Eleanor Hollis was sitting not far from Grace Lynch. She truly hadn’t expected Grace would sneak out with another man behind Hugo Quinn’s back on Old Master Quinn’s birthday banquet.
She had an inexplicable feeling that the man was probably Nathaniel Quinn, because apart from Hugo, Nathaniel seemed to be the only one related to Grace.
Other men, she probably wouldn’t even glance at.
She looked over at Nathaniel Quinn, her eyes full of scorn. This man has the guts to act but not to take responsibility, letting Grace, a woman, bear all the blame. Truly, he’s no good.
Hugo Quinn’s voice rang out again as he reached out to touch Marcus’s head. "Grace, do you know why I suddenly want to divorce you?"
Grace’s face was full of tears. She genuinely didn’t understand why Hugo suddenly wanted this. Weren’t things good before?
"Hugo, we’ve been together for five years. Tonight’s incident was my fault, but for the sake of being Marcus’s mom, can’t you forgive me this once..."
She cried out, wanting to reach out to Marcus, but Marcus avoided her touch.
Hugo Quinn’s eyes held a faint ridicule. "You’ve caused such a big mess and still want to use Marcus as a shield. Grace, you have never truly considered Marcus your child."
"No! Hugo! I really love Marcus. It’s just that he has never liked me, deliberately causing trouble for me! Hugo, you have to believe me!"
Grace was somewhat embarrassed and desperately trying to explain herself.
Hugo picked up the divorce papers, glanced at them, and slowly pushed them in front of her. "It was Marcus who personally asked me to divorce you. He said you poked him with a needle, causing pain, and that you intentionally threw away his puzzles. Grace, I’ve tolerated all your wrongdoings because you’re Marcus’s mom, but you shouldn’t have been so heartless towards Marcus."
Grace immediately collapsed on the ground, glaring resentfully at Marcus, realizing that the child hadn’t spoken a word all along.
She really underestimated this little brat, who stabbed her in the back at such a crucial moment.
"How can you believe a child’s words? Moreover, he has autism; perhaps he’s deliberately lying to frame me."
Grace was still making excuses for herself but saw Hugo’s gaze turn very sharp, as if wishing to peel off her skin.
"So, all along, you’ve considered Marcus a fool. Grace, Marcus has autism; he is not unintelligent and even surpasses many of his peers in intellect. He knows everything you’ve done. Perhaps you want him to personally reveal all the filthy things you’ve done?"
Grace was nearing a breakdown, trembling all over.
She wanted to rush over and strangle the child, knowing he was not her own flesh and blood, proving to be nothing but a wolf fed in vain!
After knowing the divorce was demanded by Marcus, Elder Quinn’s last shred of hesitance vanished. "Grace, sign it; you’ve been an utter failure as a mother."
Grace’s hands trembled as she took the pen beside her, biting so hard into her lip upon seeing Hugo Quinn’s name on the divorce agreement that she drew blood.
The taste of iron rust spread in her mouth instantly.
"Hugo, do you really refuse to give me another chance..."
After all, they’d been married for five years, yet did this man truly care so little about her?
"I’ve given you so many chances, it’s you who didn’t know how to cherish them."
Hugo Quinn ruffled Marcus’s hair, his eyes showing a trace of pity.
Back then, noticing Marcus’s dislike of Grace, he purposely left them plenty of time for one-on-one interaction.
Every time after their private time together, Marcus became even less willing to speak, showing that Grace’s excessive actions weren’t just a one-off incident, or this child wouldn’t remember so vividly.
Five years, so many opportunities, and this woman couldn’t show even a slight kindness towards Marcus, leading to this situation.
Grace gritted her teeth and wrote her name on the papers, feeling as though her body was drained completely, with large tears rolling down.
Seeing her finally sign the papers, Hugo scooped up Marcus in his arms. "Dad, Marcus needs to sleep, so I won’t keep you any longer."
The eviction notice was quite obvious, and Old Master Quinn and the others had no choice but to exchange glances and leave regrettably.
Eleanor Hollis didn’t know what to say either. If she comforted Grace at this moment, Grace would only feel like she was kicking her when she’s down, so she opted to keep her mouth shut, saying nothing.
Grace cried for a while in the living room, suddenly realizing only Eleanor Hollis and that fellow named Lan Yancy were left.
"Eleanor Hollis, are you happy now? I’ve divorced Hugo Quinn, and you have the chance to openly seduce him, right? You’re truly despicable, the most despicable woman I’ve ever met. You’ll pay for destroying someone else’s marriage."
Eleanor Hollis furrowed her brow. How quickly she forgets; the divorce with Hugo wasn’t due to someone ruining it.
"Grace Lynch, you divorced Mr. Quinn because, one, you lost your morals, had entanglements with other men outside, and brought back a neckful of hickeys; and two, you were bad to Marcus, secretly abused him, which has nothing to do with me. Don’t throw dirty water on me."
Grace trembled all over, her face suddenly turning pale.
"You’re just making excuses for yourself; you liked Hugo long ago, didn’t you? Eleanor Hollis, even if I can’t sit in this position, you’re even less qualified. You’re a divorced woman; the Quinton Family will never accept you. Just wait and see who laughs last!"
She said venomously, slowly standing up from the ground.
Lan Yancy handed an adjacent bag to her. "Miss Lynch, your bag."
Seeing Lan Yancy , Grace was even more infuriated. "A loyal dog raised by Hugo Quinn; truly devoted."
Lan Yancy’s face remained expressionless as he spoke lightly. "If Miss Lynch had signed the divorce papers at the start, as compensation, the CEO would have transferred half of his properties to your name. However, since Miss Lynch made a mess and tried to drag others down, that half of the property is gone. Regrettably, you leave with nothing." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
The words ’leave with nothing’ stabbed Grace’s chest like a dull knife.
Grace nearly spat blood, leaning against the door frame, knowing Lan Yancy intentionally said it to provoke her.
Her heart seethed with resentment as these people watched her humiliation one by one.
Just wait, until she becomes capable one day, she’ll step on these people, trampling on their dignity, just like they’ve treated her today.
Due to her weakened body, she walked very slowly, each step feeling like stepping on knife blades, her palms already bloody.
Eleanor Hollis watched her back, sighed, and now truly felt a touch of sympathy towards her.