Chapter 133 Successfully Obtained
As dawn broke, Ava Anderson found herself roused from a restless slumber, her eyes swollen from the previous night's tears. Over their morning meal, Scarlett cast a concerned glance in her direction, inquiring, "Ava, what seems to be the matter? Why do your eyes bear the marks of distress?"
"I..." Ava faltered, her voice barely above a whisper. She had spent the better part of the night in a torrent of tears, but she couldn't reveal the true cause of her sorrow to her grandmother. She quickly fabricated an excuse, "Perhaps... I simply didn't sleep well last night."
Scarlett's lips curled into a knowing smile, "Young couples often endure sleepless nights. It's quite normal. It could even be a harbinger of joyous times ahead."
"Grandma, let's not delve into that," Ava responded, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
She had lied to her grandmother that day. Alexander Mitchell, her husband, had departed early on some pressing matter and was absent from their breakfast table. Scarlett, however, did not press the issue further.
"Very well, I won't broach the subject again. Do eat, my dear—you need your strength," Scarlett gently encouraged.
As Ava mechanically consumed her breakfast, her mind was preoccupied with the daunting task of retrieving certain documents. She realized that relying solely on her own efforts might prove futile.
The most efficient strategy would be to have her grandmother disclose the location of the documents and willingly hand them over.
"Grandma? Could you tell me where Alexander's and my marriage certificates are kept?" she asked, opting for a direct approach.
She couldn’t devise a more effective plan. Searching for a specific document in this vast house was akin to hunting for a needle in a haystack, especially when she needed to remain inconspicuous—it was far too risky to be discovered.
"Marriage certificates?" Scarlett's brow furrowed in confusion, "Why do you need those all of a sudden?"
Detecting the skepticism in Scarlett's gaze, Ava quickly offered an explanation, "I need to update my ID, and they require the marriage certificates to verify my marital status."
"Oh, is that the case?" Scarlett appeared enlightened, "Why didn’t you mention this yesterday?"
"I simply forgot about it. It only occurred to me today. Grandma, I really need them. Could you please hand them over?"
Ava wondered if her guilt was making her overly cautious. Guilty individuals often prefer to operate covertly, favoring stealth over transparency.
"Of course, you can have them," Scarlett agreed.
Turning to the butler, the elderly woman instructed, "Please fetch the marriage certificates."
Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she waited in anticipation. When the butler returned with the document a few minutes later, she was momentarily stunned. She hadn't anticipated obtaining the marriage certificates so effortlessly.
Her elaborate schemes had been in vain. She had spent a sleepless night acting surreptitiously—like a thief—pilfering keys and rummaging through boxes, only to return everything to its original place. Now, a simple lie had achieved what her complex plans could not.
She would have preferred to abscond with the documents quietly, ending her marriage without resorting to deception, rather than duping her grandmother, who would undoubtedly be devastated if she discovered the truth.
"Mrs. Mitchell, shall I return the marriage certificates to your room?" the butler offered.
"No, I'll take them," Ava accepted the documents with both hands, "Thank you, I'll keep them safe."
The butler nodded in acknowledgment and departed.
Ava opened the folder containing the marriage certificate. From the moment she had wed Alexander Mitchell, their lives had been legally intertwined. With these documents in her possession, they could now proceed with their divorce.
"Ava, once you've updated your ID, remember to return the marriage certificates, alright?" Scarlett reminded her.
"Actually, grandma, perhaps it would be more convenient if I kept them with me. That way, I won't have to trouble you," Ava suggested.
Scarlett frowned, "You youngsters are always misplacing things. I feel more at ease safeguarding those documents for you. Besides, they aren't required frequently. I'll hold onto them to prevent any impulsive decisions."
Seeing Scarlett's stern expression, particularly her final remark aimed at discouraging her and Alex from making hasty decisions, Ava knew better than to argue and risk arousing suspicion.
"Alright, grandma, I'll return the marriage certificates as soon as I've updated my ID."
