\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton drove back to Baymont Residences. The moment he entered the courtyard, he sensed something was off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The rose garden that was once meticulously managed was in utter chaos. Soil had been dug up everywhere, with petals and roots scattered about. Over a dozen rose bushes had been ripped out and dumped to one side, as if a storm had torn through the place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edna had just finished binge-watching a short drama. When she took off her earphones and heard the sound of the car engine, she hurried outside. \u201cWelcome back, Mr. Hale.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to the flowers in the yard?\u201d Clayton asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat flowers?\u201d Edna replied, genuinely confused.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t press the issue and instead asked, \u201cWhere\u2019s Sienna?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Hale came back earlier. She should be upstairs.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton let out a breath he hadn\u2019t realized he\u2019d been holding and headed upstairs quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hayden had just been talking nonsense, after all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the moment he pushed open the master bedroom door, his expression changed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The wardrobe stood wide open. Several drawers had been pulled out. The bedsheets and pillowcases were gone. Half the skincare products on the vanity desk had vanished. His first thought was that the house had been robbed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He walked around the room once. All the expensive items were still there, untouched. What was missing were mostly the cheap, everyday things.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then he looked up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The wedding photo on the wall was still there, but only his half remained. His own stiff, emotionless face stared back at him. That further confirmed his suspicions that it was Sienna\u2019s doing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As he went downstairs, his eyes landed on the documents placed conspicuously on the coffee table. Beside the divorce agreement lay Sienna\u2019s wedding ring, quietly reflecting the light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton picked up the papers and flipped through the pages. The clause stating that the wife would leave with nothing was written in bold, unmistakable terms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He let out a cold laugh. \u201cSo she screws up and still dares to run away out of guilt? Is she afraid I\u2019d chew her out?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Edna stood nearby, worried. \u201cMrs. Hale isn\u2019t upstairs?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she say before leaving?\u201d Clayton asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cShe just told me to go rest early\u2026 and said you wouldn\u2019t be coming home tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton dialed Sienna\u2019s number, only to realize he had been blocked. She sure had some nerve. He didn\u2019t need to think twice to know where she had gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Every time they fought, Sienna would pack up and run to her long-suffering best friend. And every time, Clayton never bothered chasing after her to placate her. She was always the one who gave in first, usually returning within two days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This time, though, she had made a much bigger move.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Around 20 minutes later, Clayton\u2019s car pulled up at Michelle\u2019s place. The lights on the 15th floor were still on. He had been here before, so he knew the way well enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside, Sienna was busy in the kitchen, preparing a late-night snack for her best friend on her first night of crashing at her\u00a0<\/p>\n
X CLOSE\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the doorbell rang, Michelle called out, \u201cThe doorbell\u2019s ringing, Enna. Can you go check it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The doorbell rang again and again, relentlessly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Grumbling, Michelle got up from the couch and headed for the door. \u201cI didn\u2019t order takeout, though? Why do they keep ringing the bell like that? How rude! Especially this late at night\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
She glanced at the screen and nearly jumped out of her skin. She even stuttered out of shock, \u201cY-Your damn husband is here!\u00a0<\/p>\n
11\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna was chopping vegetables when she heard the commotion. She grabbed the cleaver and walked out. \u201cWho is it? Some creep?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Clayton. Should we pretend we\u2019re not home?\u201d Michelle whispered.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna looked at her like she was beyond help. \u201cHe must have seen the lights from downstairs. That\u2019s exactly why he\u2019s ringing the bell like he owns the place.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I mean, it\u2019s not like ringing the doorbell costs anything!\u201d Michelle said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before Michelle could react, Sienna marched over with the cleaver in hand, opening the door without a second thought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton\u2019s gaze dropped to the gleaming blade. He laughed. \u201cWhat? Planning to murder your husband?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want now? Just spit it out and get it over with.\u201d Sienna waved the cleaver casually, the blade\u2019s light flashing back and forth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He got straight to the point. \u201cYou sabotaged Melody\u2019s gown on purpose, didn\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat gown?\u201d Sienna blinked innocently. \u201cDidn\u2019t I do everything you wanted? I gave it to her, helped zip it up myself, and even gave up my seat. I\u2019ve moved out now, too. How much further do you want me to go, Mr. Hale? Leave the planet? Sorry, but that one\u2019s beyond me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou deliberately picked the smallest size. The gown was sexy and flashy. You wanted her to embarrass herself at the banquet. \u201cHis voice was low and firm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t phrased as a question but as a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPlaying detective now, Mr. Hale?\u201d Sienna chuckled, tilting her head. \u201cYou think too highly of me. Do you really believe I could predict she\u2019d steal my gown, force herself into the wrong size, rush onstage, and then fall flat on her face in front of everyone? If I had skills like that, I\u2019d be buying lottery tickets, not standing here listening to you lecture me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton stared at her, his gaze dark. \u201cI can overlook these little schemes of yours. But what\u2019s with packing up and running off in the middle of the night? Are you fleeing the scene?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He reached out and grabbed her arm, ordering her, \u201cReturn home with me right now. I don\u2019t have time for these childish games.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna yanked her arm free. \u201cYou can go back yourself. That\u2019s not my home anymore. What you should be doing now is signing the divorce papers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He poked her forehead with a finger. \u201cWhat you should be doing is getting your head checked. You must have completely lost\u00a0<\/p>\n
it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
No matter how many times she brought up divorce, he refused to listen. It felt like talking to a wall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna felt her anger flare, rising within her. She enunciated every word. \u201cI said we\u2019re getting a divorce. Do you understand? How many times do I need to repeat it? I want a mutual divorce! Or should I translate it into eight languages on my phone for you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 20\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho says you get to divorce just because you want to?\u201d Clayton\u2019s voice suddenly shot up, echoing down the hallway. \u201cI warned you three years ago that this wouldn\u2019t be an easy role to play. You were the one who swore you\u2019d never regret it. Now that you do, you think I\u2019m obligated to agree to it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stepped closer, his presence pressing down on her. \u201cWhat do you take me for, Sienna-someone you can summon and discard at will? Once an arrow is released from the bow, there\u2019s no taking it back. Do I really need to teach you that?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna didn\u2019t retreat out of fear. She met his gaze calmly and spoke clearly. \u201cIf the only thing holding a marriage together is \u2018 you\u2019re not allowed to regret it,\u2019 then it should have ended a long time ago. And if an arrow\u2019s already off course, forcing it to keep flying just makes everything worse.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The air froze for a few seconds, neither willing to yield while locking gazes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clayton\u2019s patience finally snapped. Coming here at all had already been a concession he had never made before. He had given her a way out, and she refused to take it. To him, that was pushing her luck.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He delivered his ultimatum. \u201cI\u2019ll ask you one last time. Are you coming home or not?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out!\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claim\u00a0<\/p>\n
X\u00a0<\/p>\n
She got the divorce and bolted 20 \u00a0 Chapter 20\u00a0 1\/3\u00a0 Chapter 20\u00a0 Clayton drove back to Baymont Residences. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-she-got-the-divorce-and-bolted-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20094\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}