Chương 48: Mapping Her Life After Gaining Freedom

On the morning of January 7th, Liliana headed to Cerulean Meadow Sanatorium. The distance between the sanatorium and Ventura Suites was huge, it took her approximately an hour of a cab ride to reach there.

Today was the day of the court hearing. Liliana didn't want to be alone in the spacious and luxurious penthouse.

Nancy and Nadia wanted to accompany her but, they had their own matters to attend to.

Nancy was busy with her job at the restaurant while Nadia had to meet her editor today. They promised to celebrate Liliana getting free tonight. The two ladies would stay the night at the penthouse.

At half-past ten, Liliana was already ready to tend to Cassia on her hospital bed. She politely dismissed the personal caretaker, Mrs. Li. The experienced caretaker was glad about the offer to rest by Liliana.

"Mrs. Shen, I'll just be at the lounge. If you need me, please contact me immediately. I'll return here," mentioned Mrs. Li before excusing herself from the private ward.

"Please rest assured," Liliana smiled at the middle-aged woman dressed in a pastel green uniform, "Just... you may call me Liliana or Xin, my maiden name. I'm getting a divorce from my husband today."

In just a few hours, she would no longer occupy the seat of Asher's wife.

"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that. I'll do that, Miss Xin," Mrs. Li profusely apologized.

"It's nothing, please don't apologize, Mrs. Li," Liliana gently waved the woman's worry off, "Then, I'm going to take care of my mom first."

"Yes, yes, I'll go now. See you later, Mrs... Miss Xin," Mrs. Li almost had a slip of tongue. She quickly corrected herself.

Liliana just smiled. She watched the older woman leave the ward.

Mrs. Li had been taking care of Cassia ever since the first day the latter was admitted here. The sanatorium suggested Mrs. Li when Thomas ordered his assistant to look for a private caretaker.

All this time, Mrs. Li's works were exemplary. She would rotate the shift with another caretaker, named Mrs. Yan.

"Mom... I'll be free today."

Liliana sat on the chair next to the bed. Reaching out both hands, she began to massage Cassia's limbs. She started from her left calf.

Liliana exerted the right pressure with each of her movements, following Mrs. Li's teachings before. The latter was generous in helping her to gain knowledge about caretaking.

"Mom, your daughter will be a divorcee..." Liliana continued talking to the unconscious Cassia, "But, it means I'll stop living an unhappy married life. I know you'll be proud and supportive of me."

After thinking it through, Liliana planned to stop making the Xin family handle Cassia's treatment cost. Following the divorce, she was more than capable to be financially independent of the Xin family, unlike how she was during her youth.

At the beginning of Liliana's marriage to Asher, Old Madam Shen proposed for the Shen family to bear the cost. It was just a minuscule amount for them but, she rejected it.

Liliana was really afraid of being branded as a gold-digger by the rest of the Shen family, especially Asher despite knowing it was a crucial need on her part.

That was one of the reasons why Liliana rarely used the credit card given by Asher who told her he was just doing a husband's duty. Most of the things she owned were sent to her by Caleb who claimed they all were from Asher.

Fortunately, Thomas claimed he wouldn't stop supporting Cassia even though Liliana was married into the Shen family. But, now was the time to stop it.

"Mom, Grandma Shen gave me a penthouse. But, I'm thinking to find another place. I wonder if our old apartment is still there," Liliana moved from the left calf to the right, "I might have to transfer you to another sanatorium, Mom. It's best if our places will be closer."

Liliana planned to ask Mrs. Li if she knew of other good sanatoriums in the capital. If Mrs. Li and Mrs. Yan were willing, she planned to continue hiring them as her mother's caretakers.

"A small apartment but, with a good ambiance. One where I can see people walking down the streets, smell delicious scents coming from a coffee shop... isn't that great, Mom?"

Liliana smiled sadly at the sight of Cassia lying rigidly on the bed.

Her future path was unknown but, Liliana didn't want to only stay idle.

Aside from her initial intention to run a business, she might also take up some minor jobs to fill in her time. Perhaps they would be translations.

Not many people knew of Liliana being a polyglot. She could speak and write in several languages fluently; Chinese, English, Korean, French and Italian.

Before Liliana took a major in foreign language study, she already learned them when she was still in the Xin household. What started as fulfilling her time being ignored by everyone became her most important asset.

After Liliana finished with the massage, she stretched out her limbs. It was already noon, two more hours before the court hearing.

Attorney Su would contact Liliana if there was a pressing matter. She really hoped everything would end so soon.

At least... she wouldn't be stupid to wish for a reconciliation with the man who didn't have her in his eyes or heart.

Ring~ Ring~

Liliana froze. She abruptly turned around, her eyes fell on the phone lying on the bedside table. It was her main phone that she had stopped switching off.

Liliana's heart started beating erratically. It was a familiar ringtone despite her rarely hearing it throughout the past four years.

Hands shivering, she picked up the phone and stared at the screen, hoping that she was wrong.

Asher, it was him. This was the ringtone that Liliana specified only for his contact.

What did he want?

Frowning, Liliana ended up taking the call. She placed the phone close to her right ear. Her mind was buzzing with the heavy pounding of her heart.

"Hello, Mr. Shen."

A light scoff traveled from the end of the line, entering Liliana's hearing. Asher's voice followed shortly.

"Come to the court hearing."

"...what? What for?" Flustered, Liliana stuttered.

"Just come," Asher didn't provide a reason, "I'll wait for you here."

Liliana's frown grew deeper.

What kind of stunt did this man try to do right now?