Chapter 281: Divorce

Nathaniel kissed Cecilia, whispering roughly, "What do you want to make this stop? Tell me! I'll do anything, just end this silliness!" He wasn't afraid of losing; he simply couldn't afford to. A court-ordered divorce meant he could no longer forcibly keep her. "Just ask, and I'll give you everything," he repeated into her ear.

Cecilia struggled in his arms. Noticing her silence, Nathaniel held her tighter, asking in a low voice, "Has Calvin contacted you?"

Cecilia resisted, "I don't want anything from you..."

He refused to believe her, holding her fast. The car hummed quietly, parked by the roadside, as heavy snow fell relentlessly. Dusk settled. Nathaniel wanted to remain there forever. He tightened his embrace at her slightest movement.

Cecilia's gaze dropped. "Nathaniel, have you fallen for me?" She'd asked before, uncertain then; now, she seemed surer.

Nathaniel was startled. He met her gaze, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. As his silence stretched, Cecilia moved closer.

"You don't have to answer," she said with a bittersweet smile. "I'm not delusional enough to hope for your affection. I just want you to let me go. Please, grant me a divorce. Please, do this as a favor to me."

Nathaniel felt his throat constrict. Even breathing was painful.

"No."

Pain filled Cecilia's eyes. He longed for the woman she once was, wishing he could return to the time when she loved him.

Leaning into him, Cecilia eventually fell asleep from exhaustion. Nathaniel watched her doze. He considered taking her away, keeping her by his side. Then, his phone rang.

A message from Mason: "Mr. Rainsworth, I've found Ernest. He's agreed to take the divorce case, and he's confident we'll win."

Nathaniel deleted the message, focusing on Cecilia, a sense of calm washing over him.

A small sound startled Cecilia awake. She was still in Nathaniel's car.

"May I go home now?"

Nathaniel covered her with his jacket, then started the car. Cecilia was stunned by the shift in his demeanor.

He stopped outside Vivian's house. He watched Cecilia disappear inside before driving away. Immediately, he called Mason: "Tell Ernest that if I lose this case, he can kiss his legal career goodbye."

Once inside, Vivian asked Cecilia about any compelling evidence. Cecilia recounted the day's events.

"It seems Nathaniel's emotions are still unstable. We can use that to our advantage."

They contemplated the divorce, unaware that Vivian's first love would soon return to Tudela. That night, Cecilia and Vivian shared a bed.

Cecilia called her children. "Jon, Eli!"

"Mommy, where are you?" Jonathan immediately noticed her absence.

Cecilia lied about a business trip, promising to see them in a month.

"I'll be back soon. Don't worry!"

After a long conversation, the call ended.

Jonathan said, "Mommy's returned to Tudela." He'd traced her IP address.

Elliot asked, "Why did Mommy return to Tudela? Because of our scumbag daddy?"

Jonathan didn't answer. "We'll teach him a lesson tonight."