When We Meet Again
Chapter 43

Charlotte waited patiently for the lawyer to make the changes she wanted. While she waited, she thought of what she would do with her life now that she didn't have anything to do. Charlotte wondered what her life would be like now that she had finally gotten the freedom she wanted.

She has always thought about this day; a day when she would sign the divorce papers and walk out of Melvin's mansion and his life, never to return. She had thought of the possible things she could do. She had planned out her life after her divorce. Those were imaginations but now that reality had stuck with her, every plan she had made seemed unrealistic to her. Reality had finally hit her and she had realized that she wasn't ready for all this.

She sighed. She might need a few days of rest; maybe after that, she might be able to think well and make better plans. Charlotte stared at the lawyer and sighed again. She knew the moment she signed those papers, she would cease to be Mrs. Miller and all her ties with Melvin would be completely cut off. She might have to stay away from Mia too or Melvin will think she is trying to use Mia to get back at him.

Charlotte was lost in thought; lost in thought of the reality that had just stuck her. She thought about her family.

What would their reaction be when they find out she ended the marriage?

She wasn't going to tell them about it; they did not deserve to know. They are going to find out sooner than later though when Melvin cuts off their monthly allowance.

Charlotte shrugged. That is their business; it has nothing to do with her. For some reason she was happy they won't be getting anything anymore. She never wanted them to get anything from him after selling her off to him in the first place. She was the one who told them about his father wanting to marry her to his son. She was still skeptical about it when they went behind her back to take things from them. Even when Melvin suggested a contract marriage which she was against, because she didn't want to lie to his father, they were the ones who signed the contract and sold her off to him. While they spend the money they get from the Miller she has to endure, two years of emotional trauma and pain. The lawyer tapped the table slightly, jolting Charlotte out of her thoughts. She blinked.

"Are you okay?" The lawyer asked.

"I am fine. I am so sorry I got lost in thought." She replied.

The lawyer smiled. "Your papers are ready. You can go through them."

Charlotte took the papers from him. "Thank you."

She went through the content for the second time and after ensuring that the contents in the papers were exactly the way she wanted them, she smiled slightly. "The content is okay."

"Then you can sign it," the lawyer answered.

Charlotte nodded. She signed the papers and handed them back to the lawyer.

"Is there anything else for me to do?"

The lawyer shook his head. "No. That would be all. I will have Melvin sign his part on the papers. You can come around next week to get your copy or you drop an address. I will..." "You don't have to. I will drop by and get it. Can you please not let Melvin know I will be coming?"

The lawyer nodded. "Sure."

"Thank you, lawyer. I will take my leave now," Charlotte said, standing up.

"Do have a nice day," the lawyer said.

They exchanged a few more greetings before Charlotte left the office. She headed back to the hotel where she had kept her bag; a few hours before coming to meet the lawyer, she had taken her bag out of Melvin's mansion and booked a hotel. Charlotte plans to stay there for a few days until she knows the next thing to do.

It was evening when she got to the hotel. She was tired and hungry; she decided to rest for a while since she had nothing to do for now. She ordered some food and drink first to quench her hunger. While she ate, she thought about searching for an apartment but soon decided against it; she did not want to stay in the same city as Melvin. They had agreed to keep their divorce a secret for a while; there was no way others would not find out if she remained in this city with him. She was done eating; she decided to rest. She lay on the bed and closed her eyes. Her phone began to ring and she picked it up from the table. It was Mia calling. Charlotte knew she wanted to ask about her stay in Paris; she had not told Mia that she had come back. Charlotte found it difficult to pick the call up; she did not want Mia to find out about the divorce.

Mia sent a text message instead when Charlotte refused to pick up her calls. Bella had told her about Charlotte resigning from the company and wanted to know why. Mia could tell that something was wrong and that is the reason why Charlotte did not pick up her calls.

Charlotte opened the text message to read it. She sighed. She dropped her phone on the table not ready to reply to Mia's message; there was no way she would tell Mia why she resigned.

Mia called a few more times and then stopped. Charlotte thought Mia had changed her mind but it did not last for long; she began to call again. Mia kept calling and texting. Charlotte only kept reading Mia's texts and ignoring her calls until one of the texts caught her attention; it made her worried. She decided to pick it up.

"Charlotte! What took you so long to pick up my calls? I was worried about you." Mia yelled over the phone.

Charlotte could sense how worried Mia was, so she decided to calm her down.

"It's good to hear your voice, Mia. How are you?" She muttered.

Mia sighed. "Charlotte, what is going on? Bella told me you resigned."

"Yes, I did."

"Why did you? You..."

"I have decided to follow my dreams. I do not want to work in a company. I would like to start up my own fashion house."

"Is that really, the reason you resigned?"

"Of course," Charlotte answered.

"And the divorce?"

Charlotte blinked. Did Mia know about the divorce already? Did Melvin tell her? Why would he do that when they agreed to keep it a secret for a while?

She wasn't sure if Melvin was the one who told her about it or if Mia was only suspecting that might be the reason she resigned. She decided to feign ignorance. "What divorce are you talking about?"

"I understand that you do not want to talk about it with anyone but that should not include me."

"Mia, we did not get divorced..."

"Charlotte, I know already. Melvin is my brother, remember? Why did you not tell me about it? Why did you not tell me that Alexia came back? Is that the reason why you left Paris? You did not tell me you were..." "Mia, it happened so quickly. I was so confused.". Mia sighed but said nothing. She was short of words. "How did you find out?" Charlotte asked.

"I went to the house to see you when you refused to pick up my calls. I saw Alexia and she wouldn't stop boasting about how you could not keep your marriage?"

Charlotte shrugged. Alexia was right after all; she wasn't able to keep her marriage.

"How would you let his ex make you divorce him? It.."

"My marriage to him was a contract after all," Charlotte mumbled.

"Are you for real?" Mia asked. "Your marriage is on contract?"

"Did you hear me?" Charlotte asked.

"You were loud enough for me to hear. So tell me, is your marriage to Melvin on contract?"

Charlotte sighed. There was no point lying to Mid now; the marriage had ended already. "Yes, it is." "Alexia was right after all."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "She told you?"

"She did. She won't stop ranting about it."

Charlotte groaned. Why would Alexia do that? Did Melvin not tell her their contract marriage was a secret?

"You must be feeling very down," Mia said. "I can't believe you were married on contract. Now I understand why you kept saying that I won't be getting a niece or nephew soon. Where are you now? I am coming to meet you." "Are you not supposed to be at work?" Charlotte asked.

"I quit too."

Charlotte blinked. "What? Why?"

"You are the reason I joined the company in the first place. Now that you are not there, I see no reason why I should be there." "But it's your father's company."

"It doesn't matter. Send me the address of where you are right now. I am coming over. And don't try to stop me from coming." Charlotte sighed. "Fine. I will send it right now."