hapter 281 Divorce
Nathaniel kissed Cecilia, wishing nothing more than to confine her forever in his embrace, as he whispered roughly in her ear, “What do you want from me for you to drop all this? Tell me what you want! I’ll do anything as long as you drop this silliness!”
Nathaniel was not afraid of losing, but rather, he simply believed he could not afford to lose.
If the court allowed their divorce, he had no reason left to forcibly keep her by his side.
“All you have to do is ask, and everything I have, I’ll give to you!” He repeated in her ear over and
over.
Cecilia struggled in his arms.
Upon noticing her silence, Nathaniel held her tightly in his embrace and asked in a deep voice, “Has Calvin contacted you?”
Cecilia blocked him, “I don’t want anything from you…”
Nathaniel did not want to believe her.
He held onto Cecilia, refusing to let her go.
The car hummed quietly, parked by the roadside, as heavy snow continued to fall relentlessly outside.
The sky had gradually began to darken. Nathaniel wanted to stay frozen there with her forever. Whenever Cecilia made the slightest movement, he would tighten his embrace.
Cecilia’s gaze dropped, “Nathaniel, have you fallen for me?”
She had asked the same question before, but at that time she was not sure of his answer. Now, it seemed like she was somewhat certain.
Nathaniel was taken aback. He lowered his gaze to meet Cecilia’s eyes. His throat bobbed as he swallowed.
As his silence stretched into long minutes, Cecilia slowly drew closer to him.
“You don’t have to answer me,” Cecilia said with a bittersweet smile. “I’m not so delusional to hope for your affection. All I wish is for you to let me go. Can we please get a divorce? Please do this as a favor to me.”
“Can you consider it as a favor to me, please?”
Nathaniel felt as if his throat close. Even breathing felt painful at that moment.
“No.”
Pain filled Cecilia’s eyes at his short answer.
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At that moment, Nathaniel felt a deep longing for the woman she used to be. If it were possible, he truly wished to return to the past, back to the time when she still loved him.
Leaning into Nathaniel’s embrace, Cecilia eventually succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep.
Nathaniel gazed at her as she dozed in his arms. For a moment, he thought about taking her away with him. Perhaps that way he could keep her by his side.
At that moment, the ring of his cell phone jolted him back to reality.
Upon checking his phone, he saw a message from Mason: “Mr. Rainsworth, I’ve found Ernest. He’s agreed to take on this divorce case, and he’s confident that we’ll win without a doubt.”
Nathaniel deleted the message after reading it. He returned his attention to Cecilia, and felt a sense of calmness settling over his heart.
A small noise startled Cecilia in waking. She opened her eyes to find herself still in Nathaniel’s
car.
“May I go back now?”
Nathaniel covered her with his own jacket. Then, he started up the car to drive them back.
Cecilia was stunned. She had not expected this sudden change in his attitude.
Nathaniel stopped his car outside Vivian’s house. He watched as Cecilia got out of his car and disappeared into the house. Only then did he drive away.
After he left, he immediately called Mason: “Tell Ernest that if I lose this case, he can kiss his career in law goodbye.”
Once Cecilia closed the front door behind her, Vivian immediately asked her if she had managed to find any compelling evidence.
Cecilia briefly narrated the events of the day.
“From the looks of it, Nathaniel’s emotions are still unstable. This could be taken advantage of.”
The two of them were contemplating divorce. However, Vivian was completely oblivious to the fact that her first love would soon return to Tudela.
That night, Cecilia and Vivian snuggled up in the same bed..
She dialed the numbers of her two children, “Jon, Eli!TM
“Mommy, where are you?” Jonathan Was quick to notice that she was not where she was supposed
to be.
Cecilia had no choice but to lie about being on a business trip. She promised her children that she would likely be able to see them again in about a month.
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“I’ll be back soon. Don’t fret!”
After a lengthy conversation, the call ended.
Jonathan said, “Mommy has returned to Tudela.”
He quickly traced the IP address from Cecilia’s end.
Elliot asked curiously, “Why did Mommy return to Tudela? Could it be because of our sc*mbag daddy?”
Jonathan neither confirmed nor denied.
“We’ll teach him a lesson tonight.”
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Chapter 282 Scared
This time, Jonathan was determined to break into Nathaniel’s personal computer. However, he had not anticipated that his own father would still be awake at this hour.
Nathaniel was unable to fall asleep, and was instead, working on his computer when he discovered that his computer had been hacked.
He watched as his mouse cursor moved automatically, and clicked through his documents. His eyes narrowed slightly, then he quickly started typing on his keyboard.
Elsewhere, Jonathan was seated in front of his computer. His forehead was slick with a sheen of
sweat.
Elliot leaned over next to him, “Jon, what’s happening?”
“Oh no! I’ve been caught.”
In that final moment, Jonathan’s computer screen abruptly went dark. Unexpectedly, while attempting to infiltrate Nathaniel’s computer, it was his computer system that ended up being compromised instead.
After all, Jonathan was still young, and he was no match for Nathaniel yet. In no time, Nathaniel had managed to locate Jonathan’s IP address.
“So, you’re looking for trouble, huh?”
Nathaniel noted that the IP address was located overseas.
He sent a message to Mason, instructing him to investigate.
Jonathan felt drained, “Damn it!!”
“I really did not expect our good–for–nothing father to have a few tricks up his sleeve,” Elliot admitted thought he himself was not being very savvy with computers.
However, he understood enough to know that they were in serious trouble.
“Before he gets here, we must erase all evidence,” Jonathan said as he shut down his computer.
“Do we have to run?”
Elliot had experienced Nathaniel’s punishments firsthand. Once he caught them, he would lock them up for an extended period.
During his time in the Spring Forest Manor, he had been driven to complete boredom.
“Don’t worry, he only has our general location. He doesn’t know that it’s us.”
“You’re right. After all, we’re just kids! We’re only good at playing computer games,” Elliot said, returning to his bed and pulling his blanket over himself.
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Jonathan was also tired. He, too, went and laid down on his bed.
Elliot hummed a little song to lull himself to sleep.
The days leading up to the divorce hearing seemed to stretch on forever. During that time, Cecilia made a journey to her father’s grave. She cleared away the snow piled on it and gazed at her father’s portrait set into the headstone.
“Hey Dad, it’s been a while.”
Cecilia took a deep breath and lifted her eyes to the distant mountains capped in white. “You once told me that I should always feel free to speak my mind to you. No matter where you are, you promised to always lend me a patient ear. I came here today to let you know that I’ve decided. to file for divorce. To be honest, I never thought things would happen this way. So much has happened since you’ve been gone…”
Cecilia spoke aloud whatever came to her mind, oblivious to the fact that, not too far away, someone in a black sedan was constantly watching her.
The individual in the car was periodically seized by fits of coughing. His complexion was pallid, and his slender pianist’s hands bore the marks of numerous needle pricks.
“Mr. Nicholas, it’s time for us to leave,” the driver said.
Nicholas grunted in acknowledgement. He dragged his gaze away and slowly closed his eyes.
After spending some time at her father’s grave, Cecilia rose to her feet and started to walk away.
At that moment, she received a phone call. It was Sven at the other end of the line.
Ever since he returned with Nathaniel a few days ago, he had taken a flight over, to her.
“Ms. Smith, I’ve just landed. Mr. Reese has asked me to continue looking after you. Where are you now?”
Cecilia gave him her location.
Soon after, Sven arrived by car.
Since Nathaniel had already seen him before, he did not bother hiding. “There are two people each at our two o’clock and six o’clock.”
Cecilia knew without even looking that those were Nathaniel’s men.
“Are you scared?”
Sven was taken aback by her direct question.
“If you’re nervous about Nathaniel, you don’t have to keep watching over me. I’ll talk to Calvin about it,” Cecilia offered graciously.
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That was his answer to Cecilia’s question.
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Chapter 283 Marital Asset
Sven swerved and stopped the car in front of Cecilia. “Get in the car.”
Without any hesitation, Cecilia climbed in.
“There will be trouble.”
After noticing Sven a few days ago, Nathaniel had immediately sent his men to investigate him.
He learned that Sven was Calvin’s personal bodyguard who had been assigned to watch over Cecilia.
Nathaniel had been disturbed to find out from his men that Sven had followed Cecilia to Tudela.
“Are they living together now?”
Nathaniel recalled the bodyguard’s physique. He had delicate, refined features, and strong eyes. He looked unlike the usual bodyguard.
“The woman stayed the night at Vivian’s house, while the man slept in his car,” Nathaniel’s man. replied.
Nathaniel’s furrowed brows finally relaxed. “Understood. Keep watching her.”
“Roger that.”
Their pending divorce remained a secret,
The outside world remained oblivious, and no insider dared to leak the story. After all, it concerned Nathaniel and the entire Rainsworth Group.
Two days before the divorce hearing was to take place, an article titled “Daughter–in–Law of a Prominent Family Fakes Death and Files for Divorce, Billions in Assets Potentially Split” trended as the top search result on the internet.
The text clearly stated that the daughter–in–law of the wealthy family was a daughter of the Smith family.
It was obvious that the news were referring to the Rainsworth family, the most prominent family in Tudela.
The writer of the piece had even added a photo of Cecilia.
The news reported that Cecilia, the daughter–in–law of a wealthy family, had not received care and concern from her husband and mother–in–law after marrying into their family. Instead, she faced various forms of harsh criticism.
In the end, Cecilia had fallen gravely ill, and she had no choice but to fake her own death and flee the country.
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After recovering from her illness, she returned to her country, determined to divorce Nathaniel and divide their substantial marital wealth.
Upon the release of this report, the stocks of Rainsworth Group hit the floor, causing a significant uproar online.
Comments poured in.
“I’ve always thought that Nathaniel and Stella were together. I didn’t realize he also had a wife!”
“Didn’t you guys know that his wife is disabled?”
“What a jerk!”
“The woman isn’t any better than him! She’s done nothing and yet, she has the audacity to demand for a share of his money!”
All sorts of comments presenting various perspectives were found online.
Vivian was shocked.
“Which irresponsible media outlet exposed this news? Aren’t they afraid of Nathaniel’s wrath?”
She did not dare to show Cecilia the careless report.
“Ceci, right now, the most crucial thing for you is to maintain a calm state of mind,” she said. “All you want is a divorce.”
Cecilia knew there was truth in Vivian’s advice. Yet, how could she find peace when her pain is exposed for the world to judge?
The headlines were everywhere. That was how Elena found out that Nathaniel and Cecilia were heading for divorce.
That evening, she took Cecilia out for dinner.
In the restaurant, Elena spoke, “I saw the news today. Are you really going to divorce Nathaniel?”
“Yes,” Cecilia confirmed.
“Why do you have to make this divorce a public spectacle? Can’t you both handle this privately?” Elena suppressed her rising anger. “Do you realize that this divorce will affect Nathaniel differently? Unlike you, he leads the Rainsworth Group. He’s not just any ordinary man.”
“If he’s willing to settle this privately, I won’t proceed with the lawsuit.”
In an instant, Elena understood and unexpectedly, she found herself holding onto Cecilia’s hand.
“Drop the lawsuit, will you? As long as you’re willing, I won’t interfere with how you and Nathaniel decide to live your lives from now on. I’ll welcome you back to our family.”
Chapter 283 Marital Asset
lawsuit.”
She stood up, ready to leave.
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Seeing her stubbornness, Elena clenched her fists and spat, “Cecilia, Nathaniel worked hard to build Rainsworth Group from ground up. Divorce him all you want, but you won’t receive any part of Rainsworth Group!”
It was then that Cecilia understood why there was such a drastic change in Elena’s behavior.
Turns out, she was afraid of the division of their marital asset.
Chapter 284 First Love
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Suddenly, Cecilia felt a wave of sadness and disappointment wash over her. After all these years of being married and part of the Rainsworth family, she had never once asked them for anything.
Instead, she had given everything she had to Nathaniel.
Yet, in the end, the Rainsworth family were afraid of her taking their wealth.
Should I laugh or cry at this ridiculous notion?
Cecilia glanced at Elena and remarked, “Well, it all depends on the court’s decision.”
She did not want their money, but at that moment, she did want to reassure Elena.
As expected, Elena became anxious and uneasy. As she watched Cecilia walk out of the restaurant,
she immediately pulled out her phone and called Nathaniel.
Nathaniel and Cecilia had been married for eight years.
Over the course of those eight years, the growth of the Rainsworth Group was beyond anyone’s expectations. It evolved from a domestic business, successfully went public, and eventually ranked among the top hundred conglomerates worldwide.
If one were to consider dividing the value of the Rainsworth Group between Nathaniel and Cecilia over the span of eight years, the amount that Cecilia would receive exceeds hundreds of billions.
“Where are you now, Nathaniel?” Elena asked impatiently as soon as the call connected.
“My office.”
Nathaniel had also seen the news report and was having his men find out the person responsible for the information leak.
“I just spoke to Cecilia,” Elena said, her voice trembling with indignation. “The reports are right. She’s really after the Rainsworth Group. That woman is certainly ambitious!”
Nathaniel did not believe what his mother had just told him.
He did not want to prolong the conversation with her, and merely responded by saying, “It’s under control. Don’t worry. I’ll handle this matter.”
He would simply refuse to divorce Cecilia.
Nathaniel ended the call. His gaze shifted to the man scated not far away from him. Dressed in a bespoke Italian suit that hung perfectly on his frame, the man’s features were strikingly handsome. He wore cool and detached expression on his face.
“Mr. Ernest, this article wasn’t written by you, was it?”
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Chapter 284 First Love
Ernest wore an air of arrogance, “No.”
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Nathaniel pulled away his gaze, and asked casually. “You’ve been here for a week or two now. Haven’t you seen your ex–girlfriend yet?”
He did not want to take Cecilia to court.
Cecilia should not even be going to places like the court.
Moreover, he yearned to see her. He missed her intensely.
Ernest was a perceptive man. He knew what was on Nathaniel’s mind. He replied, “Vivian is a hard–headed woman. Once she makes up her mind, she won’t change it.”
The implication was clear. Even if Ernest went to see her personally, Vivian would not agree to persuade Cecilia to drop the divorce.
Suddenly, Nathaniel realized that being too smart as a man was not always a good thing. No wonder Virion broke up with him.
After Ernest left. Nathaniel pulled out his phone and scrolled through his message history with Cecilia
He wanted to hear her voice, but he was afraid that Cecilia would reject his call..
After much deliberation, he finally made the call. Even though it was not a video call, he still ran a hand through his hair self–consciously.
Beep!
Nathaniel’s heart leapt to his throat.
Finally, the line connected. “What’s up?”
The familiar voice brought an indescribable joy to Nathaniel’s heart.
“Did you see the news?” Nathaniel asked, trying to spark a conversation.
“I saw it, but it wasn’t me,” replied Cecilia.
Nathaniel rose from his seat, moving towards the window. “I know.”
“Is there anything else?”
Cecilia thought that he had called to confront her about what had happened with Elena.
Yet, Nathaniel did not mention a word about it. He simply gazed out at the snow falling outside. his window and murmured, “It’s snowing.”
It had been snowing continuously recently.
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Chapter 284 First Love
“Yeah.”
“Will you come out and meet me?” Nathaniel asked tentatively.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. If there’s nothing else, I’m gonna end the call now.”
Cecilia promptly hung up.
Vivian looked up from the documents that was organizing and asked, “Nathaniel?”
“Yeah.”
“Why did he call?”
Cecilia shook his head, “Just to tell me that it’s snowing.”
“That’s really strange.”
Vivian carried on with her task.
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The divorce case between Nathaniel and Cecilia would draw massive attention. She would have to
be careful for the next few dave
However, what she did not know yet was that tomorrow would not just be the day of the divorce proceedings, but also the day she would once again meet her first love, and face him in court.
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Chapter 285 How Ruthless Nathaniel Truly Was
Everyone in Tudela was already aware of Nathaniel’s divorce from Cecilia before the court session began.
Zachary, Darren, and the others were all invested in who would win this divorce lawsuit.
“Isn’t it obvious? Of course, Nathaniel will win,” a rich and spoiled brat stated.
They were all ardent fans of Nathaniel, each one of them wishing they could be as close to him as possible.
Darren chuckled. “I bet on Cecilia.”
“Darren always chooses the high–risk stakes.” Everyone was unsurprised.
Their gaze shifted toward the absent–minded Zachary on the side. “Zach, who do you choose?”
“Do you even need to ask? Of course it’s Nathaniel. Mr. Sinclair can’t stand that deaf girl,” someone chimed in.
Suddenly, Zachary turned to look at him, his gaze icy cold as he said, “Don’t you dare call her ‘that deaf girl‘ again.”
Since Nathaniel wasn’t here, he no longer wished to hide it.
When Zachary got serious, everyone else fell silent, not daring to make jokes carelessly.
Darren took a thoughtful sip of his wine, then tactfully interjected, “You’re right. After all, she is still Nathaniel’s wife.”
Everyone else also agreed one by one.
When they were all indulging in drinks, Darren took a seat next to Zachary.
“Zach, what’s wrong? Are you still upset about the snafu from before?”
He was referring to the incident where the son was mistakenly identified.
With a forced smile, Zachary raised his glass for a toast. “As if! I just find it a bit odd, that’s all. Why is Cecilia divorcing Nathaniel?”
Over the years, he had always carried a sense of guilt deep within his heart, unsure of how to repay Cecilia.
So, he picked up the scalpel again, intending to learn how to treat Cecilia’s hearing impairment.
But he hadn’t yet found a suitable solution when the time came for Cecilia to divorce Nathaniel. How would she manage on her own after leaving Nathaniel?
“Life’s unpredictable, isn’t it? Perhaps Ms. Smith has finally come to her senses. After all, it’s
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Chapter 285 How Ruthless Nathaniel Truly Was
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exhausting to continuously love someone who doesn’t reciprocate your feelings,” Darren said meaningfully.
Without giving it another thought, Zachary continued to drink with him.
At the courthouse in Tudela,
when the court session began, Vivian, dressed in her standard uniform, stood by Cecilia. The moment she saw Ernest standing next to Nathaniel, her face instantly turned pale..
It was at this moment that Vivian realized just how ruthless Nathaniel truly was.
He was not only harsh toward Cecilia, but he also showed no mercy to her friends.
She had always assumed that Nathaniel would send his chief legal advisor to represent him in court. Unexpectedly, he had called upon her ex–boyfriend, Ernest, to fight the legal battle.
Compared to Vivian’s frantic state, Ernest was remarkably composed. He looked at her as if she were a stranger, his deep eyes as calm and undisturbed as a still pond.
Cecilia had seen Ernest before. He was once the most popular campus hunk of a certain high school in Tudela. His appearance was striking, and he didn’t pale in comparison even while standing next to Nathaniel.
“Vivian.”
When Cecilia glanced back at Vivian beside him, she noticed the latter’s eyes were rimmed with red, her forehead dotted with a sheen of sweat, and her once rosy face had turned pale.
Vivian snapped back to reality. Looking at Cecilia, she forced a smile and said, “Yeah.”
Cecilia quickly grabbed her hand.
“Don’t worry; I’m here with you.’
She understood why Vivian behaved in such a way.
Back then, Cecilia would have also reacted this way if she were to engage in a legal battle against Nathaniel.
When a girl fell deeply in love with someone, she would become both daring and timid.
She would daringly give her all to the man she loved, yet become timid when living with him.
Vivian’s body trembled slightly. “Yeah, I’m fine. We will definitely win this.”
Cecilia gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.
Before long, the trial had begun. It was a closed court, so it was not open to the public.
Even though journalists swarmed outside, they couldn’t get in.
News regarding the divorce trial between Nathaniel and Cecilia was exceptionally popular on the internet.
Various major media reporters were stationed outside the courthouse, eager to obtain firsthand.
scoop.
In the courtroom, once Vivian had managed to calm herself down, she first handed over the documents pertaining to the dissolution of their marriage to the judge..
Subsequently, she posed a question to Nathaniel, “Mr. Rainsworth, my client has been married to you for three years. Have you ever been intimate with my client?”
Nathaniel furrowed his brows slightly. “Yes,”
“Mr. Rainsworth, after marriage, did you deliberately give my client the cold shoulder?” Vivian asked again.
Nathaniel cast his gaze toward Cecilia, who was standing beside Vivian. Without even trying to lie, he replied, “Yes.”
Vivian then produced some photos of Nathaniel and Stella at a bar. “Mr. Rainsworth, here are some photos. Ever since your first love. Stella, returned, you’ve been staying out every night, haven’t you?”
She had thoroughly prepared herself this time. Even if the opposing lawyer was Ernest, she wouldn’t let her best friend lose.
Because she wasn’t sure if Nathaniel spent the night with Stella, she simply stated that he had been staying out every night. However, those present during the trial would automatically assume he was with Stella.
Without any hesitation, Nathaniel replied, “Yes.”
Vivian hadn’t expected Nathaniel to admit it so easily. She continued to question him by asking, “My client and you were engaged in a marriage alliance. After the death of my client’s father, your didn’t receive the agreed–upon assets from the alliance. So, out of frustration, you not only harmed my client physically and emotionally but also suppressed Smith Corporation in secret, even going as far as acquiring it. Is that correct?”
“Indeed.”
Nathaniel’s gaze remained fixated on Cecilia, never once leaving her.
He admitted that he was in the wrong regarding those matters.
Cecilia shouldn’t be blamed for the mistakes her mother and brother made.
“Mr. Rainsworth, my client has been separated from you for over five years, hasn’t she?”
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Chapter 286 Shameless Ernest
Nathaniel fell silent for a moment before replying, “Yes.”
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Vivian had asked everything she needed to. “Your Honor, I believe I’ve made myself clear. Nathaniel and my client were in a marriage alliance, which was devoid of any emotional foundation. Furthermore, Nathaniel’s actions were utterly reprehensible, making him thoroughly unfit to be her husband.
In the documents I submitted, there were also records from over the years. After my client. Cecilia, got married, she visited the hospital and was diagnosed with major depression, worsening hearing problems, and so on.”
Vivian’s forehead was covered in a sheen of delicate perspiration. After saying everything, she returned to Cecilia’s side.
She had initially thought that under such circumstances, Ernest would surely lose the lawsuit. Yet, unexpectedly, he remained extraordinarily composed.
During the presentation of evidence, he calmly stepped forward. “Your Honor, the evidence that the opposition just presented all pertains to events that took place five years ago. It does not prove that my client and her client do not have an emotional foundation for their marriage. Moreover, it couldn’t prove that the two had been living apart for five years.”
After he had finished speaking, he presented a piece of supporting evidence.
“This serves as evidence of the relationship between Mr. Rainsworth and Ms. Smith over the past six months. The legal definition of separation probably doesn’t include occasionally staying at each other’s place, right? Ms. Smith, during this period, you and my client have been intimate more than once, isn’t that correct?”
A sudden tightness gripped Cecilia’s chest as she looked at Nathaniel, her eyes reddening at the
corners.
Nathaniel never expected Ernest to be so straightforward. He coughed softly, only then did Ernest stop pressing her with relentless questions.
Chapter 287 You Would Do Anything For Money
Cecilia forced herself to calm down. Peering from a distance, she could see that the documents. consisted of various photographs. As for what was captured in the photos, she couldn’t quite make out.
Ernest handed her a portion of the photos, all of them from the past. They were taken when she was trying to seduce Nathaniel for the sake of getting pregnant.
Cecilia’s mind went blank, and she clenched her fists tightly.
She never imagined that this matter would affect her, nor did she expect that Nathaniel still had the photos.
Vivian gave her a reassuring look, implying that at most, these photos could only convince the court that there was an emotional connection between the two.
Among the conditions for divorce, there was one that involved domestic abuse. Nathaniel’s cold violence fit this criterion.
Little did anyone know, in the next moment, Ernest denied any so–called cold violence by saying,
“Your Honor, the opposing lawyer accused my client of emotional abuse. I would like to ask everyone present, how should we define emotional abuse? Is there a medical diagnosis?”
As he spoke, he looked at Vivian. His gaze was cold and detached. It felt as if he were looking at a complete stranger.
When Vivian met his gaze, she instinctively avoided it.
Ernest stepped forward, “Ms. Kennedy, did you manage to obtain the hospital’s diagnosis results?”
He was leaning in too close, causing Vivian’s breathing to become somewhat hurried.
She trembled as she replied, “Isn’t my client’s major depression the best proof?”
Ernest withdrew his gaze, continuing, “From what I understand, there are five main causes of depression. The first being hereditary factors, the second being health and illness–related issues, the third being medication and alcohol, the fourth being personality traits, and finally, the fifth cause being social and external factors. Ms. Kennedy, how can you be so sure that your client’s depression was caused by my client?”
After speaking, Ernest presented further evidence. “This is the information I’ve gathered. Ms. Smith began to drink heavily two years after her marriage. Her mother, Paula, a renowned. dancer, has undergone a mental evaluation and was diagnosed with a mild mental disorder. Ms. Smith herself has been hard of hearing since birth. From this, it’s clear that Ms. Smith was suffering from depression, which relates to the first, second, and third points I made. It had nothing to do with my client.”
Vivian never thought her ex–boyfriend could be so shameless.
Chapter 28 You Would Do Anything For Money
She exploded in anger and yelled, “You’re just twisting the facts!”
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Ernest looked at her with a detached gaze. “If you think I’m being deceitful, Ms. Kennedy, then present your evidence and prove it.”
Vivian could no longer contain herself. “Ernest, you b*stard! You would do anything for money
“Order! Order!”
Due to Vivian’s sudden emotional outburst, the judge declared a temporary recess.
Had it not been for Cecilia holding her back, Vivian would have already lunged at Ernest to tear apart his mouth that couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.
After the court adjourned, Vivian couldn’t stop apologizing in the break room.
“I’m sorry! It was all my fault! I genuinely didn’t expect his lawyer to be Ernest. I was completely thrown off guard.”
Moreover, Ernest was a top–tier lawyer in Drocver, reputed to have lost only one case.
This divorce lawsuit was a piece of cake for him.
Cecilia held her close, gently patting her shoulder as she said, “It’s all right. I don’t blame you. It doesn’t matter whether we win or lose.”
If she lost, it would simply mean going back to square one.
The more Cecilia spoke, the more guilty Vivian felt.
Her eyes turned red as she said, “I need to use the bathroom. Wait here, Ceci.”
“All right.”
Vivian rose and left the room, but she didn’t head to the restroom as one might expect. Instead, she went to the break room where Ernest and the others were.
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Chapter 288 Nothing But Liars
Inside the break room, Nathaniel pinched the bridge of his nose and turned toward Ernest. “Where did you get those photos from?”
Back when he was with Cecilia, he wouldn’t allow anyone to casually take pictures of them.
Ernest didn’t bother hiding the truth from him. “Footage from surveillance cameras.”
Ever since he lost that one lawsuit, he never again engaged in battles he wasn’t confident of winning.
Nathaniel was somewhat incredulous. Over this period of time, obtaining so many photos from surveillance cameras would have been a significant task.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Kennedy, you cannot enter.”
“Fine, I won’t enter. Could you please ask Ernest to come out, then? I need to see him.”
The sounds of conversation between Vivian and the bodyguard drifted in from outside.
Ernest stood up. “I’ll handle this.”
“Okay.” Nathaniel didn’t stop him.
He knew of Ernest’s ambition. Ernest would never forfeit a chance at fame and fortune for the sake of a woman.
The divorce proceedings this time around would undoubtedly bring both parties‘ lawyers into the public eye.
The crisp sound of a slap echoed down the hallway.
Ernest stood his ground, offering no retaliation.
Vivian’s hand was trembling slightly as it slowly descended.
“Have you had enough?” Ernest asked coldly.
Tears welled up in Vivian’s eyes. “As Nathaniel’s lawyer, don’t you know what kind of person he is? Do you have any idea how miserable my friend has–been? Nathaniel was reluctant to lay a hand on Ceci, but his mother, Elena, was eager for Ceci to become pregnant. She pressured her into consuming bag after bag of traditional medicine and undergoing various examinations. That still wasn’t enough, though. Ceci was wholeheartedly in love with him, yet he was always fixated on other women. He even personally ruined the company her father had single–handedly established… Although Nathaniel has never laid a hand on Cecilia, his actions were far worse than hitting a woman. They were utterly despicable and shameless!”
Vivian was meticulously listing down Nathaniel’s faults, hoping that Ernest could, like he did in his youth, stand up for the side of justice.
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Chapter 288 Nothing But Liars
Regrettably, people change.
+5 Pearls
Ernest interrupted her coldly, “Ms. Kennedy, I’m just a lawyer. I’m not an embodiment of justice. I’m merely trying to fulfill my duties.”
Vivian’s vision was obscured by her tears. “B–But you once said you wanted to become a lawyer for the sake of those impoverished individuals who couldn’t afford to seek justice!”
Upon hearing this, Ernest let out a cold chuckle. “Aren’t you being a bit too naive, Ms. Kennedy? The words I’ve spoken before were merely to deceive naive girls like you. It was all for the sake of getting on the Kennedy family’s good side. Since your father refused to accept me, there’s no point in me keeping up the charade.”
Under Vivian’s astonished gaze, he added, “If you want to win, then show me what you’re capable. of. Don’t think that shedding a few tears will make me yield to you.”
This was probably what it meant to hit someone where it hurts.
Vivian froze on the spot. She couldn’t help but wallow in self–mockery.
Just moments ago, she had thought she could bring Ernest back to how he used to be. Little did she know, his past self was all but a ruse to deceive her.
All these so–called justice–seeking lawyers are nothing but liars!
Vivian’s throat was aching. She had always looked up to Ernest as her role model.
Even after they broke up, she still remembered Ernest’s dream of becoming a lawyer who stood for justice. Hence, despite her father’s disapproval, she chose to become a lawyer.
Even while managing the Kennedy family’s branch company, she never neglected her legal aid work.
However, her faith had crumbled that day.
On the other side, Cecilia was alone in the break room, clutching her phone tightly
She knew another way that might just win her the lawsuit.
Send Gifts
Chapter 289 I Have Something To Say
When the court convened again, Vivian had already dried her tears. She didn’t want to appear weak in front of Ernest.
She once again presented to the court all the testimonies regarding the downfall of the relationship between Cecilia and Nathaniel, as well as how Nathaniel was emotionally abusive.
Just as the judge was about to pass the verdict, without any new evidence or testimony, suddenly, Cecilia stood up and said, “I have something to say.”
The judge looked at her, signaling for her to speak.
Cecilia glanced at Nathaniel, then turned to the crowd and confessed, “I’ve been unfaithful.”
Everyone present fell silent in an instant.
A storm of emotions surged in the depths of Nathaniel’s eyes..
Cecilia didn’t stop there, though. “There was never any emotional connection between Mr. Rainsworth and I. Mr. Ernest mentioned that I’ve been involved with him for the past six months. since I returned. I admit that. However, all I wanted was revenge.”
Nathaniel once regarded me with complete indifference, devoid of any affection a husband. should have for his wife. I despised him. During the four or five years after I left Tudela, I was constantly plagued by nightmares. In each of my nightmares, he was always there. I would dream of him, time and again, abandoning me for another woman! I drank because only alcohol could numb me and ease my pain.”
Ernest hadn’t expected that Cecilia would suddenly say such things.
“That just proves you’re still deeply in love with Mr. Rainsworth,” he interrupted her.
Cecilia couldn’t help but laugh. “Love? Do you even understand love, Mr. Ernest?”
Ernest choked up when he heard that.
“Love is like a sudden rush of hormones. Once they’re gone, so is the love. I once loved this man, but after he hurt me over and over again, my love for him turned into resentment. He was the one who made me realize what a terrible person I was. My return this time was to prove to him that he wasn’t as significant as he thought. If I wanted him, I could have him at any moment!” Cecilia said while glancing at Nathaniel.
Nathaniel stared intensely at Cecilia. Each of her words pierced him like a sharp knife.
Having said that, Cecilia shifted her gaze back toward the judge once again.
“Also, my significant other is currently overseas. I love him dearly, and we have two children. together. If you find me guilty of bigamy, Your Honor, then I’m prepared to accept that. Even if it means going to jail, I want to put a definitive end to my previous failed marriage.”
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Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Cecilia steadily approached Nathaniel. With a threatening tone, she declared in court, “Mr. Rainsworth, if you’re unwilling to divorce, I don’t mind airing our issues right here for everyone to hear.”
At this moment, Nathaniel was certain that Cecilia truly wanted a divorce.
She wouldn’t reconcile with him no matter what.
The corners of his eyes were somewhat red. He wanted to reject her, but he just couldn’t open his mouth to do so.
Ernest knew that even if he won this lawsuit, his client would still end up losing.
Vivian’s eyes welled. up with tears.
She knew that Cecilia had been longing for this moment for a very long time.
In the end, due to unforeseen circumstances, the judge did not deliver the verdict on the spot, opting instead to announce it the following day.
When they stepped out of the courthouse, the reporters outside had already been cleared by Nathaniel’s men.
away
Nathaniel was the first to step out, but he did not leave. Instead, he waited for Cecilia and Vivian to emerge, positioning himself in front of the two.
“Cecilia, let’s chat.”
Cecilia
gave Vivian a reassuring glance, then left with Nathaniel.
After the two departed, Ernest also stepped out.
Vivian shot him a cold glance before swiftly walking away.
Ernest watched her silhouette until it faded from his sight.
He walked over to his car, ready to drive off, when he noticed a few foreigners lurking suspiciously inside another vehicle,
Send Gifts
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Chapter 290 The Crash
Due to his profession as a lawyer, Ernest was more meticulous than others.
When those few foreigners drove off, he secretly followed them.
On the other side, Nathaniel was driving with Cecilia seated in the passenger seat.
Recalling the words spoken by Cecilia during the trial, Nathaniel solemnly asked, “Do you truly wish to divorce me?”
Even though he knew the answer, he still wanted to ask one more time.
“Yes.” Cecilia nodded, then continued, “As long as you’re willing to divorce, I promise I won’t ask for anything. I just want my freedom.”
Nathaniel’s throat tensed up slightly.
Instead of pursuing the topic any further, he asked, “The things you said during the trial earlier… Were they all truc?”
After a moment of hesitation, Cecilia said, “That’s doesn’t matter anymore, does it?”
She looked at Nathaniel, then quickly added, “If you still refuse to divorce me, I really will tell the world that I’ve been with someone else for a while now.”
Cecilia knew this was the worst possible approach.
Nathaniel was deeply concerned about his reputation, and he certainly wouldn’t stand by and watch the company he’d painstakingly built from scratch get affected due to such matters.
“Do you know what happens to those who threaten me?” Nathaniel asked, his tone steady and unhurried.
Cecilia’s lips were tightly pursed.
He continued, “I remember a few years back, a real estate tycoon offered to exchange a piece of land for my billion–dollar project. He threatened to cause trouble at the company if I didn’t agree. Ultimately, he was fished out of the river by someone.”
Cecilia also recalled, there was a period after their marriage when he was frequently unhappy and prone to outbursts.
It wasn’t until one early morning when she came across a news article stating that someone had fallen into the river, that Nathaniel’s mood began to lighten up.
A flash of shock swept across Cecilia’s eyes.
She forced herself to remain calm as she said, “All I want is a divorce.”
“But I don’t want to,” Nathaniel stated coldly.
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The two were deep in conversation, completely oblivious to the fact that around the bend, a large truck was rapidly approaching their way.
Nathaniel was the first to spot the approaching car. Without a second to glance at Cecilia, he immediately swerved the steering wheel.
However, it was too late.
As the cargo truck was about to collide, Nathaniel
A loud, resounding bang echoed.
y shielded Cecilia with his body.
In that fleeting moment, Cecilia felt something splashing across her face.
Everything before her eyes was awash in red.
It was blood.
-Nathaniel…
The person in front of her didn’t respond.
“Nathaniel!” Cecilia cried out sharply.
Their surroundings became tranquil once again.
The two foreigners driving the truck immediately took off.
Upon closer inspection, one could identify that one of the individuals was none other than Simon, who resided overseas.
Previously, Nathaniel’s subordinate had cornered one of his henchmen in a hotel. After he managed to escape, he was bent on seeking revenge.
He pursued Nathaniel all the way back to Clusia,
Ernest’s car arrived later, only to witness the sight of Nathaniel and Cecilia’s vehicle in a collision, its front window shattered into pieces.
Nathaniel had fallen unconscious, and Cecilia had also passed out due to excessive blood loss from her leg.
He immediately called the police and an ambulance.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Cecilia had lost count of how many times she had been in the hospital. The sound of surgical instruments echoed in her ears. She wanted to open her eyes, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t.
Her greatest fear was car accidents, because her father had met his end in one.
Why did he have to do this?
Cecilia really wanted to open her eyes to see how he was doing, but she just couldn’t.
In her dazed state, she heard the murmur of doctors and nurses conversing.
“This person is the boss of Rainsworth Group. We absolutely can’t let him die here.”
Nathaniel mustn’t die! If he were to die, I would never be able to make it u
