Chapter 12
The venue was buzzing with noise, filled with the rapid clicks of camera shutters. A wealthy couple’s divorce was already a big deal, but with Sheppard Group’s young heir in the picture, the excitement reached a whole new level.
The paparazzi’s eyes lit up as they eagerly imagined catchy headlines: [High–Profile Couple Divorces, Philip from the Sheppard Family Proposes on the Spot]
In the middle of all this chaos, Daphne was speechless. She looked at Philip.
Philip, who was striking poses for the cameras like a pro, and asked, “Where did you find all these extra people?”
Philip looked confused. “Extras? What are you talking about?“—
“Aren’t they extras?” Daphne gestured toward the two neat rows of bodyguards in black suits.
Philip’s smile twisted for a brief moment before he realized he couldn’t be caught looking unflattering on camera. Instantly, he regained his composure and lowered his voice, saying, “These are all real bodyguards!”
“I’m just getting a divorce. Why did you bring so many bodyguards?” Daphne was stunned, wondering if he thought Yancey wouldn’t let her go and was planning to start a fight.
Philip w
wore a smug grin. “You don’t t get
it’s all about the show. Plus…”
He leaned in closer his smile taking on a playful edge. “I want that clueless Yancey to see how popular you’re. There are loads of better guys after you, and I want him to regret letting you go
As he spoke, he even shot a glance toward Yancey inside the courthouse. When he noticed Yancey’s gaze on them, he casually draped an arm around Daphne’s shoulder and raised an eyebrow, looking smug and defiant. Yancey’s expression only grew darker.
Daphne felt a little helpless–Philip was being seriously childish. But knowing he was doing it to stick up for her warmed her heart, and she said.
“Thanks for that.”
to have
‘s garage. Just make sure to
Philip gave a playful tap on the Bentley’s hood and complained. “I went all out for you, even cleared out Chester’s ; my back later, okay?”
Daphne stifled a laugh and nodded. “O
I promise I won’t let him beat y
| you up.”
Philip chuckled at her response and, with a flourish, opened the car door for her. “Get in, my little princess.
Daphne took his hand, bending slightly to hop into the car. Listening to the rising and falling murmurs from outside, along with the incessant flashing of cameras, she felt a mix of amusement and irony.
During her three years of marriage to Yancey, she had avoided media exposher, never using her status as Mrs. Goodman for publicity. It felt like she was lost, buried in the shadows of a failing marriage.
Her life had almost revolved around Yancey, while his life showed no trace of her. The most surprising aspect of their divorce was the general surprise that Yancey was even married. It was only during the divorce that their relationship gained any attention–what a joke.
Philip wasn’t in any hurry to get
I’m going to protect, Daphne
in
The
car. He clapped his hands, drawing the reporters‘ focus, and smiled. “I’m making it official: From this day on,
This bold statement sent another wave of excitement rippling through the crowd. The paparazzi quickly shouted questions at Philip, eager for
Diswers.
“What’s your relationship with Mr. Goodman’s ex–wife?”
“Are you saying you’re interested in Ms. Daphne Shaw?”
The energy in the air reached a fever pitch as everyone turned their attention to Philip, waiting for his response.
Just then, Philip caught sight of Yancey stepping out of the courthouse in the distance. A sly grin spread across his face as he snapped his fingers and instructed the bodyguards, “Alright, let’s wrap this up”
Al his command, the bodyguards sprang into action, swiftly forming two lines. They piled into the cars at lightning speed, while a few stayed back to shield Philip from the aggressive paparazzi as he climbed into his vehicle.
Without the protective barrier of the bodyguards, Yancey was instantly swarmed by a crowd of reporters.
“Mr. Goodman, what’s your take on this marriage?”
“Did your relationship with Hannah begin while you were still murried!”
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10:52 AM A
Chapter 12
“How do you feel about Philip pursuing your ex–wife? Aren’t you a little upset?”
“Mr. Goodman.”
Questions poured in like a tidal wave. Charles and the courthouse staff struggled to keep reporters from flooding in, but the barrage of relentless inquiries felt suffocating, leaving them gasping for air.
As Yancey was ushered back inside, he noticed his suit was slightly wrinkled and his shiny black shoes were marked with two large footprints—a clear sign of the chaos outside.
His face was stern, eyes ablaze with anger. He couldn’t remember the last time he looked so disheveled. It’s clear that Philip is trying to provoke me he thought.
Charles finally squeezed back into the courthouse, panting heavily. “Damn, is this crowd out of control or what?”
The reporters were like wolves who had just caught a whiff of a meal, eager to pounce on Yancey for answers
“Haven’t your people arrived yet?” Yancey asked, his voice icy.
Charles peered outside, concern etched on his face. “I didn’t expect so many people; they might be stuck out there.”
Philip’s bold declaration immediately set the internet ablaze. Within an hour, news of Yancey and Daphne’s divorce, along with Philip’s Impassioned statement, was trending all over social media
pulled Hannah into the spotlight,
Everyone online was busy speculating about who got dumped in the marriage, and once again, curious netizens pu igniting heated discussions.
Mason had spent a big fortune the night before trying to scrub the trending hashtags and delete the comments. But today, everything flooded back. .drowning the Shaw Groups official Twitter with jokes and theories about the secrets behind the divorce.
Mason was about to lose it. He had only just managed to calm Yvonne down, and now it felt like all the money he had thrown around was wasted- nothing had changed at all.
His frustration boiled over, and he blamed Daphne for it all. He felt a strong urge to call her up and give her a piece of his mind for her reckless behavior.
He thought, ‘How could she make such a scene during a divorce? Isn’t she just trying to humiliate Yancey in from of everyonet And now she’s dragging me into 100.
Just yesterday, she said she had nothing to do with Chester, and now here’s Philip picking her up right after the divorce. I didn’t know she was this popular.
The phone rang and rang, but Daphne didn’t pick up. Masor’s anger flared, and without thinking, he slammed the phone down in frustration–she couldn’t even bother to answer a simple call.
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