Chapter 156: Did You Plan to Leave from the Beginning?
It was quite a while before Amelia arrived at the hospital.
She hadn't planned to come, but Cleo called her.
"Amelia, we know about your divorce from William. Your grandfather... he's collapsed."
Cleo said, "I know you probably don't want to see William, but would you come see us? Just to discuss matters related to the divorce."
So Amelia came.
She came with Mia, holding Briar.
Briar went to play in Mia's office, and Amelia went to Finn's hospital room.
William was right at the door of the room. Finn and Cleo wouldn't let him in.
When he saw Amelia, he wanted to say something, but Amelia completely ignored him, walked straight into the room, and closed the door behind her.
Leaving William standing alone outside the door, staring at the closed door, full of sadness.
...
Inside the room.
Finn had already woken up.
"Amelia, you're here," Finn said weakly.
Standing there, Amelia felt complicated emotions.
Finally, she nodded and said, "Mr. Brown."
This time, Finn and Cleo both noticed how she addressed him.
Both felt helpless.
All three fell silent.
But eventually, they started talking.
After all, she had come this time because Cleo said they needed to discuss divorce matters.
Of course there was also the reason of visiting, but that wasn't the main purpose.
She had already divorced William. His family would just be his family from now on.
Everything else was fine. The money and things she should get, she didn't act precious about not wanting them. Although she had signed a prenup when she married William that protected the company's interests, and they had only been married for a year, those things were what she deserved.
It was just that regarding the Martinez family's old assets, Finn and Cleo still wanted her to discuss it with William.
"Amelia, that's company business. We stopped managing company affairs long ago."
Amelia felt helpless.
Finally, before Amelia left, Finn said, "Amelia, the Brown family only recognizes you as William's wife. That Isabella, I will never let her marry William!"
Amelia lowered her eyes slightly and said nothing.
She had nothing to do with William anymore, so how the Brown family saw her was none of her concern.
This visit was already her last bit of warmth toward the Brown family.
Thinking this, Amelia opened the door and walked out.
William was standing right outside.
He looked much more haggard, his eyes slightly red, just looking at her like that.
"I think we can talk properly now," he said.
Amelia didn't look at him, but instead looked at a spot to the side, avoiding his gaze.
"There's nothing to talk about," Amelia said. "I just want the Martinez family's things back."
William looked down at Amelia in front of him, who wouldn't even look at him.
"I can't give it to you," he said.
He was afraid that if he gave her the Martinez family's things, she would really leave.
"William." Amelia looked up, finally looking at him. "You promised me it was mine, and it's written in the divorce agreement we signed that I have the right to take it."
William looked at her sadly. "Then let's go through legal proceedings."
Let him drag this out for five months.
Hands clenched tight, Amelia tried hard to control her breathing.
"Keeping them is useless to you," she said. "Those encrypted information that can't be copied and that encryption system, only I can use them smoothly. It's very hard for you to handle, and it doesn't have much connection to the Brown Group. If you want to set up a financial investment department, you can completely build one that you control entirely."
"I know," he said.
He had never questioned that.
He just wanted to keep time and room for himself to explain everything to her properly.
"So," Amelia's emotions surged again, "you're just purely trying to disgust me?"
She said, "You clearly know that through legal proceedings, my chances of getting it are very high. You're just dragging me along?"
William didn't respond immediately, just looked at her.
He knew what she said was true. She could take it.
He was indeed dragging things out.
He was unwilling to let go.
He hadn't looked carefully at that agreement that day. If he had known she might have been planning this all along, he would never have signed.
The corridor was completely silent. Finally, William spoke.
"Amelia." He called her name.
Amelia didn't respond.
"Were you planning to leave from the very beginning?" William asked.
Amelia didn't respond, but her attitude was already very clear.
"I know Isabella's situation hurt you a lot," he said, his voice filled with sadness. "But I have my reasons..."
"Reasons?" Amelia laughed. She looked fiercely at William.
Seven years, Seraphim's child, and the child she lost when she fell down the stairs—could all of this be covered up by his "reasons"?
Her right hand clenched tight. She said seriously, "Am I really that cheap in your eyes?"
William didn't know how to explain, just looked at her.
"I'm asking you one last time. The Martinez family's things, will you give them to me or not?" she asked with red eyes.
But he remained silent.
"Fine," she said. "Then as you said, we'll go through legal proceedings."
There was no need to stay any longer. Amelia turned around to leave.
"Amelia." William's voice came from behind. She didn't stop.
"I know all you ever wanted was a family."
"You decorated our home so well."
"I like having you by my side, and I've gotten used to you being there. Once Isabella..."
"We can be good together in the future, can't we?"
"We still have our home, our child, that tanzanite..."
In the hospital corridor, the lights were cold and white.
He clearly knew everything, clearly understood it all, clearly knew she just wanted a family.
A family with a loved one and children.
He had destroyed it all with his own hands!
Hatred surged up. Amelia couldn't hold back anymore. She strode back.
She raised her right hand and slapped him hard across the face.
A slap landed hard on his face.
He didn't dodge, just looked at her sadly.
...
With red eyes, teeth clenched, Amelia slapped him again and again, hard across the face.
She hated how he looked, hated his manipulation, hated her own powerlessness, hated that she could only be delayed by him.
The crisp sound of slaps echoed through the entire corridor.
She didn't know how many times she hit him. His face had long since swollen up, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. When her hand touched it and hit his face, it was bright red.
He didn't dodge, just looked at her with red eyes.
By the end, Amelia clenched her trembling hands.
Without another word, she suppressed her surging emotions, didn't look at him again, turned and left.