2.Chapter 2 I'm Not Divorcing You "You let another woman cross the line. You blurred what family means, what responsibility means, and where you stand in all of it," Evelyn nearly screamed, her voice hoarse and shaking. She was fresh from escaping death itself and had rushed home through chaos. In the mirror by the door, her disheveled, worn-out reflection stared back at her, creating a harsh contrast to Clarissa's flawless makeup and composed look. Adrian and Noah were only a few steps away, but to Evelyn, it felt like there was a canyon between them. Adrian's jaw was tight, a deep crease forming between his brows. Noah just looked lost and confused. He had never seen Evelyn like this. In his impression, his mother was always calm, soft-spoken, and easy to push aside. This was her first time blowing up. Evelyn looked at both of them, her eyes filled with hurt and despair. Clarissa stepped forward with a guilty look as she stammered, "Evelyn, I-I didn't know being around would make you feel so wronged. Just slap me, if it makes you feel better." As she spoke, she actually reached for Evelyn's hand. Evelyn flinched back on instinct, jerking her arm away. "Don't touch me." The very next second, Clarissa let out a sharp scream and fell backward with a heavy thud. Adrian and Noah shouted in unison, "Claire." Before Evelyn could even process what had happened, Noah had already rushed forward and shoved her away. She was caught off guard. Her back slammed into the cabinet by the door, and the custom-made ceramic figurines of their family crashed down. Some hit her, some shattered on the floor. Evelyn's head spun, but through the haze, she saw clearly that Adrian, calm and collected as always, swept Clarissa into his arms and rushed out without a single glance back. Noah scrambled after them, but not before throwing one last look over his shoulder and snapping, "If Claire's really hurt, I'll never forgive you." The door slammed shut with a loud bang, leaving Evelyn alone in dead silence, surrounded by broken pieces. Her head throbbed violently. Slowly, stiffly, she lifted a hand and picked up one of the broken figurines. She remembered how happy she'd felt when she first made them. A sharp shard sliced through her finger, blood dripping out, but the pain in her hand was nothing compared to the wreckage inside her chest. Anyone with eyes could see Clarissa had thrown herself forward on purpose. And Evelyn was clearly hurt worse. However, Adrian and Noah chose to ignore it-just like yesterday, when they both conveniently overlooked the red veins in her tired eyes. 'They just don't love me at all,' Evelyn thought bitterly. 'Even if I was hanging on by a thread, it still wouldn't matter to them.' She dragged herself to the couch and sat in silence the whole night, until morning light filled the room. Then she picked up her phone and sent a message. After that, she walked to the bathroom, splashed cold water on her face, and started packing her things. Adrian had always been too busy with work to deal with Noah, so it was Evelyn doing most of the parenting. Even with a nanny around, the job had drained her. When Noah got older, she slowly returned to her career. Balancing work and home, she never let go of either-until now, she finally made her choice. By the time she zipped up her small suitcase, Adrian and Noah were finally home, both looking drained. As they stepped inside, Evelyn even heard Noah say, "Claire's hurt so badly. Why don't we bring her home and take care of her? It's Mom's fault anyway. She should do something to make it up to Claire." A bitter smile tugged at Evelyn's lips as she stayed in the room, quietly hearing those words. She muttered in her mind, 'Bring her home? Fine. From now on, whatever you want to do has nothing to do with me.' The door swung open. Adrian stood there and looked at Evelyn with a deep frown. He said, "You've just been sitting here all this time? You didn't even think to visit Claire at the hospital? Her wrist got sprained because of you." As he spoke, his eyes finally landed on the suitcase by her side. His voice turned sharper. "Don't tell me you're going on another business trip." Evelyn met his gaze calmly and held up the divorce papers she'd already prepared. She declared, "No, I'm getting a divorce." "What did you just say?" Adrian's voice shot up. He snatched the papers out of her hands, flipping quickly to the last page. Evelyn's signature was already there. Her handwriting had always been clean, delicate, yet steady with power-just like her personality. Adrian's expression grew cloudier with each passing second. His eyes flared with restrained anger as he asked, "Playing hard to get again, huh? I don't have time for your drama." "I'm not playing any game," Evelyn said, her tone quiet and even. It had been twelve hours since yesterday afternoon. That was more than enough time for her to think everything through. Adrian hadn't shown a shred of concern for her in the two weeks she'd been away. And after everything that had happened since she returned, she was exhausted. Adrian's narrowed eyes were full of spite. His voice dropped cold. "Think straight. You're not getting custody of Noah." "I don't want him," Evelyn answered without hesitation. "I only want my share of the assets." That made both Adrian and Noah freeze on the spot. Noah's eyes instantly filled with tears. He shouted, "I don't want you either. I want Claire to be my mom." Already disappointed, Evelyn wasn't affected by those harsh words. She replied with a calm face, "As you wish, she can be your mom for the rest of your life." Noah looked at her with shocking eyes. "Y-You must be sick or something. You really don't want my custody?" Evelyn looked at the hurt in his eyes, blurting out, "Why would I want a kid who's always turning against me?" She couldn't help but think, 'He really thought even if we divorced, I'd give up every penny just to keep custody? There was a time I really thought I'd give my life for him. But now, he's not worth it anymore.' "You..." Noah scrubbed his sleeve across his face, wiping at his tears hard, his face stubborn and red. "You better not come crawling back, begging me and Dad to take you in." "Relax, that day won't come," Evelyn said. Then she turned back to Adrian, who was standing there with a complicated look on his face. "When are we filing? We should also bring in a professional to help split the assets." Adrian tossed the divorce papers onto the entryway shelf and said in an icy tone, "I'm not divorcing you. And no lawyer in Riverhold would dare take this case." His eyes turned sharper as he continued, "If you think this little stunt will get you out of facing the consequences of what happened to Claire, you're dreaming." Evelyn pulled her suitcase up and walked toward the door. "Then I guess I'll see you in court." She knew Adrian too well. In Adrian's world, only he got to decide when something ended. And he wasn't wrong-no lawyer in Riverhold had the guts to stand up to him. However, one name came to Evelyn's mind. She didn't say another word. She brushed past Adrian and Noah, walked out the door, and went back to the apartment she bought before the marriage. After a quick cleanup, she grabbed a cab straight to Horizon Group. This was her last shot at getting out of her failed marriage. Title: Contracted CEO Husband Regrets On Divorce Eve In "Contracted CEO Husband Regrets On Divorce Eve" by CrushReel, a unique romance unfolds between two individuals bound by a marriage contract yet estranged for years. Just as divorce seems imminent, unexpected connections spark between them, leading to a twist of fate. Within this modern romance novel, the protagonists navigate the complexities of their contracted relationship and the uncharted territory of rediscovering each other. As they delve into their past and present, themes of love, regret, and second chances intertwine with the fast-paced world of CEOs and office dynamics. What sets this story apart is the magnetic pull between characters from different worlds, drawing readers into a captivating tale of unlikely love. The sweet romance between the contract lovers adds a layer of intrigue to this office-based narrative filled with twists and turns. Experience the unfolding drama of "Contracted CEO Husband Regrets On Divorce Eve" on CrushReel, where love defies expectations and hearts find their way back together. 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