Chapter 128: William, Happy Divorce
That night was destined to be sleepless for many people.
The police were actively searching for suspects.
The hospital worked through the night on emergency treatment.
Isabella secretly went to gather news from the hospital.
Jeffrey didn't dare call Amelia, so he contacted Mia instead. After getting updates from Mia, he was still quite worried.
He paced around the room, finally deciding to work on company matters to ease his anxiety.
William lay on the sofa, unable to sleep all night.
He didn't even know what he was thinking about. Eventually, he just went to sit under the eaves, quietly watching the sky slowly turn pale, with burned-out cigarette butts scattered around his chair.
Amelia lay in bed with the curtains open, quietly watching the heavy rain outside the window.
Finally, as dawn broke, the rain stopped.
Amelia checked the time. Though it was still early, she didn't want to lie there anymore. She might as well pick up Briar early.
She got up, got dressed and washed up, gathered everything she needed, and drove to the orphanage.
Meanwhile.
At the Jenkins Villa.
Rainwater was still dripping in strings along the eaves.
In the study, the fragrance of tea filled the air as York was writing calligraphy.
Otis had just woken up and was stretching as he walked downstairs. Passing by the study, he glanced inside.
"York, up so early?" Otis yawned as he walked in, looking at what York was writing.
York didn't answer right away. Instead, he finished his final stroke, completing the piece.
Otis looked around blankly, as if searching for something to entertain himself.
York smiled without speaking, simply put down his brush, picked up a cup of tea, and sat in the rattan chair looking out at the rain gradually stopping in the courtyard.
......
The entire city was waking up, with people hurrying along the streets.
The rain had stopped at just the right time, but rush hour was still congested.
Amelia left early today, so she picked up Briar early too. The two even played in the small park for a while before Amelia took her to kindergarten.
Seeing it was about time, Amelia arrived at the marriage registration office.
She parked in the lot, with divorce-related documents beside her.
Would William show up on time today?
Amelia couldn't be sure. She could only wait.
She picked up her phone to check the time - it was already 8:50.
William still hadn't messaged her.
Time ticked by.
At 8:55, just as Amelia was looking at her phone, she heard a car horn.
Amelia looked up and saw a Maybach parked not far away.
It was William's car.
He had come.
Amelia steadied herself, took all the prepared documents, got out of the car, and walked toward the Maybach.
She walked to the passenger side and tapped on the window.
The window rolled down, and Amelia saw William's profile.
After one night, stubble had appeared on his chin, and he was still wearing yesterday's clothes, unchanged.
"It's almost time. Did you bring everything?" Amelia bent down, looking at him as she asked.
But William didn't speak.
Amelia frowned slightly, not understanding what he was thinking.
After about half a minute, William finally nodded.
"I brought it."
William grabbed the relevant documents from the side and got out.
Neither of them said anything as they silently walked toward the marriage registration office.
There were a few couples ahead of them, so they took a number and stood waiting.
More couples gradually arrived behind them. Some were still arguing, while others, like them, were very quiet.
William looked down at Amelia beside him.
She was still small and thin, currently flipping through and checking the documents she'd brought.
Her fingers were slender, but completely bare - she wasn't wearing their wedding ring.
William looked at his own hand and took off his wedding ring, putting it back in his pocket.
Amelia noticed this action.
But she only glanced at it and said nothing.
She had already put the wedding ring he gave her, along with that bottle of perfume, in a drawer the day she moved out of their marital home.
"We'll put them back on when we remarry," William said in a low voice.
Amelia didn't answer, just continued checking her documents with her head down.
"I'll buy you a better one then." Thinking she might be upset, he tried to comfort her quietly.
Amelia said nothing, just kept her head down, not wanting him to see through her current mood.
Her silence made William frown.
She looked haggard, with dark circles under her eyes - she must not have slept well last night.
"Take good care of yourself for the next while," he said.
Amelia looked up at him briefly, only seeing the exhaustion in his eyes.
"Okay," she replied, lowering her head again. "I will."
Then neither of them spoke again.
They waited quietly.
Before long, their number was finally called.
They walked to the window and submitted the appropriate documents.
The staff member reviewed the materials while they sat there.
"Are you sure?" the staff member finally asked.
"Yes."
They both answered, nodding.
The staff member printed out the corresponding certificates.
"Alright, here you go."
Two divorce certificates and related items were pushed forward.
The staff member called the next number.
Amelia and William took the certificates and left the window.
Amelia looked at the stamp on the certificate.
So this was it - their marriage was dissolved.
Amelia felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
Many things could now continue.
Whether it was the troubles with The Sound of Heaven, that contract, and so on - everything could proceed. The lawsuit divorce materials she'd kept just in case wouldn't be needed, and thinking about it this way, her psychological burden lightened a bit too.
And Briar - no matter what, Briar now belonged completely to her. She was her daughter.
What she needed to do now was win The Sound of Heaven championship.
She had originally planned to reveal her identity right after getting the divorce certificate, but since William and the Jenkins family had protected the show and Lika's spot, there was no need to reveal it early.
She'd wait until the final to remove her mask, not giving those who wanted to sabotage her any chance to prepare in advance.
Although Lika's reputation online wasn't good right now, it was only a few more days.
When the mask came off, all the rumors would disappear.
Amelia's mind raced, constantly thinking through her plans for what came next.
William beside her was also looking at the certificate.
But their thoughts were completely different.
On the surface, both appeared calm, just walking out of the marriage registration office doors very peacefully.
Sunlight flooded the earth.
"So, we're divorced," William said to Amelia on the steps.
Amelia nodded.
"There's a music show final in a few days that I think you'd be interested in, called The Sound of Heaven. There's a contestant named Lika who's quite good - very talented and skilled."
William continued: "Her style is a bit like yours, but her technique is much more mature. I really admire her. I feel like you could learn something from her. I'll save you a spot in the audience."
He paused, then added: "Will you go?"
Amelia looked up: "I'll go."
[Just not in the audience seats.]
Amelia said to herself.
Only then did William nod.
They had nothing more to say to each other.
Amelia looked at him, her heart completely calm.
"Well then," she said. "William, happy divorce."