Chapter 53

Rodger fought to appear calm, though a faint restlessness gnawed at him beneath the surface.

There was no question-sooner or later, Emilia would reach out again. At the very least,a message would come through.

Seconds dragged by, and the wait seemed endless, each moment lingering as if time itself had slowed.

His mind ran circles. Why hadn't Emilia bothered to call him back yet?

For a brief moment, he reached for his phone but hesitated, withdrawing his hand before touching it.

He was about to dial her number to find out what was happening when the sharp chime of a text message interrupted his hesitation.

Rodger's lips curled into a smile, softening the chill in his expression.

In his heart, he believed Emilia's passionate love for him would always pull her back. Without delay, he picked up his phone and opened the message.

His expression shifted, a hint of disappointment creasing his forehead-it turned out to be another curt reminder telling him to get to the courthouse.

Annoyance prickled inside him. Was Emilia really that desperate to cut ties, all for the sake of being with Webster?

In her dreams!

The memory of her standing him up before still stung, and in childish defiance, he tapped out a reply,claiming he was on the way and would arrive soon.

Once the message was sent, he put his phone aside.

She had humiliated him before. He was set on giving her a taste of her own medicine. If he let this slide, she'd think he was nothing but weak.

When Violet stepped into the hospital room,she found him brooding, so deep in thought he didn't notice her presence.

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Was he still hung up on that manipulative Emilia?

Violet crossed the room in quick steps, her voice soft and sweet as she said, "Rodger..."

"Hmm?" Rodger snapped back to reality,instantly adopting a gentle demeanor, his eyes filled with deep affection.

"Didn't Emilia ask you to handle the divorce papers?" Violet asked, feigning casual curiosity.

"She mentioned it, but I'mn in no state to deal with that now. I figured I'd wait until l've recovered," Rodger admitted plainly.

Violet's tone turned playful as she leaned closer."You know, Rodger, maybe Emilia's not all that eager to let you go. Back when you were well,she kept stringing you along. Now that you're laid up, suddenly she's chasing after you again."

Her words brought back memories of Emilia's desperate calls. It almost felt like she was trying to keep him guessing rather than truly wanting a divorce.

Rodger's thoughts wandered. Maybe Emilia had been tangled up with Webster before their marriage,but after saying their vows, she must have gotten swept up by his charm. Why else would she keep the Mitchell family's secrets safe all this time and never tip off Webster? If her feelings had been fake, she would've handed everything over to the Garzas and watched the Mitchells fall.

When she sold those shares to Webster, it seemed like nothing more than a petty move meant to get under his skin.

For the first time, Rodger felt certain-Emilia was hooked on him as much as ever.

"Rodger, your phone is ringing," Violet reminded softly.

He blinked, pulled from his thoughts, glanced at the screen, and pressed the phone to silent.

"Who was it?" Violet asked, her voice tentative.

"Nobody important. Just a spam call," Rodger said flatly, hiding the truth behind an unreadable face.

Emilia had stood him up before, so now he was doing the same to her-it was only fair.

"I see," Violet answered, unconvinced but unwilling to press further. Changing the subject, Rodger asked gently,"Violet, aren't you preparing for the national ballet competition? Word has it the runner-up from the global competition is visiting Oticester's top dance academy to scout for talent. If you manage to become that person's student, the national title will be yours without a doubt."

Violet hesitated, her teeth grazing her lower lip."There's a catch, though. Getting into Oticester's elite academy isn't just about dance skills. They want good grades, or at least some powerful family ties."

Her dancing came naturally, but her academic performance always fell short.

Money was never the issue, but her family had never set down deep roots in Oticester. Their wealth hadn't bought them the kind of influence that opened doors at the city's top dance academy