Chapter 26
Soon, he finished the call. Looking at Ellsworth, he mused, “Ells,
you seem a bit off tonight.”
Handing Ellsworth a cigarette, he explained, “Hara would be
here, so we didn’t invite Kelsey. You understand, right?”
Ellsworth took the cigarette, leaned against the railing lazily,
lowered his head, caught the flame Johnathan offered, and lit
the cigarette skillfully.
Exhaling a smoke ring unhurriedly, he said, “Whoever’s here
makes no difference.”
Leaning against the railing next to him, Johnathan lit a
cigarette for himself, smoke drifting from his half-parted lips.
“Hara looks different. It seems she’s let go. Are you two really
splitting up?”
Ellsworth took a deep drag.
Blowing out a thick smoke ring, he turned around and rested
both arms on the railing. Gazing out at the night view in the
distance, he let out a smile. “She’s been hounding me about
divorce these days. She must’ve actually believed Grandpa’s
promise. I’m sure she’ll drop it once I reject his proposal.””
When they got married, Raymond had warned him to treat her
well, even threatening that if he dared to mention the word
“divorce”, he’d be kicked out of the family with nothing, and
she’d have all his money.
The disowning part might have been a bluff, but he had no
doubt that Raymond would make sure she got half his money.
Of course, he wouldn’t accept that.
Given his relationship with Harriet, she simply didn’t get to
have that much.
Unlike Ellsworth, Johnathan didn’t turn around. Still leaning
against the railing, he rested his hands on it and tilted his head
to look at Ellsworth. “So, you’re just dragging this out so that she
won’t get a penny from you? It’s a bit unfair to her, don’t you
think?”
Ellsworth scoffed, “Not at all. She made her own choice, didn’t
she? Besides, why should I honor Grandpa’s promise to her?
That’s his promise, not mine. And, be honest, Nathan-do you
really think she deserves to have half of my fortune?”
The marriage had been her idea to begin with. And now, she
thought she could get a divorce just because she wanted it? No.
Not everything went her way.
Looking at Ellsworth, Johnathan advised, “Hara isn’t that
ambitious. If you really don’t have any feelings for her, you
should let her go. Stop making each other miserable. You can
always work out the divorce details later.”
Ellsworth blew out another smoke ring slowly, falling into
silence.
He had stumbled upon Harriet’s secret, but a divorce? That had
never crossed his mind.
Johnathan was right-she was indeed a good wife.
If she wanted to keep up the act, he’d play along.
Meanwhile, Johnathan continued, “You can’t make up your
mind, can you? I mean, think about it. Hara isn’t that bad,
right?”
Ellsworth was amused. “It sounds like you’re trying to fix us
up.”
With a flick of his cigarette ash, he said stubbornly, “She’s not
my type. Stay out of this-you and Darrick both.””
“She must’ve actually believed Grandpa’s promise.”
“I’m sure she’ll drop it once I reject his proposal.”
“Do you really think she deserves to have half of my fortune?”
“She’s not my type.”
On the other side of the garden, Harriet clutched her phone
tightly, not daring to make any sound as she listened to their
conversation.
So, that was why Ellsworth refused to sign the divorce papers.
He didn’t want her to take a penny from him.
She couldn’t help but let out a self-mocking laugh.
A wave of helplessness overwhelmed her.
Was this how he saw her? A gold digger?
A gentle breeze drifted by as she stared at the two slender
figures motionlessly.
Ellsworth talked about her like she was some stranger.
Chapter 26
Just then, Johnathan said, “Ells, just let her go. Stop wasting her time. Just give her some alimony and get the divorce finalized. Dragging it out won’t do her any good.”
Suddenly, Harriet’s phone rang.
Back in the club, she had switched it from vibrate to full
ringtone and maxed out its volume.
The sound instantly sliced through the air, echoing on the
balcony.
Panicking at once, she rejected the call and texted Kathie on WhatsApp, “I’m outside taking a call. Be right back.”
Ellsworth and Johnathan had already turned around.
Neither of them realized they weren’t out here alone.
Stubbing out the cigarette, Johnathan looked in Harriet’s
direction and asked, “Who’s there? Are you having fun
eavesdropping?”
Harriet was at a loss for what to do.
She didn’t mean to eavesdrop. After finishing the call, she was
about to leave when they came over and started talking about
her.
If she wanted to go back to the club, she’d have to walk right
past them, so she had planned to wait until they left. But she had forgotten to silence her phone.
Clutching her phone, she walked forward.
Faint moonlight spilled across the balcony.
Johnathan straightened up at once at the sight of her, blurting
out in surprise, “Hara…”
