Chapter 140 Divorced
Gabriel murmured, "Jessica, do you know how much I love you? Do you know? I really want to be a deserter. I don't want to go to any court with you. You wouldn't believe it, but I told the most ridiculous lie today just to delay going to court. Jessica, I regret it!"
The regret was almost unbearable.
But she wouldn't give him another chance.
If he could, he wished this meeting would never end.
If he could, he wished she would never wake up, so he could stay by her side, quietly watching her.
But all dreams eventually came to an end.
Sensing someone beside her, Jessica opened her eyes. When she saw Gabriel, she immediately sat up straight. "Is everything taken care of?"
He wanted to say, not yet.
But he couldn't keep up the lie any longer.
"Almost." He said, struggling to get the words out.
Jessica rubbed her eyes and instinctively checked the time. It was already a little past four in the afternoon.
Time was tight, but as long as the road was clear, they could make it.
"Wait for me a moment." Jessica went to the bathroom to wash her face.
When she came out, Gabriel was leaning in a corner, and his tall and upright figure shrouded in a thick cloud of smoke. He held a cigarette, its ember glowing defiantly.
"Let's go!" Jessica walked over and said calmly.
Seeing her come out, Gabriel took a deep drag and tossed the cigarette into the trash can.
"Okay." He said bitterly.
In the car, they were both very quiet, as if each had their thoughts.
Jessica had the window open, the breeze making her hair dance and flutter.
She reached out and gently tucked a strand of wind-blown hair behind her ear. Her eyes were calm, but inside, she was a mess.
At a red light, Gabriel took a cigarette from the pack and looked at Jessica for permission. "Do you mind?"
Jessica shook her head and said. "Go ahead."
She used to hate men smoking the most.
Because Carter's favorite things were smoking, drinking, and gambling.
Carter was addicted to smoking. Sometimes, he went through several packs a day, making him reek of smoke, which was very unpleasant.
But ever since she met Gabriel and saw him smoking, she didn't seem to mind at all.
Or rather, she still didn't like it, but she liked the way he looked when he smoked.
Gabriel also opened the window. One hand rested on the window, holding the cigarette with his long fingers, while the other hand was on the steering wheel. His natural demeanor and aura were still handsome.
The red light seemed to last forever, and impatient honking came from the cars behind.
After about ten minutes, Jessica also started to get anxious and asked, "Is it really slow? Is there a traffic jam ahead?"
Gabriel glanced at the road. "It looks like there's an accident blocking the way."
"Jessica, how about we..." Before he could finish, the traffic started moving again, and the road seemed to clear up.
"Gabriel, it's moving!" Jessica said, her delicate face full of joy and excitement.
Gabriel nodded. "Yes!"
The rest of the way was smooth, and even though Gabriel deliberately drove slowly, they still arrived before five.
Since it was almost closing time, the courthouse lobby was nearly empty.
Jessica submitted the divorce application and handed the divorce agreement to the staff.
In court, the judge declared Gabriel Walton and Jessica Morgan divorced. The court issued the divorce decree to Gabriel and Jessica.
Jessica took one copy and handed the other to Gabriel.
"It's useless to me. You keep it; I don't need it." Gabriel glanced at it and said indifferently.
Jessica's outstretched hand froze, then slowly retracted.
He didn't even want the divorce decree, so their marriage must have been terrible in his eyes.
Fine, a clean break.
Jessica said, "I'm going to the bathroom."
She held back until she reached the bathroom. As she washed her face, Jessica finally let herself cry freely.
Tears mixed with the water, quietly flowing down her cheeks.
She touched her chest.
Did it hurt? It wasn't the relief she had imagined; it hurt deeply, like a bleeding wound.
Was it worth it?
Ten years, and now they were strangers.
She had finally lost him completely.
Cupping water in her hands, Jessica washed her face over and over until there were no more tears, and she forgot how it felt to cry. Only then did she stop.
She looked up at herself in the mirror, forcing a smile with her hands and muttering, "Jessica, smile. You loved him for ten years, waited for him for seven years, and married him for two years, but he still doesn't love you. You tried your best. Now that you're divorced, you can start a new life. Maybe you'll meet someone who truly loves you."
Even though she kept telling herself this, her heart still ached uncontrollably.
When she returned to the lobby, Jessica was back to normal, as if nothing had happened.
Gabriel was waiting at the door. Seeing her come out, he walked up to her.
"I'll treat you to dinner."
"Let's have dinner together!"
They looked at each other and almost spoke in unison.
