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Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Faced with his tender yet domineering words, Madison found herself without the ability to speak, unsure of where to even begin.
Her own affairs were unsettled; what could she possibly say?
Ethan, a man of action and business, noted the silent dilemma etching Madison’s face.
“Focus on your work. We’ll talk about the future when it comes.”
He offered Madison a way out.
“I’m feeling a bit unwell; I’ll rest up. Knock on the door if you need anything.” Ethan stood and walked toward the bedroom door.
Just before closing it, he added, “Or knock on the wall, that works
too.”
So the proximity was just for convenience in case of need?
Madison hardly slept that night.
So much so that when she arrived at the gates of the USCS the next day, she was still in a foggy state of mind.
Outside the USCS.
“Go ahead.”
Ethan stayed true to his word and accompanied her, not just that, he personally drove her, with her in the passenger seat.
Madison stepped out of the car and had barely reached the USCS entrance when another car pulled over. From NôvelDrama.Org.
Lucas, clutching his left eye, strode toward her and immediately accused, “You really are heartless, aren’t you? Inciting your new man to gang up against me, right? You must’ve been cheating all along, how else could you agree to the divorce so readily?”
Even now, Lucas failed to recognize his own faults.
Madison looked at the well-dressed figure before her and could only think how the once calm and gentle image was gone forever.
Once love fades, the rose-colored glasses shatter, leaving nothing but the stark reality. He seemed repulsive, utterly revolting.
Madison took a step back, her voice steady, “Lucas, you really are disgusting.”
“What did you say?”
“Are you deaf? Can’t you hear what I said?”
Suddenly, Madison stepped forward, her formidable aura resurfacing, “The cheater was you, the one who abandoned for a mistress was you, the one who squeezed everything from his wife for his mistress was you. Even during the coo period, you wanted me to help with your work. And you probably me to leave the marriage without a penny, right?”
“What do I matter to you anyway? By what right do you question.
me?”
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Madison couldn’t help but point at a passing dog by the roadside, laughing coldly, “You’re even less than that.”
Lucas was taken aback by this version of Madison.
He always knew her as a woman who was submissive and dutiful, a woman who never talked back to him.
But now, everything had changed.
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Lucas was convinced that Madison must have found someone else, which emboldened her.
As the cooling-off period ended, they just had to stick with the divorce to proceed.
When Lucas and Madison sat in that place again, unlike a month ago, Madison was utterly calm, even eager to get the proceedings over with.
The clerk worked quickly, sensing Madison’s urgency, and in moments, two maroon divorce certificates lay before them.
Madison snatched hers without a second glance at Lucas and stood to leave.
As Lucas clutched his divorce certificate, a mix of resentment, anger, and oblivious regret spread within him.
He felt that once Madison walked away, he might never see her
again.
“Madison, I…”
Just as she stepped through the USCS door, one foot out, her arm were seized by two men.
Lucas caught her left arm, and the man outside held her hand firmly, along with the divorce certificate.
Under both their stunned gazes, Ethan pulled the certificate from her hand and slipped it into his suit pocket.
He glanced at Lucas, his expression far from friendly, before looking down to ask, “Will you come with me?”
The question was laden with respect and an immense sense of
power.
As if to say: Just nod, and no one can stop me from taking you away. Madison’s eyes held a restrained glimmer.
After all, divorce is a significant matter, even though her heart had died, it wasn’t without impact
Lucas, still clinging on, challenged, “Madison, you can just forget everything we had?”
Ethan waited in silence, giving her time.
After four or five seconds, Madison yanked her hand free.
Both men seemed to freeze, hardly beleving what had just happened.
As Lucas stared at his empty palm, then at the undivided hands of the man and woman before him, he felt a pang of regret.
His relationship with Sophia had soured; she was temperamental, constantly complained, obsessed with money, neglected the ho and never cared to visit his ailing parents.
Lucas increasingly appreciated Madison.
But it seemed it was too late
Ethan, whose hand hadn’t been shaken off, felt his heart skip.
He then pulled Madison behind him more firmly and announced, From now on, Mr. Zhuo has nothing to do with…”
He glanced back at her,
Miss Clark anymore. I hope you won’t
disturb her life again, not even a phone call.”
“What does any of this have to do with you?”
Lucas’s competitive nature wouldn’t let him lose face before Ethan.
“It didn’t before, but it does now.”
Ethan never let go of Madison as he stepped forward, confronting an indignant and bruised Lucas.
He whispered by his side, “Before you think of starting trouble next time, I suggest you guess whether I can afford your life.”
Madison felt disoriented, silent even as Ethan led her to the car.
“Michael will handle your divorce settlement. Knowing your character, you won’t leave him with nothing, so it will be an equal
division. Whatever is yours, Michael will ensure it’s returned to you,” Ethan said.
Madison slowly looked up.
Her eyes reflected Ethan’s profile.
Facing Lucas, his broad back had appeared like a mountain, seemingly shielding her from all storms.
As she gazed at him, Ethan mussed her hair with a smile, “I’m a businessman; I rarely make a losing deal. So every move I make i profitable, and you shouldn’t feel pressured.”
“What’s your return then?” Madison asked back.
The car stopped at a red light, Ethan handed back the divorce certificate and turned to look at her.
His smile was light but his gaze was earnest-
“I’m investing in the chance that when your heart opens up again,
you might consider that man named Ethan.”