"Black Dragon, James, stop messing around. I'm a busy man, unlike you." James cleared his throat.

"Henry, redeploy one hundred thousand troops from the Southern Plains."

"Right on it."

Hearing their identical responses, the Blithe King was so enraged he almost smashed his phone. He managed to suppress his anger, however.

"You win, James. But couldn't you have called Daniel about such a trivial matter? He would have handled it."

"Are you saying I can only call you for non-trivial matters?" The Blithe King, irritated, hung up. Immediately, he ordered, "Daniel, I need you to do something for me."

Daniel was incredulous at the orders. Baffled, he left the Blithe King's office.

Meanwhile, at Common Clinic, James felt relieved after the call.

"Thea, I'd like to see you try. Very impressive, Henry. I never would have thought of such an intricate plan."

Henry's face twitched. He was simply at his wit's end. "Alright, snap out of it. Drive me there."

"Right on it." Henry composed himself. They left, Henry driving James to the Department of Civil Affairs.

Thea was already at the gates, waiting. "Isn't that Thea Callahan?" "Yes, that's her. I saw in the news she just became chairman of Eternality."

"Why is she at the Department of Civil Affairs?"

"Could she be getting a divorce?"

Thea was renowned in Cansington. Her beauty and charisma meant passersby immediately recognized her standing outside the Department of Civil Affairs. She paid no attention to the stares.

She checked her phone. At nine o'clock, she called James. With displeasure, she demanded, "What are you doing? Stop dawdling! Where are you?"

"Almost there."

James hung up.

A few minutes later, he arrived, smiling brightly.

"Thea."

With a surly expression, Thea turned to leave. James stopped her. "What are you doing? Let me go!" Thea struggled. James released her, saying with a smile, "Thea, I checked the calendar. Today's not an auspicious day for a divorce. Besides, we can't proceed today." Thea looked sad. "James, wipe that smirk off your face. Didn't you want the divorce too? You'll be with Xara, after all."

"Thea, I swear nothing is going on between us. If I'm lying, may the heavens strike me dead."

Boom!

Lightning flashed, and the sky clouded over. Rain threatened. "Hmph…" Thea smiled coldly. "James, watch your words. You wouldn't want to be struck by lightning, would you?" James saw the overcast sky and his face darkened. Even the heavens were against him.

"Thea, I can explain. Even if you don't trust me, why won't you trust your cousin?"

"Because I know her too well," Thea said coldly. "She's always had a thing for military men. I'm not surprised she went after you after you retired."

"What can I do to gain your trust?"

"James, it's too late. Do we have to go through this again? I gave you a chance, but you squandered it."

A car sped toward them. Several men got out and entered the Department of Civil Affairs.

Seeing the Blithe King's men, James sighed in relief. "If so, there's nothing else to say. Let's go."

He headed toward the building; Thea followed closely.

"I'm sorry, we're closed for today. Please come tomorrow." At the gate, James looked delighted. "Thea, look. Even the heavens are forbidding us from divorcing."

Thea was baffled as she watched people being ejected from the building. The gates slammed shut.

She glanced at James, unimpressed. "Tomorrow, then," she said coldly, turning to leave. James called out, "Tomorrow's not happening either," but Thea was already in a taxi.

James rubbed his chin. "As long as I oppose this, you'll never get your divorce."