The Full Story of an Incomplete Divorce - Chapter 7

The procedure was simpler than she had imagined. They attended court, went through the process of filling out documents to confirm their mutual consent for a no-fault divorce, and were given a roughly one-month cooling-off period. However, their opinions diverged on an unexpected point.

The court recommended receiving counseling from a professional during the cooling-off period. Unlike Charlotte, who was reluctant, Lucius seemed quite receptive to the idea of counseling.

“I don’t think it would be a bad thing.”

“I’m opposed to it. I don’t even see the necessity.”

It wasn’t that she had a prejudice against counseling itself. But no matter how professional the counselor was, they were still strangers. Charlotte did not want to pour out the intimate details of her failed marriage to someone else, no matter how eloquently.

Usually, if Charlotte opposed something this strongly, Lucius would readily back down. As someone who typically showed neither lingering attachment nor enthusiasm about most things, he wasn’t particularly strong-willed. Yet, this time, Lucius displayed an uncharacteristically stubborn attitude.

“You said if I didn’t accept the divorce, you would take it to court.”

“…….”

“If that happens, scandal will inevitably follow.”

Lucius had pinpointed Charlotte’s weakness perfectly. The thing she, with her strong pride, feared most was becoming the subject of gossip and having her reputation tarnished.

A large cloud drifted over the open space of the court where the two stood. As the sunlight was blocked, the surroundings were instantly plunged into a cool dimness.

“That sounds almost like a threat.”

“I am pleading with you. If you agree to the counseling, I will follow your wishes entirely. Be it divorce or anything else.”

The pupils centered in his blue eyes were black like an abyss. No matter how much she looked into them, she couldn’t gauge their depth; facing them only brought on a sense of bewilderment.

She didn’t understand. She didn’t understand why Lucius was going this far. Until her early childhood, before she’d really grown up, Charlotte had prided herself on knowing him quite well. But ever since they married, it had become difficult to read his true feelings. It was the same now.

He had always acted as if he wouldn’t care if he let this marriage go at any moment, so why was he being so stubborn now, like someone who had lingering attachments?

In the meantime, the shadow cast by the cloud passed, and the surroundings brightened again.

“Haah……”

Charlotte relaxed the intensity in her glaring eyes and let out a long sigh.

“No matter how quietly you agree to this divorce, you can’t stop people from gossiping behind our backs.”

So what you’re doing now is just meaningless stubbornness. She was about to say that, but stopped herself and just looked at Lucius.

“If people ask me the reason for the divorce in the future……”

Suddenly, a thought completely inappropriate for the situation popped into her head, and she didn’t understand why. It wasn’t as if she was the type to particularly enjoy jokes. It just impulsively, abruptly spilled out.

“…I’ll tell them it’s because you were impotent. If you’re okay with that, then I’ll accept your proposal.”

Of course, she had no real intention of doing so. Perhaps she simply wanted to test, to see how Lucius would react. And the reaction he showed ended up throwing Charlotte into confusion.

“Gladly.”

His lips formed a faint smile, tracing a subtle curve.

“I don’t mind if you make it public.”

***

The next day. Charlotte picked up the booklet on the reception room table with a skeptical look. It had been left by the counselor who had visited the mansion earlier. Its luxurious purple velvet cover was emblazoned in large, bold letters: <Marital Relationship Improvement Program>.

As she skimmed the table of contents and absently flipped through a few more pages, Charlotte let out a gasp at an explicitly described scene about foreplay and recommended positions during intimacy, slamming the booklet shut.

“So… you’re seriously saying we should do this?”

“The counselor highly recommended it,” Lucius replied.

In contrast to her near-shriek, Lucius was simply gazing calmly at the booklet, showing no sign of surprise whatsoever. His composed face seemed to ask, “What’s the problem?”