Chapter 1 She’s Back, So Let’s Divorce
At night in Emperor Gardens, Riverton.
In the spacious and bright living room, two people sat facing each other. Between them was a divorce agreement. The man wore a well-ironed suit, and he had beautiful features but a cold demeanor. The aura he exuded was so oppressive that the atmosphere around them felt tense.
His cold gaze landed on the woman who was silently sitting opposite him, and his orbs were as dark as the night sky outside.
“Let’s get a divorce on Monday,” Brayden Cornell uttered assertively in a cold and baritone voice. “Apart from the compensation in the divorce agreement, you can ask for anything else you need from me.”
“Why so sudden?” Alison Lambert spoke in such a hushed voice he nearly couldn’t catch her.
“Julia is back,” he answered curtly.
Of course, she knew who Julia was. After a short moment of silence, she replied, “Sure.”
Brayden was slightly taken aback as if he didn’t expect her to agree to it so willingly.
Flipping open the divorce agreement and skimming through the clauses, she was reminded of how she and Brayden met.
Two years ago, they met at Nightingale Club. She visited the bar full of worries and bumped into Brayden, who was just dumped by his girlfriend. After taking two shots of drinks, they engaged in a pleasant conversation as if they’d been friends for years.
There was no one-night stand, and they returned to their respective homes after enjoying each other’s company.
She saw him again three days later after that night, and when he brought his assistant along to propose marriage to her, she agreed readily.
He was a good husband to her after they registered their marriage. He would be the first to help her solve any arising problem, get medicine for her when she was sick, and even dry her hair after a shower. They acted very much like lovers.
However, six months ago, he received a phone call that transformed him into a completely different person.
He started distancing himself from her and stopped treating her as tenderly as before.
On that day itself, she realized the reason for his marriage proposal. It was because she looked very much like his first love, Julia Shaw.
At the thought of that, Alison pursed her lips and looked at Brayden with an indifferent gaze. “Did you say that I can ask for anything I want?”
“Yes,” Brayden gave another curt reply.
“Anything?” Alison looked up at him with eyes devoid of life.
When he noticed the empty gaze in her eyes, Brayden started feeling a little guilty. “Yes.”
He had made up his mind. As long as she didn’t request something out of his ability, he would satisfy her as much as he could.
After all, she treated him sincerely throughout their marriage.
“Sure. I want the most expensive sports car you have in the garage.”
“Okay.”
“The villa in the suburbs.”
“Sure.”
“And we’ll split the money you earned throughout the two years of our marriage.”
As soon as he heard that, he wavered. He couldn’t help doubting his ears for a moment as he asked, “What did you say?”
“Assets after marriage are considered joint assets between husband and wife. I’ve done the math. Excluding the money you used for investment, your total salary over the past two years as well as your bonus add up to several hundreds of millions,” Alison analyzed in a serious tone. “I’m not asking for much. Just 40 percent.”
Brayden was completely baffled by her statement.
Before he could even speak, she added, “Of course, I will also transfer 40 percent of my income to you.”
“Alison Lambert!” Brayden thundered. I must’ve been out of my mind to feel guilty for her! Why did I never know she was a gold digger?
Looking up at him, she asked, “You can’t do that?”
“Of course, not!” Brayden rejected her without thinking.
“Fine, then.” Alison placed the pen down and uttered, “When we meet your parents later, I’ll tell them how you cheated on me. I’m pretty sure they’ll be happy to defend me.”
Brayden exuded a cold aura, his gaze as sharp as a knife.
He never expected Alison to be such a hypocrite! She must’ve been putting up an act all this while!
“Are you sure you’re gonna negotiate with me?”
“Yes.”
He met her firm gaze.
She knew he hated threats, but so what? She hated men who cheated in a marriage!
“Alright.” Brayden’s eyes dimmed. With a cold expression, he suggested, “I’ll accept what you propose, but if we can’t divorce smoothly, you’ll bear the consequences.”
“Are you threatening me right now?” Alison leaned against the chair and looked at him seriously.
Brayden had never seen this side of her.
Over the two years of marriage, she had been obedient, tender, and kind to him. She had never gone against him so assertively before.
“Nope.” He had it all planned out, after which he uttered in an icy, cold voice, “I’ll give you the villa, the car, and the money in return for a divorce on Monday.”
Alison blinked her eyes. “One more thing.”
“What?” Brayden was losing patience.
“Come shopping with me tomorrow.” As if unable to sense the indifference he delivered, she uttered, “I’ll go to your parent’s house with you tomorrow and tell them about our divorce. The reason being I lost interest in you.”
“Deal,” Brayden agreed.
After their negotiation, he stomped outside without any intention to stay longer.
Before coming here, he assumed that it would be hard for her to accept the divorce and that he should give her more time to get used to it.
Now that he thought about it, which part of it was hard for her?
She seemed eager to divorce him as soon as possible to divide his assets.
Alison seemed to have read his mind and snickered in her mind, Why would I care about that small amount of money?
“I won’t be back tonight, but I’ll pick you up at nine in the morning tomorrow for shopping.” Brayden stopped at the entrance and uttered, “List down the places you want to go.”
“Are you going to meet Julia?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“I don’t like being cheated on.” Alison no longer pretended to be the goody-two-shoes now that they had opened up to each other. “You better not sleep with her before we get a divorce.”
Brayden’s expression darkened. He strode toward her and looked down at her with his towering height.
She didn’t seem affected by the oppressive atmosphere. “What? Can’t you even wait another two days?”
“I know you resent me for this. No need to throw provoking words at me.” Brayden didn’t lash out at her. After careful thought, he figured that he might react even worse than her if he were to be in her shoes. “We’re just getting a divorce. We’re not enemies.”
Alison went speechless. He sure took the divorce with a pinch of salt.
“Get some rest.” Leaving her with that, he left.
At soon as the door was closed, Alison stood still on the ground for some time, while the divorce agreement was placed on the table.
It would be a lie to say that she wasn’t emotionally affected.
From the moment she found out that she was being used as a substitute six months ago, she felt miserable.
That b*stard was her first love in 24 years of her life. Before that call came, his only flaw was being reticent. Other than that, he was pretty much a perfect husband. He was a patient and gentle man who never made her worried.
Hence, the moment she found out that he had someone else in his heart, she asked for a divorce first and encouraged him to return to his first love despite being unable to accept the harsh reality, but that b*stard didn’t agree with it.
