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Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Early in the morning, Steven returned to the house he shared with Yvonne. The moment he opened the door, he saw that the room was exactly the same as when he had left yesterday. The cups and plates were still scattered around, untouched.
He was stunned. He knew this house held a special significance for Yvonne. She cleaned it every day and couldn’t stand the slightest bit of mess.
But now, the house was cold and lifeless.
Steven hurried upstairs. As he pushed open the door to the master bedroom, he saw that the wedding photo that had once hung above the bed was now in shreds. He opened the wardrobe and found it empty–Yvonne’s clothes were all gone.
His hands trembling, he pulled open the drawer below. Seeing that the photo albums were still there, he let out a small sigh of relief.
But as he took out the albums and opened them, he realized that Yvonne had been removed from every single photo of them together.
Steven slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the mutilated photo album in his hand. Yvonne hadn’t left a single photo behind.
Steven picked up his phone, intending to call Yvonne. His fingers trembled several times before he finally managed to dial the number. Fortunately, the call went through. As soon as she answered, he eagerly asked, “Honey, where are you?”
Reid handed the phone to Yvonne. She took it and said indifferently, “Have you signed the divorce papers?”
“I’m not getting a divorce,” Steven shouted.
“Then I’ll have my lawyer get in touch with you,” Yvonne replied before hanging up.
Reid smiled. “Simmons Group has the best legal team in Avaloria. I can introduce you if you need.”
“No, thanks,” Yvonne said.
Reid frowned slightly. “Why not? With a lawyer, you can get the divorce over with more quickly.”
“Because I’ve already hired a lawyer,” Yvonne answered.
Reid’s smile widened. “Oh, I see. That’s good. But is your lawyer reliable? What are the chances of winning? Have you asked how long it will take?”
Seeing Reid’s smug expression, as if he was happier than anyone about her divorce, Yvonne ignored him.
After a while, Reid suddenly received a call from Steven. He raised an eyebrow, put the phone on speaker, and placed it aside.
“Reid, could you help me find Yvonne? I just found out she quit her job today,” Steven said.
Reid picked a strawberry and fed it to Yvonne. She took a bite, and a hint of the red juice stained her lips, making them look even more enticing.
She lightly pursed her lips, the red hue seeming fatally alluring, and Reid’s gaze lingered on her lips for moment. Then, pinching her chin, he gently kissed her.
“Reid? Are you there?” Steven’s voice was anxious and desperate.
Reid pecked Yvonne’s lips a few more times before finally responding. “Oh, your wife? She is-” He wanted to say “in my
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arms,” but Yvonne glared
at him.
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“How would I know where she is?” Reid changed his words.
“Reid, please help me find her. I need to talk to her. It’s important,” Steven continued.
“What’s it about?” Reidked another strawberry, but Yvonne shook her head, not wanting any more.
“She’s filing for divorce,” Steven said.
“Then let her.” Reid’s tone wa
“Reid?” Steven was stunned.
Reid shifted his gaze and said earnestly, “Steven, if the other woman is your true love, why are you holding on to your wife? just as much. So why not just divorce your wife?”
It seems to me you love that an
After speaking, he added pointedly, “It would be good for everyone, wouldn’t it?”
Yvonne glanced at him sideways.
Steven fell silent. He had never considered divorcing Yvonne. She was his first love, and he didn’t want to leave her.
“Reid, things between her and me are complicated. Please help me this one time,” he pleaded.
Reid sneered. “Alright, I get it. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”
“Thank you, Reid,” Steven said.
After hanging up, Reid pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, “If he wants to get you back, you won’t let him, will you?”
Yvonne stood up. “What about you? Will you tell him where I am?”
“I’ll do as you say,” Reid replied.
Yvonne nodded. “Then tell him tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Reid began to feel disgruntled. But after a moment’s thought, he figured that if the two of them met, it might actually speed up the divorce process, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“Yvonne, I’m just saying this once. If you even think about getting back together with him, you’ll have to deal with me,” he said.
*****
Yvonne had arranged to meet Steven at a café.
When she arrived, Steven had already been waiting for quite some time. In just a few days, he seemed like a completely different person. He looked haggard, with red eyes and a stubble of dark beard on his chin.
As soon as he saw her enter, Steven quickly stood up. His movements were a bit frantic, as if he was afraid she might turn around and leave at any moment.
He nervously pulled out a chair and forced a smile, though it looked incredibly strained. “Honey, I ordered your favorite cappuccino and small cakes-”
“I haven’t had coffee in a long time,” Yvonne said carelessly. She looked at him calmly, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
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Steven paused, the smile freezing on his face. But he quickly put on a cheerful expression again. “Alright. It’s good that you’re not drinking coffee. Your sleep has never been good.”
Yvonne smiled faintly, took out another copy of the divorce agreement from her bag, and gently placed it on the table. pushing it towards Steven. “I figured you might have forgotten it. Here, sign it,” she said.
Steven ignored it. He lowered his head, turned on his phone, and pushed it towards Yvonne, his fingers trembling slightly. “There’s a new movie coming out. Let’s go see it later. I’ve already booked the tickets.”
Yvonne remained unmoved. “Regarding the division of our marital property after the divorce, since you are at fault, I propose that you leave with nothing.”
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“Honey, I’m free tomorrow,” Steven said. “Didn’t you always want to go to Marinatown? I’ve had my assistant book the flight for tonight. We can leave tonight.”
Yvonne disregarded his words. “As for the company’s shares, I suggest you take a closer look at this. There have been significant changes. After the divorce-”
“I said I’m not getting a divorce!” Steven shouted.”
His voice was jarringly loud in the quiet café. People around them turned to look, their eyes filled with curiosity and astonishment.
Yvonne sat there quietly, watching Steven’s outburst. “We settled our feelings a few days ago. Today, let’s focus on the property,” she said.
Steven sat down irritably, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.
Yvonne frowned. “Put it out.”
Steven hesitated for a moment, then stubbed out the cigarette.
Yvonne continued, “When we first established the company, the registered capital came from the money I got by selling my jewelry. You even signed an agreement with me back then, clearly stating that I provided the capital. Remember?”
Steven didn’t speak. Back then, he would have given Yvonne anything in the world. He wouldn’t have hesitated to give her his life, let alone a piece of paper. He couldn’t deny that.
“So, the company is partly mine. But I do acknowledge that you have worked hard for it over the years,” Yvonne went on. “After the company goes public, the shares will be diluted. I know you’ll keep 40% of the equity. I want 25%”
Steven picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip. The bitterness of the coffee spread across his tongue, but it was nothing compared to the bitterness he felt inside.
“Honey, I admit the capital was yours,” he said. “But without me, the company wouldn’t have achieved what it has today. I can’t give you 25% of the shares.”
Yvonne smiled. “Steven, we weren’t even married back then. If I were to claim that you were just working for me, what would you do?
“You wouldn’t want me to cause a scene with the underwriters next week when the company goes public, demanding a redivision of the shares, would you?
“Even if the agreement turns out to be invalid in the end, you probably won’t be able to go public th
..ne.
“Also, I have plenty of evidence of your infidelity. Are you sure you won’t sign?”
Steven was silent for a long time, then wiped his face. “We don’t need to come to this. Honey, I’ll give you as many shares as you want, as long as we don’t get a divorce.”
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“But I want the divorce. I suggest you take another look at the divorce agreement. Sign it and contact me,” Yvonne said as she stood up.
Steven quickly grabbed her hand. “Honey, can’t we just not get a divorce?”
Yvonne gently removed his hand. “No. Oh, and by the way, I haven’t congratulated you on becoming a father yet.”
Upon hearing this, Steven’s face turned pale instantly.
