Chapter 9: Do Not Regret This
Upon reaching City Hall, Nathaniel checked his watch: exactly ten o'clock. He was about to call Cecilia when he spotted her under a large tree, dressed in somber clothing. From afar, in the faint drizzle, she appeared frail, as if a light breeze could topple her. He remembered her vibrancy when they married—youthful, radiant, full of life. Now, she seemed lifeless and disturbingly thin. Umbrella in hand, he walked toward her.
It took a moment for Cecilia to notice him. She realized that, despite three years passing, Nathaniel had hardly changed. He remained handsome and spirited, though now with an air of maturity and competence. Cecilia felt disoriented, as if the past three years had both flown by and consumed a lifetime. Nathaniel approached, his dark eyes cold, expecting an apology. But to his surprise, Cecilia simply said, "I've kept you from your work. Let's go inside."
Nathaniel's expression stiffened. "Don't regret this," he uttered, then turned and entered City Hall. Cecilia watched him go, a pang of heartache striking her. Do I regret it? she wondered. I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm tired. When people leave, it's often because hope is lost, their hearts brimming with disappointment. At the divorce processing window, when asked if they truly wished to divorce, Cecilia answered confidently, "Yes."
Her resolute gaze made Nathaniel feel a sudden heaviness. After completing the formalities, they were informed of a cooling-off period; they would return in a month to finalize the divorce. If they did nothing, the application would be voided.
Stepping out of City Hall, Cecilia looked at Nathaniel, her composure unusually calm. "See you next month. Take care," she said before stepping into the rain and hailing a taxi. Nathaniel remained rooted to the spot, watching the taxi disappear. He couldn't identify the feeling, but it must be liberation, right? He was no longer entangled with her or subject to others' ridicule for having a disabled wife.
Just then, Zachary called. "Nathaniel, is it done?" "Yes," Nathaniel replied. "There's a cooling-off period," Zachary warned. "Don't let your guard down. That deaf girl might have more tricks up her sleeve." Indeed. After over a decade, who would believe she had simply let go?
Sitting in the taxi, Cecilia watched the raindrops, lost in thought. The driver glanced in the rearview mirror, startled to see blood trickling down her ear. "Miss! Miss!" he called, but Cecilia didn't respond. He pulled over. Confused, Cecilia looked around. They hadn't reached their destination. She looked at the driver, watching his lips move before realizing she couldn't hear again. "What did you say? I couldn't hear you."
The driver typed a message, showing her the situation. Cecilia touched her ear, feeling the warmth of blood. "It's okay," she said. "This happens often—it's not a big deal."
Her hearing impairment hadn't always caused bleeding. Two years earlier, at a social gathering, Zachary had pushed her into a swimming pool. Unable to swim, she nearly drowned; the trauma caused her eardrums to swell. That incident marked the beginning of her hearing problems. It had been manageable until recently, when it worsened. The driver, uneasy, insisted on taking her to the hospital. Cecilia thanked him and went to see her doctor.
Her long-time physician greeted her with concern. "Dr. Zagon," Cecilia said, "I've noticed memory problems. I keep forgetting things." That morning, she'd had trouble remembering the divorce appointment, arriving early and rereading Nathaniel's text messages to remind herself. The doctor reviewed her diagnostic report, his expression grave. "Ms. Smith, I recommend further examinations, perhaps psychological."
Psychological… Following the doctor's advice, Cecilia underwent testing. The diagnosis confirmed severe depression, often causing memory loss. Before returning to the motel, she bought a notebook and pen. She wrote down recent events and left it by her bed. Before sleeping, she searched for depression treatment methods, finding a quote: I hope you can do your best to heal yourself instead of fantasizing that someone else will save you. She turned off her phone and closed her eyes.
News of her divorce caused a commotion. That night, her mother, Paula, called repeatedly, but Cecilia didn't hear. The next day, she saw Paula's messages: Where are you? Who do you think you are? Even if it comes to divorce, it should be Nathaniel who doesn't want you! You're nothing but trouble! When you got married, your father had a car accident. Now with this divorce, are you trying to bring the Smith family to ruin?
Cecilia was used to such messages. She typed a response: Mom, from now on, we need to be self-reliant and not rely too heavily on others. Another message arrived: You're nothing but an ungrateful wretch! I should have never given birth to you!
Cecilia didn't respond. Once the divorce was finalized, she would leave Tudela and start anew. In the following days, her health deteriorated; deafness and memory loss worsened. The previous day, she'd forgotten her way back to the motel, relying on her phone's navigation. Her hearing might be incurable, but her depression wasn't. Seeking purpose, she volunteered, caring for elderly people and orphans. Helping them gave her reason to keep going.
One morning, Cecilia awoke and checked her notebook. She prepared to go to the orphanage, but noticed unread messages from Paula, Magnus, and Stella. Paula: As you wished, the Smith family has now fallen. Magnus: Go ahead, keep hiding. I’ve never seen a sister as cold-hearted and cowardly as you. Stella: My condolences, Cecilia. Truth is, the Smith family can thrive better under Nathaniel’s control. Considering the past financial support I’ve received from the Smith family, if there’s anything you need, let me know. I’ll help if I can.
Exiting the messages, Cecilia was bewildered. Then, a trending news notification appeared.