Chapter 6
Taschine spent over in thousand dollars at the mall on four proper nutfits and two pairs of comfortable shoes,
Clutching her shopping bags, she felt a lightness in her chest. She hadn’t indulged inexpensive clothes for herself since punes died.
The Lavish gowns she wore to banquets with Calvin were never hers to keep. The clothes she wore in private were pretty plain, and every now and then, Calvin would tease her about dressing so frumpily.
He never bought clothes for her. Instead, he would place orders with several high–end international fashion houses vearly, having garments shipped directly to olivia’s doorstep.
The contrast was impossible to ignore, Jasmine would be fooling herself if she didn’t notice it.
She had just stepped out of the mall when she ran into Sonia
Sonia removed her sunglasses, her eyes scanning the shopping bags in Jasmine’s hands. Her voice dripped with contempt as she said, “jasmine, Liv’s in the hospital because of you. And here you are, shopping instead of being by her side? How can you lerch off Cal and still have the nerve to act so entitled?!
Jasmine scoffed. “Calvin knows exactly why she got him. Did you really think that I’d be stupid enough to play nanny to his mistress? And just so we’re clear— everything 1 buy now comes out of my pocket. ”
“Your pocket?” sonia sneered. “You don’t even have a job. Where is this money supposed to have come from?
Jasmine’s voice tumed razor–sharp as she said. “Cora makes 28 thousand dollars a month. I’m Calvin’s legal wife took his meals, clean up after him, and have helped him through rehab.
J–So tell me–am I just supposed to grovel in gratitude because he tosses me a few bucks for living expenses?” ||
“You!”
Sonia hadn’t expected jasmine to change so much. The latter used to be a pushover but was now sharp–tongued and unyielding
“Aren’t you afraid that Gal will leave you?”
Soniae Jasmine loved Calvin more than anything. Hadn’t she shamelessly clung to him when
to him when he couldn’t even be bothered to glance her way?
“You’d better apologize, or I’ll tell Cal everything! He’s already pissed at you over what you did to Liv. One little twist of the knife, and he’ll dump you for good!”
Jasmine didn’t so much as thinch. “ph really? That would be perfect. I’m dumping him too, We’re already getting a divorer. Did no one tell you?”
She still would have been the cherished heiress she once was if james hadn’t died, otherwise, who else would’ve tolerated an empty–headed fool like Sonia?
Life had formed her to swallow her pride these past three years. Now, with divorce looming, what did she have left to fear?–
Sonia couldn’t believe that jasmine, who’d loved Calvin so desperately, would actually consider it. Then realization struck.
“You’re not trying to threaten Cal Into leaving Liv with this divorce nonsense, are you? Don’t waste your breath! He’s obsessed with Liv. Your little schemes won’t work on him!
Push too hard, and you’ll but every last bridge. Do you honestly think you’ll find anyone better than cal after this?”
Jasmine didn’t hesitate for a second. “Don’t worry about me looking backd if Olivia wants Calvin, she’s welcome to him!”
With flawless posture and undisguised pride, she tumed on her heel and walked away.
Sonia watched her retreating figure, fury bubbling up in her chest. She hissed through gritted teeth, “You’ll regret this, Jasmine. Just wait till I tell Cal. We’ll see how high and mighty you act when he’s finished with you!”
At Fortaire Hospital, Calvin stood outside the hospital room, glaring at his phone with mounting irritation.
He couldn’t believe that Jastnize had actually dared block his number. He thought that her attitude had been getting wone by the day.
Sonia came down the hallway, his face twisted in displeasure. “Cal, you need to put jasmine in her place! she’s become absolutely insutterable. I saw her at the mall today loading up on clothes, and she had the gall to insult me to my face!
“How dare she splurge like itor while you’re out here breaking your back!”
“She went shopping?” Calvin bilisloed in surprise. The Jasmine he knew pinched peonies until they screamed, cycling through the same handful of dated, frumpy
outfits like a broken record.
sance when did she start shopping for new clothes?
Soria nodded. “Yeah. She must’ve swiped your card! cancel it now before she bankupts you!”
Calvin froze. He’d only coveted her basic living expenses, never allowing her to use his credit cards.
“Cal? Why are you just standing there? You did give her a supplementary card, didn’t you? How else could she afford these clothes?”
Calvin had only issued Sonia a supplementary card with a million–dollar monthly limit. A sharp, unexpected stab of guilt lodged itself in his chest.
11… never gave her a supplementary card”
“What? Then you must be wiring her money directly? How much are you sending each month? Can we free her accounts?
Her words spilled out in a frantic rush Every cent of Calvin’s money mattered–not a single penny should be squandered on Jasmine.
Calvin’s voice dropped lower “Every month, I only transfer about yo thousand dollars_”
2
“30 thousand?” Sonia’s jaw went slack. “Cal, when did you become such a cheapskate? That wouldn’t even cover the cost of one of my shoes!”
A sudden realization dawned on her–those shopping bags Jasmine carried hadn’t featured a single luxury logo. Nevertheless, her brief flicker of sympathy vanished as she recalled Calvin bankrolling all of Delilah’s psychiatric treatments
aren’t you?
“Cal, you’re still paying Delilah’s medical bills, aren‘
Sonia’s words sent a shock through Calvan Delilah’s treatments cost him over 100 thousand dollars every month.
He immediately summoned Vanessa and instructed, “Cut off all payments for Delilah’s treatment immediately. I want Jasmine crawling back to me on her knees.” Although bewildered, Vanessacarried out his orders without hesitation.
After contacting the hospital, Vanessa returned with startling news. “The hospital confirmed Ms. Mercer was moved to a standard care ward six months ago, Mrs. Tord has handled all the medical expenses since then. There have been no charges to your accounts.”
Calvin was shocked. He exclaimed, “No way!”
He’d approved a payment request only a few days ago. What else could that money have been meant for, if not Delilah’s treatment?
His frustration mounted.
Sonia’s brow furrowed. “Wait, so Jasmine wasn’t lying? She’s actually serious about divorcing you?”
Calvin’s expression darkened like thunder at the mention of “divorce“.
“Divorce? She actually said that?
Sonia nodded. “Yeah, and she seemed de
Idead serious. Cal, you don’t really think she’d go through with it, do you?”
Her excitement bubbled over as she added, “But isn’t this what you wanted? She stuck around no matter how hard you pushed her away. Now she’s finally come to her senses. Cal, you should just divorce her and marry Liv!”
“Who said anything about a divorce?” Calvin’s voice cracked with fury as he rounded on Sonia
She flinched, stunned by his sudden outburst. “Cal, I thought Liv was the only one you cared about.”
He’d convinced himself of the same thing. But the second he imagined actually divorcing Jasmine, a searing wave of frustration and anger erupted inside him. He stated, “I never considered divorce.”
Sonia gaped at him, her disbelief plain. “Then what about Liv?”
The question left Calvinton Naturally, he knew Olivia still loved him.
But Jasmine had stood by him for three years. She was the one who helped him walk again. He owed her everything, and their marriage was the only thing he had to
tive.
Still, he wouldn’t let Olivia suffer. He would give her the love she deserved and compensate for all she had sacrificed. He wanted things to stay the way they were
