Not 9

Chapter 9 

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Having no option, he could only keep Darlene by his side. 

It had been days already, and Darlene couldn’t help but grow bored. Tonight’s auction was the best example. 

As he thought of the auction, Claudine’s face uncontrollably emerged in his mind. 

He thought, “She knew I’d be there today, so she had waited there for me. 

“Women are so predictable. 

“I know what she’s thinking. After running away, she found coming back embarrassing, so she pulled this stunt. She even found a man to play along? 

“How lame. 

“But things can’t keep going on like this forever. 

“Someone’s got to take care of Darla. 

“Besides, if she pulls a couple more stunts like today’s, it’ll only invite gossip.” 

By the time he finished a cigarette, he had already made a decision. 

He took out his phone and pulled out his chat records with Claudine. A week had passed since they last spoke. 

Back then, he had taken Darlene on a trip in Novahelm, and Claudine had actually called him dozens of times. 

He couldn’t help but furrow his brows. 

To him, women were such a hassle. But at least Claudine had been obedient after their marriage. He couldn’t help but wonder what had gotten into her this time? 

He closed the chat, opened a banking app, and froze her card. 

Without money, how long could she possibly survive on her own? He couldn’t wait to find out. 

Claudine slept soundly that night. When she woke up, it was already past 8:00 a.m. 

Though it was the dead of winter, with the heating and the golden sunlight, warmth seeped through her limbs. 

In a good mood, she brewed herself a pot of coffee, sat on the balcony, and gazed at the river view not far away. 

Just then, her phone dinged–it was a bank notification. 

She had received her auction commission. Her smile grew bigger as she saw the number. 

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03:50 

Chapter 9 

Soon, her doorbell rang. 

The divorce lawyer she had scheduled stood outside. 

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She demanded thirty percent of Damian’s assets. They had been married for five years, and she had sacrificed almost everything. It wasn’t too much to ask. 

After signing the divorce agreement, she had a courier deliver it to Damian’s office. 

Then she washed up quickly before heading to the faculty housing at Camberwell University. 

Though she had psyched herself up, after arriving, she still couldn’t bring herself to open the door. 

“Claudine, have you thought this through? Are you really going to give up your Ph.D. just for a man? I fought to get you into this doctoral program! After being admitted, now you’re telling me you want to quit? Think clearly, Clau- dine. Are you really choosing a man over your career? 

“Claudine, if you walk out that door, don’t expect me to see you again!” 

She still vividly remembered the disappointed look on the face of her professor, Adriana Nixon. 

Over the past five years, she could never work up the courage to go see Adriana. 

She had been filled with guilt and shame. After all, what Adriana had said was right. The harsh reality proved how stupid she was, throwing away everything she had for the sake of a man. 

Back then, she had been Adriana’s star student. During her graduate studies, her research under Adriana’s supervision led to her publishing a paper in an SCI–indexed journal, and her work in applying modern technology to cultural arti- fact restoration earned professional recognition. 

Now that she was set to become an auctioneer again, she’d continue working on cultural relic authentication and con- 

servation, too. 

But… would Adriana still accept her? She really had no idea. 

Clutching the gifts she had bought for Adriana, she walked upstairs. Standing by the door, she hesitated for a long time before finally mustering her courage and knocking on the door. 

“Who is it?” 

The door opened, and an elderly woman with gray hair and a hunched back came into her view. 

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