Chapter 13
I grabbed Lucien and turned to leave.
If it were just me, I wouldn’t have minded, but Lucien was innocent. To be repeatedly slandered by that man was truly an unjust misfortune.
Facing the composed middle–aged man before me, I maintained a calm and dignified tone.
“Since the Alcott Family has no intention of negotiating, then we’ll settle this in court. From this moment on, the kindness your family once showed to me and my mother has now been repaid in full.“)
I gave Harvant a polite nod. But just as I took two steps forward, I was stopped by the middle–aged man whose hair had begun to gray.
“Althea, it’s the Alcott Family that owes you. Rest assured, whatever the Alcott Family owes you, not a cent will be withheld.“>>
Harvant handed me a divorce agreement. I glanced over it briefly, the terms were entirely in my favor, granting me a significant portion of the Alcott Family’s assets.
But I calmly raised my hand and took out a document for a clean break, waiving all claims to property. I had no desire to be entangled with Thayer any longer.
There was a faint, peaceful smile on my face.
*Mr. Alcott, back then the Alcott Family saved my pregnant mother and paid for me to attend the best university. I’ve never forgotten that. That’s why I won’t take a single thing from the Alcott Family. Please just have him sign the contract. After that, there will be nothing left between me and the Alcott Family.”
“As for money, I only want what I rightfully won from that bet.”
Harvant looked at me, pure and unyielding like a gardenia blossom and couldn’t help the tears welling up in his eyes.
“Silly child, your mother saved Thayer’s life back then–that alone more than repaid any kindness. These past five years… in the end, it’s the Alcott Family who owes you.“!
He had known something of what had happened between me and Thayer, but he had assumed it was just a case of infidelity. He hadn’t realized it also involved my mother and my unborn child. Knowing he could no longer persuade me, Harvant placed the divorce agreement in front of Thayer.
“Sign it.“0
Seeing his son raise a hand as if to tear it, Harvant’s voice turned sharp with anger. “Go ahead and tear it. I’ll print copy after copy until the day you finally sign it.”
Just as the atmosphere in the room was at its most tense, a sudden commotion erupted at the door. Fearing that the media might show up at such a sensitive time, Harvant ordered the bodyguards to bring the intruders in.§
The bodyguards ushered in a richly dressed noblewoman and a middle–aged man with a bulging belly. The two strutted into the room arrogantly, heads held high.
The moment Aveline saw them, she abruptly hid behind Thayer, her whole body trembling. Her voice quivered with fear.§
“Thayer… help me. Please just sign the contract and acknowledge my position, okay? I’m really scared… my parents will beat me to death…”
As soon as the two spotted Aveline, they stormed toward her, shouting curses as they yanked her out from behind Thayer. Their mouths were full of insults like “slut,” “homewrecker,” “shameless,” and “disgrace to the family.”
The man with the big belly was about to kick Aveline in the stomach, but before he could land the kick, Thayer stopped him. “You dare lay a hand on my woman?”
Harvant looked at the girl standing off to the side, expressionless and indifferent. He closed his eyes briefly, completely giving up on the idea of trying to get the two of them back together.
“Our family is considered a prominent household in Junaria. When our own daughter does something so disgraceful, were we not even allowed to discipline her as her parents?“!
The noblewoman’s voice was sharp and shrill and as she spoke, spittle sprayed from her mouth, landing on Thayer’s face. Given her status, he held back his anger.
She simply let out a cold snort and yanked the woman rolling on the ground up by force. “Come. A daughter of the Dorne Family doesn’t do filthy things like this. You’re going to get an abortion right now and when we get home, you’ll start blind dates.”
Aveline clutched tightly at Thayer’s pant leg, her voice choked with sobs. “Thayer, please save me, save our child, I’m begging you…“8
The
The woman at his feet was crying like a flower drenched in rain, as if he were her only salvation.N
And yet, Thayer stood there, stiff as stone, motionless.
