This Time, I Choose Divorce

Chapter 4 Then Let's Get Divorced

I needed to speed up the divorce.

Emotional exhaustion was terrifying. Trashy people and trashy situations like tonight only ruined my mood.

I would never let myself be wrapped in negative energy again.

I was going to do things that made me happy.

Late that night, I fell asleep.

Julian and Lila seemed to have come home. I heard footsteps pause beside my bed for a while, then leave.

*****

The next morning, a warm little body crawled under my blanket.

I propped myself up.

Lila held a long box in front of me and shook it.

"Dad picked this out for you last night."

I opened it.

Inside was a diamond necklace with a purple gemstone pendant.

"Who helped him choose it?" I asked calmly.

"It was... Assistant Clara. She's really pretty, and she has good taste."

Lila had clearly been coached.

The father and daughter probably thought I did not know that Clara was not only Julian's work partner, but basically his lover too.

I tied Lila's hair for her, then got myself ready.

I chose a white skirt suit and braided my hair into a side ponytail. My whole look carried a cool, striking elegance.

Julian stood at the doorway taking a call, his brows carrying his usual gentle, restrained air.

While he was speaking, he turned and glanced at me at the stairway.

His gaze seemed to freeze for a few seconds.

I sat down at the dining table.

This family was not short on money. Hiring two housekeepers to help with chores was nothing more than a drop in the bucket.

Yet in my previous life, I had somehow developed a brain built entirely for self-sacrifice.

Julian walked over, sat beside me, and asked,

"There is an executive lunch at the company today. Do you want to come?"

I immediately shook my head.

"No. I have something else at noon. I booked a lesson with my teacher."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I wondered what I was pretending to be so above it all for.

It was rare for Julian to invite me to a company lunch.

Why should I avoid this chance to see Clara?

I reorganized my words.

"Actually, sure. Which restaurant is it? I'll come over at noon."

Julian frowned and asked,

"You just mentioned lessons. You did not discuss that with me."

I let out a soft "oh" and smiled.

"In the past, I never discussed what I did with you either."

Julian's expression darkened slightly, as if I were an immature wife and he was displeased.

"Oh, right. After a while, I want to go out and find a job."

"Why do you need to work?"

As expected, Julian had an opinion about this.

"This family doesn't need you to make money."

"I don't want to keep being a housewife. I want a career of my own. Please support me."

I looked into his eyes and spoke firmly.

Julian threw his fork onto the table and stood up.

"No. Your job is to take care of this family. If you need money, just tell me directly."

After saying that, Julian reached into his jacket and placed his supplementary card on the table.

Looking at the card he handed over, I let out a low laugh.

Then I threw the bowl in my hand straight onto the floor.

The loud crash left the dining room silent for several seconds.

I slowly stared at Julian and said,

"I told you. I don't want to be trapped at home as a housewife. I want to go out and work. If you don't agree, then let's get divorced."

The word "divorce" left my mouth so casually.

In this life, I had to be the one to bring up divorce first.

I needed to hold the initiative.

Julian stared into my eyes.

He did not look angry, but his presence was intimidating, as if a storm was about to break.

"Work is not up for discussion. You can have your hobbies, but you cannot abandon this family."

There were no tears in my eyes.

I was not even angry.

Because I had known this would be the result.

In my previous life, when he said no, I accepted it.

In this life, my resistance had only just begun.

*****

A little after 11:00 a.m., I sat in a cafe, tasting the bitterness of my coffee.

Julian sent me a message asking where I was.

I took a photo and sent it to him directly.

Then he told me to meet him at a restaurant downstairs from the company at noon.

I stood up and went to the restroom mirror to fix my makeup.

Since Julian treated me like a decorative vase, then I would use every trick I had to truly embody the meaning of one.

Sure enough, the moment I appeared, the lively atmosphere in the restaurant quieted down.

When those men saw me, they did not even dare meet my eyes.

They suddenly became gentlemen. Even their voices lowered.

Someone greeted me, and I responded with a smile.

Someone complimented me, and I nodded politely.

I walked to Julian's side.

He wore a suit and stood over six feet tall.

I was bright and captivating.

Standing beside him, I looked perfectly matched.

Then I saw Clara sitting on his other side.

Gray business suit. Shoulder-length hair. Sharp and capable.

A six-figure watch.

A five-figure necklace.

She showed off her wealth silently.

She displayed her presence silently too.

Clara looked up at me, her gaze polite but distant.

She did not greet me.

She sat there like Julian's perfect other half.

Rational.

Capable.

At that moment, I suddenly felt tired.

One woman on each arm?

No.

This was just a man weighing benefits.

I gave Julian enough face.

I fulfilled the role of Mrs. Hale, gracefully socializing on his behalf.

Julian drank too much, and his handsome face flushed red.

When someone else came to toast him, Clara spoke at just the right time.

"Please don't let Mr. Hale drink anymore. He has a meeting this afternoon."

The other person immediately said a few flattering words and no longer dared to push the toast.

I could tell.

Clara had a lot of influence in the company, and everyone in the company was willing to listen to her.

It was a silent provocation directed at me.

I pretended not to notice.

After all, I did not even want Julian anymore.

Why would I be afraid of someone fighting me for this piece of trash?

Clara was not very happy today.

Her expression stayed flat the entire time.

After lunch, I planned to leave.

Julian was a little drunk from all the socializing and did not stand steadily. He suddenly leaned toward me, reached out with both hands, and hugged me.

I saw Clara lift her hand as if to support him, only to freeze in midair.

In my previous life, I would have longed for his touch.

But now, when he hugged me like this, I felt nothing.

I even wanted to shove him far away.

There were many executives around, and I did not want to embarrass him, so after pushing him away, I asked another male assistant to support him.

Julian looked at me with deep red eyes, then asked,

"Where are you going this afternoon?"

I said, "I have a lesson this afternoon. Send someone to pick up Lila."

Julian frowned, as if my refusal to take care of our child was some terrible offense.

"Lila likes it when you pick her up," Julian said unhappily.

"I really don't have time."

I shook my head lightly.

"Why don't you find someone she likes to pick her up? I think Clara would be perfect."

Clara stood beside us, her face tense and her lips pressed tightly together.

Julian turned back and glanced at her, as if deliberately.

"Clara, are you free?"

Clara immediately replied,

"Of course, Mr. Hale. I'll pick Lila up and take her to dinner tonight."

"Thank you."

After Julian said that, he did not look at me again and strode away.

I turned and left the restaurant.

When I reached the parking lot, Clara arrived at her car almost at the same time.

She stopped about ten feet ahead of me on the left.

I nodded slightly at her and smiled.

She pressed her lips together without responding, then opened her car door and got in.

I got into my own car and started the engine.

In the rearview mirror, her car pulled out before mine.

*****

After I returned home, Julian called me.

His voice was much gentler than it had been at the restaurant, and most of the alcohol had faded from his tone.

"Serena."

He paused for two seconds.

"You looked... very beautiful today."

I said nothing.

"I'm not complimenting you," he added, his tone complicated. "I mean, you weren't like this before."

"People change."

"You've changed so much that I don't understand you anymore," he said quietly.

Then he hung up.

I stared at the darkened call record, the corners of my mouth lifting slightly.

If you could understand me, how was I supposed to beat you?

Ten minutes later, my phone lit up.

It was a photo message from an unknown number.

In the photo, Julian's car was parked outside Clara's apartment building.