Chapter 2 Strangers Now
1097 Words
Olivia scoffed. "Homewrecker!"
Grace's smile turned awkward. "What was that? You are the other woman between me and William."
Olivia lifted her head, refusing to feel inferior to Grace. "William and I are legally married, so you are the other woman."
Grace's face turned sour, but she had no comeback.
Ignoring her, Olivia walked into the office with a mocking smile.
"Is this how Mr. Hayes holds meetings? Or can Grace come in, but I, your legitimate wife, cannot?"
"What are you doing here?" William frowned as he looked at her.
Olivia's face and hair were covered in flour, and her clothes were spattered with red and blue stains. She looked so unlike the neatly dressed and immaculately made-up Grace!
After all, Olivia was the CEO's wife. How could she afford to neglect her appearance?
What a shame!
Olivia noticed the disgust in William's eyes, and the last shred of attachment she had to him vanished.
Since he looked down on her so much, she didn't care anymore. She could just walk away.
The contempt and disdain from his family, the sarcastic remarks from his true love, Grace, and the chilly indifference he showed her as a husband.
"Three years have passed, Olivia. Haven't you had enough yet?" She thought to herself.
If she couldn't warm this stone, why not throw it aside? If she couldn't grasp the sand, then sweep it away!
Olivia pulled out the chair across from him and sat down, her head held high, trying to appear powerful and dignified.
Even if she was determined to leave, she needed to maintain her dignity!
"I'm here to divorce you!"
"Olivia, what game are you playing now?" William's eyes filled with impatience.
Olivia sneered. "I'm just informing you that I'll be filing for divorce at the court tomorrow. Please be ready to handle the paperwork once you receive the notice."
William didn't believe she was serious about the divorce. He retorted coldly, "If you divorce now, you'll end up with nothing."
Back then, she had used schemes to force him into marriage, all for the title of Mrs. Hayes and the Hayes family's wealth. Too bad he had his assets notarized before marriage.
With no job or background of her own, Olivia couldn't support herself without him!
He thought her declaring a divorce was just another tactic to play hard-to-get.
Olivia lowered her eyes, thinking to herself. "Clearly, I'm the villain in William's story!"
She couldn't help but recall the time when she first met William ten years ago. He was then a gentle and polite young man who had rescued her from a gang of thugs.
From that day, she fell for him. She had harbored a crush for seven years, and they had been married for three. She had loved him for a whole decade.
Yet now, she couldn't recognize the person he had become.
She looked up, staring straight into William's eyes. "I'm leaving with nothing but the clothes on my back, not taking a penny."
William was momentarily taken aback by the coldness in her gaze, and then was a little annoyed to realize that he was actually intimidated by her.
He had never taken his wife seriously. Olivia had always been compliant since their marriage. William hadn't believed she would actually go through with a divorce!
"If you say so, just don't regret it."
*****
The next day, at the entrance of the courthouse.
A tall and handsome man alighted from the black Maybach.
His light blonde hair lay softly on his face; his angular features were sculpted, and his jawline was particularly defined.
With a stern face, William asked Olivia, "Have you made up your mind?"
He hadn't expected Olivia actually to go to court and file for divorce. Was she still the submissive Olivia?
Olivia, without a word, turned and walked into the courthouse ahead of him.
The process was quick, When they left the courthouse, their relationship had fundamentally changed.
Having finally freed himself from Olivia, William discovered, to his surprise, that he wasn't as relieved as he had anticipated.
Perhaps Olivia's calmness and decisiveness today threw him off; he wasn't used to seeing her like that.
The woman at the door was clad in a long red dress, radiating confidence and pride, her blonde wavy hair cascading down her back.
For the first time, William noticed Olivia's considerable beauty.
He had never really looked at her closely before.
He glanced up at the drizzly sky and said to Olivia, "I'll drive you home."
After all, they had been together for three years. Even after the divorce, there was no need for animosity.
Olivia showed him her back. "No need, Mr. Hayes. I'm being picked up."
A sleek red Ferrari pulled up in front of her, and a handsome man stepped out.
The man had the looks of a model, with light amber eyes and a subtle smile, his eyes tilting upwards slightly, seductive as a charming demon.
He donned a black dress, simple yet adorned with dark, intricate embroidery.
William's pupils dilated in recognition. It was indeed a globally limited edition from Valentino!
The man approached Olivia, held an umbrella over her, and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. He smiled down at her. "Olivia, I've come to pick you up."
Olivia smiled back. "Marcus."
William noticed the pair under the umbrella, feeling an uneasy twinge.
With a sullen expression, William asked coldly, "Who is he?"
Olivia didn't spare him a glance. "That's none of your concern."
Seeing Olivia about to depart with the man, a flare of anger made William involuntarily seize her wrist. "Are you leaving with him?"
They had just divorced ten minutes ago, and here was Olivia leaving with another man. What would people think?
William did not want people to think he had been betrayed before their divorce.
Olivia scoffed, finding this man utterly hypocritical.
He had his affair with Grace before their divorce, and now he was causing a scene because she was leaving with someone else.
"As you said, we're divorced. My future actions have nothing to do with you, Mr. Hayes. From now on, you're a stranger to me."
Marcus Patterson stepped in, prying William's hand away. He looked at Olivia softly and said, "Let's go."
Olivia nodded and followed Marcus into the Ferrari.
William watched the sports car vanish into the traffic, fuming with rage.
He hadn't realized how cutting Olivia's words could be!
She had just divorced him and was ready to treat him like a stranger. Was she that eager to leave him behind?
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