Chapter 181 Willie Refuses to Divorce
Olivia nodded, "Mr. Bridges' materials have everything checked out. Willie really doesn't have much cash right now - all his money is tied up in the factory."
Steven thought for a moment and said seriously, "If he really has no money, then you'll have to agree to let him pay in installments. But you must go to a law firm to sign an agreement, and it's best to stipulate that he pays you $200,000 every month - that's $2.4 million a year, so he can pay it all off in just over two years. Don't let him pay it all at once - make it monthly payments, so your future life won't fall into hardship from not getting the money."
However, this meant Steven couldn't make a move on Apex Technologies Corporation for the next two years, since Apex Technologies Corporation still owed Olivia money.
Olivia sighed, feeling her luck was bad - the divorce happened right when the factory was under construction, so she temporarily couldn't get cash.
"Let's just do it this way then," she said helplessly.
Olivia returned to the private room and said to Willie, "I can only agree to you paying me $200,000 every month, $2.4 million a year, to pay off the $5 million within two years. We must go to a law firm to sign an agreement."
She would never trust any verbal promises from Willie again.
Eleanor immediately became unhappy, her tone agitated, "Two hundred thousand dollars a month? Apex Technologies Corporation only makes five hundred thousand a month, and you want to take two hundred thousand? How are we supposed to live?"
The Reed family's expenses were very high right now.
Terry often used the company card, Bianca always wanted to buy designer brands, and Eleanor frequently took friends out to eat.
Plus, Willie had a mistress on the side, spending money like water every month.
If they had to give Olivia $200,000 a month, how would they get by?
They'd gotten used to high spending over the years - suddenly having to economize, they simply couldn't accept it.
"How to live?" Olivia smiled faintly, "Before Willie made his fortune, you didn't die from having no money, did you?"
"Exactly!" Nora also glared at them without holding back.
Olivia continued, "Willie, since your mom asked, let me give you some advice. First, have Terry and his family move out. He has a salary—he should rent his own place and support his wife and children."
Giselle's face turned ugly.
Olivia went on, "That way your household will only have three people, and a two-bedroom apartment will be enough. Your mom and Bianca can share one room, you take the other. You won't need a housekeeper - your mom is only 55, cooking three meals isn't a big deal, right? Four thousand dollars a month for living expenses for three people is definitely enough."
After listening, Willie found what Olivia said made a lot of sense.
If he didn't have to support so many people's food, clothing, and housing, he could actually save quite a bit of money.
He glanced at Eleanor.
Eleanor felt a little guilty and didn't dare meet his eyes, "Willie, don't let her drive a wedge between us. I'm so old now—I just want to live with my children and grandchildren and enjoy family happiness."
"You have two sons—you can take turns living with them. Taking turns means you can't enjoy family happiness?" Olivia kept going, her tone direct, "Or do you know perfectly well that you just want to use Willie's money to subsidize Terry's family?"
"Olivia, shut up!" Eleanor was so angry that she wanted to hit her.
Nora immediately grabbed Eleanor's hand, her eyes carrying a warning.
Having family around at a time like this made all the difference. If she and Steven hadn't come, Eleanor would have already struck. This family always resorted to violence when they couldn't win arguments.
"Enough! Stop fighting!" Willie was getting irritated. He looked at Olivia, "Let's do as you say - I'll give you $200,000 every month and pay off the $5 million within two years."
Actually, he felt very regretful inside.
But having reached this point, there was no way to salvage things.
He stopped insisting.
Willie was willing to give Olivia money because he felt confident in his ability to earn more, and confident people usually don't haggle over details.
"Willie!" Eleanor pulled him aside and urged in a low voice, "How can you give her so much money?"
"This isn't up to me alone; it's what the law requires. Apex Technologies Corporation is marital property; we built it together, it's not just mine." Willie's tone was helpless, "She's already being very reasonable by agreeing - if she didn't agree and the company got split up, I'd be the one truly bankrupt."
Eleanor looked completely dissatisfied and cursed under her breath, "When the child miscarried, it would have been better if she'd died on the operating table, so she wouldn't be here now causing us trouble..."
"Mom!" Willie looked at her in shock, "That was my child!"
He hadn't expected Eleanor to say something like that.
Willie showed an expression of disbelief for the first time.
Bianca sneered from the side, "After she got pregnant, she just stayed home doing nothing, never came to the company to work even one day, but now she's divorcing and taking so much money. My God, it's so unfair - why doesn't lightning strike down such a greedy woman!"
Olivia taking half the assets made everyone in the Reed family feel like the sky was falling.
Everyone was very unhappy.
Nora couldn't stand listening anymore and stepped out to counter Bianca, "Bianca, if you have something to say, say it to her face, don't make snide remarks behind her back. Also, Apex Technologies Corporation is marital property. Olivia didn't work after getting pregnant because your mom told her not to. Even if Olivia said she wanted to return to the company after having the baby, your mom wouldn't agree. Why?"
Bianca couldn't answer.
Nora continued, "Because you were afraid of Olivia managing the finances. If she kept the books, could you and Terry still spend company money freely? That's why you wouldn't let her go to the company - so she couldn't control anything, and you could take advantage."
"And you say she did nothing? When she was six months pregnant, you still made her kneel on the floor to mop and cook for over a dozen people. Do you want that kind of 'good deal'?"
Bianca was momentarily speechless.
Willie couldn't help but interrupt loudly, "Enough, everyone, stop fighting!"
He agreed to Olivia's terms, and next, everyone prepared to go to the law firm.
The Reed family members wanted to follow, but Willie refused, "You don't need to go, I'll go myself."
"How can we not go? You're soft-hearted, I'm afraid Olivia will trick you!" Eleanor insisted.
Willie suddenly said, "I can see pretty clearly now who's been tricking me."
Eleanor's heart jumped.
Willie lit a cigarette and said flatly, "Olivia is right - Terry is already married, he shouldn't still be living with us. Giselle, tell Terry later. I don't have money right now, you two go rent your own place."
Giselle's face changed.
Willie added, "Also, since Olivia's child is gone, the housekeeper has to go too. From now on, Bianca can do the housework."
"Why me?" Bianca shrieked. She'd been living like a pampered princess for half a year and now felt she shouldn't have to lift a finger.
"If you don't want to do it, don't live at home - go rent your own place." Back in their hometown, Bianca had done the housework, and Willie knew she could do it.
With that, he drove off.
The three women were surprised .
Giselle couldn't help crying, "Mom, how can this work? Terry only makes $20,000 a month. How can he support two kids? Plus rent, cooking, tutoring the children - I can't handle it all!"
"Me too!" Bianca also cried out, "My hands are so delicate, how can I do housework? Mom, don't let Willie fire the housekeeper, okay?"
Eleanor felt terrible inside, "It's all Olivia's fault. She never brought anything good to this family, and now she's divorcing and taking so much money, making us all have to pinch pennies."
"Exactly, her own luck is bad, and she wants to drag us down with her." Bianca joined in cursing.
Giselle also said, "She just doesn't want us to have it easy."
Eleanor's face was full of resentment. She said to Bianca, "Bianca, call Hazel and tell her to hurry to the law firm and stop Willie - we absolutely cannot let him agree to give Olivia that much money."
Meanwhile, Steven had to go to an event.
Nora saw him to the door.
The two stood face to face. Steven asked gently, "Can you use the car at home?"
"What about you?" Nora was a bit worried.
"I'll just take a cab," Steven said casually, though actually James had been waiting nearby and could switch cars anytime.
"Be careful on the road." Nora was reluctant to see him go.
"Okay." Steven touched her hair.
Nora waved goodbye to him.
Steven walked to the corner and turned to get into a Maserati.
The Reed family, mother and daughters, happened to pass by in a taxi and saw Steven's back. Bianca said, "Mom, is that Nora's husband?"
Eleanor looked over and only saw a tall figure as the car drove away, "Couldn't see clearly."
"That car is really expensive, I've seen it at the car club - I think it costs several million dollars. Could that man really be Nora's husband? Is her husband that rich?" The more Bianca thought about it, the more indignant she felt.
"How is that possible? A truly rich man, how could he be interested in her?" Eleanor was dismissive.
Bianca thought about it and also felt it was unlikely.
Nora drove the Audi to take Olivia to the law firm.
Before meeting the lawyer, Nora went to the restroom.
Willie looked at Olivia, some reluctance in his eyes, and walked over to take her hand. "Olivia, do we really have to divorce?"
"Let go." Olivia frowned, her tone cold.
If the child were still here, she might still have some feelings for Willie.
But the child had been killed by the Reed family, and when he begged her not to divorce, he couldn't control himself and went to another woman. Thinking of these things, her past feelings seemed to vanish all at once.
He was no longer worth her attachment.
Olivia just wanted to completely let go of the past and start fresh.
"Olivia..." Willie's tone was full of regret and pleading, "I really regret it. With Hazel, it was because you weren't well at the time, and she cared about me..."
"Stop talking, I don't want to hear it." Olivia's expression was cold.
Willie felt heavy-hearted, "I still hope you can reconsider. With Hazel, I can break up with her."