Chapter 2 Divorce: She Wants 100 Million

Clara gave a bitter smile, thinking of letting him assume whatever he wanted. At this point, was there still any need for explanation?

Edward Harper put away a copy of the signed documents, leaving one for Clara, and slowly said,

"We'll hold off on processing the divorce certificate for now. Please keep our situation confidential. The company's new product launch is impending, and I can't allow any accidents, especially with Grandpa…"

Before he could finish, Clara interrupted,

"Don't worry, I will keep it from Grandpa. If Miss Knight needs explanations, I can help with that too since I'm being paid to do a job."

Edward's eyes darkened, and with a hint of sarcasm, he replied, "That would be helpful; I might really need it."

Clara's throat tightened, and a wave of bitterness surged in her stomach. She rushed to the bathroom, hunched over the toilet, and vomited until empty.

Breakfast ended on a sour note.

Edward Harper left, leaving half of his sandwich behind.

Clara watched his strong, tall back silently for a while, reminiscing about their first meeting.

He had walked into the café in a custom-made suit, with striking eyebrows and eyes, a straight nose, so handsome it seemed almost otherworldly. She fell for him at first sight.

With Grandpa Harper's blessing, they got their marriage license on the same day.

On their wedding night, he threw an agreement at her,

"I have someone I love. Our marriage was Grandpa's doing. Look over this agreement, and if you have no questions, sign it. Our marriage will not be public, and three years from now, we'll part on good terms. Aside from money, there's nothing else I can give you."

He kept his word. For three years, he gave her free rein with his credit card, but not a shred of affection. Even when performing marital obligations, he wore that cold, icy expression.

Thinking carefully now, he agreed to marry her probably because of the seven out of ten resemblance she had to Aria Knight.

Clara snapped back to reality, having accidentally knocked over the milk, spilling half of it.

Aunt Lewis hurried over to clean up.

"Ma'am, you usually have a good temper. What's wrong today? Can't you hold back a little? Couples don't just divorce impulsively. I don't think the sir genuinely wants a divorce either. Didn't you see his face when he signed? Take it from this old woman, if you humble yourself a bit tonight, this will all blow over."

Clara wiped her blurred eyes with a tissue,

"But I can't get over it in my heart."

Aria Knight was like a thorn lodged deep in her heart, causing searing pain.

After the meal, Clara swiftly packed her belongings and left Brocade Garden. It was only after getting into a taxi that she realized she had no place to go without him,

"Just find any hotel."

She instructed the driver.

Meanwhile, Edward was in a meeting when Aunt Lewis called him.

He hated being interrupted during meetings. But today, he made an exception and took the call.

"Sir, Ma'am left with her suitcase. I couldn't stop her. You should hurry and get someone to bring her back; she shouldn't be far yet."

On the line, Aunt Lewis sounded anxious.

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling inexplicably irritable.

The divorce process wasn't even completed, and he hadn't expected Clara to leave without a word after signing the papers. Her decisiveness caught him off-guard.

After three years of sharing a bed, didn't she even regard him enough to have a parting meal together?

He thought she might throw a fit, and in that case, he would lower himself to offer some comfort. But she hadn't shed a tear from start to finish, seeming more eager for the divorce than he was.

Thinking of that Elijah she often inquired about, Edward felt like his heart was stuffed with lemons, sour and aching.

"No need."

He coldly replied with three words to Aunt Lewis, hung up, returned to the meeting room, and announced with a stern face, "Today's meeting ends here," calling Secretary Johnson in passing.

"Find out where Miss Knox went and recently whom she's been in contact with."

After saying this, he corrected himself, "Clara Knox, Miss Knox."

Secretary Johnson looked bewildered, not knowing why the boss was in a foul mood today. His guess was that it was related to Ma'am since the last time they argued, he had this same daunting look when coming to work.

"Director Harper, should I also check the call records?"

"Check them and also those who have 'Xuan' in their name and have been in contact with her."

"Understood."

Secretary Johnson took the command and rushed to handle it.

After giving the orders, Edward tension mounted as he looked at the message Aunt Lewis had sent.

Aunt Lewis: [Ma'am left this behind.]

Under the text, there was a photo of his supplementary card.

She hadn't mentioned returning it, yet she returned it of her own volition.

Such an unceremonious departure. Edward locked her card in anger.

Without money, naturally, she'd return.

When Clara finished registering and paying at the hotel front desk, she was informed that her card wasn't working. After some calm thought, she knew exactly who was behind it.

Since she couldn't get a room, she dragged her suitcase and sought help from her friend, Isaac Turner.

Isaac Turner, male, and likes men, was Clara's confidant.

Within half an hour of the call, Isaac drove over, sighing at the sight of the beautifully broken woman on the roadside.

He cursed under his breath, getting out to help her with her luggage,

"I've told you before: don't date handsome, rich, ill-tempered guys. Yet here you are, stepping on all the mines you can find, wasting a Goddess's perfect creation of a face. Three years with him, and you're dismissed with this little luggage? I've never known such a stingy CEO in my life."

Pungent honesty, Isaac reprimanded incessantly, yet Clara couldn't listen; she just wanted peace.

"He also gave me a blank check to fill out myself."

Clara leaned against the seat, eyes half-closed, her words languid.

Isaac drove with one hand, his language colorful, stopping his critique upon hearing about the check,

"I'm telling you, if you write anything less than one hundred million on that check, I'd judge you."

"Then as you say, let's write one hundred million. Shall we go cash it now?"

Isaac thought she was joking, but Clara seriously pulled out the crumpled check and filled in one hundred million in bold.

Her bank account, with money all earned from side gigs, was separate from Edward's finances, so on what grounds did he lock it arbitrarily, leaving her without a home or a hotel?

Clara was furious and being pushed this way, he couldn't blame her for being greedy.

"Let's go to the bank and get that money."

Isaac maneuvered the steering wheel with glowing eyes, "Clara, I've never seen so much money in my life. Can we fit a hundred million in this car, or should we switch to a stretch SUV first?"

"I've never seen that much either. Let's broaden our horizons today."

[Harper Group CEO office.]

Edward Harper was distractedly browsing documents when Secretary Johnson stormed in.

"Have you found out?"

Before Secretary Johnson could answer, he asked.

Secretary Johnson appeared flustered, "Director Harper, Ma'am is at the bank withdrawing money."

Edward puzzled; he had just locked her card, so what money could she be withdrawing?

Secretary Johnson enunciated, "Ma'am is drawing one hundred million with the check you wrote. Due to the substantial amount, the bank needs your signature for approval."

Secretary Johnson watched as his boss's expression darkened visibly, and the last few words almost hissed through his clenched teeth.

Not knowing where Ma'am got the audacity to provoke Director Harper, reiterating the situation alone made him fear being chewed out.

Edward almost choked on his coffee.