Chapter 27: Coming Away With Him
After returning to the bedroom, Imogen decided to take a nap to rest her weary mind. Around three o’clock in the afternoon, Troy hurriedly returned home. He went straight to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. In the corner, he noticed a pile of gifts and asked the aunt, “Has anyone been here today?”
The aunt replied truthfully, “One of Madam’s friends came by earlier.”
Troy raised an eyebrow, sensing that there was more to the story. “And then?”
“Madam asked me to refer to her as ‘Miss‘ in front of her friend.”
Troy furror is brow, understanding that Imogen’s friend was a man. He had a gut feeling that
person was the one Imogen had feelings for. Pretending to be unmarried in front of him suggested that she must have genuinely liked him, fearing that her past marriage might be a turn–off.
Troy took a sip of water, then inquired further, “Tell me about the man’s appearance.” “He looked like a celebrity on TV,” the aunt replied, recognizing Liam but not being able to recall his name.
A star, Troy thought, recalling how Liam had disguised himself during their last encounter at the studio entrance.
It confirmed that Liam was indeed the person Imogen liked.
Troy finished his water, put down the glass, and headed straight upstairs.
Imogen had just woken up and was still lying in bed, feeling lethargic. As she gazed at the ceiling, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. The door opened, and Troy walked in.
If this were the same time yesterday, Imogen would have been overjoyed by Troy’s return. But now, after waiting for so long, his arrival didn’t cause much excitement in her heart; it was more of a confirmation..
She understood that he was probably here to finalize the divorce tomorrow.
It seemed that he couldn’t wait any longer.
“Wake up.” Troy approached and sat by the bed.
“Hmm” Imogen let out a hesitant grunt and sat up from the bed, her mind filled with questions about why Troy hadn’t returned the night before yesterday or last night.
However, as she was about to voice her concerns, her attention was immediately drawn to Troy’s disheveled clothes, particularly his shirt, which had numerous. wrinkles and a faint lip print on the collar.
She slowly approached him, taking a careful sniff and recognizing the scent of the woman’s perfume on his body – the same perfume Sarah frequently used. In an instant, Imogen felt as if her world had collapsed, leaving her stunned, and speechless.
She had suspected that Troy and Sarah might have a close relationship, but seeing the evidence with her own eyes was something she couldn’t bear.
Her nose tingled, and her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
That man was her Troy.
He was the only man she had ever loved.
The lip print on his collar seemed to taunt her nakedly, mocking her pain.
In an outburst of emotion, Imogen couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted, “Don’t come near me!”
Overwhelme her nausea.
her emotions, she retched and lay by the bed, struggling to control
Troy rushed to her side, holding out a trashcan to help her. As he approached, Imogen’s reactions intensified.
He quickly realized what was happening and, turning his head away, he said to her, “I’ll go change my clothes.”
Imogen continued to retch for a few minutes but couldn’t bring herself to vomit. Instead, she shed tears of frustration.
After showering and changing into fresh clothes, Troy returned to the bedroom, finding Imogen’s temperature had seemingly returned to normal.
He felt the need to explain himself, saying, “You misunderstood me. I didn’t have anything to do with her.”
“Troy, I need to talk to you,” Imogen finally managed to say, her voice trembling with emotion.
Imogen interrupted him calmly, her emotions now under control. She realized that dealing with Troy’s volatile temperament meant avoiding any involvement with Sarah until the formal divorce was complete. Otherwise, the evidence of their affair would be more than just a lip print on his clothes.
However, at this moment, Imogen no longer seemed interested in listening to his explanations. After all, what was the point? They were both getting divorced, and it was evident that he would eventually be with Sarah.
“Go ahead.” Troy’s revelation broke the silence in the bedroom.
“After we finalize our divorce tomorrow, I want to resign.”
Imogen nodded earnestly, confirming her decision, “Yes, I want to.”
Troy seemed puzzled and asked, “What are you going to do after resigning? Isn’t being the brand director of McKesson a good position for you?”
Imogen replied confidently, “I have my plans. You’ve left me enough money in the divorce agreement; I don’t need to work.”
Troy was taken aback by this unexpected reason. Although her grandparents had provided her with a comfortable life and enough pocket money, Imogen had always been a hardworking individual who preferred to be self–reliant.
Troy hesitd, “If you don’t explain your plan clearly, I can’t And beliagree to e, if Grandpa finds out about this, he won’t let me agree either.”
your resignation. Imogen took a moment to gather her thoughts and explained, “I understand your concerns, but I’ve thought this through. After the divorce, I plan to focus on pursuing my true passion, which is starting my own business. I’ve always dreamt of having a small boutique where I can curate and sell unique and artistic items that I’m passionate about. It’s something that excites me, and with the financial security from the divorce agreement, I believe I can make it a reality.”
Troy listened intently, finally starting to understand her perspective. He knew that Imogen had always been a driven and ambitious person, and now he could see the determination in her eyes.
“I had no idea about your plans,” he admitted. “But if this is what you truly want, I won’t stand in your way. I’ll support your decision and help you in any way I can.” A sense of relief washed over Imogen as she realized that despite their impending divorce and the pain it brought, she could still count on Troy as a friend. It was time for both of them to move on with their lives, and with newfound clarity, Imogen was ready to take the first steps toward building her own future.
“I don’t have any plans either,” Imogen confessed, her voice tinged with weariness. “I’ve been feeling a bit drained over the past few years, and I want to take this opportunity to travel abroad and find some relaxation. Staying here, even after the divorce, would mean we’d have to keep pretending to be a couple in front of our grandparents. It’s like a chain holding us back.”
Troy raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on her. “Is it because working with Sarah has become tiring for you?”
He knew how much effort Imogen had put into building McKesson, and her sudden decision to quit the job surprised him. She had been managing well before, so why the sudden desire to give up her career?
Imogen pursed her lips, silently acknowledging that his assumption held some truth. “Stay a little longer. Once Sarah’s endorsement contract is over, I’ll give you a break,” Troy suggested.
However, Imogen remained firm in her decision. “I don’t want a break; I want to
resign.”
Troy’s voice grew deeper, a mix of concern and frustration evident. “Imogen, don’t play games with me.”
“I’m not playing games,” she replied, trying to convey her sincerity.
A moment of silence passed between them as Troy seemed to be contemplating her words. Then, he brought up a topic that caught Imogen off guard.
“Your friend came home today.”
Confused, Imogen asked, “Hmm? Who are you referring to?”
“He,” Troy c ed: “The guy who visited you..”
“Well, I hurt my foot. He came to see me.
Realizing he meant Liam, Imogen found the situation amusing. “What are you
suggesting? It has nothing to do with him. I want to leave for myself.”
Troy smiled, pointing out, “I heard you asked the servant to address you as ‘Miss‘ in front of him. Are you afraid he might find out you’re married?”
J
Noticing Imogen’s quiet demeanor, Troy said, “Someone who truly cares for
you won’t judge you for being divorced. And if someone doesn’t like you, marital status won‘ change that. If he judges you for your past, then perhaps you should consider if he’s the right person for you. Don’t let yourself be deceived or dictated by another.” Imogen gave a faint smirk upon hearing him.
His tone was akin to a parent coaxing a defiant child.
How could he speak those words with such detachment?
When it came to deception or manipulation, he was the last person who should be giving advice.
“It’s not his concern,” she retorted.
“You’re still defending him. How deep are your feelings for him?” Troy’s voice carried a hint of anger.
It was only then that Imogen understood she shouldn’t have tendered her resignation when Liam had appeared. “I just wanted to quit.”
“I don’t approve of your resignation.”
Anger flared within Imogen, and she shot back, “You’re right. I wanted to leave with him. Who are you to control my decisions? You found solace with Sarah, so why can’t I be with someone I like?”