His Ignored Wife, Her Silent Goodbye

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 003

MARGARET'S POINT OF VIEW

The house was too quiet.

The silence was not soothing like the kind that follows exhausting days; instead, it felt like a completely void of warmth.

The soft ticking of the clock filled the silence as I sat on the edge of my bed. Despite having a smooth flight, my return to Manchester left me feeling more exhausted than before. The exhaustion I felt went beyond physical fatigue because I had been holding onto it for too long.

Did I truly believe Frederick would block my path? I worried Frederick would come to the airport or at least send me some sort of message. Would he ever truly understand who I was?

Foolish.

The years I spent waiting for something that never happened had become an unbearable waste.

The vibration of my phone broke my concentration on my thoughts. I snatched the phone quickly while my heartbeat quickened against my conscious attempts to stay unemotional.

It wasn't Frederick.

The notification came from my bank account.

I let out a sigh before setting the phone down next to me. Frederick consistently deposited money into my account as a generous benefactor. Money had never been what mattered to me. The manner in which he performed the act showed a lack of emotion because he treated it like a routine payment of a bill.

The money he sent allowed me to purchase small gifts for him throughout the years to show my presence and love. I always remembered what cufflinks, ties and cologne he liked.

The untouched balance made me feel completely empty when I saw it.

I made a decision then and there. I moved my account balance to another location while keeping enough funds to address some remaining obligations. Everything else, I would leave behind.

Frederick owned the past, but my future remained completely mine.

—

As usual, Frederick got home late after returning to Kingston. Bella slept soundly while her tiny body stayed curled beneath the thick duvet on her bed. He stopped at her door to watch her briefly before heading to his room.

Sarah emerged suddenly and presented him with an envelope.

Sir, Madam instructed me to deliver this to you, she said with hesitation.

He gave it only the briefest of looks while his fingers lightly touched the paper's edge. "Where is she?"

Sarah hesitated. "She left at noon. She returned home."

A pause. His face briefly revealed something before it disappeared as fast as it had come.

After one nod, he accepted the envelope from her and proceeded upstairs.

The envelope remained on his desk and never reached its destination. The envelope remained on his desk unopened because his phone alerted him immediately.

Julie.

The moment he heard Julie's voice, he responded immediately and dismissed the envelope as if it meant nothing to him.

—

As she cleaned the next morning, Sarah noticed it on the floor. She lifted the item and straightened its wrinkles before storing it in a drawer.

Frederick had departed for his job before that moment.

—

The whole day went into unpacking since I only brought a few things from Kingston. I only took some clothes and books from Kingston along with essential items.

I had no need for more.

After purchasing it years ago my apartment became a sanctuary for me. The apartment had limited space but it comfortably held me as my personal domain. This space remained untouched by Frederick and was fully mine because every item and every inch belonged only to me.

My actions carried an unmistakable finality, as though I was wiping away the last traces of my previous life.

When evening arrived, I fell onto my bed exhausted.

Then the alarm rang.

A piercing noise shattered the quietness.

I bolted upright, blinking at the clock. One in the morning.

I had established this alarm routine years back to ensure I called Bella before her school departure. It was the time when she still wanted to speak with me.

My finger remained suspended above the screen as I hesitated.

Would she even pick up?

Would she care?

I released a steady breath before hitting delete, which erased the alarm from my screen.

It was time to let go.

—

Kingston.

As Frederick sipped his coffee in Kingston, he mindlessly scrolled through his phone while the morning air remained crisp.

When Frederick checked his phone, he didn't realize that Bella's phone had remained silent throughout the morning.

When he did, he barely reacted.

He made his way upstairs to start his everyday routine.

Bella, however, noticed.

With quick steps she made for the door clutching her school bag since she wanted to leave before hearing her mother's call.

Sarah called after her. "Young Miss, it's still early! You can leave later!"

Bella disappeared with a faint smile on her face.

How lucky that Mum hadn't called today.

—

Outside Redford & Co. the following morning, I stood with my resignation letter firmly in my hand.

I had joined the company because of Frederick with the hope that my proximity to him would make him notice me.

But now, there was nothing left to hold onto.

I stepped inside, ready to let go.

—

Would he even care that I was leaving?

Would Bella ever realize how much I had given up for them?

And more importantly—

Why did I still care at all?