Aurelia spoke with a defiant edge in her voice, "So, | never planned on marrying him anyway. | could just find a man who's never been down the aisle." Upon hearing it, Leopold felt a sharp twinge in his heart.
Of the three of them, the only bachelor was Elvis.
He could feel the wound inside him deepen by tenfold. One of these days, she was going to be the death of him with her words.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Our remarriage won't change your status, and you'll always be my first and only." Aurelia's lips curled into a wry smile, "I'm the first wife in the history of the Stirling family to be kicked to the curb. Coming back would be beyond awkward, truly a real blow to my pride." A thorn had lodged itself in her heart, never removed. Usually, it lay dormant, but with every touch, it flared up, causing all sorts of discomfort.
Leopold let out a helpless sigh, "Aurelia, it's not what you think..." He was cut off before he could finish, "I know there must have been a reason you divorced me, sgrand plan or dire necessity. But regardless, the divorce is a fact, and no reason can change that. You said you'd change, but you haven't. You're just as autocratic as you were three years ago, never consulting me, never considering my feelings." Leopold fell silent, each of her words hitting him like a bullet, targeting his vulnerabilities.
"Can't we just forget the past and start over?" "No one can forget their past. | will start over, but not necessarily with you." With those final words, Aurelia pulled open the door and walked out, leaving a trail of melancholy in the air, so thick that Leopold felt suffocated.
He suddenly realized he had been too naive initially. He thought that by revealing the truth, Aurelia would forgive him and return to his side.
But now, he saw the chasm that had grown between them. It was widening every second, stretching the distance between them, pushing them further apart.
After breakfast, Aurelia left with Kane. Today was Belinda's birthday, and she was taking the kids to celebrate with her.
Meanwhile, over at Blossom Villa, Perla showed. Ritchie had avoided jail tfor his shady dealings, receiving a suspended sentence.
Yet, old habits die hard.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe was now avoiding work like the plague, spending his days binge-watching videos, gaming, or hanging out at bars. Today, he had slept until noon and then dashed off to goof around with his buddies, leaving Rahul to personally drag him back.
Perla was at her wit's end. Everyone said the Hawthorne family had made it big, but they hadn't seen a dof i) They were stingy as could be, hoarding money like there was no tomorrow, unwilling to share.
And Belinda used to dote on Ritchie, but now, swayed by Aurelia and Avery's filthy lucre, she had kicked Ritchie to the curb, even skimping on pocket money, doling out a measly few dollars after much pleading.
Belinda was a sucker for classic s, now living every day like the dowager of an aristocratic estate.
When she ventured out for a gof bridge, she'd strut like a peacock, looking down her nose at the other matrons.
What ill intent could she harbor? She naturally favored the child who brought prestige to the family and could ensure her comfortable retirement.
Perla took a seat next to Belinda.
"Mom, we're one of the elite families now. I've heard that these families set up endowments to provide living expenses for their kin. Shouldn't the Hawthorne family do the same?" Belinda raised an eyebrow, "Doesn't Aurelia have something like that? Skind of charity with a fancy English name?" Perla grimaced, "That's for animals, not people. | just don't get it. There are so many in need of help, and she's throwing money away on a bunch of animals. It's ludicrous." Upon hearing this, Avery couldn't help but scoff, "There's an old saying, 'You can help someone through a crisis, but not out of poverty. People have the means to work and provide for themselves if they're not lazy. Many animals, on the other hand, are facing extinction due to pollution and habitat loss. They need our help far more than those who choose to idle away their lives."