Chapter 223 A Heart in Shadows
Ava found herself perplexed by Alexander Mitchell's sudden inquiry. Even if she harbored such thoughts, why should they concern him? Had he not also entertained misconceptions, painting her as a malevolent woman?
A hollow laugh escaped Alexander Mitchell's lips, heavy with a bitter sarcasm, "Yes, I wanted to cast you aside, to break you into fragments," he confessed.
Seeing as he held such beliefs, any explanation would be futile. The chasm between them was more profound than a simple misunderstanding. Once the divorce was finalized, there would be no more entangled, incomprehensible chaos.
If she couldn't face it head-on, could she not at least sidestep it?
Turning away, Ava lay on her side, gnawing at her finger as tears, as large as beans, fell one by one.
...
The dawn of the following day marked the end of their union. Both of them rose early, sharing a wordless breakfast. Each maintained a composed facade, as if this was their last shared morning meal—no quarrels, no negative emotions, just a palpable unfamiliarity lingering between them.
They resembled strangers at a hotel buffet, sharing a table but devoid of any knowledge of one another, absent of conversation.
Upon finishing the meal, Alexander turned to his soon-to-be ex-wife and commanded, "Bring the papers."
A document was promptly placed before Ava.
"Sign the divorce agreement first," Alexander stated with a flat tone.
Without a moment's hesitation, Ava picked up the pen and signed her name in the designated spot, not bothering to peruse the contents. She was indifferent to the financial aspects. After all, she had come to the Mitchell's with nothing, and the Mitchell family had heavily invested in her upbringing.
In all fairness, the Mitchell family owed her nothing. Although her heart ached due to Alexander, it was a personal dispute between them, not a concern of the Mitchell family. It was their own failure to manage their relationship.
Once the divorce agreement was signed, Alexander and Ava departed together.
He drove them to the City Hall, timing their arrival perfectly to avoid a lengthy wait. When they reached the front of the queue, the clerk, while nullifying their marriage certificate, cautiously asked, "Have you both thought this through? Marriage bonds are not easily severed, and life is long—there's hardly any obstacle that cannot be surmounted."
Ava responded with a bitter smile. "I've made up my mind."
Some obstacles in life are insurmountable, regardless of the effort exerted.
Alexander sat stoically, an icy aura enveloping him.
"We've both decided. Please, proceed," he said in a cool tone.
Acknowledging their unwavering decision, the clerk stamped the cancellation marks on their marriage certificate with a couple of decisive thuds.
...
Stepping out of the City Hall, Ava glanced at the invalidated stamp on her booklet, feeling a slight sting in her nose.
Yet, she felt no urge to cry, just a hollow emptiness within, as if her being had become unbalanced. Even as she lifted her gaze to the changing world, the colors seemed different—greyed out—yet she could still discern the true hues of everything around her.
Perhaps what had turned grey was her own heart. Previously, Ava had contemplated divorcing Alexander multiple times, believing that she would find liberation through divorce. But this time, it was different. They ended their marriage quietly and smoothly, without any drama.
