Chapter 97 - Loving Mother

Kaisley cleared her throat and gave the tea and medicine to him. 

"Take care of yourself, Caleb." 

"We are friends after all. You should take care of your health too." He bent down and kissed her forehead. He put the tea and medicine on his table as he went to the drawer and took the black envelope. He checked the documents first and he extended it to her. "I'll see you at the hotel later?" 

She nodded at him. 

"And by the way," She sighed and smiled. "The divorce process was faster than I expected. The judges grant it and they will pay big." 

"Ah~ you are super rich now. How are you going to spend it?" 

"I want to donate it to the orphanage and a few facilities." 

Caleb smiled. Kaisley was always compassionate and he was happy. Although he was only starting his business, Kaisley was there to help him. But she never fails to surprise him by donating a few of their things to the orphanage or homeless. She even put half of her salary into the funds that she's creating for the orphans and homeless. That's why he loved her so much and he's building his company for her. 

"Then, half of it will be put on the restaurant that we planned. Restaurants where the homeless could eat for free." She smiled at him. Caleb once remembered that he promised Kaisley to build a restaurant for her. So that the homeless people could eat for free. 

"I know you will." He pursed his lips. "Wait a moment." He went to his volt just under the table and took out a document. He extended it to her. 

"What's this?" 

"It's the plan for the restaurant. I already bought a lot. I am slowly funding the restaurant." 

"Caleb," Her eyes started twinkling

"Kaisley, I promised. Didn't I?" 

Kaisley stared at him. Shocked. Her stone heart suddenly started coming back to life. It started beating like crazy. Her eyes felt the warm tears rolling down her cheeks. Caleb quickly wiped it. 

"Hey, I don't want to see you cry." 

"Why?" She sniffled. "Why did you~" 

"I always love you, Kaisley. I was still stuck on you and it will never fade." He exhaled slowly. "I won't forget that promise that I made. It's to make you happy. And I can't take that happiness away." 

Kaisley sniffled and wiped her tears. She breathed heavily as her emotions stirred up. 

"I wanted to stay friends with you. That way, I could at least watch over you. I don't want to take advantage of your situation. But I will always be with you." 

Caleb took out his handkerchief and wiped her tears. She took it as she wiped her nose. 

"Alright, calm down." He chuckled. "Let's start this slowly." 

She nodded at him and hugged him. Caleb's heartfelt so alive. He kissed her top head as he tightened his hug. 

"Victoria will also participate as she promised me. It's because she saw the part of the place where people were starving and there were other parts." He gently pushed her and smiled at her. "I never thought that you could still be this soft even though you were hard toward them." 

She sniffled and nodded at him. She put her sunglasses on and he escorted her to the elevator. 

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Victoria smiled at the delicious tea that Harriet and Vivien prepared. Even the King and the Duke were happy with it. At the moment, they are waiting for Stacey and Kaisley for their fitting of gowns. While her husband was busy in his office, she became busy entertaining the King and the Duke. 

"Lady Stacey is here." The Butler said and Victoria turned around. Stacey smiled and curtsied in front of the King and the Duke. 

"Grandfathers, this is Stacey, my best friend. You met her from our dinner last night." 

"What a beautiful, Lady. Sit down." The King said. She sat down as Vivien poured her tea. 

"Thank you, Lady Vivien." Stacey smiled. 

"I heard that you are an illustrator and a cartoonist?" The King asked. 

"Yes, your majesty. In fact, I prepared a funny cartoon for you and the Duke. I couldn't bring it last night" 

She took out her tablet as showed it to them. The Duke and the King watched it and they laughed and laughed. Stacey and Victoria looked at each other as Stacey winked at her. 

"It's partially true." The King said. 

They chatted more as Harriet noticed how Vivien looked at Victoria. She felt a little jealous but then, Victoria doesn't have a loving mother. Harriet was happy to have Victoria as her sister. Somehow, Victoria is already married to Kenzo, the Crown Prince but his title was put as the Duke and that made Victoria the Duchess. 

"And where's Kaisley?" The Duke asked the Butler. 

"She dropped by Mr. Tanner's company, sir. She's on her way." 

"Who is Tanner?" The King asked Victoria. 

"He's Stacey's cousin. Caleb Tanner." 

"Oh, that handsome man who helped Kaisley?" The King exclaimed. "Kaisley should marry someone like him." 

Victoria and Stacey giggled. 

"They were ex-lovers," Stacey said as the King and the Duke looked at her with full curiosity. 

"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" The Duke asked as Victoria giggled. The two old men are thinking childish things. 

"We should make them get back together." The King said. 

"I think we should give them a little push," Stacey told as the two old men leaned forward. 

"You knew something that we don't?" The Duke asked. "I'll make Kaisley a powerful woman soon and there should be a partner who would follow her and won't betray her. We have enough betrayals in the Royal Family." 

"Your Grace, I believe that they are still into each other. My cousin couldn't move on for years and he still has Kaisley's things around his house." 

"A little push will do." Harriet agreed. 

"Ma'am Kaisley has arrived." The Butler announced and they all stopped as Kaisley entered and curtsied. She was puzzled as to why everyone was silent. 

"Is there something wrong?" She asked. 

"No, dear. Sit down." The King waved. 

After a little chat with the King and the Duke, the girls finally said goodbye to their fitting gowns. They have bodyguards with them as they visit the shop of Etrama where they checked the design of gowns. Victoria seemed to be bothered since she couldn't choose something demure and that would cover her arms. She didn't want to look fat from it. 

"V, you found something?" Stacey asked. 

"Uh, nope. Why does it always look so showy?" She asked. Vivien sat beside her. 

"Let me help you." She took another and checked the new designs. 

Stacey watched Vivien and Victoria as they checked the newly released clothes. 

"You don't have to be conservative toward your body. You are beautiful." Vivien told her. Victoria flushed a little beat and that's when Stacey realized that Victoria and Vivien looked alike. "How about this? A lace sleeve. It's a butterfly type of sleeve." Vivien said. 

"It's beautiful," Victoria said. "But I don't know if I will look good on it." 

"How about your fit in a few dresses?" She suggested. "I'll help you." 

Victoria was a little conscious of her body. But Stacey knew well that she's too conscious. Vivien stood and complimented her daughter's dress. Victoria looked at Harriet and she had that tall and slender body. Then, Vivien asked the woman for the dress. Victoria was a little conscious but there were beautiful dresses around. 

"What are you sulking around?" Stacey asked and sat beside her. Her best friend knew that it's because of the anxiety and depression that she's been feeling since last night. "You have beautiful curves and I am sure that you'll make Kenzo drool over you." 

Victoria laughed and nudged her. 

"What did you choose?" Victoria asked. 

"Enough to seduce Maverick." She said, "I'll buy another pair just in case." 

"Darling, try on this," Vivien told her. 

She stood and left her purse. She went to the dressing room and Vivien accompanied her by staying outside. She undressed and even removed her bra. Then, she put it on and Vivien lifted the curtains and slid the high heels that would match her gown. Victoria stared at herself and the gown wasn't that bad. And it said that they can put a corset to pump up her chest. 

She put her shoes on and opened the curtain. She stopped when Vivien was staring at her. 

"Uh, how does it look?" Victoria asked and Vivien smiled at her. 

"It's wonderful. You look so beautiful." Vivien reached both of her hands. Somehow, Victoria felt odd. It's warm and the way Vivien looked at her was like a loving mother that she never had. 

"Thank you." Victoria felt her eyes start to become hot. She didn't know how she should feel with the affection that Vivien was giving to her. 

"You are beautiful dear. You just have to be confident." Vivien said. "Let's try more gowns? I am sure that your husband would love to see a few of them." 

Victoria pursed her lips to avoid herself from crying. She nodded at Vivien as she let her assist in choosing gowns for her. She never felt so comforted with an actual mom who helped her dress up. 

"Where are you and Kenzo staying when we reached Marduque?" Vivien asked as she finished her dress and admired her. 

"Uh, I don't know." 

"You can stay in our house as a guest. I'll speak to my husband." 

"That would be a great idea!" Harriet exclaimed as she approached Victoria with her stunning maroon long gown.