Chapter 25
She looked up, puzzled, and Alan caught it immediately. He raised an eyebrow. “Figured you could use a proper rest. This is technically an unpaid work trip, after all. Least I can do is make sure you sleep comfortably.”
He handed her a small herbal sachet-calming, soothing.
Lottie took it with a smile. “Is our teacher reimbursing you for this too?”
“Relax. I can handle it.”
“Well then… thank you, Alan.”
She didn’t put on any airs. No false modesty.
Alan wasn’t exactly short on money. His family owned one of the top pharmaceutical companies in the country. Run- ning a traditional medicine clinic was more of a passion project than a business.
Neither of them had expected the formula they developed together to go viral, drawing patients from all over and putting his clinic on the map.
There’s a six-hour time difference between Asrark and Griyta.
By the time they landed, the sun was high in the sky, warm and golden.
A driver from the research institute was waiting to pick them up and drop them off at the hotel.
At Lottie’s door, Alan noticed her bare ring finger. “You used to treat that wedding ring like it was sacred. What hap- pened? Forgot to wear it?”
“I lost it.”
She shrugged. Then said plainly, “I’m getting a divorce, Alan.”
He froze for a beat-then raised his eyebrows, a smile playing at his lips. “Well, looks like our teacher was right. Nigel never deserved you.”
Lottie caught the amusement in his eyes. “Should I take that as you gloating?”
“Please. I’m happy for you.”
He smiled as he carried her suitcase inside. “Get some rest. I’ll come get you for dinner.”
“Alright.”
After showering and getting changed, Lottie pulled her phone from her bag.
The second it powered on, a flood of messages came in.
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Chapter 25
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One stood out.
Nigel.
[Lottie, something came up. I won’t be able to pick you up from the hospital.]
[Be good. I’ll definitely be home tonight so we can open the gift together.]
Her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.
Was it his schedule that changed-or-Esther’s?
She didn’t bother replying. Instead, she tapped into her chat with Nancy and sent a quick update to let her know she’d landed safely.
She’d slept enough on the plane, and it was still early, so she decided to head out for a walk.
Nancy was in a meeting when she got the message. Seeing that Lottie was safe, she didn’t respond right away.
Later that night, after staying late at the office, she finally called.
Straight to the point, “Did Nigel see the divorce papers? Has he said anything yet?”
It was the middle of the night back in the country.
If Nigel hadn’t flaked again, he should’ve opened the gift by now-and seen the papers.
Maybe he was just used to her-quietly waiting in that big, empty house for him, night after night.
Lottie didn’t care enough to guess.
She was standing in Griyta Cathedral, looking up at a marble sculpture as she answered calmly, “No idea. Haven’t heard anything.”
Short. To the point.
She wasn’t in a rush. Nancy, on the other hand, was getting anxious. “Seriously? You’re not even a little nervous?”
“If the outcome’s already set, what difference does the timing make?”
Lottie’s tone was light, unbothered. “Why rush something that won’t change the end result?”
“…Fair,” Nancy sighed. She’d known Lottie long enough to stop pushing.
“If my clients were all as Zen as you, my job would be a hell of a lot easier.”
“Impossible,” Lottie teased. “Half of your paycheck is hazard pay for dealing with other people’s drama.”
By the time she left the cathedral, the sky had gone
dark.
She checked the time, then grabbed a cab back to the hotel. As she got off the elevator, she ran into Alan.
