Chapter 53 Divorce Agreement
If it weren't for needing to process an uncontested divorce, Aria would never want to step foot in Arthur's company for the rest of her life.
After arriving, just like last time, Arthur was still in a video conference, so she had to wait for him in the meeting room.
Learning from last time, Aria definitely wasn't going to the cafeteria to invite trouble again.
But even though she didn't go to the cafeteria, the food came to her anyway.
The assistant walked in with a lunch box, looking awkward and stammering, "Mrs. Grant, this is... Mr. Grant asked me to bring this to you."
Aria opened the lunch box and glanced inside. A thick fried pork cutlet sat on top of rice, drizzled with Mexican hot sauce—she never ate spicy food.
She looked at the assistant with a strange expression.
The assistant sighed. "Okay, Director Smith brought this meal for Mr. Grant, but he didn't want it and gave it to me instead of wasting it. I..."
The assistant couldn't handle even a single chili pepper, or his sensitive stomach would turn into a heavy metal concert.
Though he didn't say it out loud, his face already showed what he meant.
Aria couldn't help asking, "Does Director Smith often bring meals to Arthur?"
The assistant nodded. "Pretty much every day." He paused, then added, "But Mr. Grant has never eaten any of them. He always gives them to us."
Aria stared at the pork cutlet rice on the table, lost in thought.
Why wouldn't he eat it? Thick-cut pork cutlet with Mexican hot sauce—wasn't that his favorite combination?
While she was thinking, she heard faint whispers from next door—people from the secretary pool.
"...Director Smith really, delivers food on time every day, more reliable than an alarm clock. Store-bought ready-made meals, just heated in the microwave, and she has the nerve to say she made them herself."
"What's the point of bringing food? When the company was in trouble, what did she do besides make things worse?"
"Exactly. She signed contracts without permission and nearly dragged the company down. Now that the crisis is over, she's back to buttering him up."
"If you ask me, Mr. Grant shouldn't have kept her at the company. Besides bringing food and causing trouble, what can she do?"
Aria sat on the sofa, eyes fixed on the pork cutlet rice on the table. The assistant heard the gossip too and looked embarrassed. He mumbled something about having things to do and left.
The voices next door continued.
"Hey, did you guys hear about that crown thing? She said she sold it for five million to help the company, but what happened? Not only did she pocket the money, but the crown was right back on her head."
"Anyone can put on an act. If she really cared, where was she before?"
"Mr. Grant too, actually believing her act."
"I think she's not even as good as his wife. Sure, the wife hasn't contributed much, but she's never made any mistakes either!"
"Oh, keep your voice down..."
The voices gradually faded, probably someone signaling that walls have ears.
Aria picked up her water glass and took a sip.
She remembered a few months ago, also in this building, when everyone was saying how capable Sophie was, how perfect she was for Arthur.
Saying she, the wife, was shameless for refusing to divorce.
She never expected the tide to turn so quickly.
The door was gently pushed open.
Aria looked up and saw Sophie standing in the doorway.
She didn't look well—who knows if she'd heard the gossip from next door.
Aria watched as she forced a smile onto her face.
"Why are you here? Are you looking for Arthur?"
Aria put down her water glass. "Yeah."
"You can tell me if there's anything." She sat down, looking extremely sincere. "Arthur's been very busy lately, meetings one after another. I don't want to disturb him over small things."
Aria said stiffly, "You really can't help with this."
"Tell me anyway, maybe I can?" As she spoke, Sophie made a motion as if adjusting something on her head, then realized and laughed. "Sorry, I keep forgetting I'm not wearing that crown anymore. I always want to adjust it."
Aria was too tired to watch her show off and stopped beating around the bush. "I'm here to talk to him about the divorce. I brought the agreement that needs his signature, and we need to schedule a court date. I need to know when he's available."
Sophie was stunned at first, then her eyes lit up.
"I see..." She could barely suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth. "If you're in a hurry, I can call Arthur out for you. It's fine, it wouldn't be the first time he's interrupted a meeting for me."
More showing off.
Aria just found the person in front of her both ridiculous and pitiful.
Did she know that the man who supposedly doted on and loved her was still saying he didn't want a divorce just two days ago?
But then she thought - maybe Sophie saw her the same way? Who knew what Arthur had whispered to Sophie behind closed doors?
After all, Arthur only had jealous fits with her, but Sophie was the one he truly cherished and spoiled with real money and affection.
While they were talking, Arthur came in.
He looked a bit nervous, as if afraid Aria and Sophie might get into a fight.
Seeing both of them fine, his gaze fell on the opened pork cutlet rice, and his expression suddenly stiffened, guilt flashing in his eyes.
He cleared his throat. "Sorry, the meeting ran a bit long."
Aria looked up. "It's fine."
Arthur sat down across from her. Before he could speak, Aria pushed the prepared divorce agreement toward him.
"Take a look. If there are no problems, just sign it."
Sophie's gaze followed the agreement, finally landing on Arthur's face, as if urging him.
But Arthur didn't move for a long time, his eyes fixed on that thin agreement.
He rarely found himself in such a difficult position.
He didn't want to end this marriage with Aria, yet Sophie was also someone he absolutely couldn't abandon.
Maybe he should think of another way to have both, like finding some excuse to delay things further.
His brain was working quickly, but his hand had already picked up the agreement and started reading it word by word.
No document had ever taken him this long to read, as if every letter needed to be caressed by his gaze.
But actually, he wasn't paying attention to the content at all.
He already knew Aria's terms.
She only wanted the apartment she currently lived in, and for him to cover the property taxes and utilities for the next thirty years. She didn't want any other assets.
She didn't even want the company shares, the portion that should rightfully be hers.
Similarly, her own studio would remain hers.
For Grant Corp, this was nothing at all.
Arthur's eyes flickered, and he suddenly said, "This agreement is very unfair to you. Are you sure you want me to sign it?"
Aria's expression was calm, her voice carrying a hint of mockery. "Mr. Grant keeps delaying like this—could it be you don't want to sign?"
Arthur's hand gripping the pen suddenly tightened. Looking at her calm face, his heart felt like something was squeezing it.
She really was going to completely leave his life.
"Aria," his voice was a bit hoarse, "if you ever need help in the future..."
"I won't." Aria interrupted him, "Arthur, we're even."
Arthur took a deep breath, then on the last page, he signed his name.