CHAPTER 203: CHAPTER 203: I JUST WANTED TO SEE YOU

Luke listened to her words and, after staring at her for a long time, seemed to smile weakly as if he had lost the battle: "You woman... how can you do this, how can you treat me like this."

"Stop making yourself the victim." Florence looked at him coldly, "I owe you nothing."

Luke laughed out loud, both pitiful and sarcastic: "Alright then, let’s see to what extent you’re willing to go to get a divorce."

Florence frowned, her gaze growing colder as she looked at him: "Alright, let’s wait and see."

——

Two weeks later, Florence filed for divorce in court.

A month later, the divorce case went to trial. Luke was absent, and Florence didn’t show up either.

Only the lawyers from both sides were present to fight it out.

NQ Design Company.

Lily entered to find Florence standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought. Upon hearing the noise, Florence turned and asked her, "Did we lose?"

Lily nodded.

Florence wasn’t surprised; it was just as she expected.

From the start of the lawsuit, Florence had more or less sensed the court’s aversion to this case. After all, they were in SJ City, where the Gardiner family held a top-tier status. It could be said that as long as Luke didn’t agree to sign, it would be almost impossible for Florence to get this divorce no matter how long she persisted.

"Contact the lawyer and prepare for a second lawsuit," Florence said.

Lily nodded and went to liaise with the lawyer.

After much hesitation, Florence decided to call Old Mr. Gardiner. Not long after the call connected, she had second thoughts and chose to hang up.

Forget it, the old gentleman isn’t in good health.

She and Luke had completely fallen out, but Old Mr. Gardiner had always been kind to her, unlike Luke’s mother, who was always harsh. He was genuinely good to her.

He didn’t restrict her freedom and let her pursue her own interests. He even helped her with networking when she started her business and would stand up for her when Luke’s mother made things difficult.

To be fair, Florence even felt he treated her better than her own two biological parents in the Fuller family.

But now that Old Mr. Gardiner was advanced in age and his health was deteriorating, Florence had already embarrassed the old man by stirring things up online against Luke.

But if Luke refused to divorce, how long would this stalemate last?

Two days later.

Florence returned to the company from a business trip and unexpectedly saw an acquaintance she hadn’t seen in a long time in the lobby downstairs.

Her mother, Laura Yates.

This unexpected encounter caught her by surprise. With just a casual glance, she saw Laura Yates sitting in the lounge area, holding her head down and looking at NQ’s magazine. Her once polished demeanor as a wealthy housewife was long gone; her hair, seemingly uncared for, was tied back with a clip, and her clothes were from a long outdated luxury brand, making her appear somewhat timid.

In the months since they last met, Florence hadn’t heard any news of her, and she didn’t expect to see her like this now.

Florence felt a slight emotional stir, but she didn’t linger and continued striding towards the elevator.

By the time Laura Yates noticed, all she could see was Florence’s back blocked by the group of people following her, and she hurriedly put down the magazine to chase after her: "Florence, Florence."

All that responded to her were footsteps halted by an impassable door and a closed elevator.

She sighed, disheartened, and walked back to the lounge area to wait.

When Florence returned to her office, Lily came in soon after.

Lily had accompanied her on the business trip, so naturally, she had seen Laura Yates downstairs. Having worked for Florence for so long, she wouldn’t have stayed if she didn’t understand her boss.

"I just called to ask the reception downstairs; Ms. Yates has been here for four days. The reception said they asked her who she was looking for, but she didn’t say, only expressing that she would wait here," Lily reported.

Florence listened but said nothing.

Lily asked, "Should I look into Ms. Yates’ recent activities?"

"No need," Florence declined, "Continue with the work."

Lily nodded, "Okay."

Coming back to her senses from the busy work, Florence looked at the sky outside gradually darkening, glanced at the time, it was six-thirty.

She gathered her things, preparing to leave, and Oliver was waiting for her to finish work. Seeing her exit, he followed her into the elevator, pressing the button for the basement level.

Underground parking lot.

"Drive the car out from level B1; I’ll take the first floor," Florence instructed.

Oliver nodded, pressing the first-floor button for her.

As Florence stepped out of the elevator on the first floor, most of the company employees had already left work, making the lobby appear somewhat deserted. Her high heels echoed loudly in the empty space as she walked steadily towards the main entrance.

Then came hurried footsteps and a voice: "Florence, Florence."

Florence stopped and saw Laura Yates rushing towards her, carrying her bag.

Upon stopping in front of her, her face was filled with nervous anxiety: "Off...off work now... Florence."

Florence asked her, "What are you doing here?"

Laura Yates chuckled dryly, "I just wanted to see you, to see how you’re doing."

Florence glanced at the bag in her hand, seemingly an old model from a long time ago. Noticing Florence’s gaze, she hid the bag behind her back.

To think of how Laura Yates used to lord over her and compare it to her current anxious state, Florence didn’t feel any pleasure. Instead, she felt a kind of dull, suffocating sensation.

Is this because she carries Laura Yates’ blood? Despite the fact that her biological mother once treated her poorly, seeing her fallen to this state now stirred a discomfort within her.

"Have you eaten?" Florence asked.

Laura Yates was taken aback for a moment and shook her head.

She had waited several days for Florence, only eating bread when hungry.

"Let’s go."

Florence said.

Laura Yates caught up with her steps with an ecstatic but bewildered expression.

As Oliver drove the car out, he was surprised to see another woman following Florence. After getting into the car, Florence mentioned the name of a hotel and asked Oliver to drive them there.

In the hotel’s restaurant, Florence booked a small private room and gestured for the waiter to hand Laura Yates the menu. While dealing with work on her phone, she said, "Order whatever you want to eat."

Laura Yates, flipping through the menu, felt her eyes gradually redden at those words.

With another glance at Florence focused on her phone, Laura blinked to suppress the tears welling up.

As the dishes were served, Florence wasn’t too hungry and barely ate a few bites.

Laura Yates gently asked, "Florence, have you lost weight again recently?"

"No."