CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34: JOSEPHINE, I’M HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR DIVORCE

"A woman shouldn’t be spoiled too much. She actually dared to throw a tantrum in front of Master Grant in public. She really thinks too highly of herself."

"Exactly, just stay firm and don’t coax her. Let’s see what she can do? Does Master Grant seriously intend to give up an entire forest for a single flower?"

"I bet that Master Grant won’t last three days before he bows his head and admits his mistake. Hahaha..."

The teasing and joking of his friends made him feel utterly humiliated.

He had pursued her for three years, always the one making an effort.

He also felt a bit tired.

Just in time to indulge himself while she’s away this time. Ignore her for a few months, and then win her back.

After all, she would have to return to school to continue her master’s. There were plenty of opportunities.

But he never expected that once she went back, she wouldn’t return. The next news he got was that she had married Nathaniel Gallagher. Everything happened so unexpectedly, leaving him with no chance to mend things.

This became the greatest regret of his life.

...

At twelve-thirty noon.

The exhibition officially concluded.

The museum curator and the dignitaries of Caldwen, all had satisfied smiles on their faces, "Our exhibition ended perfectly."

The foreign delegations were amazed by the precious artifacts, praising endlessly in English, "Absolutely perfect, very impressive, splendid."

"Let’s take a group photo for the memories."

Everyone gathered together, smiling at the camera.

The photo session ended.

The reception was prepared with lunch, and the group went on to have their meal.

By the end of the celebration banquet, it was already three thirty in the afternoon.

The foreign delegations went to their hotels to rest. The next day’s schedule was to visit the infrastructure of Caldwen, so Josephine and others were not needed.

The domestic expert teams also went to their designated hotels to rest.

Professor Warren specifically arranged a private talk with Josephine Thompson.

"Miss Thompson, I have a batch of precious relics that have been damaged. Do you think they can be repaired?"

With that, Professor Warren handed several photos of the artifacts to Josephine to review.

These relics were unearthed from the Western Ancient Dynasty and were very precious. Unfortunately, due to the damage by tomb raiders, they were already severely damaged upon excavation.

Professor Warren had previously approached several teams of restoration experts for assistance, but the results were unsatisfactory.

Josephine examined the photos carefully.

One photo showed a Plain Silk Robe, another a painted figure from the Western Ancient Dynasty, and the last a damaged bronze tripod.

"...Professor Warren, although I have restored similar artifacts before, I need to see the actual items for detailed study."

"The inscriptions on this bronze tripod have decayed to a point where they are unclear in the photos. Detailed study is necessary to recreate them."

Professor Warren hesitated for a few seconds, "Do you have confidence in restoring them?"

Josephine, though not very confident inside, preferred to tackle challenges head-on, "No problem, I will do my best to restore them to a state as close to their original form as possible."

"If you trust me, Professor Warren, you can send the artifacts to my studio in Audenburg. Let me first study them and provide you with a detailed restoration procedure and plan. If you’re satisfied, I’ll start the restoration work."

Professor Warren was very satisfied upon hearing this, "Alright, it’s settled then. I’ll have my assistant send the artifacts to Audenburg as soon as possible."

"Okay."

"I heard from Curator Carter that you are very interested in archaeology?"

Josephine nodded resolutely, "Yes, I am very passionate about archaeology."

Professor Warren scrutinized Josephine for a moment and said earnestly, "This field is not easy! It’s hard, tiring, tedious, and sometimes very dangerous."

"You, a young woman, I fear you won’t be able to handle the hardship. Moreover..."

Professor Warren stopped short.

She was raised in comfort as a pampered young lady and was the wife of a top conglomerate’s heir. Such a woman should be enjoying life at home. Could she endure the monotony and hardships of archaeology?

He feared her enthusiasm might be fleeting!

Josephine’s eyes were filled with desire as she solemnly said, "I know it’s a tough field, but every time I restore an artifact, it feels like conversing with craftsmen from a thousand years ago. Those cracks and rust hide not just history, but the dedication of generations of artisans."

"I remember the first time I independently restored a Han Dynasty pottery, spending three months battling with fine cracks. Finally, watching the pieces come together, I suddenly understood the amazement of ’seeing the light again.’

"Therefore, I wish to go further and explore more historical civilizations."

Professor Warren, upon hearing this, had a newfound respect for her.

After a minute of contemplation.

Professor Warren seemed to make up his mind, "Alright, if you can restore these three artifacts successfully, I’ll break my rule and accept you as my last disciple."

"As you know, I only supervise doctoral students. But you are indeed exceptional, so I can make an exception for you."

Overjoyed, Josephine replied, "Thank you, Professor Warren. I will not let you down."

"Work hard."

The conversation ended.

Josephine was very happy, having taken another step closer to her dream.

Returning to her room.

She took out her phone, eager to share this good news with her grandfather.

These days, fearing it might affect her mindset, she hadn’t turned on her phone, intentionally ignoring any news related to Nathaniel Gallagher.

"Ding ding!"

As soon as the phone was on, numerous messages and missed call notifications nearly overloaded its memory.

Nathaniel Gallagher called her over ten times, and sent dozens of messages on WeChat.

Jamila Jacobs and yoyo also sent her lots of WeChat messages, which she couldn’t even finish reading.

"Ring ring..."

After a few rings, Elder Thompson answered, "Hello, Josephine."

Unable to hide her excitement, Josephine announced, "Grandpa, I have some good news. Professor Warren agreed to take me on."

"As long as I restore the three artifacts well, I can be his last disciple."

Elder Thompson was also happy for his granddaughter, "This is wonderful news, we’ll have a proper celebration when you return."

"How did the exhibition go?"

"Very smoothly, it has successfully concluded. If nothing else comes up, I should be able to return this afternoon."

"That’s good, Grandpa will prepare something delicious for you."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

After ending the call.

Josephine finally breathed a sigh of relief and immediately began packing her luggage.

She didn’t want to attend the evening’s celebration banquet, preferring to head home early.

After packing.

She went to bid farewell to Curator Carter, Shane Lynch, and others.

...

At five o’clock in the afternoon.

Josephine’s assistant and driver came to pick her up.

She had just stepped out of the hotel door, ready to get in the car.

Julian Grant came running and stopped her, "Josephine, I’d like to talk to you."

Josephine looked at him coldly, having no intention of reminiscing, "I’m sorry, I’m in a hurry. Let’s talk another time."

With a "bang!"

Julian blocked the car door and slammed it shut. "Just a few minutes of your time, it won’t take long."

Josephine frowned slightly, "...Go ahead, what is it?"

Julian’s expression carried a hint of desolation as he stared into her eyes for a full half minute. "I want to explain the misunderstanding from back then."

"I admit, I said things I shouldn’t have that day because I was drunk. But that wasn’t what I truly felt..."

Josephine’s frown deepened, and she directly interrupted him, "Julian, it’s all in the past. Talking about it now is meaningless, I really am in a hurry, please step aside."

She avoided him, trying to pull the car door open.

Julian still blocked the door firmly, countless words surged to his mouth, yet he couldn’t say a single one.

"Josephine, are you really not going to give me a chance to explain?"

"..." Josephine felt somewhat irritated and didn’t want to hear his nonsense.

Four years had already passed.

Bringing up the past now was truly meaningless.

Moreover, even if his words back then were just careless talk. But did his public embrace and passionate kiss with the junior count as careless?

Someone like him, a playboy, who knows how many women he’s been with secretly!

The reason she agreed to date him back then was because he said, "The more someone seems unreliable, the more they love passionately. Maybe he’s the exception, and trying won’t cost anything."

She tried.

There was no exception.

Someone who seems unreliable is indeed even more unreliable.

Julian had been a troublemaker among troublemakers since he was young, fighting, early romancing, skipping classes, causing trouble everywhere!

At 11, he dared to secretly drive his family’s sports car and race with punks. At 12, he secretly drove with some classmates out of Caldwen to the mainland for fun, driving over a thousand kilometers before his family found out.

Afterwards, his father hung him up and beat him for three days. However, he remained incorrigible, doing things his way, full of rebellion, as if saying ’beat me to death if you can’.

Unable to manage him, his father shipped him abroad, to prevent him from causing disasters at home, embarrassing the family. Once abroad, he was like a wild horse freed from reins, even more lawless.

Julian sighed, "Josephine, I really don’t know what to say. But I want you to know, through these years, I haven’t forgotten you."

"Thank you, I really need to go."

"I just want to catch up with you, do you really not want to see me?" Julian held her arm, preventing her from getting into the car.

"Let me go, I really have something to do."

"What’s so urgent? Your husband has already cheated, are you still going to endure it? You’ve been married to him for only four years and he already has a mistress. If you had married me, maybe I could last a few more years before cheating!"

"Last a few more years before cheating?"

"Haha, you’re really interesting."

The two were pulling each other.

From the opposite parking lot, a group of people in black suits walked towards them.

Nathaniel was at the front.

Seeing Julian and Josephine entangled, his face immediately turned cold, "What are you doing?"

Hearing Nathaniel’s voice, they both involuntarily paused.

"Move aside." Josephine pushed Julian hard, trying to get into the car.

Nathaniel quickly stepped up and grabbed her arm, "Josephine, I’ve called you so many times, why haven’t you answered?"

"Nathaniel, there’s nothing left to say between us."

Nathaniel frowned, speaking ominously, "Let’s go home first, we can talk more there!"

Josephine forcefully tried to shake off his hand, even less likely to follow him, "Get out of the way, I don’t want to see you."

"Baby, listen to me, it’s not what you think. The media is making things up, it never happened."

Josephine listened, her emotions immediately flaring up, "Stop explaining, I don’t want to hear it, let me go."

Nathaniel tightly held her wrist, trying to drag her away, "Come on, just come back with me, we can discuss everything at home."

"Let go."

Seeing Josephine about to be forcibly taken away, Julian firmly grabbed Nathaniel’s wrist, saying coldly, "Let go, didn’t you hear she doesn’t want to go with you?"

Then he forcefully pushed Nathaniel aside, shielding Josephine behind him.

Nathaniel steadied himself, gloomily staring at Julian, "Mr. Grant, aren’t you interfering a bit too much? She’s my wife, it’s not your place to meddle."

Julian, equally upright, responded with disdain, "Oh, what a coincidence, I’m naturally a meddler, and today, I’m meddling."

Nathaniel listened, his heart boiling with anger, wishing he could chop Julian up and feed him to the sharks.

But he knew Julian’s background in Caldwen.

Civilians don’t fight with officials.

Although he had money and power, he was just a tycoon, nothing more than financial prowess.

Whereas Julian was amongst the elite of elites, the true power. In comparison to power, a tycoon is ultimately lesser.

He took a breath, his exceptionally handsome face revealing a sinister smile, "Haha, so, is it you causing trouble behind the scenes?

Julian slightly raised an eyebrow, pretending ignorance, "I don’t get it, what trouble am I causing? Actions speak louder than words, isn’t it?"

"So it was you then?"

These days, his secrets had been exploding online.

He knew someone was targeting him from behind the scenes.

Now it seemed, it was most likely Julian pulling the strings.

"Ha, so what if it was? And if it wasn’t? Do I, Julian Grant, need to report my actions to you? Get back to your Audenburg, you’re not taking Josephine today."

Nathaniel’s chest was tight with rage, yet his experience with danger meant he still had patience.

"...Mr. Grant, I’ve never met someone this arrogant before."

Julian, full of rebellion, was someone even his father couldn’t control, let alone outsiders, "Well, you have now, this is Caldwen, and even a tiger has to lie low here."

"Sit." He gestured like giving a command for a dog to obey and sit.

The insult was far greater than the harm.

"..." Nathaniel clenched his fist, murder in his heart.

Daring to provoke him like this, truly courting death.

Just wait, he would eventually send Julian silently to meet Yama.

Seeing the situation, Josephine felt troubled, fearing they might come to blows.

If Nathaniel was an evil dragon,

Then Julian was the dragon-slaying youth.

The two colliding would cause waves, even in calm waters.

"Nathaniel, just go back, I’m not going with you. Whatever needs discussing, we will address it in court. Privately, there’s nothing left between us to say."

After speaking, Josephine directly turned and headed towards the elevator.

It seemed clear she wouldn’t be returning to Audenburg today.

But for now, she should hurry back to her hotel room to avoid more trouble.

Seeing her about to leave.

Nathaniel quickly took a few steps forward, speaking sincerely, "Josephine, please don’t go, I’m here to discuss the divorce with you today."

As he spoke, Nathaniel pulled a divorce agreement from his pocket.

"If you insist on the divorce, I will respect your decision. I’ve already signed the agreement, see if there’s anything you want to add?"

With that, Nathaniel handed the divorce agreement to her.

Josephine was shocked, looking at the divorce agreement in disbelief.

Nathaniel had already signed the consent for divorce.