Babel Novel
The Divorce Agreement papers
There was yet another surprise? Mia glanced around anxiously.
Just then, ahead in the walkway, Grandpa Mandez was cautiously making his way towards them, with Anderson and Amanda guiding him.
Despite his age and illness, the old man appeared rather lively.
“Grandpa!” Mia exclaimed with excitement.
She swiftly handed her bouquet to the nearest man, Shawn, and hurried over to his side.
“Yes, yes,” Old Master Mandez beamed upon seeing his granddaughter-in-law.
Seeing the old man hale and hearty in this way sincerely felt like the greatest gift Mia could ask for. Last she heard, he was out of the country for a medical examination…
“When did you return, Grandpa?” Mia inquired.© NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
“Hmn, just now.” He presented her with a beautiful bouquet. “Congratulations on your graduation.”
Mia grew teary as she breathed in the fragrance, saying, “Thank you, Grandpa.”
The old man had just returned and was supposed to be resting, but because of her, he had made his way there.
Old Master Mandez’s arrival came bearing numerous gifts, which had to be wheeled in on a cart.
“They are all for you. Don’t let that grumpy husband of yours take anything from you, okay?” He teased.
Mia chuckled through her tears, replying, “Okay, Grandpa.”
“Ah, here’s your Aunt.” Realization dawned upon Old Master Mandez, and he promptly introduced Amanda to Mia.
‘Huh?’ Mia instinctively turned to look at Shawn, who had silently made his way to stand behind her. The man simply nodded his head.
She had no idea Shawn had an aunt; he had never mentioned her before.
Nonetheless, she greeted the woman standing beside Grandpa Mandez with a respectful nod, saying, “Hello, Auntie.”
“Hello, dear. I’ve been dying to see who it is that ended up capturing my nephew’s heart,” Amanda said, smiling warmly.
Mia blushed at her words.
“It’s nice to finally meet you. Please, take good care of my nephew. Also, congratulations,” Amanda added, observing the girl closely.
“Yes, Auntie. Thank you, Auntie,” Mia replied politely.
As Old Master Mandez couldn’t stand for long, they all headed into the mansion for a celebration.
As they entered the lounge, the old man paused, as if something had caught his attention.
“Hmm, so lovely,” Grandpa Mandez remarked, gazing up at something.
Mia followed his gaze and realized he was admiring the frames hung across the lounge walls.
“Huh?” She was taken aback.
She hadn’t noticed the framed pictures of her and Shawn earlier, as she had been preoccupied with the decorations and the whole excitement.
Smiling, observed each frame, taking in how she and Shawn appeared like a real couple in them-truly lovely.
She wondered when the photographer had brought them in.
Her gaze swiftly shifted to Shawn, who only gave her a smug look.
On the side, Amanda silently observed the chemistry between the young couple.
After years of being single, he chose a high-school girl, someone thirteen years his junior. What was so special about the girl?
To think he had rejected all the girls she had set him up with, only to end up with someone so young. Amanda couldn’t help but feel deeply disappointed. When did his taste become so questionable?
Yet, Amanda knew it was all a facade. Shawn wasn’t truly in love with the girl; their marriage was a mere charade. She could sense it.
Shawn couldn’t possibly be in love with someone so young. She knew he was only pretending for the sake of his ailing grandfather. Sooner rather than later, he would part ways with her. How unfortunate.
Soon, everyone moved to the dining room, and the feast began.
—–
Martha had intended to move out of the female dormitory for some time now, but due to her intense focus on studying for the CSAT, she hadn’t been able to do so, despite packing up little by little.
Today, since she was done with her exams, she made the decision to finally move out. She went straight to school to finish packing, as she and Max had planned that he would pick her up once she was nearly finished.
Throughout the evening, Martha meticulously packed up her belongings, including her clothes, bags, shoes, accessories, and documents.
As dusk fell, she realized the room was in disarray due to the items she no longer needed, scattered around the room. Wanting to leave the place tidy, she decided to sweep the floor before Max arrived.
Swiftly, she grabbed the broom and began sweeping, starting from the bunk area to the reading tables and then to the door.
While moving the table near the door away from the wall, she noticed a document lying on the floor behind it. Martha’s brows furrowed as she picked up the file. It didn’t appear to belong to her; perhaps it was Mia’s. It had to be.
Shrugging, she set it on the table and returned to sweeping. However, she couldn’t help but keep glancing at the file. Eventually, curiosity got the best of her. She dropped the broom, snatched the file, and opened it, revealing its contents.
The first words her eyes landed on made her stomach churn. DIVORCE AGREEMENT.
‘Divorce agreement?’ She blinked, perplexed, as her eyes scanned the unexpected document.
What was a divorce agreement file doing in her dorm room?
Martha swiftly sifted through the pages, arriving at the last one. On it, an elegant signature adorned one side, while an empty space awaited another. Below, in bold print, was the name ‘MIA THOMPSON MANDEZ’.
Martha’s heart skipped a beat. Mia was married?
Her gaze shifted to the signed space. Beneath the signature lay the name ‘SHAWN MANDEZ,’ equally boldly printed.
Martha stood frozen, her mind racing. Was this a daydream? She rubbed her eyes repeatedly, but the names remained, strikingly present on the page.
It had to be a dream. Mia was married-to Shawn Mandez? The most famous man in the country?
That was impossible! It had to be someone else who was merely sharing the same name…
Just then, memories from when Mia moved out of the room came flooding back:
“Martha, I’m so sorry, but I can’t tell you right now. Yes, I’m leaving the dormitory, but I can’t tell you where I’m going.”
“When the time is right, I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”
Those were exactly Mia’s words when Martha asked her why she was packing out of their room.
And then the dots began to connect one by one.
Vivian, and every other single person who hurt Mia, was suddenly expelled from school…
And the news about Vivian’s parents…
Then, there was that time Mia was picked up from school in a luxurious car. Her constant absence from school…
So she had secretly gotten married.
No wonder! She felt like the man who had called Mia while they were together that day was somehow familiar. Now, Martha knew exactly who he was. He was the popular and intelligent P. A., Lucas.
Once one saw Lucas, one had seen Shawn Mandez. Lucas was Shawn’s eyes and ears… and even his presence.
‘Ah.’ Realization dawned upon Martha.
The information was too much for her to process while standing. She quickly settled into the armchair in the room, staring into space as everything made sense.
That explained Mia’s recent secrecy and all. The girl was married. To Shawn Mandez.
Shawn Mandez? At thirty-one, he was still a bachelor, someone who, in his thirty-one years of life, had never shown interest in anyone, only to find out that he was married. To a high school student! And her friend, no less!
Martha was almost losing it. Crazy. Who would have thought…?!
She couldn’t help but wonder how that was possible. Where and how did the two meet to even get married?
But then, the divorce papers… Shawn Mandez had filed for divorce from Mia… He disliked her. Martha noted mentally.
Yet, Mia had not yet signed the divorce agreement. Did this indicate a possible change of heart from Shawn about their divorce?
Martha’s mind was ablaze with swirling thoughts, but suddenly, a realization dawned on her.
Hadn’t Vivian, Mia’s sister, always been the one keenly interested in Shawn Mandez?
Was Vivian aware of this?
A wry smile appeared on Martha’s face as her brows furrowed in contemplation. She could bet Vivian was in the dark about Mia’s marriage to Shawn Mandez.
How interesting.