Chapter 286

Chapter 286 The Divorce

Chloe paused for a moment before saying to the driver, “Could you please take me to a nearby hotel?”

The next morning, Chloe woke up in the hotel room. Observing her reflection in the mirror, she noticed

dark circles hanging heavily under her eyes, making her look like a panda.

Throughout the night, she pondered her thoughts and gained clarity. There was no denying that she

bore responsibility in this situation. If she had made a mistake, she needed to face the consequences.

Regardless of how Joseph treated her, she had to explain herself.

After freshening up, Chloe returned to the villa, only to be surprised by Xavia’s presence. Caught off

guard, Chloe mustered a reluctant greeting toward Xavia. However, Xavia avoided making eye contact

and appeared visibly uneasy.

Joseph lifted his gaze, his expression icy cold as he delivered his words. “This afternoon, we’ll go to

City Hall for a divorce, and I expect you to have your belongings cleared out before tonight.”

Chloe’s face drained of color, leaving her speechless. Before she could utter a word, Xavia, appearing

more flustered than the person directly involved, interjected, “Joe, you don’t need to bear any

responsibility for me. Don’t argue because of me.”

Confusion clouded Chloe’s mind as she questioned, her voice trembling slightly, “What responsibility

are you talking about?”

Xavia, for some inexplicable reason, felt compelled to explain, “Aren’t you upset about the intimate

rendezvous that happened between Joe and me on Thursday night?”

Chloe’s body trembled, her gaze fixed on Joseph in utter disbelief. “Is what she said true?”

For some unfathomable reason, Joseph took pleasure in witnessing her despair. A wicked grin formed

on his lips as he casually uttered the most heartless words, “Yes, it’s true.”

With that confirmation, a searing pain tore through Chloe’s entire being, leaving her numb and

breathless. She stood there, immobilized, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of the betrayal.

“After I left?”

“Yes. Do you want to know all the sordid details? I can enlighten you.”

At that moment, Xavia’s face flickered with a hint of anxiety before swiftly vanishing, concealing her

true emotions.

Chloe gazed at the handsome man before her, her heart pierced with an intense pain that spread

through every fiber of her being, even causing her fingers to tremble. But she could not contain it and

burst into uncontrollable laughter. Tears streamed down her face as she

laughed, unable to stop the overwhelming emotions.

Joseph’s brows furrowed deeply, and his tone turned harsh as he demanded, “What are you laughing

at?”

What was she laughing at? She was laughing at her own naivety, at how she had once again bestowed

her love upon the wrong person.

That Thursday night, she had surrendered herself to him for the first time, believing it was a moment of

intimacy and connection. Little did she know that Joseph would seek solace with Xavia as soon as she

departed. It made her question if this betrayal was a recurring pattern, a betrayal that had occurred

multiple times before.

In a similar vein, Xavia’s uncertainty betrayed her fear, dreading that Chloe would expose the truth.

Joseph, despite his intoxicated state, had to have some recollection of the number of women he had

touched and been intimate with. She was afraid that all her efforts would be in vain.

Chloe took a deep breath, mustering the strength to hold back the pain raging within her. With tear-

filled eyes, she locked her gaze onto his. “I am a liar, and you, you’re no better. You’re nothing but a

scumbag!”

A bitter smile curved Joseph’s lips, tainted with a hint of sarcasm at being labeled a “scumbag.

“And what gives you the right to accuse me?” he retorted, his voice laced with condescension.

Chloe averted her gaze. “You’re right. I have no right to accuse you,” she admitted, her voice laced with

resignation. “Let’s get a divorce right now, so we don’t waste any more of each other’s time.”

She was exhausted. The weariness seeped into every fiber of her being, leaving her drained. All she

craved was a good night’s sleep, a respite from the endless worries and turmoil that had

consumed her.

Joseph’s laughter evaporated, his gaze piercing into her with intensity. “You were the one who

persistently pursued me in the beginning. Now, you’re the least qualified to talk about divorce.

“Did I suggest a divorce? It was you.”

Joseph could not help but feel annoyed. He wanted a divorce, but should she not be begging him for

forgiveness with tears in her eyes? Or perhaps she had already found someone else.

Chloe did not try to guess what was on his mind. She turned around and went to her bedroom, taking

out the marriage certificate. She then said to Joseph, “Let’s go now.”