Chapter 19 Do You Understand?
“Unbelievable!” I cursed, rushing out the door like I was responding to a five–alarm fire.
I grabbed a cab and headed straight to the Bennell Group. The streets were practically empty at this hour, and somehow I hit nothing but green lights the entire way as if the universe had conspired to ensure I couldn’t escape this situation.
In less than twenty minutes, I arrived at the Bennell Group’s underground parking garage, where I spotted Edward waving me over from a distance.
“Mr. Thornton, over here!” he called out.
“Coming!” I shouted back, sprinting toward him.
When I got there, I found Elizabeth had locked herself in her car, idly flicking a lighter on and off.
“Elizabeth, have you lost your mind?” I banged on the window. “Open the door!”
I had zero patience left for her antics. She looked up at me through bleary, intoxicated eyes and, seemingly satisfied by my arrival, finally put down the lighter and unlocked the doors,
Just as I was about to open the door, Edward spoke up from behind me, “Mr. Thornton, since Ms. Bennett appears to be okay
Chapter 19 Do You Understand?
now, I’ll be heading out. Got things to take care of at home.”
2/7
“Huh? Oh, yeah, go ahead,” I replied absently, still too angry to focus on anything but the situation at hand.
But as I opened the car door and was greeted by Elizabeth’s satisfied smile, it finally clicked.
What emergency could Edward possibly have in the middle of the night?
Elizabeth’s next words instantly confirmed they were working together to trick me.
“Julian, you finally came to see me,” she purred.
“Elizabeth, you know it’s illegal to report a fake emergency, right?” I said flatly. “I can’t believe you’re being so childish!”
Looking at Elizabeth’s perfect face with its telling flush, I felt no joy, just irritation and disappointment. Without hesitation, I turned to leave.
But Elizabeth scrambled out of the car and wrapped her arms tightly around my waist.
“Julian, don’t go!” she pleaded. “I wasn’t lying. I really am drunk. Why won’t you take care of me?”
Her voice was uncharacteristically soft, like a pitiful stray cat looking for affection.
Chapter 19 Do You Understand?
3/7
I felt nothing for her. “We’re getting divorced in two days,” I replied coldly. “Your first love and your kid have moved into our house. Why should I take care of you?
“Elizabeth, you’re the CEO of an entire company. Can’t we at least keep some dignity here?”
My cold words cut deep, nothing like the gentle way I used to speak to her.
But Elizabeth acted like she hadn’t heard a word I said. “We’re getting divorced the day after tomorrow, which means we’re still husband and wife right now,” she insisted. “Whether it’s one more day, one more hour, or even just a minute or second. We’re still married!
“I don’t think there’s anything shameful about letting my husband take care of me when I’ve had too much to drink.”
She paused briefly before adding, “As for what happened with Callum and Gideon, if you stay with me tonight, I’ll explain everything.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I said firmly. “You’re not so drunk that you can’t take care of yourself. Just get a taxi home, or call your first love to pick you up.”
With that, I forcefully pulled away from Elizabeth’s arms and turned to leave.
But Elizabeth wouldn’t give up. She chased after me again, this time shoving her phone in my face.
Chapter 19 Do You Understand?
4/7
“Julian, don’t think I’m some woman nobody wants,” she challenged. “Callum’s been begging to pick me up, but I turned him down myself. Don’t believe me? Look.”
Her phone screen displayed her chat with Callum, filled with his concerned messages and repeated offers to come get her. At the end, Elizabeth had shut him down with a single message.
I was surprised by this result, but when I glanced up and saw Callum’s special nickname “Cal” in her contacts, my surprise instantly vanished.
The irony hit me hard.
When my heart was full of nothing but Elizabeth, she’d brushed me off and repeatedly trampled my dignity and the heart that loved her.
Now that another man who cared about her had moved into our home, she was back to her old tricks, trying to rope me in again?
What the hell was her problem?
“Whatever’s going on between you two has nothing to do with me,” I said coldly, walking around her to leave.
Behind me, Elizabeth called out desperately, “Julian, Gideon isn’t my biological child. I know you saw everything that day at his school.
“But I only did that so Gideon wouldn’t feel different from his
Chapter 19 Do You Understand?
classmates. So he’d know he has parents who love him.
“I never actually kissed Callum! Why can’t you just give this child some time to accept you?”
5/7
Her voice echoed throughout the underground parking garage.
My steps suddenly froze. My eyes filled with complicated
emotions.
Was this her explanation to me?
Huh. Ridiculous.
Since the day we got married, I’d suffered so many heartbreaks in silence. This was the first time she’d ever bothered to explain herself.
But an explanation didn’t mean I had to forgive her.
Behind me, Elizabeth’s voice continued, “Julian, I really did ignore your feelings this time. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?
“Let’s stop this fighting. From now on, I’ll bring Gideon out so he can get to know you. You’ll be back home before you know it.”
She was already fantasizing about our life after I forgave her.
At that moment, I couldn’t help but laugh, a bitter, sarcastic laugh.
Suddenly freed from my tangled emotions, I realized Elizabeth
Chapter 19 Do You Understand?
hadn’t changed at all.
She wasn’t genuinely explaining herself or seeking my forgiveness. This was just like our monthly obligation to have. sex, merely going through the motions.
She didn’t even need to hear my answer, just assuming I’d forgive her and save her face. After all, she’d always been the goddess on her pedestal.
But I was done playing that game.
6/7
I turned to face her, meeting her eyes with a calm gaze. “Elizabeth, you’re drunk right now, and I don’t want to argue with you. It’s pointless.
“But I’ve made up my mind about the divorce. There’s no going back.”
Before I could finish, Elizabeth cut me off, unable to accept what she was hearing. “Why? I already apologized!”
“Because our marriage was a complete mistake from the start,” I said. “It’s not just about Callum or anything. I finally see that we’re wrong for each other. We just don’t work together.
“For five years, I’ve compromised and put up with far too much. From now on, I just want to live for myself. Do you understand?”
My words left Elizabeth silent, unable to respond.
Chapter 19 Do You Understand?
I thought her silence meant acceptance, so I turned to leave again. But this time, she made one final request.
“Julian, I understand,” she said softly. “Could you give me
one last ride home? For old times‘ sake, after five years of marriage?”
Hearing this, I stood quietly for a long m
