Chapter 39
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Luna shot me an admiring look from an angle her parents and brother couldn’t see.
Kai opened his mouth but couldn’t get a word out.
“Well, explain yourself! What exactly were you thinking p>
Mrs. Hawthorne was shaking with rage, “How did I raise such a heartless son?! Only three years of marriage and you’re already pulling this
nonsense p>
Luna added at the perfect moment: “Mom, you don’t even know the worst part-Raven posted on Instagram implying that Phoenix was stirring up trouble, saying Phoenix was maliciously attacking her. She did something shameful and then tried to blame the victim p>
Mr. Hawthorne finished looking through all the evidence and let out a heavy sigh: “Phoenix, my son was wrong here. But isn’t there any way you
could give him one more chance p>
I shook my head.
Just as Kai was about to say something else, my phone suddenly rang.
It was an Instagram notification.
Raven had just posted: [Thank you for the hug, it brought me warmth on this cold winter day p>
The photo showed her and Kai embracing outside the school, in an intimate pose.
She’d even tagged Kai.
Perfect timing.
I handed my phone around for everyone to see.
Mrs. Hawthorne took one look at the photo and fainted.
“Mom!” Kai rushed to catch her, then frantically explained: “This isn’t what it looks like! She was crying hard and I just wanted to comfort her p>
I watched this scene with detached calm, the last shred of attachment in my heart finally disappearing.
He still didn’t understand that a married man having inappropriate contact with another woman was wrong in itself, no matter how noble the
excuse.
“Looks like Kai Hawthorne’s promises can’t even last one day p>
I stood up and grabbed my purse, “I’m seeing a lawyer tomorrow to prepare divorce papers. This marriage is over p>
With that, my parents and I walked out of the Hawthorne house without looking back.
Behind us, I could hear Kai’s desperate shouting: “Phoenix! Let me explain! It’s not what you think p>
But I was done listening to explanations.
After leaving the Hawthorne house, I went straight back to my parents’ place.
I stayed there for six months.
19.39
Chapter 7
During that time, Kai tried countless times to contact me, but my parents turned him away every time.
Luna kept texting me updates about the Hawthorne family drama.
I could tell she was really fed up with everything too.
[Phoenix, my brother’s gastritis flared up again-he was hospitalized for three days p>
[Raven’s getting closer and closer to my brother now, and she keeps coming over for dinner p>
[My mom’s warming up to Raven now, says she’s gentle and caring, really good at taking care of people p>
[My dad thinks Raven’s great too-says she’s well-mannered and a good girl p>
Reading these messages, I just smiled faintly.
Without my stomach remedy recipe, of course Kai’s gastritis would keep recurring.
And Raven was swooping in during his vulnerable moments, showing concern when he was sick-naturally she’d win over his parents.
But none of this concerned me anymore. I was determined to get divorced.
I was only having my lawyer handle negotiations out of consideration for our families’ business relationship-I didn’t want to cause a huge scene.
But apparently, my attempt to preserve everyone’s dignity was being mistaken for weakness.
[Phoenix, my brother says he absolutely refuses to agree to the divorce p>
I texted back: [Tell him I won’t be preserving the Hawthorne family’s reputation anymore. I’m filing for divorce. I don’t need his agreement-the
court will decide p>
Luna quickly replied: [I confronted my brother and asked him what his deal was. He still insists he only sees Raven as a sister and has no romantic feelings for her p>
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Mark Twain