Divorce? Not So Fast, Wife!

Chapter 3 Divorce Sooner or Later

Richard's gaze was intense as he stared at Claire.

The young woman stood defiantly, hands on her hips, her clear eyes meeting his unflinchingly. Confidence radiated from her, mingled with a hint of rebellion.

Before he could speak, Claire cut in sharply, "Don't think being rich makes you special!"

Richard found himself amused by her audacity. A corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. "Do you really think acting like this will make me notice you?"

He had encountered plenty of women who schemed for his attention.

Claire blinked, stunned by his assumption. Her expression shifted through a spectrum of emotions—confusion, disbelief, and finally, an almost pitying look, as if she'd just realized something unfortunate about him.

'Has the great head of the Hawkins Family gone mad?' she wondered. 'Does he honestly believe I'm trying to win him over? Lying in bed for three months must've scrambled his brain. What a narcissistic, arrogant fool.'

Her gaze softened involuntarily, tinged with sympathy.

Richard's frown deepened. What was that look? Was she pitying him?

Before he could decipher her expression, Claire spoke in a voice dripping with concern. "Richard, as the head of the Hawkins Family, you should really see a doctor."

Richard was dumbfounded. "What?"

Claire gave him another pitying glance. "A troubled mind is a condition that needs treatment. The sooner you address it, the sooner you'll recover."

'Otherwise, you'll end up like a lunatic,' she thought to herself.

"Claire!" Richard bellowed, anger flaring. "Get out!" He tried to sit up, but his weakness betrayed him, and he sank back onto the bed. His gaze burned with fury. "Are you asking for trouble?"

Claire looked at him innocently. "Sometimes the truth hurts, but it's for your own good."

"Get. Out!" Richard shouted again, his voice trembling with frustration. His head throbbed with rage. 'Where on earth did my parents find this lunatic?'

But Claire was undeterred. She crossed her arms and said bluntly, "When are we getting divorced?"

Her patience had run out. 'Spoiled brat!' Always shouting at people to leave or threatening them.

She'd heard the rumors about Richard—the infamous temper, the ruthless demeanor, his disdain for women who tried to get close to him. None of it mattered to her. When she agreed to marry into the Hawkins Family, she had assumed he'd remain comatose indefinitely. But fate had other plans.

Richard glared at her coldly. "I'll sign the divorce papers and have someone deliver them to you."

"Great," Claire said briskly and turned to leave without hesitation.

She wasn't worried about him dragging out the divorce. With his obvious disdain for her, why wouldn't he want to end things?

As Claire exited, Helen entered the room, her face clouded with concern. "What did you say to Claire? She looked upset when she left."

Richard's voice was sharp. "She and I don't belong together. We should divorce."

At the mention of divorce, Helen's expression darkened. "What did you just say?!"

She stared at her son, her tone laced with disappointment. "Claire is a wonderful girl. Without her, you might still be lying there unconscious!"

"I won't allow you to divorce her!"

Richard's frown deepened. "She's a gold-digger, a materialistic woman who's far from the angel you think she is. My recovery has nothing to do with her!"

Helen's face hardened with resolve. "I don't care what you think. Claire is the daughter-in-law I chose, and she's perfect for you. I will never approve of a divorce."

Richard clenched his jaw. 'What spell has Claire cast on my mother?' His stormy gaze turned darker. He'd clearly underestimated her.

"Forget about it, Richard," Helen declared firmly. "As long as I'm alive, you'll stay married. If you divorce her, you're no son of mine."

Richard stared at her, his tone icy. "Fine. I won't divorce her."

But inwardly, he seethed. 'This is temporary. I'll find a way to get rid of her when the time is right.'

Meanwhile, Claire had already slipped out of Hawkins Villa. She hailed a taxi and directed the driver to the Ashford Estate.

Divorcing Richard didn't faze her. She had no feelings for him. Their marriage was a business arrangement, and now that it was ending, she was fine with it. First, though, she had some unfinished business: reclaiming the billion-dollar betrothal gift.

When she arrived at the estate, Evelyn greeted her at the door, arms crossed, her tone dripping with disdain. "Claire, what are you doing here? Did the Hawkins Family kick you out?"

Claire remained calm. "I'm here to collect my betrothal gift. The billion dollars the Hawkins Family gave to the Ashford Family—that's mine, right?"

Evelyn sneered. "Yours? Don't be ridiculous, Claire. Do you really think someone like you could marry into a family like theirs without us? Without the Ashford name, you'd be nothing."

Claire let out a cold laugh. "Well, if the Ashford name is so important, why didn't you marry into the Hawkins Family yourself?"

"Enough!" Edward snapped, emerging from the house with a stern expression. "You've already married Richard. Do you expect us to send Evelyn now and admit to them we sent the wrong bride?"

Claire met his gaze evenly. "Then hand over the billion."

Edward's expression darkened. "Do you think we're withholding it? That money was invested in the company. You'll get it when we see returns."

His dismissive tone made it clear he had no intention of giving her the money.

Claire's lips curved into a wry smile. "Fine."

"If I don't get it, I'll go to the Hawkins Family and tell them the truth—that I'm not the Ashford Family's real daughter."