Chapter 9
Author: Mel Hope
last update2026-08-18 04:56:42

Meanwhile, the neighborhood housekeepers' group chat was buzzing throughout the night. Messages appeared one after another.

Did you hear? Raphael really told Dorothy to leave.

Apparently, he even told her they were getting divorced tomorrow.

Do you think he's finally serious this time?

At first, most people remained skeptical. After all, everyone had seen this drama before.

Raphael had threatened divorce countless times, only to apologize shortly afterward and beg Dorothy to come home. But tonight felt different.

Raphael hadn't chased after her. He hadn't even called or apologized. He had even blocked Lillian, Dorothy's friend, after she tried to intervene.

The more details emerged, the more convinced everyone became.

Raphael was genuinely serious about ending the marriage.

Meanwhile, back at the Exquisite Lounge, the evening gradually came to an end, and Lillian approached Dorothy before leaving and gave her a playful wink.

"Well, don't waste this opportunity. After all, your first love is finally back."

She wanted Dorothy to take advantage of the situation and rekindle her relationship with Raphael.

Dorothy's cheeks warmed slightly. But deep down, she couldn't deny that the thought had crossed her mind.

Jake had always held a special place in her heart. Yet despite being surrounded by friends and sitting beside the man she had once loved so deeply, Dorothy couldn't fully enjoy herself.

Her attention kept drifting toward her phone. Still, there was no call or message from Raphael. Raphael remained completely silent.

As the minutes passed, Dorothy's irritation grew.

What was wrong with him? Wasn't he supposed to be calling her by now? Hadn't he always been unable to endure even a few hours without her?

She repeatedly checked her phone. Yet, nothing. Her frustration eventually reached its limit and she suddenly stood.

"Why don't all of you come back to my apartment? We can continue the celebration there." Dorothy forced a smile.

She wanted to show them her luxurious residence. More importantly, she wanted to regain some of the dignity she had lost earlier.

If everyone saw the beautiful apartment she and Raphael lived in, perhaps they would stop whispering about the argument. She could also prove that she remained the lady of that magnificent home!

The group readily agreed, and soon, they left the Exquisite Lounge together.

Dorothy sat beside Jake during the journey, feeling slightly more confident. At least she still had her luxurious home. Or so she thought.

The group eventually arrived at the entrance of the residential community. Dorothy stepped out of the car and walked toward the security gate.

The security guard immediately stepped forward. "Please stop."

Dorothy frowned. "What?"

"I'm sorry, ma'am. You can't enter."

For a moment, Dorothy thought she had misheard him.

"Can't enter?"

The security guard looked at her with confusion. "Yes."

Dorothy’s expression darkened. “I live here! How can you tell me I’m not allowed to enter? Do you even know who I am? I’m Dorothy Brooks, Raphael’s wife!”

The guard exchanged a brief glance with his colleague before turning his attention back to her. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but we don't have you listed as an authorized resident."

Dorothy's expression instantly changed. "That's impossible!"

She pointed toward the luxurious buildings beyond the gate. "I live in one of those apartments!"

The guards remained unmoved. "Please leave the premises."

The atmosphere suddenly froze. The friends standing behind Dorothy exchanged confused looks. Lillian's playful expression disappeared and Jake frowned.

"What are you talking about?" Dorothy felt her face burning. She reached for her access card, pulled it out and handed it to the guard.

ACCESS DENIED. The machine immediately rejected it.

Dorothy's face went pale. "Try again."

The guard did but the result was the same.

"Ma'am, your access has been revoked."

"Revoked?" Her voice trembled.

"Who revoked it?"

The guard hesitated. "I'm not authorized to discuss that."

Dorothy suddenly felt a chill as she remembered her earlier interaction with Raphael. Could he really be behind this?

No. That was impossible. Raphael would never do something like that. After all, he couldn't even do without her. So, how could he possibly be responsible for this?

The fact that he hadn’t called her yet didn’t necessarily mean he wouldn’t. Perhaps something had come up, and there was something going on with him that she simply wasn’t aware of yet.

Still, Dorothy couldn’t shake the confusion that had settled in her mind.

She quickly turned toward the road leading deeper into the community and then she noticed several suitcases piled beside the designated garbage collection area near the entrance.

Clothes spilled from one of the bags and a handbag rested on top of another suitcase. Shoes, cosmetics, boxes of personal belongings... Everything had been dumped outside.

Dorothy stared and her breathing stopped upon seeing that every single item belonged to her!

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