Chapter 89 The Empty Wedding Room, Has She Really Left?
While William was heading to the villa, Amelia was looking at the notifications on her phone.
"Will there be trouble?" Jeffrey asked worriedly.
He himself didn't think much of it. After all, as the CEO of an entertainment company, he'd had his fair share of gossip, and besides, he was single—nothing to worry about.
It was just that society had high standards for women's reputation. This kind of gossip getting out would be bad for Amelia's name.
Even though they both knew there was nothing between them.
Well, not exactly... his thoughts about her weren't entirely innocent.
But Jeffrey was a man with boundaries. He hadn't done anything that would cause misunderstandings.
Whether at the hospital, the Adams Group, or at dinners, everything stayed within work and friendship.
Beside him, Amelia shook her head.
"It's nothing, I'll just post a statement." Amelia said, typing on her phone.
"Besides..." Amelia's eyes were calm. Compared to her mutually beneficial work relationship with Jeffrey, William and Isabella were the ones who...
But Amelia didn't want to talk about that, so she paused briefly and said, "In a few days, William and I are getting our divorce certificate. None of this matters."
William had called her many times and sent lots of messages.
She knew, which is why she'd already blocked or muted William.
The reason she hadn't deleted or completely blocked him was because they still needed to get the divorce certificate, and after everything was settled, there would be matters regarding the Martinez family that needed communication.
Amelia didn't want to completely anger William before getting the divorce certificate.
Keep a low profile for now, wait until the certificate is processed.
With that thought, Amelia continued editing her statement.
Jeffrey looked at Amelia's profile. He hesitated slightly, but finally spoke up.
"What if he changes his mind?" Jeffrey said. "During the cooling-off period, if either party has second thoughts, the divorce won't go through."
Amelia confirmed the content one last time and clicked publish.
"He won't." Amelia looked up at the scenery rushing past the car window.
"Isabella only has six months left. If he wants to be with Isabella, he has to divorce me."
Come to think of it, they'd only been married for a year.
That hasty yet grand wedding from a year ago still seemed vivid in her mind.
The white roses that filled all of Shadow City.
The priceless wedding dress she wore.
All prepared by him for her. Even though it was rushed and couldn't be perfect, he'd done the best he could at the time.
Back then, he'd carried her out of the house and made vows to love her for a lifetime.
She remembered that in his eyes then, there had clearly been some affection for her.
But only a year had passed...
Not even a year, actually.
In their marriage, he was the first to stray.
Whatever.
Amelia looked away.
Seven years—maybe it was hard to admit she'd loved the wrong person, but once she saw it clearly, she wouldn't look back.
Amelia smiled and said to Jeffrey beside her, "Besides, I've been keeping evidence all along. Even if he changes his mind, I can file for divorce."
Jeffrey looked at the smile on Amelia's face and nodded helplessly.
She was always like this, strong in a way that made your heart ache.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
The Aston Martin was heading toward the villa.
On the way, William's phone buzzed.
While waiting at a red light, he glanced at it—a special notification for new posts from Amelia's account.
William clicked on it.
Amelia: Recent online rumors about Jeffrey and me are all false. Jeffrey and I are longtime friends. I was once signed with the Adams Group, and all our interactions are normal work and friendship relations, nothing more. At today's dinner, there were other people present as well—it wasn't just the two of us alone with a child. I hope all media outlets will stop spreading rumors.
The light turned green.
William closed the page and continued driving.
This statement was still light and unconvincing—it wouldn't persuade the media, nor would it persuade him.
His anger hadn't subsided.
She'd been acting very strange lately.
He needed to ask her about it.
The scene at the Brown Villa flashed through his mind again—her crying and refusing him.
Did she refuse him because she had someone new?
She used to like it so much.
Many times she was tired, but as long as he coaxed her a little, she would cooperate.
She had never refused him before.
Except for that last time.
Was it because of Jeffrey or Dash?
Or someone else?
William gripped the steering wheel tighter.
The Aston Martin drove all the way to the villa.
William parked the car, then opened the door and walked straight into the house.
But as soon as he entered, he discovered once again that the house was pitch black.
Even the small light in the entryway wasn't on.
William frowned slightly. He remembered the last time he came, it had been the same—all the lights were off.
He reached out and turned on all the lights. The house lit up, but it was completely quiet.
Something was very wrong.
The last time he'd come to get supplements for Finn, he'd been here too. Back then the feeling wasn't as obvious, but this time...
William pressed his lips together and walked all the way to the bedroom.
There was no sign of Amelia in the master bedroom.
In fact, there was no sign that anyone had lived here recently.
William's frown deepened.
Had she moved out of the master bedroom?
With that thought, William went to open the doors of the other rooms.
The three-story villa—William opened the doors of all the rooms one by one, but there was no sign that anyone had lived in them.
Unwilling to accept it, William went to the bathroom, but there too, only his things remained.
The two toothbrushes that used to stand together—now only his stood there alone.
She wasn't here.
However reluctant he was to admit it, he had to face this reality.
William returned to the master bedroom, looking at the empty half of the closet.
This space used to be filled with both their clothes.
Half was his, half was hers.
But now, only his suits hung there, looking cold and lonely.
From the traces in the house, she'd moved out a long time ago.
But before, except for business trips, visits to the Brown Villa, and staying with him, she would always come back here.
She had said that after Jasper died, she no longer had a home.
Beatrix had taken her from place to place, and later when she got a stepfather, everything got even worse.
Even after her stepfather left, her relationship with Beatrix had soured.
She'd said this was her home, and even if he was busy, she would take good care of it.
She'd said she would wait for him at home, no matter how late.
Over the past year, many things had been added to this place, all her careful arrangements. Every time he came home, he would feel warm and at peace.
But now, all her things were gone.
This house only had his things left, empty and cold.
His clenched fist trembled slightly.
A pain difficult to describe spread from William's heart to his fingertips.
Had she really left?
Or was this another trap she'd set up in her tantrum?