Chapter 191 Division of Property
I really didn't want to keep talking about this with David, so I cut him off, "Edward's already agreed to send someone over tomorrow to discuss the divorce settlement. Shouldn't you be happy for me?"
David's eyes lit up. "Seriously, Diana? You're really going through with the divorce?"
I nodded firmly. "Absolutely."
We didn't say much on the way back. David dropped me off at my place but didn't come up like he usually did. I was a bit confused and asked, "So, crashing at someone else's place tonight?"
David looked a bit sheepish and said, "I promised my dad I'd stay home tonight, so I can't hang out, Diana." He spoke in a familiar tone, like we were always together, and gave my head a gentle pat.
I brushed his hand off but couldn't help reminding him, "It's late, be careful on your way back."
David nodded and drove off. He seemed preoccupied as he left. Watching his car disappear, I felt a bit down.
Back in my apartment, I quickly washed up and went to bed. Bored, I scrolled through my phone and, as expected, I was trending again because of a live stream. Actually, it wasn't just me; all four of us from the stream were trending.
After trending so often, I didn't even care about the topics anymore. What mattered was sorting out the divorce with Edward tomorrow. With that on my mind, I drifted off to sleep.
Early in the morning, my phone rang loudly, waking me up. Seeing Aria's number, I was puzzled. What did she want so early? Did Edward change his mind? Full of questions, I answered, and Aria's gentle voice came through. "Diana, how'd you sleep?"
Not in the mood for chit-chat, I asked, "What do you want this early?"
Aria laughed and asked, "Diana, aren't you divorcing Edward? Don't you want to know how much you'll get?"
Her smug tone made me angry. "What's it to you?"
Aria sneered, "You're great at everything, but you're too stubborn. You'll understand why it matters to me later. If you want what's rightfully yours from Edward, meet me at the café at 10 AM. Don't be late." Then she hung up, sounding way more decisive than usual.
Staring at my phone, I was full of doubts. What was Aria up to? Why did she care about my divorce settlement? But thinking it might help to know Edward's plans, I decided to meet her.
It was still early, but I was wide awake. I got up, made a simple breakfast, and put on some light makeup before heading out. Even though I wasn't too worried about the settlement, I knew I had to face this part of the divorce calmly. As soon as I walked into the café, I spotted Aria waving at me. She looked more glamorous than usual, ditching her typical off-brand clothes for high-end designer wear. But there was something cunning in her eyes.
I headed straight to the seat opposite her and sat down. I glanced around but didn't see Edward's secretary or lawyer. "Why are you alone?" I asked.
Aria sneered, "Isn't my presence enough? Do you really think Edward wants to see you in person?"
I rolled my eyes. "I meant he was supposed to send someone to discuss things with me, but I don't see his secretary or lawyer."
Aria pulled a folder out of her handbag and placed it in front of me. "Everything you need is right here. I'm more than capable of handling this."
I eyed the folder but didn't open it. "What makes you qualified?"
Aria smirked. "You might not know, but Edward has agreed to marry me after divorcing you. By then, the Howard family's assets will be mine. So, I suggest you sign this property agreement quickly. Otherwise, if I change my mind, you won't get a penny." Her smile was sweet, but her words were ice-cold.
I nodded slightly. "Congrats. But as far as I know, you can't have kids anymore. Do you really think, given your situation, that even if you marry Edward, Hayden will accept you?"
Aria's smile vanished, and she snorted, "How long can Hayden live? I can wait."
A wave of unease hit me. Hayden's health had always been poor, and after all the stress from Anne and Clara, he probably didn't have much time left. The thought weighed heavily on me, like a stone pressing down on my chest.
With disgust, I raised my voice. "Aria, how can you be so cold? If it weren't for Hayden saving you and sending you abroad to study, you wouldn't be here today. Wishing for his death just to grab the Howard family's assets—doesn't your conscience bother you?"
Aria snapped, "Enough! Don't be fooled by him! If he hadn't forced me to bear children for Edward, I wouldn't have lost the chance to be a mother forever."
What Aria said was true, but it was sad to see how far Hayden had fallen in the Howard family.
Thinking of this, I opened the folder and read through it carefully. Even though I wasn't too concerned about the property, my professional habit made me scrutinize it. To my surprise, Edward had transferred most of his assets to me in this thick agreement. I thought, Aria probably hadn't seen this agreement, or if she had, she didn't understand it. That's why she was so confident the Howard family's assets would be hers. It seemed Edward and Aria were just using each other.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
