Chapter 6

Once it was evening, Astrid's secretary drove her back to her family's main house. She had gotten a call from her Mom earlier to come home for dinner. She needed a break as well from the emotional rollercoaster she had escaped from.

After her divorce with Rowan, she felt free from the pressuring grip that held her down on the Wade family.

Rowan was no good for her, he had neglected her feelings for years and brought his ex to their home regardless of her position as his wife. But she had seen to the end of such treatment by leaving her cold hearted husband.

She freely slammed the door of her car and handed the keys to her parents' favorite butler, Mr. Williams.

"Welcome home, young Miss. It is so good to see you," he said with a compassionate glint in his eyes. Aside from being her parents Butler and the main housekeeper, he was her second father who took care of her throughout her childhood. He had a daughter the same age as Astrid who was no other than her best friend, Rose.

"Thank Mr. Williams, I am glad to see you," she replied with a bright smile before she warmly embraced him.

"Huh? Shouldn't I be the first Dad to get your hug, little princess?" A voice grumbled behind them. Astrid broke off her hug with Mr. Williams on hearing her Dad's jealous voice.

She stood at the foot of the stairs as her parents approached them. On seeing them, her eyes wailed up with tears.

If she had listened to them about her marriage to Rowan in the past, she wouldn't have suffered the consequences of a loveless marriage.

Her parents knew about her infatuation on Rowan but couldn't keep her away from making her own decisions. They cared so much for her to the extent that they would sacrifice anything just to see her happy.

On hearing about her divorce, they prepared for her return and promised to keep their precious princess away from their ex in-laws while holding a special grudge for Rowan. Particular Astrid's father, but he couldn't do as he wished because of the strong relationship his father has with Madam Wade, Rowan's Grandmother.

"Oh, my princess, don't cry. That maggot is not worthy of your tears. You have us to keep," Mr. Everhart said as he pulled his daughter into a bear hug.

He hated it when his Princess or his wife cried. It made him want to rain hell on those who caused their tears. If not for the fact that he was married to his wife, he would have unalived those who picked his skin or hurt his family.

But he was tamed by his lovely wife who he couldn't afford to annoy.

"No, I am fine. My emotions got the best of me. You two look so wonderful," she said with a smile, wiping the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

Hell knew how much her father wanted to break the cause of his daughter's tears. But for peace sake and the love of his daughter, he would handle it on a low profile.

"You did well my baby. Come, I prepared your favorite dish," her mother Ava, said, leading her up the stairs.

"Mhm. I have been craving your homemade dishes for years."

"Why didn't you come home and have some?" Ava asked with concern but Astrid pressed her lips together and let out a little giggle.

She had stayed away from home just to meet up with Rowan's demands and see if he would learn to appreciate her. But all of that was for nothing, she ignored her parents just for a man who didn't for once look at her or even care about her.

‘What an ingrate!' she muttered in her mind as anger boiled up in her heart. She realized her foolishness and regrets fawning over her ex-husband for years.

Once they got into their house, Astrid felt like a stranger in the home she had grown up in. Everything was still as it was, except for new items that were added like a red phoenix painting that her mother must have bought.

Ava was a fan of art especially abstract paintings. She even runs a gallery where she rent to artists to exhibit their works and store important art works that she bought from auctions.

"I bought it last month. Do you like it?" Ava asked her daughter on noticing her prolonged gaze on the painting.

"Yes, it is lovely," Astrid answered.

"Then take it. I bought it because it reminded me of you. My little Astrid is like a beautiful Phoenix reborn from its ashes. You will always be my baby," Ava said with a gentle smile that warmed Astrid's heart.

"Mom, thank you. I will go up to my room and get changed then come down for dinner," Astrid muttered and Ava gave her a gentle squeeze on her shoulders before walking off with her husband.

Astrid watched them for a while before she turned on her heels and went up to her room. It was on the third floor, facing the garden. She entered it and found it just like she had left it.

Her favourite BTS poster was still on the wall directly below her circle queen size bed, books stacked in collections on her shelf, her pink designer dresser, her cute reading table that had stickers of her written goals.

She went over to the table, I pulled off the stickers one after the other as she read their contents.

*Become Ron's wife in the future.*

*Stalk Ron's work schedule.*

*Buy Ron's favourite milk drink.*

*Help Ron get over his ex girlfriend.*

*Never give up on my Ron.*

Astrid blinked back tears as she read the foolish things she had written about Rowan. Now that she realized it, she had made her whole life revolve around him and never for once did she care for herself.

She squeezed the stickers in anger and tossed it into the trash can close to the table.

Nothing was going to make her go back to being a lovesick puppy for any man again. She angrily glared at the waste bin, heaving furiously at the thought of Rowan.

"Why was I so blind?" She questioned herself as she sat down on her bed.

She was so obsessed with Rowan that she fought how to love herself. But that's over now. She was going to make sure that she gives herself the best treatment ever.

After packing everything that reminded her of her ex husband into a box, she went into the bathroom and had a warm, refreshing shower before going down to meet her parents for dinner.

When she got to the dining room, she met her parents playfully bickering then her Dad got tired and pulled her mother in for a kiss.

Astrid felt so happy and jealous of them at the same time. Her parents love life was like a platter of gold that no one could shake.

If only she had met a man as good as her father then she wouldn't have suffered in a loveless marriage.

Astrid cleared her throat, making her presence known as she entered the dining room. Her parents broke apart and welcomed her in.

They had a nice family dinner and Astrid was given all the love she needed by them. She was glad that she had them and loved how supportive they are to her.

Astrid was brimming with happiness until a message popped up on her screen. She looked at it and frowned instantly.