Chapter 823 Signing The Divorce Agreement
Seething with anger, Kate looked at Derrick and said, “Say something, Derrick. Crystal is pregnant with your child. You can’t be an irresponsible coward.”
He turned to Tiffany, but she lowered her head and refused to spare him even a glance. It was as though an invisible wall now stood between them, and Derrick sank into despair. Crystal and the baby she’s carrying are destined to form an insurmountable gulf between Tiffany and me.
“Mom, I love Tiff. She and I will have children together,” he declared. In other words, he would not acknowledge any child by any other woman as his unless Tiffany was the one who gave birth to the child.
Crystal subconsciously covered her stomach. All of a sudden, I feel as though I’m an utter fool. I went through great pains to conceive Derrick’s baby. However, no one from his family accepts the child apart from his mother, who gave me her word. Since I’m a Halliwell, I thought they’d surely be thrilled about the pregnancy and begin preparing for a wedding. Yet, I’m only a hot potato in their eyes. What’s so great about Tiffany that Derrick’s grandfather would choose to side with her at the last minute?
Resentment bubbled within her. Despite everything she had done, a few words from Terrence were all it took to send her back to square one.
No, I refuse to take this lying down. I did everything to get this far, by fair means or foul. I’m only one step away from being part of the Hisson family and regaining my rightful place. No matter what, there’s no way I’m giving up.
“Derrick, that’s not what you said when you slept with me the other day. You said I’m the one who understands you best, while Tiffany only knows how to ask you for this and that. I know one shouldn’t believe what men say in bed, but I did. I never expected you’d refuse to acknowledge this child as your own. Forget it. If you don’t want to accept the baby as yours, so be it. However, I’m still going to go through with this pregnancy. This baby is the fruit of our union. If I can’t have you, at least I can have this child to remember you by,” Crystal said in an aggrieved tone.
I doubt they won’t find the child’s presence annoying. As long as I have the baby, it’ll create an unbreakable bond with Derrick, and he and I will be bound to remain in contact. My goal is to make sure Tiffany never feels at ease. The three of us will remain entangled with each other for the rest of our lives unless someone bows out voluntarily. Regardless, I know that person won’t be me. Ultimately, Derrick and I will be fated to be a couple because we’ll have a child tying us together.
After figuring that out in her head, Crystal became calm and composed.
With this child, the Hissons will have to acknowledge the child and me sooner or later.
Derrick clenched his fists, but his gaze fell upon Tiffany.
That time, it seemed as though she finally had some response. She raised her head, but it was only to look toward Alex and say, “Mr. Feltham, did you bring the divorce agreement? Would you mind handing it to Mr. Hisson? We can leave after he has signed them. There’s too much tension in the air here.”
Both Kate and Crystal rejoiced when they heard that. Meanwhile, Derrick balled his fists even tighter, and Terrence’s frown deepened.
Alex nodded. Taking the divorce agreement from his briefcase, he walked over to Derrick and said, “Here’s the divorce agreement, Mr. Hisson. You may take a look at it. If everything is in order, please sign your name. You’re about to become a father already, so there’s really no need to dig your heels in.”
Derrick’s gaze dimmed as he stared fixedly at the divorce agreement. The next moment, he grabbed it in one swift motion and began ripping it. Soon, all that was left were hundreds of tiny pieces of paper floating in the air.
“I won’t get a divorce.”
“Mr. Hisson, it doesn’t matter even if you don’t want to sign it. Ms. Winters can live apart from you, and after a year or two, the marriage will come to a natural dissolution. However, you’ll still need to split your assets after the divorce. According to the prenuptial agreement you signed, you won’t be entitled to anything.”
Gazing at Tiffany, Derrick said, “Never mind being left with nothing. I’m even willing to give up my life if that’s what she wants.”
At that moment, Kate’s expression shifted drastically. She glared at Tiffany and snarled, “Tiffany Winters, didn’t you say you didn’t marry into our family for money and that you loved Derrick? You refused to agree to a divorce when the topic came up previously, yet here you are, contradicting yourself. What’s the meaning of this? You’re just a gold digger, so don’t act like you’re not one. Leaving him with nothing? That’s something only you’d come up with. No matter how greedy one is, one doesn’t go as far as you.”
Tiffany glanced at her with an easy smile and replied, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Hisson. I won’t ask for a penny from your family, and I won’t let Derrick’s company publish my novel. I’ll cut all ties with him and never have anything to do with the Hisson family anymore.”
Kate’s expression relaxed after hearing that, but Derrick’s face fell.
Then, Tiffany delivered another blow. “Derrick, just sign the divorce agreement. That’ll end things between us without fuss and give you time to get your family matters in order. After all, you’ll be a father soon, and that’s something to be happy about.”
Derrick’s gaze darkened instantly.
He took the divorce agreement. Then, not knowing what came over him, he signed his name on it.
Tiffany’s heart sank when she saw him do so without the slightest hint of hesitation.
Derrick handed the signed divorce agreement to Alex, then got up and walked up to Tiffany. “I messed up. However, a mistake is a mistake. I know I can’t ask for your forgiveness, and I still have many troubling matters to resolve. Getting a divorce is probably best because you won’t have to get caught up in all the tension within my family. Once I’ve taken care of all these complicated matters, I plan to pursue you again so we can start afresh. Hence, I hope you can give me a chance when that time comes. I’ll use my capabilities to prove that, even without my family, I can still make you happy.”
Tiffany’s eyes lit up for a fleeting moment, moved by his words. However, the light in her eyes went out at the thought of the baby Crystal was carrying.
Amelia took Tiffany’s hand, steadying the latter’s slightly swaying body. “Congratulations on becoming a dad soon, Derrick. I believe Tiff will find her Prince Charming soon. We still have some matters to attend to, so we’ll be leaving first.”
Derrick stretched out his hand to stop them from leaving, but Oscar grabbed the former’s hand.
“Congratulations. I’ll have the lawyer expedite the divorce between Tiff and you as soon as possible,” Oscar uttered icily.
Feeling defeated, Derrick withdrew his hand.
Crystal’s baby has been the final nail in the coffin for my already rocky marriage with Tiffany.
Oscar escorted Amelia and Tiffany away as though he were their protector. Meanwhile, the lawyers nodded at Terrence politely before following Oscar.
“I genuinely appreciate you coming here with me today. About the division of matrimonial assets you mentioned just now, I don’t want any of it. Besides, the prenuptial agreement got torn up before the wedding. All you have to do is settle our divorce procedures. I don’t want any of the assets,” Tiffany said to Alex once they were outside the Hisson residence.
I want to cut ties with the Hissons, so it should be a clean cut. If I take anything from him, I’ll always think of how good he was to me. Things are over between us. Now, my initial forgiveness seems so short-lived, and the wavering of my resolution is even more laughable.
The lawyer glanced at Oscar after hearing that.
“Do as she says,” Oscar instructed.
Alex nodded.
Then, Oscar added, “All of you may leave first.”
“Yes, Mr. Clinton.” After Alex and the other lawyers left, Tiffany said, “Amelia, I feel like going for a drive on my own. I’ll be fine, so don’t worry.”
“All right. Be sure to return earlier.”
“Got it.”
After Tiffany got into the other car and drove away, Amelia shook her head and mused, “In the end, he still signed the divorce agreement. And there I was, thinking there’d be a chance they’d get back together. I wasn’t expecting the whole shebang about the pregnancy. It’s rather reminiscent of the plot in a novel Tiffany wrote. However, the female lead in this situation has it even rougher than the one in the novel. Gosh, I don’t even know what to say to her.”
“You silly goose. You always let your imagination run wild. Let’s go back. I’ll whip up your favorite dishes tonight.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she replied with a smile, leaning into his arms. Despite the smile on her lips, she was worried about Tiffany and could not help feeling uneasy. Hence, she merely gave a perfunctory reply in response to Oscar’s attentiveness.
He placed an arm around her waist, led her toward the car, and helped her get in. They had only been driving for a while when he sensed someone following them. The corners of his lips curled upward, thinking he could barely be bothered to retaliate against such an unsophisticated tracking method.
He stopped the car at an intersection and waited for the white Audi to catch up.
Just as he expected, the other car stopped too.
A slender figure emerged from the other car, and Amelia frowned as she murmured, “Why is it him? Could it be that my eyes are deceiving me?”
It was none other than the person they had not seen in a long time—June.
Oscar was also a little shocked when he spotted June through the rearview mirror. After all, the latter had been having a hard time dealing with the trouble Oscar had created for him recently. For him to follow me so soon, it appears that the obstacles I set up were merely child’s play for him. Nonetheless, he showed up at the right time. I can use him to vent my anger.
