Chapter 3: Divorce
1281 Words
“Once we have the death certificate, Hermione can finally be free,” Penny said, her voice sharp. “She can marry Dominic as planned, and we can finally bury the mess with Elijah.”
“And you’re sure it can be done?” Dave asked, his tone stern, as if they were discussing nothing more than a trivial inconvenience.
“Of course,” Penny smiled. “We’ll have the certificate forged. Once it’s official, Elijah will be out of our lives for good.”
Dominic, the man the Elsher family was planning to marry Hermione, smiled in satisfaction. He liked Hermione for so long, but her sudden marriage to Elijah ruined all his plans.
Now, Dominic was going to take her back.
Elijah stepped back, clenching his fists as disbelief washed over him. ‘I know they didn’t like me as their son-in-law, but forging a death certificate for me is too much.’
If it were five years ago, Elijah would have just accepted all the harsh treatment the Elsher family did to him.
But everything is different now.
Elijah pushed open the mansion’s heavy doors, making his presence known to everyone. To his shock, it wasn’t only his parents-in-law inside, but the whole Elsher family clan and some guests.
“Wow, I never thought there was a reunion here, huh?” said Elijah in a sarcastic tone.
The guests looked at Elijah with disdain, as if they had just seen an uninvited guest in their gathering. Their gaze moved to his clothes, and they couldn’t help but sneer.
“Oh my God, is he seriously wearing a plain white T-shirt to an event like this?”
“He looks more like a janitor than a guest. How did he even get in here?”
“If I were Hermione, I’d be mortified to be seen with someone like him. I mean, does he even own a decent outfit?”
Elijah brushed off the insults, barely giving them a second thought.
Instead, he turned to Penny and Dave. “So, is this party to celebrate the fact that you're planning to fake my death and marry off my wife to someone else?”
Penny's face went pale, realizing he had overheard their conversation earlier.
Dave, on the other hand, stepped toward Elijah, fists clenched. "You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here, you piece of trash!"
Just as Dave was about to throw a punch, Harold quickly stepped in between them.
“If you lay a hand on him, you’ll have to deal with me,” Harold warned, locking eyes with Dave.
Dave suddenly hesitated, and a few seconds later, he lowered his hand.
“How dare you threaten my husband in our own house?” Penny said with a mocking sneer. “Who is this, Elijah? One of your broke friends?”
Laughter rippled through the crowd at Penny’s insult, but Elijah remained composed, signaling Harold to stay calm as well.
“I’m here because I’m your son-in-law,” Elijah said, his tone polite yet firm. “I’ve been gone for five years, and it seems no one here was exactly waiting for my return, am I right?”
“Hah! We’d have preferred it if you never came back at all,” Penny scoffed, rolling her eyes. “But since you’re already here, why don’t we discuss something worthwhile—like your divorce from Hermione?”
Dominic, radiating arrogance, stepped forward, smirking. “So this is the worthless husband I’ve heard so much about? You’ve got some nerve showing your face here.”
Elijah raised an eyebrow. “And who exactly are you to butt into our family business?”
Penny’s face twisted in anger, and she made a move to strike Elijah, but stopped cold when Harold shot her an intimidating glare.
“What is your deal anyway?” Penny demanded, scowling at Harold. “Who even are you?”
“I’m his bodyguard, and I’m not leaving him here alone,” Harold said, his tone and stance unwavering.
“Bodyguard?” Penny scoffed, looking at Harold in disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Why would you take a job working for this loser?”
“She’s right,” Dominic chimed in, sneering. “I bet he can’t even afford to pay you properly. Work for me instead. I’ll double whatever he’s paying you.”
“Double?” Harold raised an eyebrow. “Would that be one forty thousand dollars a month?”
“What?” Dominic’s jaw dropped, just like the rest of the guests. “Are you trying to tell me this guy’s paying you seventy thousand a month?”
“Yes,” Harold replied coolly. “I can show you my paycheck if you’d like proof.”
All eyes turned to Elijah, who seemed completely unbothered by the attention. He scanned the room, searching for Hermione, but she was nowhere in sight.
Dominic snorted in disbelief. “Yeah, right. If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. Look at him—he can’t even dress for the occasion, and you’re trying to tell me he’s rich?”
Elijah didn’t answer. He just lets everyone make conclusions about him. He wasn’t here for them—he was here for Hermione.
With a smug grin, Dominic pulled a check from his pocket and handed it to Elijah. “Here. Sign the divorce papers and leave. Maybe, if you’re quick about it, I’ll add a little extra cash.”
The room fell silent, and everyone’s gaze locked on Elijah. They expected him to snatch the money eagerly, just like he did five years ago.
Their smirks widened when Elijah took the check—but to their shock, he calmly tore it into pieces, letting the shredded paper fall to the floor.
Gasps echoed through the room, disbelief written across their faces. They had pegged Elijah as nothing more than a gold digger, so why would he rip up the money without hesitation?
“Is that because the offer’s too low?” one of Hermione’s cousins whispered. “Uncle Dave gave him five hundred grand last time, maybe he won’t take anything less?”
Dominic’s mouth widened upon hearing those words. “Oh, I see. You want me to up the price, huh?”
“You could offer me a million, and I still wouldn’t take it,” Elijah said, his tone dangerously low. “If Hermione wants a divorce, I’ll sign without any schemes. But none of you have the right to force her into it.”
Before anyone could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. Heads turned as Hermione entered the room, her expression disgusted.
“What is this nonsense I’m hearing about? You’re planning to sell me off to someone even though I’m married?” Hermione snapped, her eyes locked on Dominic. “I have no intention of marrying you, or anyone else. I’m still married to Elijah!”
Hermione’s words cut through the air, causing the room to fall silent.
But her confident demeanor immediately faded upon seeing Elijah, looking at her with an intensity that she saw for the first time again after five years.
“I'm here, Hermione,” Elijah said, his voice low but firm. “I’ve come back to take care of you.”
The guests started to murmur once again, their eyes flickering between Elijah and Hermione.
Elijah stood tall, unwavering amidst their murmurs. He had been pushed around, dismissed, and belittled for too long. But not anymore.
This time, everything was on his terms, and he wasn’t going to be cast aside so easily—the same as his wife.
- Writer
