Chapter 9
Elijah flung the door open. “What do you mean by this?”
Even Walter, seasoned in dealing with the craftiest businessmen, felt a shiver run through him when he saw Elijah standing there.
Elijah walked toward him and asked, “What is this three–year period, and why are you saying she loves you?”
Walter let out a nervous laugh. “It’s just family love, Mr. Tarver. Don’t get the wrong idea. We’re siblings. It was only a bet between us with a three–year limit, that’s all.”
Elijah’s dark expression finally eased, and his tense muscles relaxed. “What do you mean Avery is missing? I saw her packing earlier. She must have gone on a trip.”
Walter let out a sigh of relief. “Good, that’s a relief.”
After the conversation, Elijah didn’t go home. Instead, he went straight to the office and worked through the night until 3:00 am. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his forehead
wearily. “Ave, get me a glass of water,” he muttered instinctively.
However, the empty office answered only with the echo of his own words.
Elijah let out a cold laugh. He had forgotten that while something so serious happened at home, his beloved wife hadn’t returned to help. Instead, she was out enjoying herself and ignoring all his messages.
He realized he had spoiled Avery far too much. He had gone out of his way to give her the title of Mrs. Tarver, yet she still dared to push his limits.
Since Avery wouldn’t obey, she needed to be disciplined until she learned to listen.
Elijah’s expression darkened as he picked up the phone and dialed a number. “Is this Mr. Gowther? Draft a divorce agreement for me.
The
person on the other end agreed immediately, and soon the sound of typing filled the line.
“Just draw up a simple one. I only want to scare my wife a little,” Elijah said.
Thinking of how much Avery loved him, he decided a small punishment would suffice.
While waiting, Elijah lost himself in memories of Avery from when they had first married. Back then, she didn’t know how to please him and was always clumsy, constantly causing funny little mishaps.
The first time she cooked, she accidentally added sugar instead of salt and nearly ruined the dish. The first night they were together, she was so shy that her whole body flushed, yet she
Chapter 9
bit her lip and went through with it.
Even before Lara returned, he had been soft–hearted toward her sometimes. Elijah’s eyes
darkened.
Since Lara came back, Avery seemed like a completely different person. The sweet, girl he had married was gone. Now, all that remained was a jealous, vindictive woman.
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innocent
The voice on the other end of the line snapped him back to reality. “Mr. Tarver, I’m afraid the divorce agreement can’t be drafted.”
Elijah frowned. “Why not?”
“You and Ms. McPherson have already divorced.”
Elijah shot to his feet, knocking his chair over with a loud crash.
“What did you say?” He gasped, as if struck by lightning.
“I looked into it. You and Ms. McPherson officially divorced a week ago,” the voice on the
other end said.
The voice on the line grew distant, as if muffled behind a wall of air, leaving Elijah with only a ringing in his ears.
A week ago? How could that be?
Suddenly, Avery’s desperate cries from that day flashed in his mind. “We’re already divorced.
You can’t do this to me.‘
At the time, he had assumed she was just panicking and saying nonsense. He hadn’t paid it
much attention.
Only now did he realize she had known all along.
However, he had never signed any divorce papers. It seemed impossible.
Staring blankly at the pristine ceiling, Elijah finally remembered his father’s words from not long ago. “Get rid of what’s useless.”
He had been busy taking care of Lara after her fall and had barely glanced at the papers his father handed him. He had signed them absentmindedly and left.
Regret and fury surged within him, almost overwhelming his senses.
He muttered, “Well, Avery. You actually had the nerve to run from me without my permission. Didn’t you love me? I will make sure you regret ever divorcing me.”
He kicked the chair across the floor and grabbed his car keys.
Chapter 9
A maid stepped forward, holding a package. “Mr. Tarver, you’re back. This is yours.”
Before she could finish, Elijah snapped, “Get lost!”
The maid kept her head down, a trace of malice flashing in her eyes.
When Elijah wasn’t looking, she casually threw the package into the trash.
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Chapter 10
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Chapter 10
