Chapter 21:
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James still wouldn’t give up, clutching Emma’s clothes, begging: “If you don’t love me anymore, that’s okay. My love is enough. I just need one chance. Just give me
one the loving.”
chance. Let me do
Emma laughed coldly, mocking: “I don’t want to give you a chance. I don’t want
your love. Your love is garbage, no different from any trash in a dumpster.” James persisted: “If you don’t want it, our baby needs it. Emma, we have a child
now. Do you want the baby to be born without a father?”
Emma had prepared for James using the baby to manipulate her.
She smiled meaningfully, saying casually: “Who said you’re the baby’s father? Don’t claim children that aren’t yours.”
James froze, then shook his head vigorously: “Emma, don’t say things to hurt me.
The baby must be mine.”
Emma peeled his fingers off one by one, saying coldly: “I’m not joking. I need to go, or the baby’s father will get jealous.”
With that, Emma walked out of the mansion.
Before getting in the car, she looked back at the house.
James tried to follow but, perhaps due to the alcohol, fell on the lawn and didn’t.
get up.
Emma couldn’t help laughing, telling the driver to hurry before James could catch
- up.
Early next morning, Emma messaged James to meet at the civil affairs office when it opened to finalize the divorce.
They had no children, would split assets equally nothing complicated. James didn’t reply, but Emma didn’t care. She waited at the office on time.
But she waited all day, until closing time, and James never showed.
Finally, she called his number she’d blocked.
James’s voice came through: “Emma, you’re finally willing to talk to me?” Emma was angry: “I told you to come for the divorce. Where are you?”
She noticed his voice was choked up: “Grandmother passed away. Can we delay
the
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21
divorce?”
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Emma initially thought this was just another excuse, so she went to the Foster
mansion.
Arriving, she realized James wasn’t lying.
Funeral wreaths lined the yard, and memorial banners hung at the entrance. Emma hadn’t wanted to come, but thinking of James’s parents who’d watched her grow up, she went in.
James had disappointed her completely, but his parents had been good to her. If
not for James’s sake, then for his parents‘.
Entering the living room, she felt the sadness filling the house.
Mr. Foster was
absent, leaving only Mrs. Foster with James.
Seeing Emma, James’s sad expression showed a flash of joy.
“Emma, I thought you wouldn’t come…”
Emma ignored James, turning to Mrs. Foster: “Mom, my condolences. But this is the last time I’ll call you Mom.”
Mrs. Foster was confused: “Emma, what do you mean?”
Emma realized James hadn’t told his mother about the divorce.
James pulled Emma into a room.
“What are you doing? You had to bring this up in front of my mother, didn’t you?” After days of hurt, James finally exploded, shouting at Emma: “I apologized, I dealt with Lucy. Emma, don’t go too far!”
Emma gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to strangle James.
She spoke deliberately: “I told you already. If I don’t get divorced, the baby’s father won’t be happy.”
“Bullshit!”
James grabbed a vase and smashed it, like a wild beast out of control.
“Who dares sleep with my woman! Who dares? Is it that pretty boy model? I s
