Chapter 77: The Countdown to Freedom
Something was wrong. The joy she felt now lacked an element from before. Back then, she had looked forward to married life with Easton, naively fantasizing about a future where their love would be mutual and blissful.
As 9 AM drew closer, Ellis's happiness grew. Finally, when she saw a Bugatti with the license plate A999999—Easton's usual car—slowly approaching, she couldn't help but smile. Her smile had nothing to do with anyone else; it was all about liberation. From the car, she saw a girl standing at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Department, bathed in golden light, her smile as radiant as the sun, sweet and adorable.
Easton remembered that since her kidnapping, she seemed never to have smiled at him like that again. The person who had been so cold just the day before was now indistinguishable from her former self, causing him a sense of disorientation. It was as if the days of divorce talks were just his imagination, not reality.
Stepping out of the car, Easton's gaze fixed on the still girl, and his sense of disorientation quickly faded. In the past, she would have rushed to him as soon as she saw him. Now, she didn't move towards him, her smile gone, looking at him as if he were a stranger. He wanted to ask her when she had learned to change her expressions so quickly, showing one face one moment and another the next.
Taking steps towards divorce, few couples could part amicably without viewing each other as enemies. Ellis, without even a glance at Easton, turned slightly towards him and said, "Let's go inside." With that, she entered the Civil Affairs Department without looking back.
Easton was initially behind her but gradually caught up to her at the consultation desk. Before the clerk could speak, Ellis asked, "Hello, what's the procedure for a divorce?"
"What's the reason for the divorce? Do you have all your documents? Do you have children? Is there a divorce agreement? Have you agreed on the division of property and child custody?" the clerk asked methodically.
Ellis instinctively looked at the man beside her. At that moment, Easton's eyes held a trace of amusement. He was curious to see how Ellis would end this divorce saga. But the look Ellis gave him was not one of anger; her eyes were filled with a seriousness that was unmistakably firm.
Had I been mistaken? The thought crossed his mind, but before he could clarify, he saw Ellis turn back to face the clerk seriously. The amusement in Easton's eyes uncontrollably faded, replaced by observation. He scrutinized Ellis from head to toe, listening to her speak to the clerk.
"We're just not compatible anymore, and we don't want to continue! All documents are in order, we have no children, no divorce agreement, but we've agreed on the division of property," Ellis looked around. "Do we need to take a number or wait inline?"
"First, you need to fill out these forms. Then you'll go through mediation. Think it over carefully if you really want to proceed with the divorce," the clerk handed Ellis two divorce application forms.
"Thank you!" Ellis handed Easton a form, found a seat, and gestured for him to hurry up and fill it out.
Holding the form, Easton glanced down at it briefly, then watched Ellis, who was sitting in front of him. She wasn't smiling, yet he could faintly sense her excitement. Is she actually happy? As Easton felt, Ellis was indeed thrilled.
Thinking about the fact that once the paperwork was done and the divorce certificate was in her hand, she'd have no ties to that deadbeat, her writing speed even picked up.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her, blocking the light. Straining to see the words on her paper, she looked up to find Easton standing beside her, staring down at her. His deep eyes seemed to be measuring her, yet also displayed displeasure.
Feeling a bit puzzled, she urged him. "What are you doing? Aren't you going to fill out the form?"
"Why are you happy?" Easton frowned slightly.
"None of your business!" Ellis retorted, her lips pursed. "Just fill out the form!"
She pondered and wanted to say something. Being free from your insults and disgust, I'm ecstatic! But rethinking it, she didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble at this moment, so she toned down her response. Though she didn't admit it directly, her indirect acknowledgment threw Easton off.
He had assumed that once they entered the Civil Affairs Department, Ellis, who had been clamoring for a divorce, would never actually go through with it and would immediately beg him to reconsider. But she didn't. She wasn't panicked about actually divorcing him, even urging him to fill out the form.
Quickly finishing, she capped her pen and saw that Easton was still standing beside her, motionless, his right hand clenched into a fist; the once smooth paper now slightly crumpled. Ellis frowned. "Mr. Easton, I only took a half-day off, not the whole day, please hurry up."
Her tone carried a hint of sarcasm, reminding him not to keep her from going back to work to make money. Hearing this, Easton's previously cloudy thoughts cleared up. He pursed his lips slightly. "How much do you make in half a day? I'll compensate you."