Chapter 8
After returning to the country. Chad denied the adultery charges in court, turning the divorce into drawn-out legal battle. I had no choice but to confront him myself.
‘Chad, you agreed to the divorce before. Why did you change your mind?”
I honestly couldn’t understand it. He was parading around with his new girlfriend.
I was willing to step aside. Why wouldn’t he just take the deal? What was he gaining by dragging this out?
Chad sat in his office and calmly handed me a file. It contained a detailed history of Benjamin’s past relationships.
I flipped through a few pages, completely confused. “Why are you showing me this?”
He leaned forward, his eyes locked on me. “You’re in such a hurry to divorce me so you can be with him, right?”
‘As your husband, I’m worried you’re being fooled. I did some research on your little backup.”
“Benjamin dated one woman for five years. The Cole family didn’t approve, so they paid her off, and the two of them
broke up. He’s been single for three years since then.”
“Eight years of emotional history. You think you can compete with that? With his lifelong regret over a love that was
destroyed?”
He let out a cold, mocking laugh. “You think Benjamin is any different from me? Men are all the same at the core. You’re
just a temporary thrill for him.”
I slowly closed the file, completely unmoved.
There was nothing between Benjamin and me. His romantic past had nothing to do with me.
I tossed the file back at him. “Stop wasting your time on this nonsense. Chad.”
“The divorce is between you and me. We’ve reached the end. Don’t drag innocent people into this.”
*Benjamin and I are just friends. If you refuse to end this cleanly and insist on dragging this out for a year or two, then
don’t expect me to play nice anymore.”
I walked out of the Wellington Group building and pulled a business card from my bag.
On the day we came back from Lakewood, just before we got off the plane, Benjamin had handed it to me.
It belonged to the most prestigious family attorney in the city, the one who handled all the major celebrity divorce cases.
Back then, Benjamin had said, with perfect politeness, ‘Miss Hayes, my offer of a loan still stands. If I were you, I would
take the gamble.”
Chapter 8
80.00%
Lera
Romance romántico e fantasia
INSTALL
(
When I met with the attorney, he told me I had a strong chance of walking away with a significant portion of Chad’s
assets.
But when I asked about his fees, he named a number that made my head spin.
Even if I sold the Clearwater villa, I would still come up short. I was hesitating over whether to ask Benjamin for help.
As if sensing my hesitation, the attorney spoke up. “Don’t worry about the fees, Miss Hayes. Mr. Cole has already prepaid
the retainer. I will give this case everything I have.”
I sat there frozen for a moment. I hadn’t expected that Benjamin had already quietly arranged everything for me when
he handed me that card. I was deeply grateful.
Still, I called him afterward. When he picked up. I offered first. “Mr. Cole, let me write you an IOU. Once I win the case. I’ll
pay you back right away.”
He understood immediately, his voice warm. “No need. I trust you, Miss Hayes.”
‘Aren’t you afraid I’ll lose the case and won’t be able to pay you back?”
His pleasant laugh came through the phone. “Then you lose. A small price to pay for your freedom. It’s worth it.”
The divorce case dragged on for a year. Finally, it was settled.
The court included Chad’s offshore trust in the asset division. I walked away with enough money that I would never have
to depend on anyone again for the rest of my life.
Outside the courthouse, the sunlight was blinding.
Chad blocked my path, his expression cold and unreadable, his voice bitter. “Happy now? You took half of everything I
have.
I looked up at him calmly, my voice perfectly level. “The court awarded it to me. It’s what I deserve. We’re done here.
Chad. Don’t come near me again.”
His throat moved like he wanted to say something else, but I stepped around him and walked into the bright early
summer of Cherryhill.
The cross-border enforcement process involved multiple steps. Even if everything went smoothly, it would still take at
least two months for the money to reach me.
If Chad wanted to delay things, half a year or even a year or two wouldn’t be surprising.
But Chad cooperated fully. A little over two months later, the staggering sum was deposited into my account as
scheduled.
Chapter 8
80.00%
L
Lera
Romance romântico e fantasia
INSTALL
I immediately paid back everything I owed Benjamin. Then I sent him the good news. Not long after, his reply came
back.
[Congratulations, Miss Hayes. You won your bet.]
I typed my response slowly. (Thank you for the chips)
Chapter 8
Lera
Romance romantico e fantasia
