Chapter 119 Severing Bonds
"Alright," Daphne responded, her reply as succinct as ever.
As her words hung in the air, Charles found his grip on the folder tightening with more force than he'd intended. He struggled to identify the emotion coursing through him. It felt as though something of immense significance was on the verge of slipping from his grasp, never to be reclaimed.
"Daphne," he called out to her.
Pausing at the crossroads, her eyes softened as she turned to him, "Yes?"
"I regret what transpired earlier," Charles found himself apologizing, "Those individuals—I'll uncover their identities."
"There's no need," Daphne dismissed, her interest waning, "Everything from our past was erased the moment I received the divorce papers."
She was not one to dwell on history. The pain and affection would all be left behind as she reclaimed her identity, becoming Daphne once more.
"If you ever encounter any difficulties, you can reach out to me," he offered.
"There's no need," she echoed.
Charles fell silent. Was she explicitly indicating her desire to sever their ties completely? He wondered, if they had shared a child, would she have shown some leniency for the sake of their offspring?
These thoughts stirred a sudden resentment towards Austin. Why hadn't Daisy divorced him?
"Once you reach Gedser, ensure Daisy remains hidden," Charles abruptly advised, "Austin is already aware of her presence."
Daphne hesitated, puzzled by the sudden change of topic. Nevertheless, she responded with an effortless ease, "Gedser is vast; he won't locate her."
Charles didn't reply. Her unwavering confidence, even in the face of Austin's pursuit—was it due to her capabilities or her connections with Evan and the Murphy family?
As he contemplated, his gaze lingered on her, scrutinizing her more intensely than ever before.
"We've arrived," Daphne announced, bringing the car to a halt outside the county clerk's office. She removed the key from the ignition, preparing to disembark.
In that instant, Charles seized her wrist.
Daphne peered at him, bewildered, as if he were a stranger, "What's the matter?"
"Now, will you reveal your true identity?" His dark eyes bore into hers, the pressure on her wrist intensifying, "And your family—where are they?"
Daphne's gaze wavered slightly. She hadn't planned to delve into this topic, yet she conceded, "I'll disclose it once I obtain the certificate."
"Why not now?" Charles's brow furrowed deeper.
"I can't," Daphne asserted, extricating her wrist from his grip, reminding him swiftly, "We need to exit the car and complete the paperwork before the staff depart for the day."
With that, Daphne exited the vehicle.
Charles stared at his vacant hand, his mind involuntarily drifting back to the time he had introduced her to Kayla.
She had protested that his grip was too firm, yet she hadn't attempted to escape.
Was she intentionally concealing her abilities?
Time wasn't on his side. Before he could fully comprehend the situation, Daphne had already swung open his car door, ushering him out.
They proceeded to the local government office to acquire their documents.
Thirty minutes later, all the formalities were completed, and the divorce papers were in their possession.
Clutching the divorce certificate, Charles felt as though he were in a dream. It was as if a part of him was being ripped away, never to return.
When the clerk inquired if they both consented to the divorce, he contemplated on refusing.
However, he knew the repercussions of that decision would be Daphne's silent departure from Ivrea City, and he would lose her from his life forever.
He agreed and signed the document.
The divorce was finalized.
At precisely 4:40 PM, the office doors swung open, and Charles and Daphne emerged, each clutching their respective divorce certificates. A peculiar sensation stirred within Daphne's heart, a feeling she attributed to Charles being her first love and former husband. She considered it natural to feel a tinge of strangeness.
Reflecting on Evan's message, she addressed Charles, "Mr. Lancelot, goodbye."
"Goodbye," Charles responded, his eyes brimming with depth and emotion.
With a newfound sense of freedom, Daphne strode away, leaving nothing but her silhouette in her wake.
Assessing the considerable distance to her residence, Charles quickened his pace to catch up with her, proposing, "Let me drive you home. Taxis are hard to come by in this area."
"No need. Someone is on their way to pick me up," Daphne declared just as Evan's car pulled up.
Evan parked in front of Daphne and rolled down the window, beckoning, "Daffy, hop in."
"All right," Daphne agreed, moving towards the car.
A flicker of a frown crossed Charles's face as he watched Daphne approach Evan's car. He reached out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back abruptly!
Caught by surprise, Daphne nearly lost her footing and retorted, "What are you doing!"
"Why is Evan here?" Charles's tone was ice cold.
A suspicion began to gnaw at him. Was Evan waiting for Daphne to finalize their divorce so he could whisk her away to obtain a marriage license? The mere thought ignited a spark of anger within him.
"He's here to pick me up. Isn't that obvious?" Daphne extricated herself from his grip.
She hadn't informed him about her plans to leave for Gedser with Evan that day. Primarily because she knew if she had, Charles's imagination would have spiraled, leading him to conclude they were eloping.
Evan's timely arrival was a strategic move to curb Charles's overactive imagination.
Daphne had nothing to conceal regarding her interactions with Evan. Their relationship was entirely transparent.
Charles attempted to discern any discrepancies, but Daphne remained composed and steadfast.
Despite his frustration, he recognized that he no longer had the right to question her. "You haven't yet disclosed your background or your family's origins."
"Your grandfather knows," Daphne responded cryptically.
Charles was taken aback. "Your grandfather?"
"Yes," she confirmed nonchalantly.
While Charles was still grappling with her revelation, Daphne swiftly opened Evan's car door, climbed in, and they sped off.
Charles stood, watching the car vanish into the distance. He contemplated giving chase but quickly dismissed the thought as futile. He returned to his car and set off towards the family mansion.
He needed to confront his grandfather. Why had he been left in the dark about Daphne's identity despite his relentless efforts to uncover it? Meanwhile, Daphne was already en route to the airport.
During their journey, Evan queried Daphne, "Does your grandfather know about your past?"
"Yes."
"Then it might not be over between you two."
"What do you mean?"
"If Charles discovers the extent of your deception..." Evan's refined demeanor and the curve of his lips hinted at his amusement with the situation. "He'll come looking for you again."
Daphne paused, retrieving her phone and stating, "I almost forgot about that."
"Forgot about what?" Evan inquired, glancing at her.
"Deleting and blocking all his contacts," she explained, executing the action as she spoke. "It's time to sever ties with the past completely."
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