Chapter 4 Getting Ready to Divorce
Nighttime. A quiet bar called Firefly.
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In a booth tucked in the corner under soft blue lights sat two beautiful women. One of them, with short hair cut to her jawline, looked absolutely furious.
“What the hell is Alan trying to pull?! This is a public slap in the face!”
Gloria’s expression was filled with rage. She nearly shoved her phone into Claudia’s face. On the screen were the news headlines she’d seen earlier that day.
“What’s the deal between that Summer and Alan? Childhood friends! Everyone knows that. And now he gives her a president title at his own company while he’s still married? And not just any role—he put her directly in charge of a new tech subsidiary he personally backed. He’s not even pretending to care what people think of you! He’s making a fool of you in front of everyone!”
The more she talked, the angrier Gloria got.
Claudia lowered her thick lashes and gave a faint, unconcerned smile. “Hasn’t everyone been laughing at me since day one? Let them.”
From the moment she fell for Alan and married him, she’d become a joke in their circle. People she knew mocked her behind her back, jealous and scornful that a woman with nothing to her name had plucked the moon out of the sky.
After the marriage, the cold shoulder and silent treatment only confirmed what people suspected–Alan didn’t love her, didn’t value her. Every time she showed her face, she got sneered at and toyed with.
If she cared about all that all the time, she probably would’ve lost her mind already.
Still, seeing those headlines today had left a sting in her chest.
As his wife, she’d studied computers and sharpened her skills just to get closer to Alan. She’d submitted her resume to Moore Corp full of hope.
All she got in return was rejection, disdain, and his cold, cutting remarks.
And yet Summer had barely returned to the country and already landed the role of president at Moore Corp’s new tech branch–a golden road paved just for her. The contrast couldn’t be more blatant.
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Chapter 4 Getting Ready to Divorce
Love or no love–it was painfully clear.
“Alright, we’re here tonight to talk about my divorce. Let’s not mention them.”
Claudia smiled, trying to calm Gloria down.
Gloria was her best friend since college. She was a lawyer–seven years into the profession now–famous in the field, highly capable. She didn’t usually handle divorce cases, but the moment Claudia decided to get divorced, Gloria was the first person she thought of.
There’s comfort in talking to someone you trust about all the messy little things in a marriage.
Seeing Claudia’s expression wasn’t showing any real distress, Gloria finally relaxed and put her phone away. “Alright then.” But she still cursed under her breath, “Screw those bastards.”
After putting her phone down, Gloria pulled a document from the pile on the table and set it in front of Claudia. It was the prenup. She pointed to several clauses with a deep frown, her face filled with anger and sorrow!
“I read everything you sent me last night. That bastard really covered his bases. If you divorce Alan, you won’t get a dime. You’d walk away with nothing.”
Claudia wasn’t surprised.
Alan didn’t love her or trust her. Of course he’d insisted on a prenup. Moore Corp would always be his. Claudia wouldn’t get a shred of it.
“What about compensation?” Claudia asked calmly.
She never wanted to take anything from Alan.
But after seven years of silent dedication and effort, she just wanted a little compensation. That was all. It was what she deserved.
“That’s tricky. First, there’s the prenup. Second, you’ve always had your own job. And Alan kept everything clearly separate from you when it came to work…”
Gloria didn’t even finish before Claudia understood.
Still, she refused to give up. “What if he cheated? Wouldn’t that make him the one at fault?”
Gloria nodded. “If you’ve got solid proof, it’s worth trying.”
Unfortunately, Claudia didn’t.
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Chapter 4 Getting Ready to Divorce
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At this point, walking away with nothing seemed inevitable. But she had to get this divorce. She was done with the cold shoulder, the neglect, the betrayal.
They continued discussing the divorce for a long time, until around ten o’clock, when they finally stepped out of the bar together.
Just as they reached the door, Claudia suddenly stopped.
“What is it?” Gloria asked as she caught up.
“Alan’s car.”
Claudia pointed to a black Phantom parked up ahead on the street, license plate ending in 99999.
She knew it well.
Just as they were wondering what Alan’s car was doing here, the back door opened. A beautiful woman stepped out, wearing a short, peach–colored puffer jacket.
Her long, wavy chestnut hair was disheveled. Her eyes–large and sparkling like peach blossoms were slightly wet. Even her cheeks were flushed red in the cold night. Her steps were unsteady, and her jacket was unzipped, her whole appearance slightly rumpled.
Something about her looked very off.
The two women immediately recognized her. Summer. Alan’s childhood crush. Neither of them expected to run into her here.
Summer seemed to sense someone watching. She turned–and the moment she saw Claudia, she panicked and covered her lips, already smeared with lipstick.
Next, Alan stepped out of the car.
Claudia’s sharp eyes caught every detail. He wore a tailored suit, unbuttoned. His white shirt was open at the collar, a lipstick stain smudged across it. His lips were red, as if something had stained them. His narrow fox–like eyes were half–lidded in satisfaction, full of seduction.
She and Alan had been married for years. There was no love between them, but they had still shared intimacy. And she could tell–Alan had just had sex.
What he and Summer had done in that car didn’t need to be said aloud.
Faced with his childhood crush, he couldn’t even hold back until they got home. Meanwhile, she and Alan hadn’t touched each other in almost a year.
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Chapter 4 Getting Ready to Divorce
Just how long had this been going on?
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How long had they been lying to her?
Claudia’s face went pale. She was still standing just inside the bar entrance. Alan didn’t even see her. The moment he stepped out of the car, he went to steady the wobbly Summer and leaned in to speak to her.
Their faces were close. Nearly touching. Intimate.
“Oh hell no! Those shameless cheaters! Making out in public like this–don’t they have any shame?”
Gloria exploded. Her best friend had just been betrayed–and now she’d witnessed it firsthand. Rage flared inside her. She was ready to go throw punches.
Claudia quickly grabbed her arm. “Don’t cause a scene. I took pictures.”
Gloria was a lawyer. Getting into a fight on the street would only hurt her career. And this kind of trash wasn’t worth it.
She had evidence now.
Gloria blinked in shock. “You were calm enough to take photos?”
She was about to say more when she noticed Claudia’s hand shaking slightly as it clutched her.
Her heart softened. Anger and sympathy flooded her all at once.
At that moment, Alan seemed to hear something from Summer. He turned and looked in their direction, his brows furrowed and his face filled with annoyance.
Alan was surprised to see Claudia here. Wasn’t she supposed to be on a business trip? Back so
soon?
Not that it mattered.
But catching him in the act and taking photos? That crossed the line.
Disrespectful.
Alan assumed Claudia had followed him on purpose. His face twisted in irritation. He rapped on the half–open driver’s window and coldly said, “Go handle it.”
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Chapter 4 Getting Ready to Divorce
He couldn’t even be bothered to walk over himself.
“Yes, sir.”
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The driver, a young man with a cold, stern face, answered and got out of the car, striding toward Claudia.
