CHAPTER 82: CHAPTER 82: FILING FOR DIVORCE

Victoria Sinclair’s life has returned to normal.

The difference now is that her mindset has changed.

She no longer has the energy to worry about emotional matters, she’s indifferent, has let go, and stopped exhausting herself.

The police reported back that Walter Yates still refused to reveal the whereabouts of the five monkeys, and as for his motive for releasing monkeys with viruses, the police found nothing.

But there was one thing the police specifically told her.

Walter Yates’s mother is disabled, he has two younger sisters in middle school, and a father suffering from liver cancer.

The burden of the whole family rests on his shoulders, and as a pharmaceutical researcher, his salary isn’t very high.

Recently, the Vaughn Group’s charity department has been sponsoring Walter Yates’s two sisters and donating money for Walter Yates’s father’s medical treatment.

Since the Vaughn Group often does charity work under various pretexts, whether it is linked to Walter Yates’s case of releasing virus monkeys remains to be investigated.

The police can’t act without evidence, but Victoria Sinclair knows.

She’s always been targeted.

Last time it was the fire department, tax office, animal protection association, and even her landlord driving her out.

This time it was even crueler, hitting her where it could really hurt.

Probably it was caused by Vivian Miller’s depression episode and her suicide attempt.

Victoria Sinclair went alone to the Splendor Estate to find her father-in-law, Harold Vaughn.

The sun was shining brightly in the vast garden with birds chirping and flowers blooming.

Harold Vaughn wore casual home clothes, leisurely trimming his potted plants.

Victoria Sinclair got straight to the point, "Dad, you should know why I’m here. Just tell me what you want."

Harold Vaughn smiled indifferently, sizing her up, "I always thought you were quite smart."

"My time is precious, don’t waste it." Victoria had lost all respect and politeness for him, only anger and impatience remained.

After all, such a despicable person wasn’t worth her time.

Harold Vaughn’s face darkened, setting aside the scissors with a cold snort, "Quite bold, speaking to me like that?"

Victoria wasn’t intimidated by his aura; if anything, she was even more resolute, "If the virus spreads widely among humans, my company will collapse, I’ll be punished and sent to jail, but you and your family might not meet a good end either. Once infected, without a vaccine, without special treatment, it’s a dead end for you too."

Harold Vaughn’s eyes darkened, "I don’t understand what you’re saying."

"You understand." Victoria’s fists clenched, restraining herself, knowing he was pretending, difficult to extract evidence from, "I know you’re afraid I’ll record this, afraid to acknowledge my words. So, just tell me what you want, what you want me to do?"

After all, he had orchestrated so much, persistently targeting her, going after her company, and now her future.

There must be a reason.

Harold Vaughn picked up the scissors, resuming trimming the oddly-shaped bonsai before him, "Victoria, I admit you’re clever and beautiful, highly educated, capable, gentle, and virtuous; quite a remarkable woman. But your family background and status don’t match our Vaughn Family."

"Publicly, you can’t help Eugene, nor the Vaughn Group."

"Privately, I’ve always wanted Vivian to be my daughter-in-law, to become in-laws with The Miller Family."

"I understand now." Victoria’s fists clenched tighter, her nails digging into the flesh of her palm, her hand hurt, her heart too.

But such pain was fleeting.

"Glad you understand." Harold Vaughn chuckled lightly, looking at her. "If your family background were better, you’d be a perfect woman."

Such compliments made Victoria feel nauseated.

"I’ll tell Eugene I want a divorce." Victoria was decisive.

"Can you bear to?" Harold Vaughn questioned.

Victoria scoffed internally.

Three months of dating, two years of a cold marriage, she couldn’t count on her fingers how many happy days they had.

Miss his indifference?

She could earn money, buy a house and car, but he provided no emotional value or intimacy, even having a child seemed extravagant; it was only the little love and hope in her heart that sustained her till now.

What was there to miss?

Victoria’s tone was firm, "I can bear it, I stopped loving Eugene a long time ago."

Harold Vaughn nodded with satisfaction, silent for a few seconds before speaking, "Eugene won’t agree to a divorce. You’re smart, think of a way to make him agree."

"I’ll file for divorce."

"File? Without a valid reason, the judge won’t agree."

Victoria bit her lip lightly, steeling herself, "We haven’t had a sexual relationship in two years of marriage."

"Clang!"

The scissors fell to the ground in Harold Vaughn’s shock, staring at her, speechless.

Indeed, telling anyone about this would make them gasp.

But she held out for two years.

And Harold Vaughn might be more worried about Eugene’s sexual orientation.

"I hope by tomorrow the remaining five monkeys will be found." Victoria took photos of the monkeys from her bag, placing them on the table, "These monkeys are marked, if kind citizens spot them, they can call me to provide leads."

Having said that, Victoria walked out of the Splendor Estate, wearing her bag on her back.

Harold Vaughn still couldn’t snap out of his shock.

——

The next day, no one called with information.

Victoria knew Harold Vaughn still didn’t believe her.

But she was certain those monkeys were with him, presumably safe, yet she couldn’t be sure if professional staff had isolated and cared for them.

To get the monkeys back, she’d likely have to wait until the day she collected the divorce certificate.

She took a day off to see a lawyer.

She hadn’t told anyone about the divorce.

Resolute, decisive, she filed without hesitation.

June nights were unbearably hot.

At ten-thirty in the evening, Eugene returned home, his exhausted body like a mountain weighing heavily on his shoulders.

He turned on the living room light, placed down his car keys, changed into slippers at the entrance, and sat on the sofa.

A letter was on the coffee table.

He removed his suit, tossed aside his tie, picked up the envelope, glancing at the court papers, his face darkened instantly.

Opening the envelope, he pulled out the divorce lawsuit documents.

The quiet living room was pin-drop silent.

Eugene leaned against the sofa weakly, the papers pressed on his thigh motionless, his face cold and gloomy, eyes reddening.

His chest heaved, and with trembling hands, he crumpled the papers, stood up breathing deeply, turning towards Victoria’s room.

He supported himself on the doorframe with one hand, the other heavy as lead, knocking twice.

At the third knock, the door opened.

He pushed inside.

Victoria felt a surge of strength rush toward her the moment she unlocked the door.

She backed up two steps, but before she could react, a tall figure loomed over her, swiftly grasping her arm, pinning her to the wall.

The man’s hot breath, dangerous cold demeanor, and overwhelming pressure felt like an invisible net enveloping her.

Victoria’s heartbeat accelerated, uneasy, she looked up at the man just inches from her.

The warm room light cast shadows on his features, distinct and cold, those red eyes like a wounded beast, unhidden emotions glaring at her.

Victoria had never seen Eugene like this.

It made her scared.

Eugene braced the wall with one hand, pressing her shoulder with the other, his voice hoarse, "Victoria, you didn’t even discuss a divorce with me this time, just went straight to court?"