Chapter 128: See You in Court

In an old restaurant that had been open for decades.

Mia and John sat facing each other.

The waiter brought out the food.

"I haven't eaten here in years. I wonder if it tastes the same," Mia said with a smile.

"I don't know," John said flatly.

"Did you ever come back after that?" she asked.

"No," he said. "Mary wouldn't let me. She said it wasn't clean."

The smile on her face slowly faded.

She looked at him.

What did he mean by that?

"I don't like it when you mention her," she said.

He looked at her and sighed softly.

"She's my wife," he said. "I can't help but mention her."

She frowned, her expression sour.

"It's just the two of us having dinner, and you have to bring her up just to upset me?" she said, her tone displeased.

"What are you here for this time?" he asked directly.

Mia smiled and said calmly, "I've been away too long. I missed this place a bit."

"Let's get this straight," he said flatly, looking at her.

"All right, then I'll be blunt." The smile vanished from her face.

"I've seen your property division proposal. Don't you think it's unfair to our son?" she asked, "Why should they only get a small portion while Theodore takes the lion's share?"

"We founded DS Group together, and I contributed to it," she added.

"Have you forgotten? When we divorced, I paid you your share in cash," John said calmly.

Her expression darkened.

"You can't deny it," she said. "DS Group is where it is today, thanks to my contributions."

He remained silent.

"I just want fairness," she continued, her tone softening. "Dividing all the assets equally among the sons—that's not unreasonable, is it?"

"Impossible." John frowned.

Mia's expression darkened.

"Why is it impossible? They're all your sons. Shouldn't you divide it equally?" she sneered. "This distribution plan is Mary's idea, isn't it?"

"She's never mentioned any of this. She never interferes in company matters," John spoke in a displeased tone.

"I really never expected," she sneered, "that Mary's petty schemes would manipulate a man like you."

"Do you think Mary married you out of love? You're twenty years older than her. She married you for your money," she continued.

"Aren't you after my money, too?" John retorted, looking at her.

"Do you think I'm after your money?" Mia asked, frowning.

"If not money, then what?" he asked.

She stared at him, her chest heaving with anger.

She had never expected that he would be so cold toward her.

"John," she said, her tone turning icy as she suppressed her anger, "do you really think I'm after your money?"

"If you're not after the money," he replied calmly, "then why do you think the division of assets is unfair? You and your current husband co-founded the company. Will you split the assets into three equal shares when you divide your estate?"

Mia was momentarily speechless, but she forced herself to say, "Of course."

"Do you even believe that yourself?" John chuckled.

"Mia, I can make some concessions regarding the asset distribution. But the overall structure won't change. I must ensure the strength and future of the DS Group," he said seriously. "You should know exactly what the situation at the DS Group is, shouldn't you?"

She remained silent.

"Then you should know who is truly capable of taking over the DS Group. Only Theodore is the right choice," he continued.

Mia frowned.

She hadn't expected John to be so resolute.

"In any case, I won't agree to this division," she said firmly.

"That's not up to you. The assets were clearly divided during the divorce. DS Group has nothing to do with you now." His expression darkened as he looked at her.

Her brow furrowed deeper.

"By acting this way," she said, trying to suppress her anger, "aren't you afraid people will say you're biased?"

"I don't care what people say," he said lightly.

Mia looked at him, suddenly feeling helpless.

"John," she said, her tone softening. "Put yourself in their shoes. If you were James or Robert—your dad had remarried and given most of the family fortune to his new wife's son—how would you feel?"

John frowned.

"Are you getting back at me?" she asked, staring at him. "Are you treating my two sons this way to get back at me?"

"What are you talking about? How could I possibly hurt my own children just to get back at you?" John asked, staring at her.

"If you insist on dividing the estate this way, we'll see each other in court," she said coldly.

"Suit yourself," he said calmly.

She shot him a fierce glare and stood up to leave.

Watching her retreating figure, he sighed.

He got up and left for home.

——

Mary was in the living room.

Seeing him return, she smiled. "You're back."

As usual, she helped him take off his coat and hang it up.

John felt a sense of calm wash over him.

He then lay down for a nap.

Watching him fall asleep quickly, she sighed softly.

Does he really love me?

——

That evening——

Theodore returned.

He briefly embraced Luna, then walked toward the kitchen.

"Honey," he said. "I'm going to cook dinner for you myself."