Jonathan remained silent.
“So, what is it? Do you really love Marina that much?”
Still, Jonathan said nothing.
Clifford, now thoroughly exasperated, snatched up a hardcover book and hurled it at Jonathan.
“Cat got your tongue?!”
Jonathan quietly stooped to gather the inkstone and the book, setting both back on Clifford’s desk.
“Grandpa, please don’t get upset. Your health matters most.”
He spoke with genuine concern.
“Oh, so you do remember your grandpa has a heart condition!”
Clifford took a long sip of tea, forcing himself to calm down.
“When Nia joined me for a walk in the park the other day, we had a talk. From what ! gathered, she’s dead set on divorcing you… So, what about you? Is that what you want, too?”
Jonathan didn’t answer right away.
The study fell into a long, weighted silence until Clifford saw his grandson nod, just barely.
“Yes.”
“And after the divorce? Once you and Nia are finished… what’s your plan?”
Clifford’s question was blunt, no sugar–coating.
Jonathan took his time before answering.
“I promised Marina that if I divorced Niamh, I’d make our relationship official…”
Aldenville Royal Art Gallery.
Niamh wandered through the exhibit, so absorbed in the paintings that she didn’t notice the familiar presence beside her.
“Looks like you’re pretty relaxed. Does that mean you’ve wrapped up all your
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designs for Luminous Divas Fashion Week?”
Niamh turned at the sound of the voice and found Marina standing next to her.
“Just my luck,” she muttered under her breath.
Marina folded her arms with a cold smirk.
“Jonathan told me last night that you two have been sleeping in separate rooms at the house.”
“And what business is that of yours?” Niamh shot back.
“Oh, it’s very much my business. Why else would Jonathan call to report it to me? He wanted to make sure I didn’t get the wrong idea…”
Niamh couldn’t be bothered to argue. She turned to leave.
But Marina wasn’t finished. Her voice rang out, loud against the hush of the gallery.
“I heard Jonathan already gave you the divorce papers. What’s the holdup? Weren’t you always going on about divorcing him? Now that it’s actually happening, you’re getting cold feet? Or was this all some elaborate hard–to–get act?”
Marina gave a chilly laugh. “Seriously, who do you think you are, trying to play Jonathan? Let me spell it out for you–he only dragged out this marriage because his grandfather insisted. You didn’t really think he was still attached to you, did you? He went home last night just to finally put his cards on the table with his grandfather…”
The more Marina spoke, the more triumphant her smile became.
Even without turning around, Niamh could picture the smug look on Marina’s face.
She kept walking, but Marina called after her, voice echoing through the gallery:
“By the way, for Luminous Divas Fashion Week, my collection’s theme is ‘First Love‘… Don’t worry about finding inspiration for yours. I’ve got it covered for you–how about ‘Divorce‘ as your theme? Seems pretty fitting, doesn’t it?”
Niamh quickened her pace
She had only come to the art gallery to find a little inspiration, but instead, she’d run right into disaster.
The following days blurred together as Niamh threw herself into preparations for Fashion Week, while Jonathan left on a business trip to Blackspire.
The divorce papers sat untouched between them.
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14:58
Chapter 210
But only for a while.
Two weeks later, Jonathan returned and found a message from Niamh waiting on WhatsApp:
I accept the 10% shares of The Thomas Group. If you’re free today, let’s go to city hall and finalize the divorce.
