This divorce agreement was exactly the same as the one Ste had wantedst time, where she asked for an equal division of assets.


    But Haynes wasn''t having it. He wanted her to walk away with nothing.


    Ste, tired of the entanglement, finally agreed.


    However, on the day they were supposed to meet at the courthouse, he stood her up.


    Ste realized something important: if she didn''t fight for herself, no one else would.


    Haynes''s face darkened. "Ste, is it fun for you to keep using divorce as a threat? Just because I missed one appointment, you have to raise a fuss over and over again?"


    "If you''re really that upset about it, tomorrow... no, right now, we can go out. You can choose where to go."


    Ste looked at Haynes as if he hadpletely lost his mind.


    "A date? Haynes, are you out of your mind? I asked you to meet at the courthouse


    to finalize our divorce, and you think I wanted to go on a date?"


    Thinking of Rachel''s interference and Jasper''s mocking, Ste guessed that Jasper might have said something to Haynes.


    She mocked, "I say I want a divorce, and you all think I''m trying to get your attention. I ask you to meet at the courthouse, and you think it''s a ploy for a date."


    "If that''s how you interpret in English, then let me ask you this..."


    Ste''s eyes, strikingly clear, fixed on Haynes''s handsome face.


    "What will it take for you to believe that I genuinely want a divorce from you?"


    The question hit Haynes like a sledgehammer, leaving him momentarily stunned. Seeing his silence, Ste continued, her tone calm.


    "Of course, you can keep thinking I''m ying games to get your attention, but just so you know... I''m not signing Jasper''s release papers."


    "Even if his time in holding isn''t long, having a record is enough to shake the foundation of his career in your prestigious family."


    Haynes''s eyes narrowed, "Ste, how can you be so cruel?"


    "Cruel?" Ste chuckled without anger. "Wasn''t it cruel when your dear friend insulted me, hurled abuses, and went on a rampage? Now that he''s facing the consequences, you call me cruel?"


    Though Ste was smiling, her eyes seemed to have frozen over.


    "If fairness is cruelty, then maybe you shouldn''t live in this world, because it would poison you."


    Haynes locked eyes with her, his gaze intense and overbearing.


    "Ste, are you absolutely sure you want to divorce me?"


    Ste met Haynes''s gaze without flinching, "Absolutely."


    "Fine." Haynes nodded, "The same terms as before: you leave with nothing, and I''ll sign the divorce papers."


    Ste couldn''t help butugh at Haynes''s condescending attitude.


    "Haynes, you''re the one who needs me now, not the other way around. If you want to sign and end this amicably, that''s great."


    "If you don''t, it''s all the same to me. We can take this to court. But your best buddy might have to endure some more hardship."


    "I heard Jasper scratched himself up pretty badly, almost ruining his face. Even if the wounds heal, he might end up with scars."


    "After all, his face got into contact with some of Mr. Burton''s concoctions, and some of those are pretty toxic."


    "Jasper nearly tore Mr. Burton''s clinic apart, and now Mr. Burton can''t stand him and refuses to make an antidote."