713 Chapter 712


    Oliver paused, slightly taken aback. "How did you end up like this?"


    Melissa immediately retorted, "What do you mean? I''m doing just fine!"


    As she finished speaking, she nced toward the entrance. "Hasn''t Jake arrived yet?"


    Although Melissa used to be afraid of Oliver, her perspective shifted after living on her own for a while. She realized it wasn''t the divorce she feared but the change.


    Jake could now support her financially, and she still spent her days at home. With an allowanceing in, she didn''t have to worry about food or drink, only the asional grocery run. Most importantly, after leaving that house, her expectations of Oliver disappeared. In the past, she had dreaded those lonely nights in their sprawling master bedroom, yearning for Oliver toe home and keep herpany instead of running off to see "her". Now, her small apartment was cozy enough. There was amunity center downstairs where seniors gathered. At first, she''d felt a bit awkward joining the dance group, but soon she fit right in. After living this way for some time, she found herself genuinely enjoying it.


    Life outside that luxurious cage was colorful and vibrant. She realized that leaving the upper ss behind didn''t mean losing freedom—it meant gaining it.


    Oliver sneered at her response. "He''s taking the bus over. How fast do you think he''ll be here?"


    Just then, Jake came jogging over. "Mom, I took the subway after the bus. It''s way faster than driving!"


    Oliver felt his temper rising, seeing the two of them sofortable. Barely holding back his frustration, he let out a coldugh. "We''re here to finalize the divorce. Did you bring your papers?"


    Melissa froze for a second. "Oh, right!"


    She quickly rummaged through her bag. Oliver breathed a sigh of relief, already anticipating the oue. With another sneer, he added, "Don''t tell me… you forgot your ID, didn''t you?"


    But the next moment, Melissa pulled her ID out of her bag. "Got it! Let''s hurry inside."


    Oliver stood there, dumbfounded, his face darkening. "Melissa, are you really sure about this divorce?" All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Melissa blinked. "Weren''t you the one who wanted it?"


    An unexpected wave of anger surged through Oliver. For some reason, her indifferent attitude irritated him. "Fine, let''s do it. Let''s get this over with!"


    They entered the courthouse together, only to be informed that they had to wait for a 30-day cooling-off period before the divorce could be processed.


    Oliver felt a strange sense of relief wash over him, almost as if the dy had given him some unspoken hope.


    After the staff handed them both forms, Oliver nced at the section on asset division and sneered. "You''re really not asking for anything?"


    Melissa looked him in the eye. "When we got married, I didn''t have much, and over the years, I blew through whatever I had. So, no, I don''t need anything."


    Oliver gave a harshugh. "Weren''t you always after my money? The moment thepany handed out dividends, you''d be right there, asking for your share!"


    Melissa gave a bitter smile as she thought back to the past. "Yeah, I did that because I knew if I didn''t spend it, you''d just give it to her. I didn''t want that, so I made sure to take it."


    Oliver paused, taken aback.


    Marisa sighed dramatically. "Melissa, why do this? Just to prove a point? You''re making Oliver feel so guilty!"


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    Melissa scoffed. "If that''s the case, why don''t you give me half of thepany''s shares? Would you let him do that?"


    Melissa continued, "But now, it doesn''t matter. Once we''re divorced, you can give her as much as you want. It won''t have anything to do with me."


    Oliver felt a knot of frustration in his chest. Her indifference, especially toward the money, made him feel even more irritated. But he couldn''t exin why he was so angry.


    Heughed bitterly. "Fine. Don''te crying to meter!"


    With that, he stormed out.


    Marisa and Selena were waiting by the entrance. The moment Oliver stepped outside, Marisa rushed over. "Did you get the divorce?"


    Oliver responded, "There''s a mandatory one-month cooling-off period."


    Marisa frowned. "What kind of rule is that? Melissa must''ve done something to stall it!"


    Selena nudged her. "Mom, it''s a neww."


    Marisa finally fell silent, though she kept ncing over at Melissa. She then turned to Oliver, asking directly, "So, Oliver, how much are we giving Melissa as a settlement?"


    Oliver''s frustration red up again. "Nothing."


    "Nothing?" Marisa said with feigned surprise. "But what about her living expenses?"


    Before Oliver could respond, Melissa stepped forward. "Don''t worry about me. My son can take care of me!"


    Marisa sighed dramatically. "Melissa, why do this? Just to prove a point? You''re making Oliver feel so guilty!"


    Melissa scoffed. "If that''s the case, why don''t you give me half of thepany''s shares? Would you let him do that?"


    Marisa''s expression froze.


    Oliver gave a harshugh. "So, you''re still after my money after all!"


    Melissa looked at the man she had loved for most of her life. Now, at fifty, how many good years did she have left?


    She chuckled coldly. "Oliver, open your eyes. The person who''s been eyeing your money all along… has always been her."