The Nicholls residence.
It was already 2.30 p.m., and Nathaniel still had not shown up.
Mavis grew increasingly uneasy, constantly checking her phone even as she tried to keep up the conversation with Mildred.
Mildred keenly noticed Mavis's mood and glanced at Hugh.
"Hugh, call Nate's assistant and find out what's happening. Mae and her lawyer have waited long enough."
"Yes, Madam Nicholls."
Hugh picked up the house phone and dialed Tommy, putting it on speaker.
"Tommy, is Mr. Nicholls still at the office?".
"Mr. Nicholls left the office over an hour ago. By now, he should've arrived home," Tommy replied.
Hugh was surprised, glancing at Mildred with uncertainty.
Once he received Mildred's signal. Hugh hung up and immediately called Nathaniel's phone.
Yet, there was no answer.
Mildred sighed in exasperation, shaking her head. "What kind of game is that boy playing now?"
Even Mavis felt like Nathaniel was purposely trying to mess with her.
"Grandma, it's fine. Maybe today just wasn't the right day for this. Maybe… Nathaniel got caught up in something else. I'll reschedule with him for another day."
Mildred was reluctant to part, but she still said, "You're always welcome here, Mae. The doors of this house are open to you, no matter what. Even if the divorce goes through and you're no longer part of the Nicholls family, you'll still have a place here. And you can come see Callum whenever you want."
Mavis froze, feeling a twinge of discomfort.
She could sense that Mildred accepted her decision to divorce, but it was clear she had not considered the possibility that Mavis would seek custody of Callum.
Mildred seemed to assume Callum would remain at the Nicholls residence.
Mavis thought about it for a moment but decided to leave things unsaid.
"Got it. Thank you, Grandma."
Since Mildred could not walk far, she watched from the doorway as Mavis and Ricky left, with Hugh personally escorting them to the gates.
It was difficult to hail a cab around the estate, so Mavis decided they would walk to an intersection about a kilometer away, where traffic was busier.
As they walked, Mavis apologized to Ricky, "I'm really sorry for dragging you out here for nothing today."
Ricky smiled. "Don't worry about it. Just let me know whenever you and Mr. Nicholls schedule another meeting. I'm always available. Sheena made it clear I should prioritize this case, so rest assured, I'll be there whenever you need me."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Wait, She’s a Billionaire (Sheena Lawson)
The novel is too abusive it spoils the joy of reading it. I hate the punishment part between sheena and Eliot....