The Forgotten Hero

I want a divorce

“What brings you here?” Esme, a middle-aged woman with a cold and stern face, sat in her chair with a sharp gaze.

Esme was like a queen on her throne, wielding power over her family members, who bowed to her commands.

”I want a divorce,” Regina said firmly in front of the matriarch.

Luke, who was listening, looked away. He closed his eyes and exhaled. He still hoped this wouldn't happen, but his concern for Regina made him unwilling to force her to stay with him.

Alex, who had just arrived at the door of Esme's room, hurried toward Regina. “Why are you doing this?”

Her voice rose, urgency in her tone and expression betraying her unease.

“I've talked it over with Luke, and we've decided to end our marriage.” Ignoring Alex's question, Regina continued, her gaze fixed on Esme.

Realizing he couldn't speak to Regina, who was ignoring him, Alex turned to the old woman who had been listening. With just a panicked expression on his face, Alex managed to get the old woman, who had been silent and observing coldly, to finally speak.

“You can't get divorced. I won't allow it.” As she spoke, she sighed as if dismissing him.

Regina, who couldn't accept it, stepped forward toward the woman's table. “I didn't come here to ask for permission—”

Hearing this, the old woman smiled slightly. “Without my permission, your divorce won't happen.” She looked at her coldly, her dark eyes gazing at her more coldly than a wild animal staring at its enemy.

Regina clenched her fists tightly, staring back without flinching. “Why are you doing this, Grandma? Don't you feel sorry for me?”

Her voice rose, screaming in a tone that pierced Luke's heart.

"Can't I live in peace? Can't I live a decent life? Why do I have to suffer?”

“You ungrateful brat.” Alex interrupted, his eyes glaring at Regina. A slight smirk appeared on his lips as he approached. ”All this time you've lived in peace thanks to your grandmother, able to walk tall without being looked down upon because of her. How dare you raise your voice in front of her!”

“Alex… it's not like that. Regina just wants a divorce because their relationship isn't working out.” Emery tried to calm him down, reaching out to grab Alex's arm. When their eyes met, Emery pointed toward Luke, who was sitting in his wheelchair, staring at Regina. ”It was him … that man, he's the one who made your sister suffer—”

“Mother!” Alex yanked his arm away roughly, breaking free from Emery's grip. ”Did you support her? What did you do! They can't get divorced. Divorce in the Moodie family will tarnish our family name. People will start talking and looking down on us if that happens. Is that what you want?”

Emery was startled. “I… it's not like that…” Finding Alex's outburst directed at her, she couldn't continue, especially with Esme's sharp gaze fixed on her.

Turning away from his mother, Alex grabbed Regina's arm tightly, jerking her to look straight at him. “Listen! You will not divorce him no matter what happens. You will stay together. You cannot disgrace this family any further. Why don't you think about what will happen to this family because of your choice—”

"You have no right to say that to me!” Regina waved her hand, her eyes showing no fear. “You're the one who's been disgracing this family with all your depraved actions out there, you got caught gambling, you've been sleeping around, you ruined the company because of your actions—”

Smack!

Before Regina could finish what she was saying, her body staggered to the side as she felt a hard slap on her cheek.

Esme got up from her chair and now stood directly in front of her, her hand still hovering in the air. The woman looked at her colder than she would look at an enemy, and Regina was hurt by the treatment she had received her entire life.

“Regina… are you okay?” Luke maneuvered his wheelchair closer to the woman, checking on her and trying to examine the mark left by the slap.

That only made Regina angrier, and she pushed him away. “Stay away from me.” Though she didn't say it out loud, the look in her eyes made it clear that Regina blamed him for everything that had happened to her.

“Don't do anything, and stay where you are.” He said as he stood tall.

Luke's outstretched hand moved to grasp hers, but it was pulled back again, empty. The man fell silent once more, standing there motionless.

Meanwhile, Regina looked ready to fight them again with determination. “Alright, it's my fault again. No matter what I do, I'm always the one who has to be careful. Why did you do that, Grandma?”

He took a deep breath. “Why does Grandma always take his side? Aren't I also her granddaughter? Isn't she also a woman? Why can't she love me and understand my feelings?”

“Shut up, you don't know what you're talking about.” The woman stepped away from her again, as if avoiding her and closing her eyes to the pain she felt.

Regina stared at her with pain as her back turned away from her again, now she had no hope left. “I won't take any part in this family anymore, if that's what you're worried about. I know your fear is that I'll be an obstacle for Alex to lead, so I can assure you, I will no longer have anything to do with this family, so let me divorce him.”

Emery quickly approached her. “Regina, what are you talking about? Take back what you said. Quickly!” The woman frantically pulled her hand so she would listen.

But Regina ignored her, she no longer cared.

Esme's back turned, she exchanged glances with Alex, who seemed to have a similar response. Both of them seemed to like the offer.

But Esme still felt the need to tie her to Luke for some reason they didn't know, so she turned to Luke. “So what do you want, Luke?”

Now all eyes were on him with various complicated looks, as if urging him to give the response they expected.

But his eyes were fixed on Regina, the woman who looked pale, fragile, and so tired as if her world had been forcibly torn away from her, causing his heart to ache intensely. He shifted his gaze to Esme, calmly. “I want a divorce too.”