Chapter 2 True to Her Name

The following morning, the lawyer arrived with the divorce papers in hand.

The terms were straightforward. The villa would go to Nanci, along with a severance of one hundred million dollars.

Upon seeing the amount, Nanci was momentarily shocked, but she quickly regained her composure. Edward had never been stingy with her. He was a generous husband indeed.

Yet, she felt uncomfortable accepting such a large amount of money.

“Mrs. Clarkson, according to your prenuptial agreement, there is no communal property between you and Mr. Clarkson, and you will receive no compensation after the divorce. However, Mr. Clarkson said...”

“Where is Edward?”

Nanci looked towards the door, her face wan with expectant sorrow, perfectly embodying the image of a forsaken woman.

The lawyer adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, responding in a professional and official tone, “Regarding the division of assets, it's all detailed in the agreement. If you have any requests, you can tell me, and I will convey them to Mr. Clarkson.”

When she confirmed he wasn't there, Nanci's eyes drooped in “disappointment”, and she remained silent.

She pondered how to divest herself of this enormous sum.

The women in the Clarkson family were no easy foes. Had she left with nothing, it might have been better, but accepting this money would make things more complicated.

The lawyer pushed the document towards her before stating, “If there are no other objections, please sign here.”

Nanci's voice was cold. “I want to speak with him directly. I don't want the money.”

The lawyer smiled gently, his stance firm. “Mr. Clarkson is unavailable this morning. He has fully authorized me to handle this matter.”

What?

Was he busy now?

What a perfect opportunity!

She stood up abruptly, her voice filled with emotion. “Don't fob me off with this nonsense! If you won't pass on my message, I'll call him myself!”

The lawyer was shocked by her persistence.

In a spacious conference room, a large conference table was filled on both sides with company executives, and Edward sat listening to their quarterly summaries.

His phone vibrated on the table, an eerie sound in the quiet and serious atmosphere.

He glanced at it and discreetly dismissed the notification.

“Go ahead.”

The executives pretended nothing had happened, focusing intently.

The executive giving the summary noticed Edward's displeased expression but continued nervously.

Less than two minutes later, his assistant Isaac Newton hurried in.

He handed Edward the phone.

On the screen was a bold message. “Let Edward take the call, or I won't sign the papers!”

With a loud noise, the pen Edward had been twirling was set down forcefully.

Under the anxious gazes of those around him, he took the phone and stood up, his face darkened. “The meeting is paused for five minutes.”

In the hallway, the man leaned against the wall, his long fingers gripping the phone, dialing the familiar number.

The call was answered immediately, “Edward?”

“Didn't you understand my warning yesterday?” His voice was icy, indicating his extremely foul mood.

Nanci sounded absolutely frantic. “I don't want to divorce you, Edward! Please, don't be mad at me anymore. From now on, I won't ask you any questions! Whatever you did with Lisa McGrath, Tracey Kelly, Fiona Turner, Ella Bailey, Amy Gill, and all those girls, I won't ask a single question! I truly love you. I don't care about that cold, unfeeling house and money!”

Edward clenched the phone, veins standing out on the back of his hand. “Nanci Ross!”

“Edward, I don't want the house or the money, I...”

“Good! I'll have the lawyer draft a new agreement. Don't you regret this!”

The cold tone of the busy signal marked the end of the call.

The moment the line went dead, Nanci's pitiful expression vanished, her eyebrows arching as she looked at the dark screen.

Problem solved!

Edward's personal lawyer was highly efficient. Twenty minutes later, the brand-new divorce papers lay before Nanci.

As she read the words "relinquish all assets", tears trickled down Nanci's cheek. She slumped on the sofa, clutching a pen, utterly dejected. Isaac exchanged a glance with the lawyer, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

Did Mrs. Clarkson really not know what kind of person Mr. Clarkson was?

Why stir trouble without cause?

Now that she had achieved her goal, Nanci didn't overly show off her acting but signed her name with great reluctance. Tears soaked the paper. She quickly wiped her eyes, afraid of blurring the signature.

As soon as the lawyer and Isaac left, she dashed upstairs, grabbed her suitcase, and left. She was free at last!

"Did that little wretch really leave with nothing but herself? She wouldn't be playing some trick, would she? Does she intend to take this to Olivia and complain?" came a shrill and malicious voice.

"She might wish to! But she has angered Edward this time, and even Grandmother can't help her," Sophie Clarkson said disdainfully.

"Indeed. Let me see that contract. Are the terms clear?"

Nanci, carrying her suitcase, stood at the top of the stairs, her smile slowly fading as she looked at the two unwelcome guests below. Elizabeth still maintained her poised, aristocratic demeanor, sitting on the sofa as if it were her own home, with her daughter Sophie standing beside her, flipping through the divorce papers. Hearing footsteps from upstairs, they both looked up. Sophie showed no embarrassment at being caught scrutinizing the papers, instead scanning the large suitcase.

"Such a large suitcase? Planning to empty our house, are you?" she sneered, her eyes filled with resentment.

Nanci descended the stairs, her voice calm. "One suitcase to empty your house? I don't think the Clarkson family is that destitute yet." Sophie was taken aback, staring at her as if she were a monster. After a few seconds, she turned to Elizabeth. "Mom! Did you hear what she said? She's still talking back! Does she still want to argue with us?"

Argue with them? Nanci hadn't even thought of it. For three years, she had endured silently, keeping a low profile. If she made any slight mistake, they would complain to Edward. That arrogant fool hated trouble and would threaten her with Mrs. Clarkson's position to keep her from causing issues. Now, after three years, she no longer had to endure their torment.

She didn't bother to argue further, took a few steps forward, snatched the divorce papers from Sophie's hand, and walked past her towards the door.

"Stop!" Elizabeth's displeased voice rang out. Nanci paused slightly, then continued walking without turning back.

"My mother told you to stop. Didn't you hear her?" Sophie's voice was frantic. Nanci ignored her, already opening the door. Unable to contain herself, Sophie yelled, "Nanci, stop where you are! You! Stop her!" Two bodyguards at the door, faces stern, reached out their hands. "Ma'am, please stop."

"Nanci, are you deaf? Why the rush? Feeling guilty, perhaps?" Sophie, clacking in her high heels, quickly walked up to her, glaring angrily. Nanci scoffed, "Why would I?"

Sophie pointed at her suitcase, questioning, "What's in the suitcase? Did you secretly take our things?"

Nanci was silent. Facing Sophie's arrogant and overbearing face, she thought about all the humiliations and insults she had suffered over the past three years at the Clarkson family, her fingers clenched into fists, her eyes cold.

"I was right, wasn't I? You're just angry because you're guilty." As Sophie spoke, she aggressively reached out to snatch the suitcase. Nanci, holding the suitcase handle, swerved to the side, causing Sophie to miss and, in a fit of rage, slap her.