Became A Queen After divorce

Sam died in a foreign land, amidst the red autumn leaves.

As his relative, Kelvin decided to cremate his body and bring it back to Chulae for burial.

On the same day they received the news, Cheyenne heard her father-in-law Channing’s weary voice over the phone: “Let bygones be bygones. Let him be buried in the Lucas family cemetery; after all, we are family.”

Hearing this, Cheyenne knew that he had forgiven Sam and his family.

“Thank you, Daddy. I always knew you were a handsome, generous, and understanding person. You would understand my decision.”

Her father’s heart swelled with joy at his daughter’s praise, though he tried to sound indifferent: “Hmph, it’s good you know that! You and Kelvin should come back soon. Cierra draws little red flowers on the wall every night waiting for you.”

The little red flowers were a way for Cheyenne to keep Cierra happy.

She had told Cierra over the phone that if she behaved, her grandpa would reward her with a little red flower every day.

Once she collected ten red flowers, they would come back, just like in the cartoons where gathering seven dragon balls could summon the dragon.

The innocent child believed her without a doubt.

“We will leave as soon as Sam’s body is taken care of. Daddy, take care of yourself and Grandpa… Thank you for everything during this time.”

“We’re family; there’s no need to thank us. Just be careful on your way back.”

“Okay.”

As soon as Channing hung up the phone, a pair of dirty little hands hugged his leg.

The little girl had come over as soon as she heard her mommy’s familiar voice on the phone.

“Mommy, Daddy… I’m Cierra. Can you hear me?”

All she got in response was the dial tone.

Cierra pouted and huffed in her childish voice: “Hmph, I will soon have ten little red flowers. Then I will exchange them for a mommy who cares more about me and loves me more.”

Following her gaze, one could see six or seven little red flowers already stuck on the calendar.

She was close to collecting ten.

Channing put the phone away and picked up Cierra with one hand, playfully rubbing his newly grown beard against her soft cheek.

“Cierra, don’t be mad. Since you didn’t cry just now, Grandpa will reward you with another little red flower today.”

The little girl didn’t know that her parents were coming back soon; she was just saying those words out of frustration.

“Giggle~ Grandpa, you’re naughty. It tickles… I’m not playing with you anymore. I want to eat.”

“Your hands are dirty. You need to wash them first. Oliver, come too. Grandpa will take you both to wash your hands.”

The little boy was usually reserved and never asked for anything, but what child wouldn’t like being pampered?

Especially by someone he admired so much.

He followed along.

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

His eyes sparkled as he looked at the little red flowers on the wall and counted them quietly.

Six… seven, eight… In two more days, he would see his daddy and mommy again!

For now, he had to work a bit harder to comfort his silly sister to sleep.

**

At Red Maple Villa, the weather outside was clear and sunny, but inside the house, it was dark and gloomy.

In a corner of the bed, a woman in a white nightgown crouched on the floor. Her exposed skin glowed even in this dim environment.

She didn’t know how long she had been crying. Her voice was hoarse, and her tears had dried up… Sam would never come back to her.

Just outside the door, Cheyenne paced anxiously.

Pearl had locked herself inside for a whole day and night. There was no sound from within; who knew how she was doing?

If she weren’t afraid of startling her, Cheyenne would have kicked the door open by now.

At that moment, Kelvin arrived. He glanced at the untouched food in her hands and sighed softly.

“Is Sister-in-law still not coming out?”

“No.”

Cheyenne had been standing outside almost all day, reheating the food multiple times.

She had tried every kind of persuasion, but Pearl seemed lost in her own world, unhearing.

Kelvin took the food from her hands gently and said softly, “Let me try. You step aside.”

Cheyenne worried that his temper might lead him to say something inappropriate and reminded him cautiously.

“Just… be careful with your words. Pearl is pregnant.”

Her health wasn’t great to begin with. Even with the Golden Silkworm Magic keeping her alive, she was weaker than others.

Pregnancy made women even more sensitive and fragile. She knew her husband well; his words had become increasingly sharp over the years…

Kelvin didn’t disappoint her expectations. His first words made her want to hit him.

“Sister-in-law, come out and eat. If you want to starve yourself, fine, but do you have to punish the child in your belly too?”

“If you don’t want this child, just get rid of it so it doesn’t suffer with you!”

His voice was as cold as ice shards. Even Cheyenne found it harsh in this moment of grief for Pearl.

She immediately slapped him.

“Kelvin, do you even know how to talk? If not, let me do it!”

“Pearl, Kelvin didn’t mean it that way… He’s just worried about your health.”

Kelvin winced at his wife’s slap and couldn’t help but press his tongue against his molars with a hiss.

“Why did you hit me? I wasn’t wrong. We’re taking Brother’s ashes back to Taswya tomorrow…”

“So soon.”

“It’s not soon enough. Brother’s wish was for the family to be together. We also need to move those two graves on Dragon Serpent Isle.”

“But Pearl…”

Cheyenne couldn’t help but worry about Pearl-a pregnant woman with no support system. Even if she had money, life wouldn’t be easy for her.

“If only we could convince her to come back to Chulae with us.”

That way, she could take care of Pearl a bit.

Just behind the door with poor sound insulation, their conversation reached Pearl’s ears clearly.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

In her state of despair and collapse, she suddenly lifted her head in panic.

“Sam… No, don’t! Don’t take him away…”

The name seemed to unlock memories for Pearl. She recalled their past moments vividly.

Their first meeting was at a bar where she was drunk and harassed; Sam appeared like an angel to save her.

She mocked him as a dog raised by her father; Sam didn’t get angry and took her to visit Duke Austen as a guarantor for her.

When she was chased by killers, it was Sam who saved her in time.

That night, he climbed through her window and took her to an amusement park to fulfill a childhood dream.

At their wedding, Sam said he was willing to marry her…

In prison, when they embraced each other, it was perhaps their closest moment-so beautiful that she still thought it was a dream.

“If it’s a dream, please don’t let me wake up… Don’t wake up… Ah.”

“Sam… You haven’t made it up to me yet. You said you would…”

“I just want you back… Just you… safe and sound.”

But dreams are fragile. When she woke up, she had to face the harsh reality alone.

Sam was dead!

He really was dead and would never come back…