Chapter 439 Hope! We Got Married!
Anne was preparing to return to Seaside City right after breakfast.
Madison urged her to stay a few more days.
But Anne was eager to get back for her divorce proceedings.
Hope decided to accompany her, as she hadn't yet had the chance to check out the ready-to-wear collection with Finn since Elissa's incident.
Jerry tried to join them, but Hope stopped him. "I'm counting on you to handle things here."
Jerry scoffed. "You're just bored with me. You're always looking for excuses to get away."
Hope had heard this so often lately that she'd become immune to it.
She simply patted his shoulder and walked off arm-in-arm with Anne.
Jerry was utterly exasperated.
Willard had never consumed so much alcohol before.
Though not completely incapacitated, certain conversations remained crystal clear in his mind.
His head was pounding mercilessly.
Quinton brought him hangover tea, inquired about his schedule, and briefed him on the night's events.
Willard paused mid-sip. "Everything's been sorted out with Francis?"
"Yes, Mr. Larson."
He saw no reason to linger in Maple Valley any longer.
There were matters requiring his attention in Seaside City.
Willard instructed, "Book a flight."
Anne headed straight to City Hall upon landing.
After waiting for hours with no sign of Willard, she called him only to find his phone switched off.
When Willard turned on his phone after landing, he noticed Anne's missed calls but didn't return them.
Instead, he responded to work-related calls.
Quinton, after holding back repeatedly, finally spoke up, "Mr. Larson, you personally committed to this divorce. If you fail to show up again and give her the cold shoulder like before, I'm afraid winning Mrs. Larson back will become even more challenging."
Willard's eyes flickered momentarily. After acknowledging the person on the other end of the line, he said, "Tell her I'm ill."
Quinton had no choice but to comply.
After dropping off Willard, he went to City Hall.
With a straight face, he conveyed Willard's message.
Anne frowned. "Where is he? I want to see just how 'ill' he really is."
Quinton had actually intended to warn Willard. Despite his endless repertoire of deceptions, he should have realized that Anne had grown wiser.
The boy who cried wolf too many times eventually loses all credibility.
Even the most trusting person developed suspicion eventually.
"Mr. Larson rarely drinks, but he overindulged yesterday. Please understand," Quinton explained.
Anne didn't mince words, "Fuck that. Take me to him right now!"
Hope tried to calm her. "It's pointless. If he doesn't want the divorce, showing up won't change anything. You can't force him to sign."
Anne grew even more furious, her cheeks flushed with anger. "That awful man never keeps his word!"
Quinton, having delivered the message, made a hasty retreat.
Hope had already prepared herself for this outcome.
Jerry had warned her the night before.
She just hadn't expected Willard to actually go back on his word.
A man in his thirties showing less integrity than a three-year-old child.
Hope said, "Since we're stuck here anyway, come with me to check out those clothes. We can take some photos for my promotional materials."
With the divorce at a standstill, Anne nodded listlessly.
Meanwhile, Francis was helping Elissa wash her hands.
She also rinsed her mouth.
Though nothing serious had happened, she was exhausted.
Just as she was about to rest, Francis dressed her and carried her outside.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
Francis gently placed her in the backseat. Only after Felix started the car did he answer, "Getting our marriage license."
"What?"
Realizing Francis was serious, Elissa panicked. "I haven't done my makeup!"
"Stop the car! I need to go back to put on makeup and change clothes."
"You don't need to change—white shirts are perfect for the photos," Francis replied calmly. "And being pregnant, you don't need to bother with makeup. You look beautiful as you are."
As someone who wouldn't even take out the trash without applying light makeup, Elissa couldn't imagine being bare-faced for something as monumental as getting married.
She insisted, "I don't care. I absolutely must go back and put on makeup!"
Felix, who feared upsetting Elissa more than angering Francis, immediately started to turn around.
Francis stopped him. "Keep driving."
He gently rubbed Elissa's back to calm her. "I understand you're excited about getting married, but try not to get too worked up. Think of the baby."
Was that what she meant?
Elissa tugged at Francis's ear. "Are you getting hard of hearing in your old age? I said turn around and go back. If you keep pretending not to hear me, I won't take photos or sign anything when we get there!"
Francis eventually gave in.
Elissa hadn't worn makeup for some time, and with her unexpected pregnancy, she hadn't prepared any pregnancy-safe cosmetics.
So they went shopping at the mall.
After perfecting a flawless look, she happily headed to City Hall.
But City Hall had already closed for the day.
Elissa gave Francis a sidelong glance. "This is all your fault. If you had told me earlier, I could have prepared in advance."
Francis tolerated her complaints while simultaneously comforting her and instructing his team to make arrangements.
The official in charge personally came to process their marriage license.
Once they received their certificate, Elissa was elated. "This calls for a celebration. I never thought I'd willingly marry any man."
Francis hadn't expected it either.
He had always viewed marriage pragmatically—eventually choosing someone presentable who could benefit the Peterson family.
A lifelong commitment, nothing more.
Perhaps he wouldn't have bothered at all, as he didn't need a wife to secure his business or status.
But meeting Elissa changed everything. He couldn't wait to make her his wife.
As if delaying even a moment might mean losing her forever.
Francis took a photo of the marriage certificate with his phone.
His normally dormant Facebook page featured just one post: "Officially married" with their marriage certificate as the image.
She noticed Jared was the first to comment—nothing but a string of question marks.
Not stopping there, he immediately initiated a video call.
Francis, who had previously blocked him before unblocking him to discuss some matters, promptly blocked him again, finding his persistence irritating.
Elissa couldn't help laughing. "He probably just wanted to congratulate you. What harm would it have done to hear him out?"
"I know him too well," Francis replied.
As he was about to put away his phone, Elissa took it from him.
Jerry had commented with a simple thumbs-up emoji.
Willard's reaction was more complex: first a question mark, then an exclamation point, followed by an ellipsis.
Returning the phone to Francis, Elissa recalled last night's events. "Was Willard serious about getting divorced?"
Francis shook his head. "No."
Then he asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Now that her morning sickness had subsided, Elissa had regained her appetite.
"Let's have fondue. This special day deserves a proper celebration," she said excitedly. "We should invite Hope and Anne too."
Francis gently reminded her, "It's Monday."
Elissa smacked her forehead. "Oh right, Anne's divorce proceedings."
Later, she thought to herself and said, "That's even better—all good things to celebrate together!"
Francis felt he was struggling to keep up with her pregnancy-induced mood swings and thought patterns.
"I just told you, Willard doesn't actually want a divorce, despite what he said."
Before Elissa could respond, Hope called.
She eagerly answered, eager to share her joy.
"Hope! We got married!" Elissa exclaimed.
Hope congratulated her but couldn't help asking, "Why so suddenly? And specifically when I'm not in Maple Valley—was Francis afraid I might object?"
Elissa playfully nudged Francis with her elbow, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Hope wants to know why you chose to get married while she was away."
Francis had actually planned this day intentionally.
He hadn't taken Willard's words seriously and assumed Jerry would explain things to Hope.
He hadn't expected Hope to accompany Anne to Seaside City.
"Just coincidence," he replied casually.
Elissa continued chatting with Hope, asking about Anne's situation.
"Willard didn't show up. Anne's furious," Hope explained. "I'm taking her to a photo shoot to distract her."
"Come back after you're done—I can't properly celebrate without you here!"
Since Seaside City wasn't far from Maple Valley, Hope checked the time and agreed. "Go ahead and eat something if you're hungry. Don't wait for us. I'll let you know when we board the plane so you can time things accordingly."
"Perfect!"
After hanging up, Elissa looped her arm through Francis's. "I'm craving strawberry cake."
Francis helped her into the car and instructed Felix to drive to a bakery.
Felix returned with the cake, and Elissa asked between bites, "If Willard doesn't want a divorce, why would he say that?"
Francis explained, "You all kept asking Anne yesterday if she had someone else. Given Anne's reaction, Willard naturally wanted to test the waters."
"Test what exactly?"
"To gauge how committed Anne really is to divorcing him."
Elissa remained confused. "And? Even after this 'test,' he still doesn't want a divorce? Seems pointless."
After last night's experience, Francis was reluctant to discuss Willard's affairs further.
"I can't figure him out anymore."
Elissa smirked. "You're not fooling anyone."
Francis changed the subject. "How's the cake? May I have a taste?"
"Ms. Bishop is really amazing. I can't believe you can even eat something this sweet and rich," Elissa exclaimed.
"Try it," she offered, scooping up a piece and holding it to his lips.
Francis hesitated briefly before accepting it.
Elissa watched his reaction intently. "Well?"
Francis swallowed. "Not bad."
Elissa grinned.
"Seems like you're feeling much better," she observed, then circled back to their previous topic. "I thought Willard might be trying a new approach by suggesting divorce."
Based on his understanding of Willard, Francis knew the truth.
After the prolonged standoff with Anne, Willard had used his inebriated state as an opportunity to broach the subject.
Primarily, he wanted to create a chance for face-to-face communication.
Additionally, if Anne proved absolutely committed to divorce, he could always claim his drunkenness or ill health as an excuse.
He was keeping his options open.
Divorce was never on the table.
Without these pretexts, he might lose all grounds for meeting Anne—and any chance of winning her back.
Francis said, "Perhaps he'll try a different approach. I really can't predict his moves anymore."
Elissa sensed Francis was being deliberately vague.
Given his close friendship with Willard and their similar personalities, she knew he understood Willard perfectly well.
He was simply covering for his friend.
"Wrong is wrong. Stubbornly persisting only pushes Anne further away."
Francis nodded. "You're right, but we shouldn't interfere in other people's marriages."
That was fair.
Elissa could only comfort Anne; ultimately, the resolution rested with the couple themselves.
Meanwhile, Willard anxiously read through a stream of incoming messages.
Anne, who had previously blocked him, had unblocked him solely to express her anger—regardless of his lack of response.
Quinton rarely saw Willard this nervous.
Usually stoic and unreadable, Willard's face now betrayed his anxiety.
It was puzzling—if he knew this would be the outcome, why provoke her in the first place?
Just then, an associate arrived with news. "Mrs. Hammer and Mrs. Larson are heading to Maple Valley, presumably to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Peterson's marriage."
Willard immediately decided to go there too.
Upon seeing Elissa, Anne began pouring out her frustrations.
Midway through, she abruptly stopped and apologized, "I'm so sorry—here I am complaining on your special day."
Elissa poured her some tea. "It's perfectly fine, I understand."
"It was presumptuous of me to invite you to celebrate when you're in the middle of a divorce."
Anne shook her head. "No, I could use some positive energy—maybe it'll help my divorce proceedings go smoothly."
Francis and Jerry exchanged glances, both wisely staying out of the conversation.
But neither had anticipated Willard's boldness in appearing at such a delicate moment.
He even presented Francis with a gift. "Congratulations."
Francis instinctively glanced at Elissa, who wore an enigmatic smile that terrified him.
He hesitated to accept the gift.
Elissa took it instead, thanking Willard with pointed civility. "How remarkable that Mr. Larson, on the verge of divorce, still finds time to celebrate our marriage."
Willard sat down with perfect composure, poured himself tea, and took a sip before responding, "What divorce are you referring to, Mrs. Peterson?"
Having encountered all types of men, Elissa immediately recognized his strategy—he planned to use drunkenness as an excuse.
Elissa said, "Mr. Larson, a man of your stature can't afford to be unreliable. Who would trust you after such inconsistency?"
Willard's expression reflected confusion. "Inconsistency? What do you mean?"
Anne intervened before Elissa could respond, "Drop the act, Willard. Don't think you can erase your promise to divorce me by claiming you were drunk or sick! After Elissa's celebration, we're returning to Seaside City to finalize our divorce."
"The offices are closed," he countered.
"You could call staff back in."
The more anxious Willard felt internally, the more composed he appeared.
"Do you enjoy working overtime?" he asked pointedly.
Anne was momentarily speechless.
She remembered waiting hours for a celebrity client during a snowstorm, turning down other work, completely frozen—only for them to arrive hours late.
Though her profession offered flexibility, that incident had forced her to shoot until the early morning hours.
It was a painful memory.
She'd heard countless complaints about overtime work, especially unpaid overtime.
Staff recalled by Willard would certainly receive no extra compensation.
Yet the idea of remaining married to him was unbearable.
She could pay the overtime herself.
"It would only take a moment..."
Willard interrupted her, tapping his watch. "By the time dinner ends, it will be around nine. The earliest we could reach Seaside City would be midnight. Isn't it rather inconsiderate to drag people from their warm beds to work overtime?"
That struck a chord.
Anne herself hated being disturbed while sleeping.
Anyone who dared wake her from slumber and the comfort of her bed would face her wrath.
"Then let's go back tonight and visit City Hall first thing tomorrow morning."
Willard's eyes flickered subtly as he responded in his deep, measured voice, "Given the current state of our relationship, sharing accommodations overnight seems inappropriate."
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