CHAPTER 157: CHAPTER 157: SEE YOU AT THE CIVIL AFFAIRS BUREAU!

The word "ex-husband" was like a knife, shattering Blake Sinclair’s rationality into pieces.

He stepped forward and grabbed Holly Crowe’s wrist, his agitated voice altered, "What do you mean? Holly, don’t joke about this."

"I’m not joking, I’m very serious."

Blake Sinclair’s head was filled with the words "ex-husband," buzzing continuously.

He lost all ability to think, his heart almost shattered from the pain, "You want to divorce me? And be with... someone else?"

"Yes!" Holly met his gaze, her eyes resolute.

"I told you I hate deception the most! I’ve given you so many chances to come clean with me, and now I don’t want to hear it anymore."

She shook off his hand and pointed ahead, indicating for him to leave.

Holly wants a divorce? And to be with someone else? Is it with that Aiden Jenson?

"Why?" Blake anxiously stepped forward, trying to retain her, "Why? In two months, it will be our wedding, the wedding we planned together, you said..."

As he spoke, his voice lowered, already tinged with a choke.

Holly was also moved by his emotion, her nose tingling.

The dreams about the wedding were once her greatest anticipation, she forced herself to hold back her emotions, "Then let’s cancel it, anyway, two months is enough time for us to complete the divorce proceedings."

After saying that, she turned around and walked inside.

She closed the courtyard gate, isolating him and all his pleading.

Blake stood outside the gate, his hand still in position to pull her back.

At noon, sounds of pot and ladle clashing and the aroma of food filled the alley, children’s laughter from chasing and playing echoed from the end of the alley, mixed with adults calling them home for dinner.

Everything was so peaceful and beautiful, but at this moment in Blake’s eyes, it all turned into the cruelest irony.

All the liveliness and warmth had nothing to do with him.

Holly didn’t want him anymore.

He stood there for quite a while, supported by the wall as he dialed Cole Tanner’s phone.

Gazing at the tightly closed courtyard gate in front of him, his eyes were dark and deep.

He would never let go.

....

Holly was serious about wanting a divorce.

That afternoon, she contacted several divorce lawyers, but everyone on the other end of the line either politely refused or hung up outright when they heard Blake Sinclair’s name.

Finally, a lawyer she had previously worked with disclosed some information.

"Miss Crowe, it’s not that we don’t want to take your case, but Blake Sinclair has made it known at the law firms in the red circle. Anyone who takes your case is an enemy of the Sinclair Group, and that’s just asking for trouble."

Holly hung up the phone, so angry she nearly shot through the roof, she performed a set of Baduanjin exercises on the spot to barely suppress the anger blocked in her chest.

If the hard way doesn’t work? Then let’s go straight to the point!

She went directly to Director Lennon’s study, using her computer and printer to search for a divorce agreement and print it on the spot.

Holding the printed divorce papers, she rushed downstairs next door, knocking loudly on the iron gate.

The door opened almost on her second knock, surprisingly fast.

Seeing Blake Sinclair waiting at the door, Holly was taken aback for a moment.

Blake explained, seeing her surprise, "I saw you coming downstairs from the balcony, Holly, you..."

Holly: "!!!"

She was even angrier.

If he was this skilled, why be a CEO? He should be a corporate spy.

She shoved the divorce papers into his arms, "This is the divorce agreement, remember to treat it seriously. If there are any amendments needed, please revise and print them and leave it in my mailbox."

Then, she shoved her phone screen in front of his eyes, "Open your eyes wide and take a good look, five days later, on the thirty-fifth! Divorce day at the Civil Affairs Bureau! Don’t be late!"

Blake’s gaze fell on the confirmation of her appointment on her phone and then down at the divorce papers in his arms.

His fingers tensed, the paper rustling softly.

"I won’t divorce, I disagree."

His eyes were so stubborn it was hard to dissolve, he tore the divorce papers in half right in front of her.

"Holly, don’t say things like that anymore, it hurts me to hear it."

Looking at the divorce papers torn in half by him and his face full of despair, Holly felt her heart clog up again, "I’m not negotiating with you."

After saying this, she left.

Leaving Blake alone in the courtyard.

He held the paper torn in two, swaying lightly at the edges with the breeze.

She was dead set on leaving him.

For the following two days, Holly returned to Lunar Lotus Studio, staying at Glynmere for two days.

She decided to stay a while at Port Kallow to help Aiden Jenson with the ceramic factory’s renovation work, entrusting the entire operations of Lunar Lotus to Celia Stiles.

But she didn’t expect, in just two days.

Once back in Port Kallow, she felt the eyes of those in the alley watching her had changed.

Before dinner, Director Lennon asked her to buy some soy sauce at the small supermarket.

Just about to pay, the shopkeeper’s wife smiled warmly at her, "Holly, you’re truly blessed."

Holly: "?"

What’s going on?

Does she want to raise the price since I’m buying alone?

The shopkeeper nodded at her earlobes, "I knew from the time you were little that these earlobes of yours meant you’d grow up to be blessed! I even held you when you were little..."

Holly felt chills run up her spine, paid for the soy sauce, and ran off.

After dinner, the weather was muggy.

She decided to stock up on ice pops at home, so she went to the larger supermarket at the bridge while taking a walk.

Even before getting close, she saw a group of grandpas and grandmas chatting under the big tree at the entrance.

The moment Holly approached, she became the center of attention.

Not good!

She stumbled upon the village’s intelligence hub by mistake.

Oh, greedy glutton, you and your cravings!

"Isn’t this Josephine’s daughter? Truly blessed!"

"Yes, yes, such a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman!"

"I must say, our TV was fixed yesterday all thanks to young Sinclair lending a hand."

"Our light bulb too, the young man not only is handsome but also very helpful."

Holly’s ears buzzed; she couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Holding the ice pop bag, she vaguely responded with "Mm-hm, oh-oh, yes, yes," smiling awkwardly while quickening her steps to leave.

Once away from the crowd, she finally let out a breath.

The odd attitudes here and there made that strange feeling in her heart grow stronger.

It wasn’t until the next morning when she ran into Blake Sinclair at the breakfast shop that she finally understood.

After finishing breakfast and getting ready to pay, she found her phone didn’t work for scanning.

The phone card she was using now was secondary and had run out of credit and data these past two days. She didn’t notice it at home using Wi-Fi, but outside, she couldn’t make any payment.

Holly stood at the shop door, her cheeks burning with embarrassment seeing the owner waiting for payment.

"Well, owner, I..."

As she was about to muster the courage to ask if she could pay on credit, a hand stretched out from beside her.

"Beep~"

The sound of successful payment through scanning echoed.

"Mr. Garrison, the money’s sent," Blake Sinclair wrapped his arm around her shoulder, greeted the owner naturally.

"Oh, it’s you, Sinclair, don’t mention it. Just for a bowl of wontons and a bun, it’s not worth it." The owner waved his hand.

"It was the right thing to do." Blake smiled, looking at Holly with tender eyes.

The owner followed his gaze, realized, and slapped his forehead, "Oh! Isn’t this Holly, haven’t seen you in ages, you’ve gotten even more beautiful. Next time you two come by, it’s on me, my treat."

"Well, thank you, Mr. Garrison."

Blake agreed readily, then led her out with an arm around her shoulder.

Holly was baffled.

Is the breakfast shop owner named Garrison?

How did she not know?

And how did Blake Sinclair get so familiar with the owner?

As she pondered, her phone dinged.

She pulled it out to see it was a message about a topped-up phone balance and the arrival of a data package.

She hesitated for a moment, turned to look at him and questioned, "How did you know my new phone number?"

Blake looked unfazed.

Holly’s anger flared, shaking off his hand, "Have you been investigating me?"

Really turning into a corporate spy?

"Holly, we need to talk."

"Talk about what? There’s nothing to discuss, it’s just two days till the thirteenth; go talk it at the Civil Affairs Bureau."

"I will not divorce," he stepped forward, gripping her hand, firm in his tone.

Just then, an old lady carrying a load passing by greeted them with a smile, "Oh Sinclair, there you are?"

"Good morning, Grandma Sutton."

"You young couple have such a good relationship, chatting early in the morning."

Grandma Sutton walked off smiling.

Holly awkwardly smiled at her retreating figure.

What’s going on?

Wait!

How does it seem like everyone in Port Kallow knows she and Blake got married?