Chapter 73: Zoy’s Divorce

Ravi flushed deep red under the neighbor’s words.

Gary froze, mouth open, with nothing left to say.

In the car, Julian gave Cora’s hand a light pat. “That’s our cue.”

Cora nodded, grabbed the folder of evidence he’d helped her compile, and the two of them stepped out.

At the gate, Zoy stood staring at her things—clothes and blankets trampled into the dirt, every piece coated in dust.

“Since you’ve already found yourself a new woman, Gary, I won’t keep clinging to this house,” she said, voice trembling but steady. “Everyone’s here anyway—let’s go file for divorce. Saves you the trouble of sneaking around on blind dates.”

“You—what nonsense are you talking about? I’ve never—Zoy, stop slandering me!” Gary’s voice cracked into panic.

“You think I don’t know? You look down on me because I can’t have children, right? Fine. Go find someone who can!” Zoy’s control finally snapped. “We’re divorcing today! I’m not pathetic enough to get thrown out and still beg to stay in your house!”

Cora, standing just behind her, nearly clapped. That’s my mom.

“Divorce her! I’ve put up with her long enough!” Ravi roared, thumping her cane on the ground. “The Dev bloodline can’t end with her! Living here for free all these years—get her out of my sight!”

Zoy’s heart went cold. She’d always known her mother-in-law was cruel, but not this cruel.

All these years she’d told herself humility would buy peace. She hadn’t realized some people only get bolder when you feed them kindness.

Gary, backed by his mother and blinded by his new fling, looked almost relieved. The plan had gone off track, but the outcome was the same—he wanted out.

Cora thought about exposing the truth—that the one who couldn’t have children was Gary, not her mother—but suddenly she didn’t want to. She was done with this family and their rot.

As she and Julian reached the gate, she said quietly, “If they divorce, I’m going with Mom.”

Ravi opened her mouth, ready to snarl that Cora was no real granddaughter, but one look at Julian beside her shut that thought right down.

Gary’s guilt twisted into anger. Ever since she’d caught him on a date, he’d seen Cora as a traitor. Let her go with her mother, he thought. He was going to have his own child soon.

“Fine,” he said quickly. “But the dowry stays with the Devs. Not a cent goes with you.”

Cora actually laughed. Julian’s mouth twitched too, but he didn’t interfere—at least not yet.

“You mean the one-million Watson gave before the wedding,” she said, “or the ten million and the villa they promised after I gave birth?”

That made the whole courtyard go still.

Ravi jumped in fast. “The first million, of course! That money was for the Dev family.”

“For the Devs?” Cora’s voice iced over. “What exactly was it for?”

“Your mother-in-law said it was payment to the Devs,” Ravi snapped. “We raised you all these years—don’t we deserve some interest?”

“Oh,” Cora said sweetly. “So the Watsons bought me from you?”

Ravi, too angry to think, barked, “Exactly! You may not share our blood, but you ate our food and lived under our roof. Why shouldn’t we get something for selling you off?”

Cora smiled, satisfied—the whole exchange recorded on her phone.

“Since you admit the Watsons already paid for me,” she said coolly, “you’ve got no claim to anything else I own.”

She pulled a folder from her bag and tossed it at Gary’s feet. “Here’s a full list of the money you’ve hidden over the years, and every cent you’ve spent on your mistress. Since you two are divorcing, we’ll need to divide the marital assets properly. They’re still joint property, right, Grandma? No objections?”

Gary went pale. “Cora, how dare you—” He raised a hand.

Julian moved first, stepping between them, pulling Cora behind him with one long arm. His eyes went flat and dangerous.

Gary froze. He didn’t dare follow through.

“One million to buy out this marriage? A bargain,” Cora said, her tone sharp. “It’s over. Let’s go to the civil office and sign the papers.”

Ravi had been obeyed all her life. Now both her daughter-in-law and granddaughter were defying her in public. Rage burned through the humiliation.

“Divorce! Divorce!” she shrieked. “The Devs don’t need a barren hen—or a greedy little brat for a granddaughter! You’ll get nothing from this house!”

“I don’t want your money,” Zoy said, voice breaking but resolute. “I have hands, I can work. I’ve had enough of this family.”

The instant she said it, both Gary and Ravi looked relieved.

Cora understood then—this whole morning’s spectacle had been a setup to make her mother walk away from any claim.

Her chest tightened. Even if we hadn’t found out about the affair, they’d have made up another reason to cast her out.

Julian drove the three of them straight to the county civil office. Time to end it cleanly.

Inside, Gary insisted there were no joint assets. Zoy didn’t argue. Her heart was spent; she had nothing left to defend.

After twenty years of loyalty, the man she’d served could only mutter, “irreconcilable differences.”

All her years of devotion had turned to air.

Outside the registry doors, Cora stood beside Julian, emotions knotted tight.

He, as always, was calm. “If you want,” he said quietly, “I can make sure she walks away with more than nothing.”

The look in her eyes twisted something in him. He wanted—absurdly—to fix it all for her.

Cora shook her head. “It’s not about money. If Mom cared about that, she’d never have married him. She’s stayed this long because she loved him. Now, freedom’s the only thing that matters.”

Julian’s mouth curved, admiration flickering through the calm.

“I’ve thought this for a long time,” Cora said. “Mom’s suffered enough in that house. You’ve seen what they’re like. She’s worked herself to the bone, and for what? If my father had cherished her, it would’ve been worth it. But he didn’t. He never did.”

The cold in her eyes stabbed at him.

Julian reached over, took her hand gently. “It’ll be alright,” he said.

He didn’t add the rest: As long as you’re happy, I’ll make it so.

Moments later, her parents came down from the office stairs—paperwork done.

Gary looked almost cheerful, already imagining his new bride.

Zoy’s face was shadowed, unreadable.

Cora and Julian waited quietly outside. Zoy’s gaze fell on their joined hands, and for the first time that day, a flicker of peace crossed her face.

“Mom…” Cora murmured, embarrassed, slipping her hand free.

Julian’s chest tightened with sudden loss.

“I’m fine,” Zoy said softly, forcing a small smile. She couldn’t let her pregnant daughter worry for her any more.