Chapter 1430 Does Derek Like Her?
Michael rushed over just as the car pulled up.
Last night, he was so stressed he didn't catch a wink of sleep, and he hadn't even bothered to shave. He looked like a mess.
"Laura, you're here." Michael walked up as Laura stepped out of the car. She was rocking a pink hoodie and jeans that fit snugly around her calves, looking more like a college kid than a new mom.
Michael reached out to grab her, but Laura dodged him like a pro.
When he tried to hug her, a hand shot out and blocked him.
"Michael, Laura's here to talk about the divorce today." Derek's voice was calm, but his eyes were throwing daggers.
Hearing "divorce" and seeing Derek standing there, Michael noticed they were about the same age, both good-looking.
A wave of anger hit Michael hard.
"Derek, get out of the way." Michael shoved Derek's hand aside, fuming. "Are you the one pushing Laura to divorce me? You think you can be with her after? Dream on. The Jude Family won't let that happen. Stop wasting your time."
Derek's face stayed cool, like Michael wasn't even talking about him.
Laura and Violet, who had just gotten out of the car, were both stunned.
Then Laura snapped, "Michael, are you out of your mind? My decision to divorce you has nothing to do with Derek."
"Laura, you're too naive. He likes you," Michael shot back, pointing angrily at Derek.
Violet frowned and looked at Derek.
Even Laura was momentarily thrown.
Derek liked her?
No way.
But Derek stayed calm and gentle. "Laura went into early labor because of him. I felt really bad for her at the time. But when I saw they had Maeve, I couldn't let her face her parents' divorce right after being born. So I privately provoked Michael, saying I liked Laura. If he didn't cherish her, I would take her away. Maybe my provocation made Michael realize he had some feelings for Laura, and they reconciled shortly after."
Violet suddenly got it, but Michael was taken aback and sneered, "Don't try to fool me."
"Michael, I genuinely hoped you would cherish Laura," Derek said, spreading his hands. "Look, if I hadn't provoked you, would you have realized how much you cared about Laura? You were afraid of losing her to someone else, weren't you?"
"He's not afraid of me being taken away; he's just afraid of being ridiculed as a nominal husband," Laura said coldly. "Megan hurt his pride once, so he cares more than anyone else."
"Laura, I care about you," Michael said, feeling helpless at Laura's cold demeanor. "Haven't you felt my affection for you recently?"
"Are you talking about lying to me that you were with Cassius all night for business, but you were actually with Megan? Or when we were watching a movie, you lied that the company was on fire and left me to find Megan?" Laura said with a sarcastic smile.
Michael's face turned red with embarrassment. "That was because..."
"Enough," Laura cut him off, staring him down. "Michael, the more you talk, the more disgusted I get. You just don't get it, do you?"
The disgust in Laura's eyes was crystal clear.
Michael felt a deep sting.
Laura despised him?
Why did it have to come to this?
"Let's go inside," Violet said, rubbing her temples from the headache their argument was giving her. Knowing it was pointless to argue with Michael, she headed straight into the house.
Luckily, the whole Jude Family was there.
Laura was dead set on divorcing Michael and didn't feel the need to tiptoe around the elders anymore.
She slapped the divorce papers on the table.
Eric's face went dark, and Caroline jumped up, looking worried. "Laura."
"Caroline," Laura cut her off, "Thanks for everything, but I can't be Michael's wife anymore. I'm here to tell you straight up that I'm divorcing him. I hope you can talk some sense into him and not try to stop me." Laura's voice was firm.
Caroline's words got stuck in her throat.
James spoke up, looking pained. "Laura, Michael messed up. We'll make sure he knows it. We'll keep him away from Megan."
"I won't go to her anymore," Michael said, his face pale. He hadn't thought it would get this bad.
"Laura, Michael cares about you. He's a good guy, and he didn't sleep with Megan. I grilled him about it. If he had, I'd have kicked him out," Eric said earnestly.
Laura sighed inwardly. Eric was slick. He seemed to be on her side, but she knew he'd never kick Michael out.
Eric's words were just for show.
"Yes, Laura, divorce isn't good for a woman's reputation. Maeve is really attached to Michael. Remember when you took her back to Silverwood? She cried every night," Caroline tried to persuade.
"Maeve might struggle at first, but she'll get used to it." Laura stayed firm. "Nothing you say will change my mind. I've made my decision. I don't want anything except custody of Maeve."
"Why do you insist on divorcing?" Michael was completely agitated, his eyes bloodshot with anxiety. "Do you really want to leave me? If you had caught me with Megan, I'd get it, but I didn't do anything."
"Why?" Laura laughed coldly. "Because it's Megan. If it were any other woman you felt guilty about and took care of, I might not be so resolute. I don't care if Megan is a pitiful woman in your eyes, but in my eyes, I want to tear her apart. If it weren't illegal, I'd have stabbed her to death."
Michael was shocked, feeling the raw hatred in her eyes. "This..."
"Your sympathy for Megan is your business. My hatred for Megan is mine. And anyone who helps Megan, I will hate them too. Do you get it?"
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