CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: FINISHED! VICTORIA MONROE DISCOVERS HIS SHAMEFUL SECRET

Julian Fordham’s smile made Victoria Monroe feel uneasy.

As if today wasn’t about divorce, but rather a planned outing between them.

Whatever plans he still had were no longer important, Victoria Monroe regarded these years as a dream, and all beautiful dreams must end one day.

She needed to move forward with her own life.

Victoria Monroe quietly withdrew her gaze, "Let’s go."

She had long prepared the necessary documents, but as she passed the photo room, Victoria Monroe’s steps paused.

Five years ago, she had taken photos there with him.

She was afraid of poor results back then and took one shot after another.

In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

With their documents complete, the divorce application was processed quickly.

The staff explained, "Mr. Fordham, Miss Monroe, there has been a recent change in marriage law; now, divorce does not mean an immediate divorce certificate. There is a thirty-day cooling-off period for both parties."

Victoria Monroe was stunned; she had come across news of the marriage law revision but thought she’d never enter the civil affairs bureau again and thus paid it no mind.

"So you mean..."

"During the cooling-off period, either party can withdraw the divorce application at any time. After thirty days, both parties need to be present to receive the divorce certificate, otherwise it will be considered a withdrawal of the application."

The staff kindly explained, and Victoria Monroe felt a chill down her spine. She asked with a trembling voice, "When did the new rule start?"

"It was implemented on the first of last month."

"Thank you, I understand."

Victoria Monroe’s heart sank halfway. Until she had that divorce certificate in her hands, she and Julian Fordham were still legally married.

Although thirty days isn’t long, it’s enough time for many changes to occur.

Seeing her walking quickly, Julian Fordham caught up.

"Victoria, you’re still not fully recovered, slow down..."

At that moment, Victoria Monroe’s suppressed emotions exploded; she grabbed Julian Fordham’s collar, "You did this on purpose, didn’t you? Rachel Hayes’ child is seven weeks old, right after the new rules. If you withdraw the divorce application within these thirty days, we can’t get divorced."

Victoria Monroe gritted her teeth, "Julian Fordham, are you using all your tricks just on me?"

Julian Fordham’s dark eyes were fixed on her, deep and distant, making Victoria Monroe feel uneasy.

He sighed helplessly, gently holding her small hand, looking at the scars on her wrist, "Victoria, I have no other intentions; I just want to make amends to you. I won’t initiate a withdrawal, okay?"

Watching him soothe her in the way he used to, Victoria Monroe felt a little uncomfortable.

She abruptly pulled her hand back, "You better keep your word, or don’t blame me for exposing you and Rachel Hayes to the public."

She walked a few steps in high heels, and behind her, Julian Fordham’s deep and hoarse voice came, "Victoria, what if the person who withdraws the divorce application is you?"

Victoria Monroe’s steps paused slightly, "For me to withdraw, only if I’m dead!"

With that, she didn’t look back at the man, her spine straight, each step filled with the determination not to turn back.

Julian Fordham watched Victoria Monroe leave, his deep eyes filled with complexity, impossible for anyone to decipher his thoughts.

Assistant Prescott urged, "President Fordham, it’s time to leave. You still need to sign the contract with Willis today."

He got into the Cullinan, heading in the opposite direction of Victoria Monroe.

Just like their life paths, one heading east, the other west.

In the rearview mirror, the commercial vehicle was no longer visible, Julian Fordham whispered, "Soon, everything will be over."

Once the contract was signed, he would have no scruples.

After meeting, Willis expressed concern and care for his family before getting to the point.

This project collaboration had taken him six months.

"If there are no issues with the contract, then let’s sign it now."

Willis made a halting gesture, "Julian, there’s a small issue on my side."

Julian Fordham’s heart skipped a beat; last-minute changes are taboo in business.

He steadied himself, pretending to look calm, "Please, go on."

"I have no objections to the contract itself."

"Then you mean..."

"I hope for a thirty-day cooling-off period, during which either party can back out."

Julian Fordham’s expression changed slightly, his hand holding the pen tightening, "Mr. Willis, is it that you don’t trust me or lack confidence in our company?"

Willis immediately gestured with his hands, "No, as I said, I’ve always had high regard for you and hope for long-term cooperation in the future. This is our first collaboration, the scale is too large, I have to be cautious. Julian, if you could wait six months, a month shouldn’t be a problem, right? We are businessmen; trust is paramount. If your company has no issues, our cooperation continues."

He smiled at Julian Fordham, "Julian, you won’t let me down, right?"

"...Of course, to a pleasant cooperation."

"To a pleasant cooperation!"

After signing, and seeing Willis off, Julian Fordham’s long fingers clenched around the ashtray, but he didn’t smash it down.

The last time, he hurt Victoria Monroe because of his uncontrolled emotions, he couldn’t lose control again!

He placed the ashtray back on the table, the whitened protruding knuckles highlighting his current anger.

Rhys Hawthorne had not directly intervened in their relationship, yet like a tiger prowling outside Julian Fordham’s domain, ready to pounce and invade his territory at any moment!

Julian Fordham massaged his temples, "Did Victoria leave the civil affairs bureau and return to the hospital?"

"No, she has already been discharged; Assistant Woods has sent her home."

Home?

Julian Fordham hurriedly opened his phone’s surveillance, indeed, Victoria Monroe was already in the master bedroom.

Before he could feel any joy, he realized Victoria Monroe was packing her things.

Unlike the last time when she left in a hurry with just a few clothes, this time she was clearly intending to move out!

She packed all her cheongsams and jewelry in batches.

True to her character, what was hers, she wouldn’t even leave a single cat hair from October for Rachel Hayes!

This was the home he had designed according to Victoria Monroe’s preferences, and now she didn’t want him or their home anymore.

His eyes turned slightly red.

Suddenly, Victoria Monroe looked up at that large photoshopped wedding photo; she didn’t know inside it was hidden a camera.

Julian Fordham’s heart tightened as if Victoria Monroe was staring straight at him through the camera.

Luckily, she just stared at the wedding photo and silently shed tears; Julian Fordham’s heart ached terribly.

"Victoria, I’m sorry."

He really didn’t want to hurt her.

If he had known it would end up like this, he would have never made that foolish decision back then.

Julian Fordham reached out to wipe away her tears, only for his fingers to touch the cool screen.

But in the next second, Victoria Monroe, thinking of something, grabbed the bedside lamp and hurled it at the wedding photo.

"Crash—"

The glass shattered, and a tiny camera rolled to a stop at Victoria Monroe’s feet...

This sudden change happened too quickly, leaving Julian Fordham no chance to react.

A chill ran down his spine, covered in a fine layer of cold sweat.

It’s over!

Victoria Monroe was about to discover his secret!