Chapter 5 Divorced Means Remarried
Becky asked, “Can we skip this cooling-off period? We really don’t need it.”
The clerk replied, “It’s the rule. A lot of couples still have feelings for each other and act on impulse.”
“Our relationship is already broken. Shattered, actually. We really don’t need a cooling-off period. Please, ma’am, just process it now. I’m begging you!”
The woman stayed firm. “You two have only been married a month. That’s the definition of impulsive. Go home and think it through.”
Becky turned to Xavier with pleading eyes.
“Xavier, can’t you pull some strings? Get them to process the divorce now?”
Xavier’s eyes were cold. “You want this divorce that badly?”
“Don’t you?”
“Becky, don’t forget. You were the one who insisted on this marriage.”
“I had a brain glitch back then. I’m sorry, okay? I’ll apologize. But you’re not exactly losing anything. You won’t even give me a little money.”
That’s how she was calculating it?
Xavier didn’t know if he was just mad or had lost his mind, but the next thing out of his mouth was, “If I divorce you, I’ll be a second-marriage man.”
Yulia stared at him in shock.
It was like she didn’t even recognize him.
Xavier realized what he’d said and grew even more irritated.
“I’m going outside for a smoke.”
Becky snapped back to attention and chased after him.
Snap.
Xavier lit a cigarette and was just about to take a drag.
Becky leaned in beside him. “Well, then we’re even. I’ll be a second-marriage woman too.”
She coughed. “Ugh, that’s awful.”
She grabbed the cigarette from his fingers, turned around, and stubbed it out in the trash can.
“Smoking’s bad for your health.”
1/4
Xavier ground his teeth.
Was this woman insane? She had no sense of boundaries at all.
Becky saw the dark look on his face and calmly explained, “You don’t have to worry about finding someone after the divorce, Ms. Yulia’s right there waiting for you.”
Xavier shot her a cold glare.
Becky didn’t care and went on, “In those CEO novels, the big-shot male leads don’t even need an ID to get married. Half the time, they don’t even show up in person, and the marriage certificate still gets processed. You know why?”
Xavier said nothing.
Becky didn’t expect him to answer anyway. “Because they’ve got connections. Aren’t you a CEO too? I believe you’ve got connections. Just make a call and have them cut us some slack. Let’s get this divorce done today.”
Xavier stared at her for a while.
“I don’t have connections. We’ll follow the rules.”
He turned and walked straight to the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
Becky chased after him, only to get a face full of exhaust as the car sped away.
She stomped her foot in frustration.
Yulia came outside, her face full of disappointment when she didn’t see Xavier.
Becky offered helpfully, “Xavier left. See? That’s the kind of man he is. Just ran off. Left both his wife and his mistress standing here. What a guy.”
After a moment of silence, Yulia asked, “Becky, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I was in a car accident yesterday, but the doctor said my brain’s untouched. Ms. Yulia, how are you getting home? Mind giving me a ride?”
“Becky, you’re acting really strange today. What’s going on with you? Why’d you suddenly agree to divorce Xavier? What are you trying to pull?”
Becky couldn’t tell her the truth her into an abortion.
–
that she was pregnant and needed to disappear before Xavier forced
“No agenda. I just figured it out. There’s no point keeping a man who doesn’t love me. Why waste my youth on someone who’ll never care about me? There are plenty of good-looking guys out there. I’ll find someone who actually loves me.”
Yulia narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out if she was serious or not.
Just then, a cab pulled up in front of them. Becky grabbed her arm and climbed in with her.
218
“Sir, take us to Westview Pavilion.”
When they reached Westview Pavilion, Becky opened the door and got out.
“Sir, get the fare from her.”
Kevin looked Xavier over, unsure if the divorce had gone through or not.
But he didn’t dare ask.
He kept signaling at Randall in the driver’s seat.
Randall hesitated, then asked, “Sir, did you and madam go through with the divorce?”
Xavier raised a hand to rub his temples. “No.”
Randall grinned. “That’s good. Honestly, she’s not bad. Married life takes time. Even if there’s no love at first, it’ll come later.”
Randall had old-fashioned views. He believed once you were married, you shouldn’t divorce easily. Better to grow old together.
Xavier didn’t respond. Who knew what he was thinking?
Kevin was frustrated.
He figured Becky must’ve backed out.
He knew she was full of tricks. She was just toying with Mr. Xavier. She never planned to actually get divorced.
Since the divorce didn’t go through, Becky poured her frustration into food-two bowls of rice and nearly an entire table’s worth of dishes.
She ended up so full she had to walk around the courtyard rubbing her belly to digest.
Once she wasn’t so stuffed, she went upstairs to nap. She was eventually woken by a phone ringing.
Eyes still closed, she picked up. “Hello.”
“Becky, where are you? I’m back from vacation. I brought you some food. Come over.”
“Who are you?”
There was a long pause on the other end. Then came a sheepish voice. “Becky, you’re still mad? Don’t be mad. I was wrong, okay? I shouldn’t have said all that. From now on, I’ll support whatever you decide. I won’t say bad things about Xavier anymore. If you want to stay home and be his perfect little housewife, I won’t argue. I brought food to apologize, okay?”
Becky opened her eyes and looked at the caller ID.
3/4
Sharon Yale?
–
Oh, the original owner’s best friend. They’d been high school classmates her only friend.
They’d had a falling out a few days ago.
It had started with a conversation about work. Sharon had told her to get a job and stop relying on Xavier.
But the original Becky was completely lovestruck. She just wanted to be the woman behind Xavier, a good wife and mother, and stay at home. No job, no career.
They’d disagreed and ended up in a fight.
Sharon had gone off on a trip, and they hadn’t talked in days.
Becky sat up and ruffled her messy hair.
On the other end of the line, Sharon started crying. “Becky, my sweet Becky, please don’t ignore me.”
Becky softened. “Where do you live? I’ll come over now.”
There was a pause. “Becky, what’s going on with you? How do you not know where I live?”
Slip-up.
She quickly searched her memories and finally recalled Sharon’s address.
“Kidding. How could I forget? Garden Residence, right? I’m on my way.”
Sharon sighed with relief. “I’ll wait for you. And the food will too.”
10
W
ALA
