Chapter 247
Fiona looked at the divorce letter on the table, and tears welled up in her eyes. Because of a fleeting glimpse in her youth, she had regarded Nicolas as her lifelong support. After entering the household, she respected her in-laws and followed every rule. She had no dignity, no status. And in the end, all she got was a piece of paper.
She thought, ‘Nicolas, how could you be so heartless?’
Though heartbroken, Fiona stood firm. “I don’t want your divorce papers. I demand a mutual separation agreement.”
Only women who had committed one of the Seven Grounds for Divorce and had committed grave sins would be cast out of the family. She had arrived in grand bridal red, and now she would leave with nothing, bearing a lifetime of disgrace. She could not accept such terms.
Nicolas chuckled coldly. “Then what is all this fuss about? In the end, aren’t you just unwilling to let go of this life of luxury?”
His arrogance was nauseating. Fiona now realized how blind she had been to marry him. But for the sake of her son, she couldn’t tear things completely apart just yet.
Fiona declared firmly, “If you wish to divorce me, then state your reasons. Otherwise, I won’t accept it.”
Nicolas’s face turned cold. He had thought Fiona might be softening, but she actually wanted a mutual separation. His smile disappeared as he said sternly, “You struck your husband. Is that not reason enough?”
“Oh really?” Fiona’s voice dripped with sarcasm. She reached up, brushed her hair aside, and revealed the wound on her forehead. “Then tell me, how do you explain the injury on my head?”
The wound on Fiona’s forehead was still bleeding, the swollen, gaping cut gruesome to look at.
Nicolas faltered, but relying on his status, he said coldly, “That was unintentional. I didn’t mean to push you. As a wife, you should be broad-minded. Must you make a fuss over such a small matter?”
Fiona seethed inwardly. ‘If I get hurt, I deserved it, but if I dare to lay a hand on him, it’s an unforgivable sin? What kind of twisted logic is that?’
Fiona let out a bitter laugh. “Not even a brute could utter such shameless words. If you refuse to write the mutual separation agreement, I’ll make this a city-wide scandal and let everyone judge whether I’m the one being unreasonable.”
She added, “And don’t forget. Last time, when you were plotting to poison Madam Margaret, I heard it all. If the public learns what kind of filth Henry’s household is made of, what do you think will happen?”
Fiona was more clear-headed than ever. No wonder Athena would rather suffer than stay. Everyone in this household was rotten to the core. If she didn’t leave now, she’d either turn into a monster like them or be devoured by them.
Nicolas’s eyes widened. He glared at Fiona like he wanted to swallow her whole. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I have nothing to lose. Try me,” Fiona said, her gaze unwavering and fearless.
Her parents were far away in Berkton. She wasn’t afraid of Nicolas playing dirty.
Chapter 247
Looking into Fiona’s eyes, Nicolas felt chilled to the bone.
Nicolas thought, ‘So this is her true colors. All that obedience and gentleness just a facade. She’s finally revealing her real self.’
With a cold sneer, Nicolas said, “Done pretending, are we?”
His words pierced her heart, but Fiona was numb to it now. She laid out two options. “First, leave with nothing but take Cedric with me. Second, I take my dowry and leave, and Cedric stays here.”
Traditionally, women who were separated mutually were allowed to take their dowry. It was already a generous condition.
But taking the child was impossible.
Cedric was the only thing she couldn’t bear to part with. But if she didn’t leave now, she might lose her life. As much as it pained her, she had no choice.
Just as Nicolas was stuck in a dilemma, a sharp voice rang out from outside the door. “What is all this nonsense?”
Eloise burst in with a group of maids and matrons. She strode quickly into the room, first going to Nicolas. Seeing the red slap mark on his face, she was furious. “As the wife, how dare you strike your husband? You are utterly…”
She stopped mid-sentence. She saw the blood on Fiona’s face and the wound on her forehead.
“How did you get hurt?” Eloise asked, puzzled.
Sirena rushed forward, pressing a cloth to Fiona’s injury, heartbroken. “Madam, how could you be hurt like this? Even though you’re not from a noble family, the master and madam treated you like a treasure when they married you in. If they saw this, their hearts would break.”
Sirena’s wailing made Eloise frown. This servant was getting bold. She thought, ‘How dare she insinuate that the duke’s estate mistreats Fiona?’
“Outrageous!” Eloise scolded harshly, her tone ice-cold. “You’re a servant! How dare you sow discord and slander Henry’s household? You deserve death.”
Sirena fell to her knees in fear. Fiona shielded her and said flatly, “What wrong did she commit? Did she not speak the truth? Henry’s family is a household of scholars, yet your actions are utterly shameful. A husband striking his wife. You’d be hard-pressed to find many such cases even among the nobles.”
As she spoke, Fiona stared directly at Nicolas. His expression was cold, his jaw clenched tightly.
Eloise inhaled sharply. Now she finally saw that something was off with Fiona. This usually meek daughter-in-law now spoke with razor-sharp words. That tone, that gaze was exactly like Athena.
Eloise thought bitterly, ‘What sin has our duke’s estate committed to be cursed with two such ungrateful vipers?”
Though inwardly displeased, she had to temper her tone given that Nicolas was at fault. She softened and tried to coax Fiona, “I’m sure he didn’t mean it. Why must you cling to this matter? Couples fight all the time.”
She took off her bracelet and tried to slip it into Fiona’s hand. “You’re both parents now. You should learn to give way. A man values his pride. Even if you’re upset, you mustn’t slap him. I’ve raised Nicolas all these years without ever lifting a finger against him.”
Fiona replied calmly, “A mother has every right to dote on her son. But I’m not his mother.”
Eloise was stunned. “You…”
She never imagined this quiet daughter-in-law say something so brazen.
But Fiona didn’t care how outrageous her words sounded. She had endured enough. From now on, she would not endure anything ever again.
Fiona said, “Lady Eloise, you came at the perfect time. Please bear witness. Have Nicolas write the mutual separation agreement.”
“Mutual separation?” Eloise was shocked, finally noticing the divorce letter on the table. She had thought it was just a lovers‘ quarrel. She hadn’t expected it to escalate like this.
Furious, she tore the divorce letter to shreds and slammed her palm on the table.
Eloise said, “This is utter nonsense. You’ve only been married a year, and you’re already talking about separating. Do you want to become a laughingstock?”
She added, “Can’t you sit down and talk things through? Must you resort to such extreme measures?”
She turned to Nicolas, her tone heavier. “Nicolas, you’ve always been steady and mature. Even if you’re angry, you should know your limits. How could you push your own wife?”
Nicolas stayed silent, his face cold. He had never actually intended to separate. It was just Fiona making a mountain out of a molehill, embarrassing him. Since Eloise wanted to smooth things over, he wouldn’t argue.
She said, “Fiona, you’ve always been gentle and well-mannered. Even if Nicolas has made mistakes, you should be the one to compromise. How could you speak of separation so easily? Look at it another way. Have you done nothing wrong yourself?”