Chapter 44
Audrey glanced at him sideways, her smile sly. “Clayton, if the video from yesterday gets leaked, it’ll just show that the Patel family bullies me with their power. Today, you’ve handed me the evidence of your parents bribery with your own hands.”
Clayton’s face tumedale in an instant. Audrey had used that video to force him into a divorce, but he had refused. With this new leverage, she definitely wouldn’t let it p
Doily now did the truly believe that Audrey wasn’t just jealous or trying to get his attention. Sho was genuinely intent on divorcing him. But he wouldn’t
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Alexa stumbled over as she ran “Audrey, Riley is only thirteen. If she’s branded with a theft charge, she’s ruined. What will it take for you to drop the charges? Tell me.”
Riley, being young and inexperienced, had confessed everything to the police when questioned.
Initially, she hadn’t cared, thinking that the money she took was from her grandparents and had nothing to do with Audrey
But when Riley realized that Audrey was going to sue the Patel family members for defamation, and that the evidence would inevitably be made public during the trial, she knew she couldn’t avoid the fact of her theft.
The 6,000 dollars was already a criminal case. Riley would not only be expelled from school but also be mocked for the rest of her life as a thiet
Riley was terrified and cried for Alexa to save her. After comforting her daughter hastily, Alexa came out to find Audrey.
Audrey gave her a sideways glance. “You’re begging me?”
“I am. Please,” Alexa repeated through gritted teeth. “The money from Mr. and Mrs. Patel was meant for Riley to spend. She just took it early”
“Oh, so what are you begging me for?” Compared to Alexa’s panic and anxiety, Audrey seemed calm, like a bystander.
“Clayton, she’s your wife. Say something” Alexaran over frantically, her hair disheveled. She had never been so disarrayed in her life, Frustrated and angry, she lashed out at whoever was around.
1) Alera pressed
“Can’t you even take charge of this situation? Riley is your niece. If she has a criminal record, how will she get into high school or college?”
Dn.
t gone Clayton felt exhausted, both physically and mentally. Of course, he didn’t want Riley to have a criminal record. He even thought that if Alexa hadn’t p through Audrey’s bag and found that envelope, things might have been different.
Suddenly, a realization struck him. Before Alexa had grabbed Audrey’s bag, Audrey had been torfied and panicked, as if she had been caught red- handed. If she had known that Riley was the culprit all along, she wouldn’t have reacted that way.
Riley had gone to Audrey’s house and insulted her family, and Audrey had scolded her harshly. There was no way Audrey would want to protect Riley.
Clayton suddenly understood Audrey’s intentions. “Audrey, this is all your scheme,” Clayton said, his eyes filled with anger and shock. “When I showed you the video, you already knew it was Riley who took the money.”
Audrey didn’t seem to care. you say so.”
Clayton felt like he had punched air, his frustration building up inside. He felt like a caged animal, wanting to rear, to scream, to fight back.
The little bit of guilt and regret he had felt was completely wiped away by Audrey’s manipulation.
Clayton grabbed Audrey by the neck. His eyes blazed with fury, as if he wanted to burn her to ashes.
“Riley insulted your family, and you slapped her. Do you really need to pursue her so relentlessly? Do you know what the consequences will be if she has a theft charge on her record?” Clayton wid,
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Chapter 44
Audrey’s back was pressed against the wall. The cold sensation didn’t compare to the chill that had long settled in her heart. She tilted her head slightly and looked up at the surveillance camera in the hallway.
Audrey’s skin was delicate and refined. Clayton suddenly noticed the slap mark on her face, which once again reminded him that he had misunderstood and hurt her without investigating further.
Clayton slowly loosened his grip, but still pinned Audrey to the wall. “Just because I take care of Vally and Luna, you have to scheme against my family
ke this?”
Audrey didn’t want to listen to his self–righteous ramblings anymore. She suddenly raised her voice. “Help! Somebody help
Before Clayton could react, the police from the interrogation room ran out and quickly restrained i
Audrey stood behind the police officer and spoke loudly. “In the police department, you still dare to threaten and intimidate? I won’t drop the case. I’m going to see this through to the end.”
Alexa stood there, stunned for three seconds, before she came to her senses and lunged at Audrey, only to be blocked by the police.
Alexa went berserk, her fingernails leaving bloody marks on the officer’s face. Even after being warned for assaulting a police officer, she wouldn’t stop. Finally, Wyatt, who had rushed over, tightly embraced Alexa. “Calm down.”
“This bitch won’t let Riley go. She won’t let Riley go.” Alexa walled, crying into her husband’s chest.
Wyatt, looked at Audrey with annoyance. “What do you want?”
“I want to divorce Clayton,” Audrey said.
“I won’t agree,”Clayton shouted
Wyatt kicked Clayton in the shin, then dragged him in front of himself, lowering his voice in warning. “Do you want to ruin Dad’s career!”
Clayton clenched his fists tightly, looking at Audrey with bloodshot eyes. “I can divorce you, but you can’t pursue this any further.”
Audrey glanced at the time. “You’ve got one hour”
Eventually, Wyatt accompanied Clayton, while Audrey, citing safety concerns, had the police escort her to the courthouse.
There were no objections to the divorce agreement, but because Addrey had been slapped, she demanded that Clayton pay for her medical expenses. Clayton readily handed over 150 thousand dollars.
As per procedure, the staff were supposed to ask if both parties were sure about their decision. But seeing the police officers following Audrey, and the red marks on her face and neck, they skipped the question, almost as if afraid that Clayton might change his mind, and quickly stamped the divorce
certificate.
The moment Clayton received the divorce certificate, his mind went blank. “Why did they just go ahead and process the divorce without asking any questions? I didn’t even have a chance to win Audrey back, he thought to himsel
“Audrey, now that you have the divorce certificate, you can’t pursue Riley anymore,” Wyatt said as he followed her out.
“Fine,” Audrey replied, walking down the steps without looking back. Since I’m letting Riley go, I can’t let John off the hook, she thought to herself.
As Clayton got into the car, he finally realized what had happened and grabbed Wyatt by the collar. “You made them process the divorce certificate directly.”
Wyatt pried his hand off, sneering. “Dad said Audrey has no weaknesses and isn’t afraid of losing anything Keeping her at the Patel Manor would only cause trouble for the family.”
It was John’s idea, Wyatt didn’t have the influence to pressure the courthouse yet
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Chapter 44
Audrey wanted to leave the Patel family, and the Patel family didn’t want to keep her.
Without Clacton’s protection, Audry had nothing, and crushing her would be as easy as crushing an ant
Whether Audrey pursued the thalle or not, the Patel family would not let her po
Clayton felt cold from head to toe and stumbled, leaning against the car door. “But in this matter, Audrey was not wrong”
The bribe money was taken by Lillian, and it was Riley who spent it. Alexa slandered and defamed Audrey, and even Clayton, Audrey’s husband, hit her without investigating the truth. Many people were wrong, but Audrey was not,
Wyatt fastened b
1 his seatbelt, Lillian called, ging him to get to the hospital immediately.
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