Chapter 7: Cold Realities
Maya didn’t have enough time to draft a detailed divorce agreement. She explained to Easton that the version she presented was only a rough draft. Yet, as Easton’s unreadable gaze fell on her, the pressure intensified.
“Mr. Easton, a divorce agreement must be revised according to both parties’ needs. Regarding the draft…”
Maya felt as though she were a rookie lawyer again, explaining nervously to a difficult client.
“I don’t talk to unprofessional lawyers. Leave.” Easton’s voice was harsh, leaving no room for negotiation.
Maya turned to Ellis for support. Before Ellis could intervene, the bodyguards, responding to Easton’s authoritative tone, entered and politely escorted Maya out. They only offered this courtesy because Ellis still held the title of Mrs. Hudson. Had Maya resisted, the bodyguards wouldn’t have hesitated to carry out Easton’s command without concern for politeness.
After Maya left, the room was left in silence, with only Ellis and Easton remaining. The bodyguards closed the door, and the room fell into an even deeper stillness. It was so quiet that they could likely hear each other’s breathing. But Ellis didn’t care about Easton’s presence; she was focused on getting a divorce as soon as possible, cutting all ties with him. She didn’t want to be remembered as the woman Easton discarded.
The silence dragged on. Easton’s tall figure cast a shadow over her. Unable to bear it any longer, Ellis was the first to break the stillness. “What do you want?”
Easton replied coldly, “You should be asking yourself how long you intend to waste my time.”
“I’m not wasting your time.”
“Enough! The kidnappers have all been caught. My assistant and lawyer are handling everything. There’s nothing more for you to do. Don’t mention divorce again. I’m not here to indulge your games.”
Ellis couldn’t understand why Easton kept insisting she wasn’t serious. His first love had returned, and he was clearly still infatuated with her. I was willingly stepping aside, so why wasn’t he satisfied?
Gritting her teeth, she replied, “For the last time, I’m serious about this divorce!”
“Fine! Let me show you what a real divorce looks like.” Easton stepped forward, closing the distance between them. “Do you think a quick draft from Maya is all it takes to get this done?”
“It wasn’t a quick draft.”
“Then you must have lost your senses when the kidnappers hit you! Do you know what you’ll get in a divorce from me?” Easton grabbed her left hand and tightly held her ring finger. “You’ll walk away with nothing, not a single thing.”
“I worked during our marriage too. I’ve earned…”
“Everything you own comes from me. The house, the car, the clothes, the bags, even this VIP hospital room that costs a hundred thousand a day. All of it! You couldn’t afford any of it with your salary.”
Ellis wanted to counter, but Easton’s words left her speechless. Easton’s words rang true; her privileged life was all thanks to him.
“Do you think you’ll still have this glamorous life without me? Swiping cards without thinking, never worrying about food or comfort, with people serving you and expensive items brought right to you.” Easton slid her diamond ring off her finger. “Before talking about divorce, acknowledge that you’ve been living off of me.”
Ellis hated being described that way, but Easton wasn’t wrong. In terms of material wealth, she was dependent on him. With him, she didn’t need to work hard to sustain herself. She could enjoy the finest things and live her life as she pleased.
Now that Easton had bluntly laid out the truth, Ellis felt her heart sink with every word. He wasn’t showing her what a real divorce looked like. He was humiliating her, trampling on her pride, and making it clear that she had no right to ask for a divorce. Only he had that power. If anyone was going to leave, it would be him.
“Don’t forget,” Easton continued, “we have a prenuptial agreement. No matter what, you won’t get a cent of my money.” He pocketed the diamond ring. “Be good. I’m running out of patience.”
The prenup’s reminder hit Ellis hard. Yes, she and Easton had signed a prenuptial agreement. Maybe her sorrow had clouded her memory; she had almost forgotten.
Looking up at the man who had just taken her wedding ring, Ellis felt humiliated as he stared down at her, as if to say, “You’re nothing but a parasite, and you think you can cause a stir?” The whole situation felt bitterly ironic.
“If you’re serious about a divorce, here’s my suggestion,” Easton said mockingly, “start by paying your hospital bills, move out of my house, and don’t take anything that’s mine, including credit cards and any possessions, nothing. Let’s see if you have the backbone to do that.”
The moment Easton left, Maya returned to the room. She found Ellis sitting in silence, her eyes filled with unshed tears, staring ahead. Maya quickly moved to her side. “What did that scumbag Easton say to you?”