Chapter 63 Arthur Is Injured

Chapter 63 Arthur Is Injured

After being forcibly kept in the hospital by the doctor for three whole days of observation, Sophia finally got permission to be discharged after a lot of persuading.

During those three days, apart from necessary examinations and rest, she spent almost all her time communicating with Penelope about the final details of the divorce.

Surprisingly, Nolan readily agreed to the divorce and consented to give Sophia all the compensation she requested, without any haggling.

Walking out of the hospital entrance, the sunlight was just right. Sophia squinted slightly, feeling as if the invisible shackles on her body had loosened a bit under the sunshine.

"Got everything?" Penelope helped her open the car door and carefully confirmed.

"The test results and divorce agreement are the most important things. Don't leave them behind. We must get this big matter done today!"

"Got everything."

Sophia sat in the passenger seat, holding a folder containing all the documentation of her marriage to Nolan, as well as the agreement that would end it all.

The folder felt light, even lighter than she had imagined.

So a marriage of several years, when it came to the end, weighed no more than a feather.

The car headed toward the courthouse.

While driving, Penelope couldn't help but chatter: "I've done a final confirmation with Nolan's side. He and his lawyer will wait at the courthouse entrance. Well, good thing he's being sensible and didn't pull any tricks this time. Sophia, once the judge reviews everything and you sign, you'll be a free woman! Thought about how to celebrate? I'm treating, you pick the place!"

Sophia looked at the street scenes rapidly retreating outside the window and gave a soft "Mm."

Celebrate? She actually hadn't thought about it yet.

The past few months felt like a long, oppressive nightmare. Now that it was finally coming to an end, her strongest feeling wasn't wild joy, but calm.

An almost deathly calm.

The person she once thought she'd never part with until death had finally come to this point.

The things she once thought were hard to let go of, she had now let go.

It was as if this day held nothing for her to get excited or sad about.

Just like any other ordinary day, with no difference at all.

The car stopped at the courthouse entrance. Sophia immediately spotted Nolan standing under the plane tree by the door.

He wore a custom-tailored suit, but he seemed to have lost weight.

The made-to-measure suit suddenly looked a bit loose and baggy.

He was also holding a document envelope, head slightly lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

As if sensing Sophia's gaze, Nolan suddenly looked up in this direction.

Their eyes met.

Across a distance of more than ten meters, but also across the chasm between them that could never be bridged again.

Sophia gave a faint nod, then looked away and pushed open the car door to get out.

Nolan's Adam's apple bobbed violently. He instinctively wanted to take a step toward her, but his lawyer gently tugged at his sleeve.

He froze in place, watching as Sophia, accompanied by Penelope, walked toward him step by step.

"We're here." Penelope spoke first, breaking the silence.

Nolan's lawyer quickly nodded: "Penelope, Miss Taylor, everything's ready. We can go in now."

The group walked into the courthouse in silence.

On a weekday morning, the entire courthouse was busy.

Finally, it was their turn.

The judge took their materials and skillfully reviewed, questioned, and confirmed.

"Are both parties divorcing voluntarily?"

"Yes." Sophia responded calmly.

"...Yes." Nolan's voice sounded a bit hoarse.

"Regarding property division, child custody, and other issues, is everything written clearly in the agreement? Do you both acknowledge it?"

"I acknowledge it."

"I... acknowledge it."

"Good. This is the divorce application. Please confirm the information is correct, then sign and put your fingerprints in the applicant section."

Sophia picked up the pen. Without hesitation, stroke by stroke, she signed her name in the designated spot.

Then she extended her finger, pressed it on the red ink pad, and firmly stamped it next to her signature.

Now it was Nolan's turn.

He held the pen, his fingers trembling almost imperceptibly.

The pen tip hovered above the paper, pausing for a full ten seconds or more, never coming down.

He looked up at Sophia across from him.

Sophia was quietly looking at the table, not looking at him.

Nolan closed his eyes. In the end, he put pen to paper, signed his name, and pressed his fingerprint.

The judge collected both signed applications, stamped them, and then issued the divorce certificate.

"All right, from today on, your marriage is dissolved. Wishing you both well in your separate lives."

Sophia picked up the divorce certificate and glanced at it briefly.

So light. The end of a marriage really was just a piece of paper.

She put it away in the document envelope, stood up, and nodded slightly to the judge: "Thank you."

Nolan also picked up his copy of the certificate but didn't put it away immediately.

He watched Sophia put away her things, turn to leave, and suddenly spoke.

"Sophia..."

Sophia's footsteps paused. She didn't turn around.

Nolan's lips moved several times. In the end, all those thousands of words turned into one pale and powerless sentence: "I'll have someone send you the check today. You... take care."

Sophia was silent for two seconds, then gave a soft "Mm" in response.

Then, without further delay, she linked arms with Penelope and walked out of the courthouse.

Nolan stood in place, watching Sophia's retreating figure.

Even after the two of them disappeared from view, he still didn't leave.

His heart felt so empty, so painful.

He... had lost the thing he treasured most.

On Sophia's side, she keenly noticed that ever since they left the courthouse, Penelope's expression had been a bit strange, as if she wanted to say something but kept stopping herself.

Sophia raised an eyebrow: "Go ahead, what fancy meal do you want? I'll treat you no matter how expensive."

"Oh, it's not about that!" Penelope's face reddened, and she gave Sophia a reproachful look.

"In your eyes, am I really such a foodie?"

Sophia smiled at her without speaking, yet silence spoke louder than words.

That look clearly said: Aren't you though?

Penelope's expression grew even more uncomfortable.

After fidgeting in silence for a while, she finally spoke.

"Actually... Mr. Mitchell got hurt that day."

"What did you say?" Sophia froze.

"Hey, don't get worked up first, it's not a big deal!" Penelope quickly reassured her.

"It's just that day, Mr. Mitchell was kept behind for follow-up questioning, right? Vivian's assault case had solid evidence, and they were about to transfer her to the detention center. Who knew that just as they were escorting her out, they ran into Mr. Mitchell in the lobby as he was leaving. That Vivian went crazy like a maniac, suddenly lost it, rushed up and grabbed Mr. Mitchell, and bit and gnawed at his back. Even through his suit and shirt, she bit him until he was bloody!"

"What did you say?!" Sophia whipped her head around.