CHAPTER 182: CHAPTER 182: WHY DON’T YOU AGREE

"Even though our marriage was arranged, I hope you don’t have to worry too much. I will fulfill my responsibilities as a husband properly. There won’t be any of those flashy affairs outside. Everything in the past has ended cleanly, and nothing will happen that would put you in a difficult situation."

Listening to Christopher Fuller’s words, Luke Gardiner’s face burned with shame.

This made him feel utterly embarrassed.

The same situation.

The same arranged marriage.

Yet a different approach.

This is the difference between people.

Ethan Harper cast a cold, stern glance at Luke Gardiner, then his gaze softened when it landed on Florence Fuller, filled with empathy.

No one could truly understand the predicament Florence had been in at the time. She endured it, but when faced with a similar situation again, she couldn’t help but remember the shadows of the past.

Now it was a moment of solitude between Christopher and Miranda Sunworth, so Florence Fuller tactfully left.

Luke Gardiner and Ethan Harper followed her out.

Florence walked ahead, and Luke stepped forward and grabbed her hand, shooting a displeased glance at Ethan: "Could you give us some privacy?"

Ethan looked at Florence, seemingly seeking her opinion: "Florence?"

Florence nodded briefly.

Ethan understood: "I’ll head over first. Call me if you need anything."

Luke noted their small gestures, suppressing the pang of bitterness in his heart, he looked sadly at the woman in front of him: "I was wrong about the wedding before. I owe you an apology."

Florence listened, seemingly without emotion, and responded indifferently, "Luke Gardiner, if apologies could easily solve problems, then there wouldn’t be any difficult issues in this world."

"I can make it up to you, whatever you want, I can give it to you," Luke pleaded sincerely.

"Then I want a divorce!"

Luke’s heart tightened, and he gazed at her with sorrowful eyes: "Anything but that, anything but that request, you can have it."

"See," Florence let out a cold laugh, "I made a request, and you don’t want to fulfill it."

Luke looked at her seriously and earnestly, "You know I don’t want a divorce. I’m already trying to change. Just grant me a chance; I won’t be any worse than Ethan Harper. I can do better than him, trust me."

"Grant you a chance?" Florence raised an eyebrow mockingly, "Wouldn’t that just satisfy you? Why should I have to accept your so-called apology and compensation just because you’ve had a change of heart and want to live a decent life, then follow your wishes and not divorce, forgive you and carry on with life. Is this fair, Luke Gardiner?"

Luke’s throat was filled with bitterness, unable to speak.

"Think about how carefree your days were back then. You could leave halfway even at our wedding; women outside were throwing themselves at you one after another. You told me not to interfere, and I didn’t. You said to put on a show in front of the old man, and I did. You said all these things so casually, so when I asked for a divorce, you should have agreed just as casually. Yet, because of those two feebly spoken words ’I like you,’ you chose to bind me."

"I’m not trying to bind you; you never wanted to give me a chance. I really can’t let you go." Looking at her, Luke continued, "Florence Fuller, I’ve never been so tormented over a woman in my life. Those things before... those were my mistakes from immaturity. They were mere distractions to me. I swear, from now on, it will only be you. I don’t care about anything between you and Ethan Harper anymore. Let’s start over, okay?"

Florence found it utterly ludicrous, as if speaking to a brick wall: "You don’t care about what happened between me and Ethan, but what right do you have to care? I’m telling you, I have no obligation to pay for your so-called immaturity, and there won’t be any beginning between us. If you don’t want a divorce, fine, we’ll go through legal proceedings. I just can’t believe that after all my efforts, the marriage won’t end."

"As long as I don’t agree, you won’t escape me, nor the Gardiner Family," Luke said with a heartache, "You wanting to be with Ethan Harper? That’s impossible."

Grinding her teeth, Florence stared at him coldly: "You’re the most disgusting and vile man I’ve ever met."

She strode away.

Luke let out a laugh, feeling pain in every limb. Watching Florence’s determined retreating back, he gritted his teeth as veins popped in his neck. He quickly caught up, grabbing her and pinning her against the wall, kissing her lips.

If she thinks he’s disgusting, finds him vile, fine, then he would disgust her for a lifetime.

Luke’s lips brushed over Florence’s, but she suddenly turned her head away, causing his lips to land on her cheek. She forcefully shoved him away as Luke pressed on, kissing her cheeks and neck relentlessly.

His hand roamed over her alluring curves.

The scent and warmth from her body captivated him.

Before, no other woman had ever made him feel this way. He longed for indulgence, to share an intimate embrace.

But such ultimate joy could only exist in his dreams.

"Get off!"

In anger, Florence delivered a punch to his face, making Luke’s head jerk to the side. The next second, a slap landed on the other side of his face.

Ignoring everything, he stubbornly kissed every inch of her face. Florence grabbed his coat, bent her knee, and ferociously kneed upward, causing intense pain in Luke’s abdomen, making him bend over painfully.

Seething with rage, Florence kicked off her high heels and ruthlessly aimed a kick at the back of his knee, sending Luke sprawling to the ground. She flipped him over and started raining punches on him.

"How could I have married such a selfish, insincere man like you?"

"How could the Gardiner Family have someone like you? From such a prestigious family, and you turned out to be such an awful person."

"You’re already a disgusting man, why must you drag me down with you!"

"I said I want a divorce, a divorce!"

"Why won’t you agree! Why!"

Though Luke’s body ached from her blows, his heart ached even more.

He didn’t avoid her hands, listening to her furious and despairing voice, he let out a desolate laugh.

Is this what it means to be an ill-fated couple?

Is it?

He clearly liked her so much. Even as Florence hit him, his mind only focused on whether her hands hurt from hitting him or if she’d get sick from being so angry.

He didn’t want to upset her, but her request was something he truly couldn’t fulfill.

Ethan Harper returned out of concern and saw Florence in her furious and distressing state. He hurried over and pulled Florence up, embracing her.

"Florence, Florence."

He held her close, utterly disregarding Luke, who was filled with despair and anguish nearby, softly kissing her hair to soothe her.