Chapter 11
Reina waited for three whole days, but Xavier never came back.
The information Leon uncovered only made her more anxious. Xavier’s records had been erased from the government system, and he had even deleted all of his Instagram posts.
That Instagram account had been a record of the eight years they had known each other. It was one of the things Xavier treasured the most.
But he had deleted every single one of his posts.
As Reina recalled the bitter tone in Xavier’s voice when he had said goodbye, she felt conflicted. Had he been planning to leave her all along?
But she quickly rejected the thought. Xavier loved her deeply. He would never just walk away from her. He was just angry and had hidder self away to scare her a little.
Reina hurried home and searched every room for any sign of him. She was startled when she discovered that the room where she kept the birthday gifts Xavier had given her was empty. Even the dresses and jewelry he had bought her were gone from the wardrobe.
She glared at Tessa. “How dare you touch my things?”
“It wasn’t me, Ms. Yarrow!” Tessa trembled in fear. “It was Mr. Caldwell. H–He burned everything.”
Reina stood frozen, as if she had been struck by lightning. She snapped, “Don’t talk nonsense! He loves me so much. There’s no way he’d do something like that to make me angry! He’s always been terrified of making me upset!”
“It’s true,” Tessa whispered. She didn’t even dare look at Reina. “He even had people cut down the peach trees you planted for him.”
Reina’s eyes widened in shock, and she ran outside to the orchard. When she saw the barren land where the lush peach trees had once stood, she was speechless.
This had been the orchard she had planted for Xavier on their wedding day. It symbolized her promise to be with him forever.
Xavier had adored it. He had tended to it daily, waiting for the fruit to grow so he could share it with family and friends.
But now, there wasn’t a single tree left.
Had he decided never to come back? Had he really given up on her?
A sudden, inexplicable fear surged in Reina’s chest. She felt like she was back to that dark time three years ago, when she had been abandoned by her family and friends and locked away in a mental hospital.
She never wanted to experience that kind of despair again.
She looked around, calling Xavier’s name. Her voice trembled terribly. “I’m sorry, Xavier. I shouldn’t have punished you like that. Please, come out! Stop playing hide–and–seek. I’m really mad now!”
Even as her voice went hoarse from shouting, no one answered.
Then, a thought struck her. Could it be that Xavier was this upset because he had found out about her and Hugo?
At this thought, her breath hitched. “Leon, find out who leaked the news about my marriage to Hugo. Bring that person to me now!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Hugo called her. Reína rejected the call, but her phone rang again immediately, as if he wouldn’t stop until she answered.
Reluctantly, she accepted the call and softened her tone when she spoke. “What’s wrong, Hugo?”
“Reina, I’m feeling feverish and really uncomfortable. Could you come to the hospital to be with me?”
“I’m busy right now.” She hung up quickly, and her expression darkened. “Leon, have you found anything yet?”
“Ms. Yarrow, one of the office staff said they saw Mr. Caldwell bring you late–night snacks on the night of his birthday.”
Reina’s head buzzed when she heard the news. “Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner? Do you have any idea how hurt Xavier would be if he knew about Hugo and me?”
Leon recoiled in fear. “Ms. Yarrow, tomorrow is Mr. Caldwell’s father’s death anniversary. He will definitely go to the cemetery to pay his respects.” “Go pick up the suit we ordered earlier and get the most expensive watch you can find!” Reina urged.
When she saw Xavier tomorrow, she would do everything she could to make it right. As long as she put in the effort to placate him, he would forgive her and come home.
