Chapter 11

Mandy was even more puzzled by the confusion in Violet’s eyes. She thought Dylan hadn't told Violet about his study abroad plans. She couldn't believe he'd also kept Violet in the dark about their divorce.

If that were the case, how did the divorce agreement even get signed?

Violet stared at the divorce certificate. Her eyes darkened as indescribable anger welled up inside her. She thought Dylan had only gotten her to sign the agreement. She didn't think he'd obtained the divorce certificate, too!

Had she remembered correctly, they needed to wait a month after signing the agreement before the certificate was obtained. In other words, Dylan had been preparing to divorce her for at least a month.

When Violet felt Mandy’s suspicious gaze, she glossed it over perfunctorily. She then asked Mandy why she wanted to see her marry Archer.

Mandy chuckled.

“You were so deeply in love with Archer back then, even willing to die for him. Now that he’s back and Dylan’s no longer your husband, I thought…”

In the past, everyone had told Violet she wasn't suitable for Archer. But now that they were both divorced, suddenly, the whole world thought they belonged together. An uncomfortable feeling arose inside Violet.

“I never agreed to a divorce from Dylan.”

She didn’t know why, but the mere thought of divorcing Dylan made her feel panicked and anxious.

Violet had long been accustomed to Dylan looking after her for the past five years. If Dylan were to leave her, she couldn’t imagine how much her life would change.

Also, she still thought Dylan was just sulking. He loved her too much, she thought; he was just making a fuss about the divorce agreement.

As for Archer, Violet couldn’t deny she really liked him a lot. After all, he had been her first love. She had also thought about him for so many years. But still, she couldn’t bear the thought of letting Dylan go.

Seeing the dilemma in Violet’s eyes, Mandy took a document from her drawer.

Violet caught sight of the document title at once. It said, “Repayment Agreement,” and Dylan’s signature was at the bottom. Her eyes widened.

“Mom? What is this?”

Violet was her daughter, and Mandy didn’t want to hide it from her.

“When Archer went abroad, you lost all hope and became so depressed and desolate. That’s why I thought of finding someone to help you.”

Since Dylan happened to be there and expressed his gratitude, Mandy discussed it with him, and they reached an agreement.

Dylan only had to accompany Violet for five years and help her forget her failed relationship. That was all he was obligated to do per the contract.

Honestly, Dylan had done a fantastic job for the past five years. However, he kept reminding himself of the contract, which is why he continued referring to Mandy as “Mrs. Fadden” instead of by name or calling her “Mom.”

Initially, Mandy hadn’t wanted Archer to return. That’s why she treated Dylan like her actual son-in-law.

But no one would have thought that as soon as the five-year contract ended, Archer would return home, and Violet would get into a second car accident because of him.

Mandy had been thinking about how to explain things to Dylan when he contacted her and offered to end the marriage by initiating a divorce.

Violet couldn’t hear a single word Mandy said after that. She clutched the agreement tightly in her hands, her mind completely blank. What had she just heard?

So, Dylan had only been with her because he was repaying Mandy for her kindness?

Dylan never loved her after all?

Was that why Dylan couldn’t wait to divorce her as soon as Archer came back?

But his eyes used to be so full of love for her! There was no doubt about it. If he hadn’t loved her, why would he jump into the raging sea for her? And how could he have been so good to her for the past five years?

Violet read the agreement with a complicated look on her face. The agreement clearly listed everything Dylan had to do for her over the five years he was married to her. The more Violet read, the darker her expression became.

Part and parcel of Dylan’s obligations to Violet ranged from the social responsibility for her life to the mundane task of putting out her slippers at home.

Every single thing Dylan had done for her for the past five years had been nothing but an obligation under the contract.

He harbored no personal feelings toward her at all.