Chapter 182 Alton Helps Olivia
Hazel had just reached the door of the law firm's meeting room when she heard Willie's words.
Her face instantly darkened, eyes widening. "Willie, what do you mean by that?"
Yesterday, he was still in her bed, and today, he's telling Olivia he wants to break up with her?
Hazel had been telling everyone that Willie was her boyfriend. How could she tolerate Willie going back to Olivia?
She rushed in and grabbed Olivia's arm, her eyes full of anger and resentment. "Why do you keep pestering him? You've already ruined my reputation completely, and you still won't leave me alone? I've already paid the price for what I did wrong."
Seeing her arrive, Willie's eyes flickered with guilt. "Hazel, what are you doing here?"
Hazel glared at him with tears in her eyes. "Your mom told me to come."
Olivia looked at them expressionlessly and gently removed Hazel's hand. "Don't worry, I'm never going back to this family. But let me give you some advice—they can treat me this way, and they'll treat you the same way eventually. Don't end up like me, losing your child and getting blamed by the whole family."
Hazel's voice was full of hatred. "Are you cursing me?" She reached out to grab Olivia's hair. "You've already ruined my reputation. If you dare keep clinging to Willie, I'll fight you!"
She lost control and started pushing Olivia.
Willie quickly grabbed Hazel. "Stop it. Olivia, I'm sorry, Hazel's emotions haven't been great lately."
After the previous scandal, Hazel had become very sensitive and quick to anger.
"I became the other woman for you, Willie. If you dare wrong me, I'll kill myself!" Hazel shook off his hand and lunged at Olivia's face.
"Stop!" A deep male voice suddenly rang out.
Hazel's wrist was firmly caught, and Olivia was pulled into the man's arms.
Olivia froze for a moment, then looked up and saw Alton's cool expression.
He stood tall and imposing. Glancing at Hazel, he said sharply, "Only you would treat this kind of man like he's some sort of prize."
His words reduced Willie to something worthless.
Willie's face darkened. He pulled Hazel behind him and said quietly, "Stop making a scene. This is a law firm."
Hazel wasn't giving up. "Willie, don't get tangled up with her anymore. I'm sincere about you. After you divorce her, I'll take good care of you. I'm devoted, not like Olivia, who found another man as soon as you separated..." Her words were full of implication as she clutched Willie's hand, her face pleading.
Willie's face looked terrible, but thinking about how Hazel had become depressed because of him, he felt somewhat guilty.
Finally, he nodded.
Everyone sat back at the conference table.
Hazel clung tightly to Willie's arm. Although Eleanor had called her over to stop Willie from signing, Hazel hadn't listened at all. Instead, she was more afraid Willie wouldn't agree to divorce, so she kept urging him to sign.
When Nora returned, Olivia was looking at the divorce agreement. Alton sat at the head of the table, calm and composed, waiting for them to sign.
"Mr. Bridges." Nora greeted politely.
Alton nodded slightly.
Nora sat next to Olivia. By then, Olivia had finished signing and set down her pen. "All signed. Let's go to the courthouse tomorrow for the divorce."
Willie remained silent.
He glanced at Olivia and Alton, feeling like there was something between them. A bit jealous, he didn't want to sign.
Hazel nudged him. "Willie, sign it."
She handed him the pen.
Willie reluctantly signed his name.
Alton collected both agreements, stamped them with the law firm's seal, and declared them effective.
"Mr. Bridges is in a good mood today," Nora whispered to Olivia.
Olivia glanced at Alton, somewhat puzzled. Why was he presiding today? She had originally scheduled another lawyer, but Alton showed up. With Willie present, she didn't dare ask much and just pretended not to care as the divorce agreement was finalized.
Tomorrow, they'd register the divorce, and after a one-month cooling-off period, they'd be officially divorced.
Seeing the agreement take effect, Hazel smiled with relief.
She had finally waited for this moment.
Among everyone present, only Willie looked downcast.
Nora said to Olivia, "Olivia, congratulations on escaping from that living hell."
Olivia smiled faintly. "After we register tomorrow, there's still a one-month cooling-off period."
"It's okay, one month will pass quickly."
"Yes." Olivia put away her copy of the agreement.
Willie and Hazel were prepared to leave the meeting room.
Olivia called out to them. "Willie."
They turned around, and Hazel spoke first. "Olivia, now that it's signed, Willie isn't your husband anymore. He's my boyfriend. I'm warning you, don't look for him again."
"Don't worry, I'm too lazy to compete with you for this kind of man." Olivia's tone was flat. "A mama's boy who has no backbone of his own—I've had more than enough."
She said to Willie, "There's still five hundred thousand dollars. Transfer it now."
Willie stared at her. "Olivia, what's your relationship with that lawyer?"
Alton sat calmly at the table.
Olivia glanced at him. He smiled slightly, almost playfully, his legs crossed as he waited elegantly for her answer.
Hazel also felt uncomfortable.
Olivia said flatly, "None of your business. Just transfer the money."
Willie wanted to say more, but Hazel squeezed his hand. "Willie..."
Willie felt irritated and said in a low voice, "I don't have the information here. I'll transfer it when I get back."
"Keep your word." Olivia was also straightforward, linking arms with Nora and leaving.
Hearing them leave, Alton got up to see them out.
At the law firm entrance.
Alton suddenly crouched down to examine Olivia's ankle carefully.
Olivia was startled, eyes widening. "Alton, what are you doing?"
Nora also looked surprised.
Alton said calmly, "Didn't you bump your ankle when Hazel pushed you earlier?"
Olivia was a bit surprised he'd noticed. She had indeed bumped it. Looking down, she said, "It's not serious."
"Let me see." He insisted, gently holding her ankle and seeing some red marks scraped on the back.
"Remember to put medicine on it when you get home," Alton instructed.
Olivia felt uncomfortable. "I know, let go of me."
Alton gently released her hand. "Do you want me to drive you back?"
"No need, Nora drove here." Olivia avoided Alton, pulling Nora's hand and walking away.
Nora waved goodbye to Alton.
After walking a bit, Nora asked Olivia, "Olivia, what's going on between you and Mr. Bridges?"
"Nothing."
"Olivia, does Mr. Bridges like you?"
Olivia didn't want to discuss Alton and just said, "Anyway, nothing's possible between him and me."
She didn't want to date anymore—it was too hurtful. Better to focus on making money.
Getting in the car, Olivia said, "Nora, let's buy some good food tonight and celebrate."
Nora knew Olivia was happy and nodded. "Okay."
Olivia smiled. "From now on, I'll get two hundred thousand dollars every month. So much better than being treated like a servant in the Reed family."
"Of course." Before, Olivia only got a tiny allowance each month in the Reed family. Now, after the divorce, two hundred thousand a month was so much better! No need to serve her mother-in-law or get scolded.
"Olivia's going to be a little rich woman. I didn't expect things to go so smoothly. Thanks to Steven this time—he helped me a lot."
"And Mr. Bridges helped quite a bit, too," Nora reminded her.
Olivia's smile was a bit forced. "Let's not talk about him."
"Olivia, why are you suddenly resistant to him? Did he do something?"
"No, I just don't want to owe him too much." Olivia didn't dare mention that Alton wanted to sleep with her—it felt too awkward and embarrassing to bring up.
But getting the money was good news. All the gloom and misfortune had cleared.
She'd be free from now on. How wonderful!
While driving, Nora called Steven.
She thought if Steven was done with work, she'd pick him up and go home together.
"Hello, honey, are you done? Olivia and I finished our business."
"I still need a bit more time. Did everything go smoothly?" Steven was at a hotel attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"Pretty smoothly. The agreement's signed. Olivia and Willie are registering the divorce tomorrow morning."
"Good." Steven's voice was gentle. "That's good."
"Steven, where are you? Should we pick you up and go home together?"
Steven thought about it—he still had the celebration afterward. "I probably won't be done until eight."
"Eight o'clock?" That was pretty late. Nora figured she couldn't wait that long. "Then Olivia and I will head home first?"
"Okay." Steven reminded her, "Drive carefully."
"I know."
Just as Nora was about to hang up, she heard a sweet, cloying female voice from the other end. "Mr. York!"
The voice was sickeningly sweet and cloying.
Nora frowned slightly, feeling a bit jealous. "Honey, who's that next to you?"
Her instinct told her it was a woman dressed very provocatively.
"It's the secretary from the other company, telling me the event's starting. I need to get to work." Steven didn't say more and hung up.
Nora pressed her lips together.
She hadn't even finished asking!
The woman there was the hotel owner's secretary. She'd invited Steven for the ribbon-cutting today and was dressed very revealingly, constantly sidling up to him.
Steven's eyes were cold as he had James block her.
Just looking at her was annoying.
"Mr. York..." The beautiful secretary wasn't giving up and tried to squeeze next to him again, her outfit very revealing in front, making it hard not to notice.
But Steven completely ignored her and turned to leave.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Nora hang up in a bad mood, Olivia turned to ask.
"Nothing." Nora shook her head, feeling down.
"Isn't that Steven?" Olivia suddenly pointed to a spot outside.