Chapter 9 288 iVouchers Having no option , he could only keep Darlene by his side . It had been days already , and Darlene couldn't help but grow bored . Tonight's auction was the best example . As he thought of the auction , Claudine's face uncontrollably emerged in his mind . He thought , " She knew I'd be there today , so she had waited there for me . " Women are so predictable . " I know what she's thinking . After running away , she found coming back embarrassing , so she pulled this stunt . She even found a man to play along ? " How lame . " But things can't keep going on like this forever . " Someone's got to take care of Darla . " Besides , if she pulls a couple more stunts like today's , it'll only invite gossip . " By the time he finished a cigarette , he had already made a decision . He took out his phone and pulled out his chat records with Claudine . A week had passed since they last spoke . Back then , he had taken Darlene on a trip in Novahelm , and Claudine had actually called him dozens of times . He couldn't help but furrow his brows . To him , women were such a hassle . But at least Claudine had been obedient after their marriage . He couldn't help but wonder what had gotten into her this time ? He closed the chat , opened a banking app , and froze her card . Without money , how long could she possibly survive on her own ? He couldn't wait to find out . Claudine slept soundly that night . When she woke up , it was already past 8:00 a.m. Though it was the dead of winter , with the heating and the golden sunlight , warmth seeped through her limbs . In a good mood , she brewed herself a pot of coffee , sat on the balcony , and gazed at the river view not far away . Just then , her phone dinged - it was a bank notification . She had received her auction commission . Her smile grew bigger as she saw the number . 0.0 % 03:50 Chapter 9 Soon , her doorbell rang . The divorce lawyer she had scheduled stood outside . 288 Vouchers She demanded thirty percent of Damian's assets . They had been married for five years , and she had sacrificed almost everything . It wasn't too much to ask . After signing the divorce agreement , she had a courier deliver it to Damian's office . Then she washed up quickly before heading to the faculty housing at Camberwell University . Though she had psyched herself up , after arriving , she still couldn't bring herself to open the door . " Claudine , have you thought this through ? Are you really going to give up your Ph.D. just for a man ? I fought to get you into this doctoral program ! After being admitted , now you're telling me you want to quit ? Think clearly , Clau- dine . Are you really choosing a man over your career ? " Claudine , if you walk out that door , don't expect me to see you again ! " She still vividly remembered the disappointed look on the face of her professor , Adriana Nixon . Over the past five years , she could never work up the courage to go see Adriana . She had been filled with guilt and shame . After all , what Adriana had said was right . The harsh reality proved how stupid she was , throwing away everything she had for the sake of a man . Back then , she had been Adriana's star student . During her graduate studies , her research under Adriana's supervision led to her publishing a paper in an SCI - indexed journal , and her work in applying modern technology to cultural arti- fact restoration earned professional recognition . Now that she was set to become an auctioneer again , she'd continue working on cultural relic authentication and con- servation , too . But … would Adriana still accept her ? She really had no idea . Clutching the gifts she had bought for Adriana , she walked upstairs . Standing by the door , she hesitated for a long time before finally mustering her courage and knocking on the door . " Who is it ? " The door opened , and an elderly woman with gray hair and a hunched back came into her view . 47.2 %