Chapter 25
She had only promised Matilda she wouldn’t bring up divorce
again, not that she would keep living under the same roof.
On the drive back to Veridian Villa.
Corbin sat in the back seat, his expression distant, gaze
unfocused.
Adrienne tugged at his arm. “Corby, what are you thinking
about?”
Ever since they got in the car, he’d seemed distracted.
Who knew what Clarinda had just said to him?
“Nothing.”
Corbin snapped out of it, rubbing his brow. Just then, the car
passed the clinic where Clarinda worked.
A trace of helplessness flickered across his face.
Clarinda seemed to have hit a rebellious streak.
Adrienne didn’t miss the shift in his expression. Following his
gaze, she looked warily toward the clinic.
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The clinic…
If she remembered right, Clarinda was practicing there.
***
Matilda, worried Clarinda might cause complications, not only
gave her the money but also arranged for someone to
accompany her to transfer property.
By late morning, Clarinda was holding two freshly stamped
deeds in her hands.
Brenwick Road, prime land in Veyton.
Cecily, suspicious of a trick, had even taken the day off to
accompany her. But the process and paperwork were flawless,
everything completed with surprising ease.
As soon as they left the property bureau, Cecily hugged
Clarinda’s arm. “Can you be my sugar mommy?”
“Sure, sure.”
Clarinda ruffled her hair with a grin. “Want to move in with
me?”
“Huh?”
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Cecily’s eyes lit up, then she chuckled. “Moving in full–time,
probably not. My schedule’s crazy enough as it is–I’d keep you
up at night. But crashing here for a few days to sample the rich
life? That I can do.”
The two of them, dragging suitcases, skipped lunch entirely and
headed straight for Brenwick Road.
Just as they arrived, Clarinda’s food delivery was waiting.
Cecily ate with relish. “This takeout is still the best. They don’t
deliver to my neighborhood. I always have to dine in.”
“Great. Now I don’t want to leave at all.”
“Then don’t.” Clarinda laughed.
“No way!”
Cecily patted her stomach and flopped onto the couch.
Clarinda tidied up the containers, then looked at her friend
thoughtfully. “Why not? Are you seeing someone?”
“Hell no. Men only get in the way of making money”
Cecily had grown up in a rough household. She’d always been
clear on what she wanted.
Chapter 25
“Then why not live here with me?” Clarinda asked.
“I’m not dating, but you still are.”
Cecily shot her a look, calm as ever. “I just don’t think you and
Corbin will split that cleanly”
“Why not?”
“Woman’s intuition.”
“Your intuition’s off.”
Clarinda tore open another box, answering without a pause. “He
likes Adrienne, you know that. The only reason he doesn’t want
a clean break is because of one thing.”
“And that is?”
“He can’t bear to let Adrienne carry the blame.”
But once Matilda delivered the divorce certificate.
Whether it was clean or not wouldn’t be Corbin’s decision. She
refused to keep being anyone’s pawn in their game.
Cecily got up to help her unpack.
)
As they worked, Clarinda also ordered a pile of essentials and
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kitchen supplies online.
Watching the apartment slowly fill with the warmth of daily
life, she felt her own heart begin, little by little, to settle.
But Clarinda’s smooth divorce brought the most joy to someone
else entirely.
The moment they heard, they rushed straight to the clinic,
waiting for her to finish work.
Clifton sat in the chair across the desk.
Clarinda felt the pressure. Every prescription she wrote still had
to pass under Clifton’s eyes.
The patient, introduced by a friend, joked, “Dr. Whitaker, with
all this, I’m starting to think my condition must be serious.”
Everyone at the clinic knew Clifton was both her and Rudolf
Archer’s teacher.
Clifton chuckled. “Don’t worry. She specializes in tough cases.
Yours is child’s play to her. She only ever acts like a kid when
she’s around me.”
He gave the prescription a quick glance before handing it back
to Clarinda.
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Over the years, she was the most gifted student he had
encountered in traditional medicine.
If not for the suppression from Rowena, Clarinda’s career would
likely have been much better.
She wouldn’t still be too wary to even sign her own name on
research papers.
“The approach is sound, and the dosage is perfect. One set
should do the trick.”
The patient’s colonoscopy had revealed severe colitis. He had
tried both herbs and medicine, but his symptoms kept recurring
until he finally came to Clarinda.
After checking his conditions, she found the root cause was
anxiety, not just inflammation. So she took the opposite
approach, not fighting the inflammation, but easing the mind
instead.
The patient had only come with a “might as well try” mindset,
but hearing Clifton’s reassurance put him at ease. He beamed.
“Dr. Whitaker, next time I’ll be sure to bring you a thank–you
gift.”
Clarinda quickly waved her hand. “I’d rather you not have to
come back at all. But do keep your spirits up. Nothing is more
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important than your health.”
By her estimate, seven doses of the herbs should be enough.
Still, as a doctor, she didn’t dare promise too much.
When she finished with her last patient, Clifton stood. “Come
on, Juliette’s already cooking at home.”
“Looks like Rudolf and I are in for a treat.”
Juliette was an excellent cook, always thoughtful, preparing
dishes tailored to Clarinda’s taste whenever she came over.
Rudolf was waiting outside in the car.
Clifton only visited the clinic once a month. This time, thanks to
Clarinda, Rudolf seized the chance to pepper him with questions
about cases all the way there.
Annoyed, Clifton shot him a look. “Clara never asks me so many
questions at a time.”
Lateefa Khanam is a spirited writer who finds freedom in horse riding. She cherishes her mare and the newborn foal, calling them her little happy family.
