Scarlett had no interest in wasting more words on him. She turned and walked away.
Cassian's expression turned hideous. He raised his hand and hurled the coffee cup on the table to the floor, shattering it violently.
He returned to his office alone.
"Where is Scarlett?" Alistair stood before the floor-to-ceiling window with his hands clasped behind his back.
"She went home." Cassian's reply was cold. Thinking of the signed divorce papers, he decided not to hide it any longer. "She wants to divorce me. She's already signed the papers."
"Divorce?" The old man let out a derisive snort. "With Ryan around, she can't leave."
Only then did Cassian's expression ease somewhat. True enough. With their son as her weakness, how could she actually go through with it?
No longer worried about the divorce, Cassian moved on to more pressing matters. "Dad, the company has a rare disease project. Scarlett built it from the ground up..."
"You want to give the project to Elowen?"
"Yes. If this project is handled well, it could elevate Elowen's reputation and public image even further."
The old man frowned, recalling Scarlett's attitude earlier. "Scarlett won't give it to you. She holds the exclusive partnership agreements, and the collaborators are all old friends of mine. I'll handle this myself and transfer the project directly to Elowen."
Cassian smiled with satisfaction.
The next day, Scarlett filed the signed divorce papers, officially entering the mandatory waiting period before the divorce could be finalized.
To celebrate her divorce, Verity had specially reserved a restaurant.
Verity asked, "So what are you going to do next? Surely you won't stay on at Blackthorne Group?"
"Once the charitable foundation is independently registered," Scarlett said, her eyes reflecting clear planning, "I'll take the project and leave Blackthorne Group completely. I'm going to establish my own nonprofit company."
"Beautiful!" Verity clinked glasses with her. "Here's to President Vale's success!"
Scarlett's phone buzzed with an incoming transfer notification. Thirty million had been deposited.
She glanced at it, a faint mocking smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
As expected, for the sake of his beloved, Cassian could make any compromise. Compared to how he treated her, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Setting down her glass, Verity sighed. "When you married into the Blackthorne family, they said it was just a business arrangement. With the crisis they were facing, they didn't prepare a wedding for you. Now that the Blackthornes are wealthy, you're the first person they mistreat. And for that wedding you ended up planning. How much effort did you pour into it?"
Verity added through gritted teeth, "And then there's Ryan, the son you gave birth to. Does he even know about the divorce?"
At the mention of her son, Scarlett's eyes dimmed. "He doesn't know. But my leaving will fulfill his wish anyway."
The two of them stepped out of the private dining room. In the narrow corridor, they came face to face with Elowen, who was holding Cassian's hand.
"Mommy!" Ryan spotted Scarlett first, then immediately frowned in complaint. "Why haven't you come home in days? You didn't even call me once!"
Scarlett's heart stirred slightly, thinking the child had missed her. "What's wrong?"
"I wanted to make a gift for Aunt Elowen myself, but you weren't home to help me, so it turned out ugly!" Ryan's small face tilted up arrogantly.
The flicker of warmth that had just kindled in Scarlett's eyes was extinguished completely.
Verity drew in a sharp breath, utterly speechless. She stepped forward, intending to have a conversation with Ryan about respecting his own mother.
Elowen's eyes instantly reddened. Her body swayed, and she fell straight to the floor. Ryan was pulled along with her, about to tumble down as well. Scarlett's body moved faster than her mind. She reached out to catch Ryan. In her haste, her head scraped against the wall.
"Holy hell! Scarlett, are you okay?" Verity jumped in alarm. "Elowen, I didn't even touch you!"
Ryan's small face was full of concern as he tried to help Elowen up. "Aunt Elowen, are you all right?"
He glared at Verity. "You scared Aunt Elowen!"
Scarlett's heart plummeted straight into an icy abyss.
This was her son. If she hadn't watched him come into the world with her own eyes, she would have suspected Ryan was actually Elowen's biological child. The door beside them opened, and Cassian emerged from the room. Taking in the scene, his expression darkened considerably.
He moved anxiously to help Elowen up, completely ignoring Scarlett, who stood to the side holding her forehead.
"Scarlett!" Verity, both angry and worried, pushed past Cassian and rushed to Scarlett's side. Scarlett's forehead had turned bright red. The hurried movement must have scraped it open. The wound stung sharply.
"Are you okay?" Verity asked, deeply alarmed.
"I'm fine," Scarlett reassured her.
Cassian's cold voice carried unmistakable disgust. "What are you pretending for?"
He held Elowen in his arms, staring coldly at Scarlett with contemptuous eyes.
Elowen spoke softly, "Scarlett, please don't argue because of me. At worst, I just won't celebrate this birthday. Don't let me come between a family of three."
Scarlett, supported by Verity, forced a cold laugh from her throat.
She turned to Verity. "Do you see now?"
Verity was so furious she felt her lungs might explode. She had known the Blackthorne father and son fiercely protected Elowen, but witnessing it reach this extent truly broke Scarlett's heart. No wonder Scarlett would rather give up everything just to divorce Cassian.
"Let's go." Scarlett patted the back of Verity's hand.
Verity nodded and helped her walk out.
In the car, before Scarlett could say anything, Verity's eyes had already reddened.
"What kind of life have you been living in the Blackthorne family?" She started the car, her voice thick with emotion. "If I had known, I would have told you to divorce him ages ago." Even as she spoke, Verity understood the truth.
What mother could help but feel heartbroken watching her own son defend her rival?
Scarlett turned to gaze at the streetscape retreating outside the window. "In the beginning, Cassian and I were polite but distant."
It was only after Elowen returned from abroad that everything changed. She had endured it for 2 years. Now it was finally over.
"Forget it." Verity caught the sadness in her voice. "Let's not talk about it. At least you've already submitted the divorce agreement."
"Yes," Scarlett replied with a nod.
After enduring blow after blow, Scarlett's heart had turned completely cold.
Early the next morning, Blackthorne Manor called, demanding that Scarlett return for a visit. In order to lay the divorce matter out completely in the open, she went as requested.
She had barely stepped into the living room when Alistair began interrogating her without waiting for her to speak. "What is this divorce nonsense? It's one thing to talk about it, but you actually filed the papers? Are you really going to abandon the child? Cancel it immediately."
Scarlett felt a chill run through her entire body. If the Blackthorne family could receive updates on the divorce proceedings, what about the charitable foundation she had applied for?
After leaving the manor, Scarlett headed straight to the relevant authorities to check on the foundation's progress.
Fortunately, the foundation registration was still undergoing normal review. The Blackthornes' reach hadn't extended that far yet.
Walking out, Scarlett dialed Cassian's number. "Your father is obstructing our divorce. I need you to come back and deal with him."
Aksara