Nine months too late: After divorce

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The earth appeared to fade away under Sylvie, her dizziness intensifying.

For a minute, she was too frozen to speak, Lancelot's words replaying in her head in a distorted voice.

"No..." she shook her head. "It can't be."

But it made sense.

She remembered. On one occasion, she'd made use of Cindy's system when there was a problem with hers. She had completely forgotten about it and actually didn't think it was possible that Cindy might've betrayed her in that way. Even in a million years, the thought would never have crossed her mind.

Cindy had been her bestfriend! They'd shared a bond even Sylvie never had with her family, and back then, they'd been very cool.

How could she have done this to her?

The tears came pouring freely, her heart shattering over and over, like it was being stabbed repeatedly.

She had thought that Cindy being in a relationship with Kage was her worst betrayal, she had no idea it was worst.

Her body wracked with sobs despite how much she tried to control it. Lancelot reached for her hand, trying to take to take it into his, but Sylvie snatched it away instantly, every touch irritating her even more.

"How could she?" She whimpered, shaking her head in denial.

Memories of all the moments they'd shared flooded her mind-when Cindy visited, helped with her hair and makeup, encouraged her when she felt down, made her laugh.

She had been more of a sister. Yet, she'd betrayed her in the twinkle of an eye. She was the reason her relationship with Kage was ruined in the first place. She was the reason she was so alone and vulnerable and lost her twins.

She stood up with her bag, wiping her face with her palm. But it was useless as more tears just came pouring down

"Sylvie..." Lancelot rose to his feet, but she turned away from him, taking some steps forward before she stopped.

"Did Kage ever...try to find me?" She asked, her voice heavy.

She didn't turn to face him, and it took a while before Lancelot's voice reached her.

"After the recording, he just went....silent. I think he must've gone away to heal or something. He returned three weeks later, resuming duties at the company as if nothing had happened. But he did come for me. Not physically, though. But he made me lose everything-my place in the family, my wealth, my dignity.

"I still can't explain how he did it, or how it all happened, but he got me real good, making sure my remaining days are frustrating enough.

"I couldn't go close to him anymore and couldn't tell what he was up to, but I doubt he actually looked for you, Sylvie." He explained, his voice heavy with pain.

Sylvie's heart sank even further.

"I'm sorry," Lancelot whispered. I'm so sorry this happened. I had to investigate the leaked recording as I felt it was the one thing I could do for you."

Sylvie closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the tears to pour in heavy currents.

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18.46 Sat, NovConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Then, she went off without looking back.

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Sylvie needed somewhere quiet, but at the same time, needed someone she could talk to.

Thirty minutes after she left Lancelot, she was at the cemetery, staring at the two graves next to each other.

She sniffled as she sat on the ground and crossed her legs.

"Hey. How are you doing?"

On the tombstones were still engraved Little Fairy' and 'Fairy Prince.

She couldn't bring herself to name them, not when she had been such a disappointment to them.

She asked them checkup questions like they were actually listening and her words were of any comfort to them.

It wasn't her first time paying them visits. Each time, she brought them flowers which were still fresh on their graves. Unfortunately, she couldn't get them any today as her head had been a mess.

"You know, 1 wish you were here with me. Maybe it'll make things a lot better. At least, I wouldn't feel so dejected and a' me, and I'm sure you'd have never betrayed me." She sniffled again.

"They said the bond a mother shares with her child is unbreakable. I'd been eager to know what that feels like. Too bad I never really got the chance."

She went on to tell all of her problems to them-especially Cindy's and how she'd hurt her.

"She was my bestfriend?" She cried. "How could she have ruined me in the twinkle of an eye? What did I ever do to her?"

If it wasn't for Cindy, she and Kage would have still been together. She'd have been protected, and the warehouse incident might have probably been prevented or savaged. Her kids wouldve been here with her.

She'd already planned on telling Kage about Marilyn herself. She'd have told him already had Lana not lost her pregnancy when she did. There wasn't a guarantee that Kage would've forgiven her if she'd told him herself, but perhaps, it'd have been better than hearing it from her bestfriend. She spent hours at the cemetery, crying out her eyes and letting off things she could never say to anyone. At least, her kids weren't judgmental. They couldn't even talk.

The sun was beginning to set when she decided to leave. But as she rose from the ground, she noticed something strange. In-between the rose flowers she'd brought to them the last time there was a lily petal. On each grave.

Her brows furrowed in surprise as she pulled out the lily to make sure. Sylvie had never brought those to them before. So, how did it get there?

She scrambled for answers in her mind until realization set in, making her gasp.

Someone else had visited!

Sylvie surprisingly found Astrid waiting for her outside the house by the time she reached home.

Thank goodness! Where the hell were you. Sylvie? I've been waiting for ages!" She almost growled.

Sylvie's head was aching from crying too much, she couldn't do this. But why on earth would Astrid be waiting for her?

Sat, Nov 18

"I need to talk to you." She crossed her arms.

"Why? Is something wrong?" Her voice was frail.

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Just come over."

She led Sylvie to the terrace where her mother surprisingly also waited, an empty bottle of wine on the table.

Astrid looked nervous and pale. It was the first time Sylvie was seeing her like that.

"So, I'll be needing your help with something," Astrid began, crossing her arms and clearing her throat.

She leaned against the rails of the balcony while Sylvie stood before her. Scarlett was the only one sitting.

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"I'll be honest with you. I found a sketchbook in your room some days ago. The designs were pretty unique, and I thought it could do us some good. You know I was having issues with the Timeless Tale deal. I decided to take your designs to the CEO, and he loved it! Which is the reason I got the deal."

Sylvie wasn't comprehending the words as quickly as they left Astrid's left. When Astrid started talking, she was a bit distracted, thinking of the lily petals she'd found on her kids' grave.

Who could the kids' visitor be? Who cared about them aside from her?

Suddenly, Astrid's words snapped in, and her eyes dimmed.

Her brows furrowed as she replayed the words in her head. Her sketchbook...

Wait, what?

"You see, it was for the good of the family, actually. In the end, WE got the deal, and Grandpa was happy. if you take a good look at it, I did it for everyone. But... the book is missing. Apparently, someone broke into my safe and stole it. Grandpa is-

"You stole my designs?" Sylvie cut in, her forehead crinkled in disbelief.

"I didn't exactly steal it! I just... took it. And like I said, it was for the good of the family."

Sylvie shook her head, wondering if she were in a trance. "How could you-"

"God, are you even listening to me?" Astrid rolled her eyes, her frustration mounting. "Look, I was going to tell you about it, okay? I-I had a plan coming up. But unfortunately, the book is missing and Grandpa is mad. I-I need a replacement or something. Do you have like a copy of it or do you think you can re-sketch the designs? It's urgent, Sylvie."

For several seconds, Sylvie was quiet. She kept her gaze lowered while the ground seemed to shrink before her.

Was this what she's been reduced to? Her stepsister just admitted to stealing her designs to get a contract everyone praised her for, and she was demanding for Sylvie's help like she didn't have the right to be mad about it.

'Is this how pathetic I have become?' Sylvie painfully thought. 'People are so confident with riding on my emotions because they're sure I won't do a thing?"

"Come on, Sylvie," Astrid pressed. "This is for us. For the family. You have to help me."

Sylvie looked at her, her eyes red both from her previous tears and how hurt she was from being pushed around by everyone.

"You were wrong." The words came out harder than she was used to speaking for the past four years. "You had no right to go into my room, Astrid, and you definitely had no right to take what was mine."

Sylvie was tired of it all-of being pushed around and used by others. She was tired of being everyone's tool and clown.

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"Fine! I'm... I'm sorry, okay?" The words tasted bitter on Astrid's tongue. "But you have to help me. Please!"

"No," Sylvie ground out. "I'm not helping you steal from me again. I'm not a fool."

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