Chapter 41 So You Want to Divorce Me?
Magdalen was shocked, left only with anger and disappointment.
Just then, Oscar came out of the patient's room and looked up to see Magdalen and Pearl together. He called out politely, "Auntie."
"Don't 'Auntie' me!"
Magdalen lost her temper, reprimanding Oscar, "Do you even consider me an aunt anymore? You're getting a divorce from Pearl, and you didn't consult me? Have you forgotten Grandpa's advice to take good care of Pearl? Is this your idea of care? Oscar, I've watched you grow up. I never knew you to be so irresponsible, and now you want a divorce! Over this woman playing sick in the hospital, have you no regard for the bond of marriage?"
Magdalen snapped, her tone sharp as she addressed Mrs. Brown, "Just speak directly, will you? All this talk about 'mistress' and 'lack of commitment' - can't we discuss this without such ugly words?" Mrs. Brown heard Magdalen's harsh comment and stood up to retort for the first time, "Oscar wanting a divorce is their business, not yours. Why do you have to scold my son just because you're his elder?"
Pearl had not anticipated this outcome, causing a quarrel among them. She hurried over, attempting to intervene and prevent a public spectacle. However, it wasn't merely the divorce at stake; Magdalen looked down on Mrs. Brown, dismissing her scornfully, "I'm talking to my nephew. What's it to you? Mrs. Brown, on what grounds do you think you have the right to speak to me?"
"Don't push it too far, Magdalen!" Mrs. Brown warned.
Magdalen did not like Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Brown did not like Magdalen. The two scarcely exchanged words, not unlike strangers. Magdalen, feeling superior, confronted her with disdain, "I'm the one advising you against going too far! Whatever contributions you've made as a mother to Oscar, I need not mention. Everyone here can speak with authority, everyone except you, Mrs. Brown. My reprimands to my nephew have nothing to do with you!"
Oscar's childhood had little involvement from Mrs. Brown; she was admittedly at a disadvantage and unwilling to concede, "Oscar, look at your aunt; she dares to lecture me like this. Say something. This is not exclusively Magdalen's house!"
Their argument escalated. Oscar frowned, interjecting coldly, "I didn't agree to it, so the marriage cannot end!"
Silence fell upon the room. Magdalen was confused, "What do you mean?"
Mrs. Brown also asked, "Oscar, didn't you want the divorce?"
With the situation having reached this point, Pearl intervened, "It was me who suggested it."
Neither could imagine that Pearl would be the one to bring up divorce first. Magdalen pursed her lips. Even if it was Pearl's idea, she could not accept it, "No, I won't agree!"
Pearl did not foresee things turning out this way, disappointing Magdalen as well, "Auntie, I..."
Magdalen did not want to listen, turning to Oscar instead, "You deal with your wife. Pacify her until she changes her mind!" Magdalen refrained from blaming Pearl, empathizing with her as a woman.
Oscar and his wife had been married for so long that one would think even the coldest of stones should have warmed up by now.
His niece, however, seemed not to have a trace of human warmth.
No wonder Pearl was disappointed.
She did not plan to reproach Pearl because she clearly had deep feelings for Oscar.
The more she cared, the greater the disappointment.
Magdalen worked to quell her anger as the room calmed down while Mrs. Brown attended to Haley.
"Did you talk to your aunt?" Oscar asked.
Pearl was also blaming herself. After enduring for so long, why couldn't she bear it a little longer?
Magdalen would have remained in the dark if she hadn't been so impulsive.
"I'm sorry," she said.
Pearl did not mean to trouble Oscar, but what was said could not be taken back.
Oscar's deep gaze fell on her as he pondered many things and asked, "Do you really want a divorce that much?"
Pearl thought about it. Did she really want a divorce from Oscar?
Actually, she longed for a new life for herself.
The current situation was hopeless, without a future, and she didn't want to be immersed in it any longer.
Noticing her silence, Oscar asked again, "Does being with me cause you a lot of trouble?"
Hearing this, Pearl could no longer hold back. Her eyes welled up as if something was about to fall from them.
If he were angry, blaming her, perhaps she wouldn't feel this way.
But his gentle tone made her lose control.
Rather than trouble, she simply didn't want to see him with Haley, tender and affectionate.
But none of that mattered anymore.
"A little bit," she admitted quietly, looking down to hide her emotions.
Oscar thought about their three years of marriage, which was also because of that contract.
She was in love with a man named Magee.
She had not mentioned any demands for him over these three years, preserving herself with utmost care.
The realization made Oscar clench his fist, a heavy weight pressing on his chest, making it difficult to breathe.
He should let her go.
Oscar loosened his grip and said matter-of-factly, "Let's wait until the three-year contract ends, then we can divorce."
Pearl almost choked up, her nails digging into her skin as she suppressed her sadness.
Blinking back tears, she didn't want to lose her dignity at that moment. She looked up at him and managed a smile. "Okay."
Oscar gazed at her charming face, which, for the first time during this exchange, bore a genuine smile.
It seemed their marriage had indeed caused her much distress.
These three years had not made Pearl grow even the slightest bit fond of him.
Pearl glanced at the clock; it was precisely the time she expected. She composed herself and spoke to him with ease, "If I can't be your wife, I can still be your secretary! Go spend time with Haley. There's a social engagement this afternoon, and I can handle it. I'll head out first."
"Okay."
"Mhm."
Pearl smiled and nodded at him, then turned to walk away.
As soon as she turned, her smile faltered, and tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Oscar watched her retreating figure, her steps quick, eager to escape his presence, reluctant to stay even a second longer.
--
At the Hilton Hotel.
Several company CEOs were sitting around, drinking.
Pearl was there, too, with only Queenie by her side.
Typically, it would be Oscar sitting with her, but since he was in the hospital, her presence was harmless.
She planned to just get through the engagement with minimal fuss.
Dinner conversations were simply for show and politeness.
Unexpectedly, Morgan called her out and urged her to drink.
The memory of her last allergic reaction to alcohol made her adamant about not touching it again. She politely resisted, "Morgan, I really don't drink. I'm allergic to alcohol, so I'd rather not this time."
Morgan, clearly inebriated and flaunting his sizable belly, approached Pearl with a bottle of red wine, pouring a glass for her, "Pearl, we've met before. There's no need to be so formal. With President Oscar not here, you're representing him. How can you not drink? Oscar always joins us for a drink. Come on, don't make so many excuses!"
"Morgan, I..."
"If you don't drink, you're disrespecting me!"
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