CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82: I FILED FOR DIVORCE AND FROZE TIMOTHY XAVIER’S ASSETS

After he finished speaking, he leaned in with an undeniable sense of pressure.

I instinctively turned my head to dodge, but his kiss brushed past my ear and landed on my neck, filled with cold anger.

"Let me go!"

I raised my hand to push against his chest, my nails almost digging into the fabric of his suit.

He remained unmoved and only tightened his grip on the back of my neck, his breath on my skin causing a shiver.

I suddenly let out a cold laugh and said, "You deserve to be set up by Declan! You can’t even figure out who your real opponent is, yet you have the nerve to go crazy here?"

Timothy instantly released me, anger surging in his eyes, "What did you say?"

"I said you’re stupid!"

I looked straight into his eyes, my voice trembling with anger, "I’m not the only one with access to your hospital room! Serena visits constantly, don’t you know? If I were you, I’d investigate what exactly is going on between her and Declan!"

"Enough!" he shouted, interrupting, his gaze dark and cold, "Doing dirty deeds and trying to throw mud at others? Zoe Ellison, you’re beyond saving!"

I took a deep breath; let the misunderstanding be. After all, this isn’t the first time he’s wrongly accused me.

I calmly said, "In that case, let’s proceed with the divorce quickly and never see each other again. That way, I won’t be accused of stealing any more corporate secrets. What do you think?"

Timothy paused slightly, straightened his wrinkled suit, and spoke with his usual coldness, "Divorce is possible. But you, leave with nothing."

I looked at him incredulously and asked, "Why?"

Timothy’s eyes were as cold as ice, as he said word by word, "Do you know how much the Xavier Group lost this time because of you? Letting you leave with nothing is already being lenient! If it weren’t for the four years of marriage, you’d be charged with ’stealing corporate secrets’ right now. Even Declan himself admitted he got the bid thanks to you. Your excuses are useless."

I was so enraged that I could feel the blood rushing to my head, "Timothy, if you want to file a lawsuit, go ahead. Let the police investigate everything! But slandering me for something I didn’t do, while you’re the one cheating, and still want me to leave with nothing? That’s absolutely unacceptable!"

Timothy remained condescending, coldly saying, "Think it over before you come to me to sign. But don’t even think about taking a penny from the Xavier Family."

After speaking, he turned and left, the door slamming shut.

The one who did wrong was him, and the one who deceived me into marriage was him!

Now that it has come to divorce, he’s finally showing his true colors, even more ruthless than I imagined.

Although he has so many assets, I’m not pursuing the hidden ones, but even the ones officially recognized, he won’t let me have a penny!

If that’s the case, I won’t give up a single cent that’s mine!

And my daughter, I can’t let her continue following people like Timothy and Serena, or she’ll end up being corrupted.

At that moment, fireworks went off outside the window, celebrating Declan’s victory in the bid.

I left the Ellison Family without saying goodbye to anyone.

The next day, I went to see Attorney Quincy.

After telling him about Timothy’s proposal of leaving with nothing, Attorney Quincy said, "In that case, the only option is to file for divorce and secure the assets. Although your husband might be transferring assets, securing them can freeze his assets to the greatest extent."

"Let’s do that then."

My tone was firm, without a hint of hesitation.

Attorney Quincy asked, "Have you thought it through? Once you take this step, there’s no turning back."

I smiled and said, "I have no regrets."

And so, Attorney Quincy immediately began the divorce proceedings for me.

...

Two days later, while shopping with Jenna, we happened to run into Serena buying a bag at a luxury store.

The bag was a limited edition, only three in the country, and worth millions.

Even for a family like the Suttons, Jenna had to consider carefully.

She tried the off-white bag again and again but couldn’t decide to buy it.

It was said that because Timothy previously sued St. Jude’s Kindergarten, the kindergarten has been caught up in negative news recently, and many parents started transferring their children.

After all, the parents at the kindergarten were part of this circle, and the Xavier Family was seen as a trendsetter in Veridia.

Even Timothy wouldn’t let his children attend the Sutton kindergarten, so other parents gradually transferred their children, and many investors also cut off investments to the Suttons.

So now, the Suttons’ finances weren’t what they used to be.

Jenna was so enamored with the bag she nearly drooled, but in the end, she put it back and cursed indignantly, "It’s all that wretched Timothy’s fault!"

At this moment, Serena’s sweet voice chimed in, "I’ll take that bag, thank you."

We turned around to see Serena staring at us with a mocking expression, "Isn’t it Miss Ellison and Miss Sutton? That’s quite a long time to look at a bag. Just buy it already!"

Jenna didn’t back down, let out a cold snort, "Oh, look who it is, the big star mentioned on the official website! Lost so many endorsements, can’t get a single gig, yet can afford a million-dollar bag. I guess that’s why stars make money!"

Serena’s face changed, but she couldn’t lose her composure in public.

She took out a platinum card and said to the sales associate, "Wrap up the bag for me, please. Charge it."

The sales associate took the card and said politely, "Miss Sawyer, please hold on."

As the associate left, Serena smugly smiled, boasting, "Actually, being a star doesn’t earn much. After all, being well-married is better than doing well professionally! Timothy dotes on me and says I can use his money however I like."

Originally, these words wouldn’t bother me anymore.

But recalling Timothy coldly telling me to ’leave with nothing, don’t think of taking a penny from the Xavier Family’, yet Serena could buy a million-dollar bag without blinking, made me feel like a rock was lodged in my chest.

Jenna nonchalantly said, "Why not use your own husband’s money if you’re so capable? Is it even worth boasting about using another woman’s husband’s money?"

"You!"

Serena had just started to retort when the sales associate hurriedly returned to her.

She awkwardly handed the card back to Serena, "I’m sorry, Miss Sawyer, but this card can’t be used."

Serena was stunned, pretending as if nothing was wrong, and swapped the card, "Use this one."

But to her surprise, a few minutes later, the sales associate returned again and said, "Miss Sawyer, this one... also doesn’t work."

"That’s impossible!"

Serena repeatedly scrutinized the card in her hand and said, "Could it be that your store’s POS machine is broken?"

I suddenly realized.

It’s probably not that the POS machine is broken, but that Timothy Xavier’s assets have been frozen.

Because this morning Attorney Quincy told me that the court has already accepted my divorce petition.

And Serena Sawyer is still frantically trying different cards for the clerk to use, firmly believing that Timothy Xavier has an endless supply of money for her to use and that there’s no way money wouldn’t come out.

I watched her actions, inexplicably finding it all quite ridiculous.

"Miss Sawyer, there’s no need to try anymore."

I smiled faintly at her and said, "The card you’re using isn’t just Timothy Xavier’s, it’s the joint property of me and him as husband and wife. Without my consent, how can you use it?"

Serena was stunned, staring at me in shock: "What do you mean?"

I smiled slightly and said, "It means that I applied for an asset preservation order, and Timothy Xavier’s assets have been frozen. Not only you, but even Timothy himself can’t use his money now!"

"Zoe Ellison, you..." Serena was almost losing her composure in public, trying desperately to control herself, but her voice still trembled with anger, "You’re really ruthless!"

I calmly looked at her near frenzy, saying, "Compared to you, I’m far less so."

At this moment, Jenna Sutton joined the fray, "Miss Sawyer, are you so broke without a man that you can’t even afford a bag? If you’re not buying it, then I’ll take it."

Serena gritted her teeth but, ultimately, did not make a purchase.

This clearly shows that The Sawyer Family’s wealth is not as deep as it seems, and Serena’s career must be struggling lately.

I secretly told Jenna Sutton, "Don’t act impulsively, just annoy her a bit. Spending a million on a bag isn’t worth it. Let’s go!"

"I won’t!"

Jenna Sutton said, "I really like this bag, and besides, I’m actually happy now! I’m buying it!"

And so, eventually, Jenna Sutton still bought that bag.

As Serena stood by the store’s entrance, she kept making phone calls.

It’s obvious that the person on the other end is Timothy Xavier.

As we passed her, Jenna Sutton deliberately swung the shopping bag in front of Serena, openly showing her disdain.

When we’d walked some distance, Jenna Sutton excitedly asked me, "When did you file for divorce? How could I not know?"

"Just the past couple of days."

I calmly recounted the events that happened at The Ellison Family that night to her, saying, "It was Timothy Xavier who pushed me to this point."

Jenna Sutton asked in shock, "So, Serena Sawyer, that little bitch, is involved with your brother too?"

"It seems so."

I nodded and said, "However, none of this relates to me anymore. As long as I divorce him, these rotten people and events will all be far away from me."

Jenna Sutton agreed, saying, "You’re right. I wonder if Timothy Xavier knows his assets are frozen and that he’s being sued for divorce. Hasn’t he approached you, or shown any reaction?"

"Not at all." I replied, "He probably just found out as well. After all, the court only gave me feedback this morning, and I only found out today."

Just as I finished speaking, Jenna Sutton suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, startling me.

"Why are you so jumpy?" I gave her a stern look.

Jenna Sutton worriedly said, "Don’t forget, the heart-lung support device your mother is using hasn’t been officially launched yet. Might that bastard Timothy Xavier get angry and meddle with something concerning your mother?"

I grasped my phone tightly and said, "If he dares, I’ll fight him to the bitter end. I have so much evidence of his infidelity with Serena Sawyer. If pushed, we’ll all go down together!"

"No, no, it’s not worth it to die for that scumbag."

Jenna Sutton soothed me, slightly surprised, saying, "You looked like a war goddess just now, like someone who would kill any god or Buddha in their way!"

But I know, until the very last step, I won’t do that.

After all, even if I expose Timothy Xavier and Serena Sawyer, they’d only end up with ruined reputations, just losing face.

But if it comes to that point, what I’d be giving up is my mother’s life.

I analyzed, "Timothy Xavier’s company spent so much time, energy, and money on the research, it can’t possibly never launch it. He won’t make a losing business deal, so he’s more eager than us to have the equipment launch onto the market for sale."

Jenna Sutton nodded and said, "When the time comes, that’s when we expose them."

I sighed and said, "I just want to quickly get Doris’s paternity test results; only by confirming that she’s my daughter do I have the right to fight Timothy Xavier for custody."

Jenna Sutton glanced at the time and said, "It’s almost noon, let’s go for lunch first. Doris’s matter can’t be rushed; as long as the child is in Veridia, we’ll eventually find a chance to acquire her hair or blood sample. Getting divorced from Timothy Xavier is the priority now."

We found a Cantonese restaurant.

Just as we took a seat, we heard grievances from not far away, "Timothy, Miss Ellison is really too much! The money is yours, Xavier Group is yours, how distribution should be handled, you should decide. Previously our mom said Miss Ellison married you for Xavier family’s money, and I didn’t believe it. Now, I have no choice but to believe it!"

Jenna Sutton and I exchanged a glance, and in disbelief, stood up to look at the other side.

What a small world!

The two were separated from us by just a thin screen; their seats were directly behind us diagonally.

We didn’t make a sound and silently sat down. Jenna Sutton even opened her phone’s recording app, hoping to hear what more they might say?

If the two are plotting how to get me to leave empty-handed, attempting some underhanded tactics, this evidence would be conveniently obtained!

At that moment, Timothy Xavier’s phone rang. After he answered, he coldly called, "Mom."

On the other side, Sophia Kendall said something we couldn’t hear, we only heard Timothy Xavier say, "Don’t jump to conclusions. The assets are only temporarily frozen. Doesn’t the family have cash? Just use cash for now."

After he hung up, his tone had a trace of displeasure as he asked Serena Sawyer, "Did you tell my mom about Zoe Ellison suing for divorce?"

Serena’s voice was low, sounding aggrieved, "I... I’m worried she’ll outsmart you, so I wanted our mom to help think of a solution."

"Don’t do this again."

Timothy Xavier’s tone was cold yet contained a hint of command, "My matters with Zoe Ellison, let my mom know less. Besides, she doesn’t have the ability to outsmart me."

Serena cautiously said, "But if I hadn’t notified you today, you wouldn’t even know she sued you, would you? Timothy, we need a strong lawyer this time, or everything you worked hard for over the years will fall into her lap."

Timothy Xavier remained silent.

But Serena persisted, "I heard from our mom the other day that Julian Sinclair, a legal luminary, is your uncle? How about seeking Julian Sinclair for this divorce case? You’re relatives; he’s bound to agree."