Chapter 69: Tomorrow We're Getting Divorced
Taking advantage of Richard's intervention to stop William, Isabella quickly pulled her hand free, gently rubbing her right wrist where he'd gripped it too tightly.
She truly hadn't expected William to track her down to this place, especially while putting on such a wounded expression—as if she had somehow wronged him.
Isabella found it almost laughable. "Where I choose to spend my time and money is my business, and you have no right to control that. Just like who you spend time with and where you go is your business—I won't interfere."
Put simply, Isabella couldn't care less about Laura's existence.
In their social circle, open marriages weren't exactly a secret. Many people, forced into marriages by family pressure, ended up choosing arrangements that were marriages in name only.
As long as their extramarital activities didn't create public scandals or embarrass their legal spouses, everyone maintained the facade.
But when this kind of situation actually happened to him—especially hearing these words from Isabella's mouth—William's expression grew increasingly dark.
As a man, particularly one accustomed to power and considerable pride, he found his wife's attitude completely intolerable.
"We're not divorced yet," William repeated this fact to Isabella with heavy emphasis.
To Isabella, these words sounded almost comical.
When William had conspired with Laura to abandon her on that mountain, had he remembered then that they weren't divorced yet? That she was still his legal wife?
"Actually, you're wrong," Isabella said, settling back onto the massage table with complete composure as she looked at William. "Right now we have no emotional foundation whatsoever. We can file for divorce at any time."
As long as William agreed to the divorce, Isabella was ready to handle the paperwork immediately.
She'd stopped wanting to be his wife long ago.
At this point, Joshua couldn't remain a passive observer. He stepped forward and addressed William: "Just admit your mistakes to Ms. Capulet. If you show genuine remorse, she's not unreasonable."
Isabella shook her head gently. "You're wrong too. I absolutely cannot accept a partner who cheats during marriage."
Joshua raised three fingers in a sworn oath, his expression earnest as though he shared some mystical connection with William. "I can swear to you that William and Laura have never had any physical contact."
"They're just putting on a show in public—nothing that should threaten your marriage."
Joshua was a man himself, and though still unmarried, he understood exactly what William was going through.
It was perfectly natural for a man to be attracted to women other than his wife.
Isabella was amused by this logic, her eyes crinkling with mirth as she actually applauded them both.
"So there's a difference between emotional and physical cheating now?"
With that single question, Isabella left Joshua speechless, his usually sharp mind completely stumped.
In their social circle, plenty of people wore false masks for their children's sake, performing as loving couples in public while each spouse maintained separate relationships in private.
But Isabella couldn't live like that.
William's affair felt like a fishbone lodged in her throat—she couldn't swallow it or spit it out. Every time she thought about it, the pain was unbearable.
Especially when she imagined struggling through decades more of this tomb-like marriage.
Even for the children's sake, Isabella couldn't sacrifice herself like that.
"Right now you're the one trying to cuckold me!" William's eyes blazed as he warned Isabella.
Isabella turned to look pointedly at the row of male models standing nearby.
No wonder William had rushed over here in such a panic today.
He was terrified of being humiliated.
"If you don't want to be humiliated, then divorce me quickly. It would be better for everyone."
After she said this, the air fell into a brief, heavy silence.
Joshua cast a cautious glance at William.
Some words, once spoken, cause irreparable damage.
"Both of you need to calm down. I think—"
"This isn't your business," William cut him off sharply, warning Joshua before focusing all his attention on Isabella.
Though they'd been married for years, William found Isabella's current defiant demeanor completely foreign.
In the past, Isabella had always appeared submissive in his presence, meek and deferential.
This was the first time William had seen Isabella so stubborn and resolute.
"If that's what you want, then I'll give it to you."
Finally, after their long, silent staring contest, William spoke.
Every cell in Isabella's body buzzed with excitement at William's words, the thrill so intense it made her throat tighten with emotion.
Daphne emerged from the bathroom and immediately recognized William's silhouette from behind.
"What gives you the right to say you're 'giving' Isabella anything?" She strode into the room, positioning herself beside Isabella and eyeing William with suspicion.
"Isabella is the one being generous here—not only has she overlooked your affair with Laura, she's even agreed to walk away with nothing because of your family's harassment."
How dare William try to spin this like he was doing Isabella some kind of favor?
"You and Laura are already so intimate that half the public thinks you two are married," Daphne challenged. "Haven't you considered how humiliating this is for Isabella in other people's eyes?"
William had no response. Under Daphne's relentless questioning, he slowly lowered his gaze, his entire expression clouded with gloom.
"Daphne, don't waste your breath on him—he won't listen anyway," Isabella said quietly.
Some things William would never admit were wrong, no matter how they explained it.
"I'm going to say it anyway! William, you don't deserve to be Olivia's father or Isabella's husband. You're a complete failure!"
These were truths everyone knew but no one dared speak aloud.
Daphne was now stripping away William's last shred of dignity.
Isabella seized the moment: "Since you've agreed, let's go handle the divorce paperwork tomorrow."