Chapter 44 A Farewell to an Ex-Husband
Upon ending the call, Lillian abruptly halted her vehicle, her body slumping over the steering wheel as she gasped for breath. Despite this being the outcome she had long desired, she found no relief or joy in the moment.
Suddenly, she straightened up, fighting back the tears welling in her eyes. Glancing down, she noticed the small camera still hanging around her neck. It was a gift from Jackson. She hadn't removed it before leaving the house, yet there it was, still draped around her neck. She had intended to wake him and inquire about his contact with Cash, but alas...
With a swift, determined motion, Lillian tore the camera from her neck, flung open the car door, and tossed the camera into a roadside trash bin. She then climbed back into her vehicle and sped off. However, she hadn't gone far before she abruptly stopped once more. Ultimately, she reversed her course, returning to retrieve the discarded camera.
Jackson was the one at fault. Why should she bear the punishment for his transgressions? He didn't deserve her sacrifice!
Meanwhile, at Peace Mansion, an ambulance arrived promptly. Wendy was swiftly loaded into the vehicle, the blaring siren piercing the air as the ambulance sped away.
On a secluded mountain road, a Bentley sat hidden from view. As the ambulance disappeared into the distance, Grace, seated in the back of the Bentley, wore a look of discontent.
"How did it come to this!?" she lamented.
"The plan didn't work this time, but we'll arrange another. Lilian may not be resilient, but she's strong-willed and can't handle excessive stress. We needn't rush," the person beside her comforted, patting her reassuringly.
Back at the mansion, Terry escorted Wendy away before returning to the villa. As he ascended the stairs, his legs felt weak. He had made a grave error at work that day, failing to guard the door and allowing Wendy to sneak in. He dreaded the punishment that likely awaited him.
Terry berated himself, wishing he could land a punch on his own face. Why had he succumbed to the temptation of a one-hour nap? His phone rang, interrupting his self-reproach. After a brief conversation, his expression turned grave.
"Understood, I'll report the situation to the president immediately," he affirmed.
As he made his way upstairs toward the study, he noticed the bedroom door ajar, the cleaning staff busily moving furniture and carpeting outside. Terry sidestepped them, knocking on the study door before pushing it open.
Jackson stood by the French window, his silhouette stark against the dense darkness outside. The faint glow from the cigarette between his fingers only served to accentuate his solitude. Several discarded cigarette butts lay in the ashtray beside him. Terry felt a surge of apprehension, sensing he was in deep trouble.
Taking the initiative, he began, "Sir, we've encountered some significant issues with the project in France. I'm requesting permission to go there immediately to resolve them and make amends for my recent mistake. Please give me this opportunity."
The following day dawned bright and sunny. Lilian awoke early, or more accurately, she hadn't slept at all the previous night. She attributed her insomnia to excitement. She was on the brink of divorce, on the verge of reclaiming her freedom and single status. Her happiness and anticipation were overwhelming.
Staring at her pale, weary reflection in the mirror, Lilian ran her fingers through her disheveled hair. "Lilian, beauty comes too easily to you, and you don't cherish it? This won't do!" she muttered to herself. She quickly washed her face and hair, applied a tasteful layer of makeup, selected a stylish outfit, and emerged from her bedroom.
In the living room, Shirley was engrossed in her taekwondo training. Upon seeing Lilian, she whistled appreciatively. "So beautiful! Are you aspiring to be a loveless black widow?"
Lilian was clad in a fitted black dress, a black leather jacket, and matching short boots, giving her the appearance of someone attending a funeral. Her striking red lips added a touch of allure to her overall demeanor.
"Bidding farewell to my ex-husband, hoping he never crosses my path again," she declared. Today marked the end of her marriage, a final farewell that was, in her opinion, long overdue.
Lilian, with a firm grip on her bag, stood poised at the threshold of her home. The night before, she had meticulously prepared all the necessary documents. Shirley, her confidante, sauntered over to her.
"Are you certain you don't require my company?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Lilian, however, merely pinched her own cheek in response. "I'm merely finalizing a divorce, Shirley. It's not as grave as you make it out to be."
By the time Lilian reached the Civil Affairs Bureau, the clock had barely struck eight. She had arrived early, hoping to beat the morning rush, yet there was no sign of Jackson even as the ninth hour approached.
As she waited, her mind began to wander back to the day they had obtained their marriage certificate. She had assumed that Jackson, who she believed had been coerced into marrying her, would not arrive early. Wanting to look her best for the photographs, she had taken her time to dress up and had arrived well past ten.
To her surprise, Jackson had already been waiting for her. Terry, their mutual friend, had even commented that had she not been late, they could have been the first couple to receive their marriage certificate that day.
A feeling of annoyance mingled with a strange sense of happiness washed over Lilian. She couldn't help but wonder if perhaps Jackson did harbor some affection for her after all.
However, her hopes were quickly dashed when Jackson promptly left the Civil Affairs Bureau, not lingering for a moment longer than necessary. This abrupt departure made her realize the naivety of her thoughts.
Perhaps, she mused, Jackson was retaliating for her tardiness on their wedding day. With this thought in mind, she decided to wait patiently.
But as the day wore on, and the end of the workday loomed, Jackson was still nowhere to be seen. Worse still, he hadn't even bothered to call her.
Fury bubbled up within Lilian. She attempted to call him, only to find his phone switched off. Even Terry was unreachable.
On her journey back home, a notification from the Star Group chat caught her eye. Someone had posted a video of an accident at the joint land reclamation project between Star Group and France. Two colossal bulldozers had plummeted into the deep sea, causing pandemonium at the site.
Jackson must have rushed to the scene overnight. In the video, his coat billowed in the sea breeze as he navigated through the clamoring crowd, his expression grave.
Lilian let out a sigh.
With no knowledge of when he would return, their divorce proceedings would have to be postponed.
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