathered his things and left, sensing the mood.

When they were alone again, she called him. “Dresto-”

“Leave.”

He didn’t let her finish.

Tina froze. “What?”

“You heard me, leave me alone.”

Tina was shocked. But then, she left immediately, leaving him alone in the courtroom.

Dreston sat down on the bench, his elbows resting on his laps. The room felt too cold and too quiet. It was just him alone.

He asked himself so many questions. Has he done the right thing? The answer was simple, he wasn’t sure and that was the most painful part of it.

Will Cassienne be okay? The answer was, he wasn’t sure either. He knew that she had no one. The only family she has is her sick mother, and no one else.

How was she going to survive without him? He has no answer for that either. And that was the problem.

Chapter Twenty Four Regrets.

He just realised how wrong he was. He had made a very big mistake and he hoped he could rewrite everything. 1

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.