Chapter 107: Forcing James to Divorce
The next morning, Mia got up and went straight to the study.
When she pushed the door open, despite the air purification system running, there was still a faint smell of smoke lingering in the air.
James had come back last night and stayed in the study for a long time.
Mia stepped inside and stopped by the desk.
The first thing that caught her eye was an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts. Her gaze lingered on it for only a few seconds before moving away.
The damage was done. Who was he trying to impress with his regret here?
Pushing down the bitter feeling in her eyes, she opened the thin divorce agreement on the desk.
Only her signature was on it. James's line was still blank.
James hadn't signed!
Mia picked up the divorce agreement and left the study, first heading to the guest room.
She looked at the neatly made bed.
He hadn't slept all night.
With just one glance, Mia looked away.
There was no one downstairs either. James had left early for the office to avoid her.
Mia laughed softly.
It was really quite ridiculous.
Compromising for love is just self-delusion. Who treasures it?
Once your principles and boundaries are broken and you let someone cross them once, they'll start pushing for more, continuing to test you.
Your forgiveness once will only lead to deeper hurt from them.
They'll think you'll forgive a second time, a third time, even countless times.
Once you take that first step back, in their eyes, you've already become someone without boundaries or principles.
They can hurt you without any restraint!
Mia asked the servant to prepare breakfast, then returned to her room looking composed and picked up her phone to call him.
The first time, no answer. Just like that call last night, it eventually disconnected automatically.
The second and third times were the same.
Three strikes and you're out.
Did he think that by not answering her calls and avoiding her, using delay tactics would work?
James really underestimated her determination to divorce.
That text she sent him last night was her giving him one last chance. She didn't want to make things absolute.
Even though he had hurt her beyond recognition, even though she was disgusted by what he did, she wanted to leave some room for both of them, not wanting to erase all the good he'd shown her over these four years.
She'd seen too many couples online who became bitter enemies over divorce. What should be a private matter between husband and wife became a spectacle for outsiders.
She really didn't want to reach that point with James. They knew each other well, and once they turned against each other, they would inevitably strike where it hurt most.
Hurting each other by any means necessary, until all the good between them was destroyed, leaving only resentment.
Unless absolutely necessary, she didn't want to take that step.
She wanted to part on good terms.
First, for the sake of their four years together, and second, for the child in her womb.
She really didn't want her child to be born to parents who saw each other as enemies.
But James was forcing her hand.
Mia didn't keep calling. She put down her phone, walked to the vanity and sat down, applying careful makeup.
Carefully covering the heavy dark circles under her eyes and her too-pale complexion.
She changed clothes and went downstairs to eat breakfast as if nothing had happened.
After she went downstairs, the servant went upstairs to tidy the rooms.
She saw the cigarette butts in the study's ashtray. James had smoked who knows how many cigarettes alone in the study last night.
Sighing softly, she finished tidying up and went to clean the master bedroom.
She also saw the half-knitted baby sweater Mia had left on the nightstand, and the other sweater that was half-finished before, placed to the side.
How late had Mia stayed up last night?
If they were both so miserable, why insist on divorce?
Downstairs, after finishing breakfast, Mia applied bright red lipstick while looking in the mirror.
Looking at herself fully armed and ready for battle in the mirror, Mia gently touched her belly, silently encouraging herself.
She had to fight this battle.
She didn't want to keep dragging things out with James.
She wanted to break free from him as quickly as possible, to keep him from appearing in her world anymore.
Only then could she heal quickly and move on, without affecting the health of her unborn child.
She was really afraid that if this continued, she might lose her baby.
She had nothing left now, only the child.
She grabbed her coat and greeted the servant coming downstairs, not giving her a chance to speak.
She knew what the servant wanted to say.
But she had truly made up her mind and didn't want to hear another word about James's good qualities.
She left the house, got into the car she'd called earlier, and headed straight to the Smith Group.
......
At the Smith Group, Mia got out of the car. She had chosen to arrive just minutes before work started.
Everyone at the company would be there.
Standing downstairs, Mia looked at the entrance not far away.
She knew that once she walked in, she'd be on a path of no return.
Taking a deep breath, Mia clutched the divorce agreement and walked in with determination.
If James would simply sign the divorce papers and let her and the child go, she would leave him some dignity.
But he insisted on pushing further, going too far.
Then she wouldn't spare him either.
Mia walked in with a cold expression. The receptionist didn't recognize her and immediately signaled security to stop her.
"Miss, who are you looking for?"
Before the security guard could reach out, Mia shot him a cold glance.
The guard was intimidated, his hand clearly pausing.
With a cold face, Mia held up her open marriage certificate for him to see.
When the guard saw James's name, he immediately stepped back.
"Mrs. Smith, I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you."
"Which floor is the Marketing Department on?"
Mia wasn't here today to establish her presence. Whether the Smith Group employees recognized her or not didn't matter.
"Thirtieth floor."
The guard answered instinctively.
Mia casually put the marriage certificate back in her pocket and strode toward the elevator.
Soon, this certificate would become a divorce certificate.
Until then, this was about all it was good for.
The guard quickly followed and helped her press the elevator button. Mia stepped in and pressed thirty.
After she entered the elevator, the receptionist sent a message to the company's internal gossip group, which immediately erupted in heated discussion.
The legendary Mrs. Smith had arrived, but instead of going to the thirty-second floor to find James, she had gone aggressively to the Marketing Department on the thirtieth floor.
Had she heard the company rumors and come to confront Amelia?
Looking at Mia's demeanor, could James really have cheated?!
Mia in the elevator knew none of this.
The elevator quickly reached the thirtieth floor, and she walked straight toward the Marketing Department without pausing.
As soon as Mia appeared, those who had already seen the messages started whispering.
She ignored the stares directed at her, turned a deaf ear to their gossip, and walked purposefully toward Amelia's office.
"You can't go in there."
Amelia's assistant tried to stop her.
Mia recognized this assistant as the person who had been gossiping that day when she came to see James.
It didn't matter anymore.
"Get out of my way!"
Her tone was full of menace.
The assistant knew she was pregnant and, seeing her agitated state, didn't dare touch her.
The company had long rumored that the only reason James wouldn't divorce was because of this child.
This showed how important this child was to James.
Mia walked straight to the office door and pushed it open.
Amelia had just arrived at the company not long ago and hadn't yet opened the company's internal website, so she didn't know she was about to be fired.
Yesterday afternoon, Mia had learned about her one-night stand with James.
Thinking about yesterday, Amelia's eyes darkened.
No rush. Once James's heart and body completely belonged to her.
She would definitely settle this score with Mia.
She quickly calmed herself down and learned that James had come to the office early.
Instead of starting work, she got up to get her coffee cup, planning to make coffee and go up to the thirty-second floor to see James.
He'd come to the office early, obviously because Mia had made such a scene at Luxe Haven that he didn't want to stay there.
This was the perfect opportunity for her to show her gentle and caring side.
With her calculations in mind, she was clearly stunned to see Mia appear at the door.
Why was she here?
Seeing Mia's hostile expression, Amelia, who had already suffered once at the restaurant yesterday, instinctively tried to close the door.
But Mia grabbed an office chair and slammed it against the door.
As Amelia stepped back, Mia looked at her mockingly through the doorway. "Amelia, don't you love broadcasting how you seduced a married man and climbed into James's bed? Why are you closing the door now?"