Chapter 107
The next day, Arthur opened his eyes to see Sable getting dressed beside the bed.
Sable, sensing his gaze, unhurriedly finished dressing.
"Mr. Williams, don't look at me that way. I won't use last night to extort anything extra from you."
"Let's both pretend nothing happened last night."
Arthur looked at her with surprise, his eyes full of scrutiny and suspicion.
Sable naturally understood his thoughts and met his gaze frankly.
"Arthur, you're too quick to suspect others. No wonder Ms. Brown has grown distant from you. We were classmates once. Since we met, I've never done anything to harm you. Such a severe case of paranoia isn't healthy."
After she finished speaking, Arthur's face darkened completely. Before he could explode, Sable smiled dismissively, "Just stating facts. Truth is often hard to accept."
"But Arthur, you've changed quite a bit over the years. In my memory, you were never an indecisive person. If someone made you uncomfortable, or if someone laid claim to what was yours, you would definitely take back what belonged to you, even if it meant mutual destruction."
"Not like now—hesitant, overthinking, even calling out Ms. Brown's name while in bed with another woman. I honestly don't know whether to feel sorry for Ms. Brown or relieved for her."
"Your marriage has become truly twisted and pathetic."
Seeing Arthur about to rage again, Sable spread her hands with an innocent expression, "You told me everything while you were drunk last night."
"You were intoxicated, but I wasn't."
"If you truly can't let go of Ms. Brown, why not have her terminate the pregnancy with someone else's child, and you two can start over? Arthur, you're the heir. If every heir becomes emotionally passive, they become susceptible to exploitation—by someone like me, for example."
"I could absolutely use your drunken indiscretion to ruin your reputation."
Sable curved her lips into a smile, bending down to look him in the eye.
"Fortunately, I have no such intentions toward you. Otherwise, just the fact that you got drunk and slept with me last night would be enough to cause you serious trouble. Think about it. I'll be going now."
With that, Sable sauntered out in her high heels.
Arthur watched her leave, his gaze growing increasingly profound.
Indeed, others could see clearly—he had never been such an indecisive person before.
But now, for Chloe, he kept backing down again and again.
He hadn't wanted to push Chloe too hard, hoping she would calm down and return to him.
But he never imagined that after all these years, the one time he let his guard down with Chloe, she would leave him forever.
He didn't understand what unforgivable sin he had committed that made Chloe so unwilling to forgive him.
In the past, no matter what happened, she had always been able to consider things from his perspective.
Perhaps it wasn't because he had Avery carry his child that made Chloe insist on divorce, but because Howard's arrival had confused her heart.
Otherwise, how could she be so determined to leave him and join Howard's company?
The thought had now completely consumed Arthur's rationality.
He slowly put on his clothes and left the hotel without looking back.
Three days later, on the day Chloe and Arthur were to go to City Hall.
Arthur suddenly called Chloe. She was about to leave with Adeline.
Adeline looked at her phone screen with suspicion.
"Honey, isn't today the date for your divorce at City Hall? Don't tell me that dog of a man has changed his mind and is calling to reconcile? I knew it. With his temperament, he wouldn't let you go free so easily."
"Whatever you do, don't soften. Make sure he goes to City Hall with you."
Chloe nodded and answered the call.
Arthur spoke directly, "Chloe, regarding our marital property division, I've had it re-notarized. We've shared a love, and I want you to have more financial security."
"Also, I'll be waiting for you at the City Hall entrance at ten o'clock today. From today on, I'll set you free."
Hearing these words, Chloe didn't feel relieved or happy. Instead, she felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
Given Arthur's temperament, there was no way he would back down so easily. Could she really get her freedom as she wanted?
Seeing her solemn expression, Adeline patted her shoulder.
"Chloe, maybe you're overthinking it. Arthur probably feels that letting you go temporarily will score some points with you, hoping to win you back in the future. Whatever the process, as long as the result is good, that's what matters."
Chloe thought she might indeed be worrying too much.
Half an hour later, she arrived at the City Hall entrance. Arthur showed up fashionably late, wearing a black trench coat that somehow looked particularly intimidating.
Arthur stood opposite her and suddenly said, "Chloe, have you gained some weight?"
Chloe's heart skipped a beat.
She felt something was off.
"No. Arthur, aren't we here for the divorce? Let's go in."
"Chloe, initially, I really wanted to set you free. I thought if I temporarily let go of your hand, gave you time to cool off, you'd eventually come to your senses and return to me. But it wasn't until I saw your pregnancy test that I realized we could never go back."
Chloe's blood ran cold, and her entire body froze.
He knew she was pregnant?
The color drained from her face as she turned away numbly, unconsciously digging her nails into her palms.
"Arthur, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Don't be nervous," Arthur raised his hand to gently stroke her hair, just as he used to do when they were dating. "You're so tense. Are you afraid I'll discover your secret? To be honest, we've met so many times, yet I never noticed your secret. I was truly careless."
"But it doesn't matter. For us, everything is about to end."
Arthur's face twisted into an eerie smile that looked particularly frightening. Chloe instinctively took half a step back.
"Arthur, what are you trying to do? The child in my womb has nothing to do with you. There's no future for us."
In her panic, Chloe didn't even bother to hide it anymore, looking at him with a pleading expression.
"Arthur, let's get divorced. Let's stop torturing each other."
"Torture? Chloe, am I the one torturing you, or are you torturing me? How can you say such hurtful words so righteously? Are you afraid of me?"