Chapter 293: Bill Bows His Head For Once

Not just Mom, even I had prepared for a long, hard fight with Bill. After all, he had kept Mom in captivity for twenty years. If he wanted to set her free, he would have done it long ago. With his status, he could have any woman he wanted. If it was just about his desire to possess, it didn't make sense.

But he really did relent, and it felt surreal, like something out of a dream.

“Really? Are you sure?” Mom asked, her tear-filled eyes searching his, tears streaming down her face.

He cupped her face gently and wiped her tears away. “At least this time, when you leave, don’t cry over me, alright?”

Mom bit her lip, nodding through her tears. “You really mean it? No conditions?”

This didn’t fit Bill’s usual persona. He was a businessman; even if he couldn’t have Mom, he would surely have demanded something in return.

Bill spoke up. “I do have one condition.”

“What is it?”

“If we can’t stay husband and wife, at least be friends. Don’t disappear completely from my life. After all, there’s still the child we created together.”

At that, Mom almost blurted out the truth. I quickly intervened, “You two are just ending the marriage. Don’t mention the baby; I’m the connection between you two. Mom, please agree to Dad’s request.”

Seeing Bill filled with guilt, I urged him to sign the divorce papers while the iron was hot. Mom understood what I meant and her mind cleared. She nodded. “Okay, I agree. Let’s sign it now.”

“I’ve seen the divorce papers you drafted. You want to leave with nothing, even returning the shares to me. I won’t accept that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll have a lawyer draft new papers.”

Mom glanced at me, her eyes pleading for help. It seemed like she wanted to ask if Bill was purposely stalling. I shook my head. He wasn’t trying to delay things. With his personality, if he didn’t want the divorce, he would have said so already. But now, having come this far, it was clear he wanted to make amends with her.

This was his good intention, and even if Mom didn’t want to accept it, she couldn’t refuse. He was still that dominant Bill.

“Alright, get it done quickly.”

Bill looked at Mom, a wry smile playing on his lips. “Philippa, I’ve always been one to keep my word. Once I’ve promised, I won’t break it. You don’t have to guard yourself against me.”

“I understand.”

“In our country, divorce isn’t like in Snowville, where there’s a thirty-day cooling-off period. Once the papers are filed, you can receive the divorce certificate the same day. So, before we finalize everything, I have one last request.”

“What is it?”

Bill studied her guarded expression, speaking carefully. “Could you continue being my wife for just three more days? After that, we’ll go back and finalize the divorce.”

At the humility in his voice, Mom didn’t refuse. “Alright.”

In three days, she would no longer belong to him. Maybe she would marry Nicholas, who had always been waiting for her. Maybe she would choose a new city to start over. Whatever she chose, he would have lost her forever.

At this point, as an observer, I wasn’t sure how to describe the complicated feelings I had inside. If Zoey were still alive, she wouldn’t want to see this outcome. Children always hope their parents will be together, but here I was, tearing them apart. Zoey, would you blame me?

I quietly stepped out of the room, giving them the time and space they needed. After twenty years of resentment, I’m sure they had a lot to say to each other. Divorce was the best decision Bill could have made.

As I left, the snow had begun falling once more. The witch hazel in the yard was in full bloom; the flowers looked vibrant under the light, creating a dreamy and beautiful scene. I looked back one last time, seeing Bill standing on the balcony smoking. His expression was unclear, but the snow had covered him, along with an overwhelming sense of loneliness.

But it was impossible to have a second chance in this life. Wrong is wrong, and no one will wait for you forever. When you make a mistake, you have to face the consequences. This was Bill’s karma, and next, it would be those who had done wrong.

Every person’s fate was quietly arranged. I stepped out of the yard, and there was a black business car waiting outside. As soon as I appeared, the door slowly opened, and I immediately saw the man sitting in a wheelchair. He must have been there for a while, working away at his desk. When the door opened, he closed his laptop and looked at me with gentle eyes.

“Carter.”

I hurried toward him, relieved that I had walked past that dark abyss; Carter was the light that pulled me out of it. As I climbed into the car, the cold still chilled my body. The snowflakes melted away as the warm air inside the car surrounded me. He noticed the complexity in my expression and asked, “Did Bill agree?”

As always, I couldn’t hide anything from him. Carter was the smartest person I knew—both emotionally and intellectually. He could read me with just one glance.

“How did you know he’d agree to the divorce?”

“Because I saw love in his eyes. When you truly love someone, you can’t bear to hurt them.”

Maybe it was some kind of unspoken understanding between men, but I was still confused. “But he was a jerk before. He hurt Mom.”

“Mr. Gardner lost both of his parents at a young age and took over the family business early. He might be excellent in business, but he doesn’t understand love. He didn’t know how to love her. When he hurt Philippa, I suspect it was more out of hatred than love.”

“Hatred?” I was confused.

“He knew about Philippa’s past with Mr. Soto, so he thought no matter what he did, she would always love him. He was jealous and resentful. People who’ve had everything handed to them don’t know how to appreciate it—they only know destruction and revenge. He thought by getting a woman into the picture, Philippa would finally yield. He didn’t realize that he ruined everything in the process.”

“If there was no love, he could have divorced her a long time ago. There were plenty of suitable women for him. So why spend so much money every year on the Wilchers? Love and hate intertwined. He didn’t even realize how deeply he had fallen in love with Philippa.”

“He was so proud, using his own daughter to hurt Philippa. It shows just how deeply he loved her. Maybe today is the one and only time he’ll ever bow his head.”

I thought back to when he had hugged Mom; his head was lowered. Carter’s analysis made it clearer to me.

“Sigh, this is his fate.”

Carter took my hand and said, “You’re my fate too, Chloe. Let’s go home.”

I nodded, smiling slightly. “Alright, let’s go home.”

We returned to our home. As soon as we walked in, Snowflake ran over to greet us. In a short span of time, Snowflake had grown significantly. The cat no longer looked like the stray from before. Love really does nurture a cat.

Tonight, Mom and Bill would likely spend a sleepless night. Just as I continued to worry about Mom, someone approached from behind. The fresh, soothing scent of someone who had just showered filled the air.

“Carter, wait. I haven’t…”

Before I could finish the sentence, he pulled me into his arms. He said, “We’ll clean up afterward, Chloe. I can’t wait for another second.”