Chapter 1726: No Return

Chapter 1726: No Return

After finishing her words, Joyce stood up, "Miss Ballard, if your purpose

for meeting me today is to force me to sign the divorce papers, then

your plan has gone astray."

She provocatively looked at Athena, "I absolutely won't sign. Even if

this divorce agreement was personally brought to me by Luther, it

would be the same. Not to mention if it's you who brought it. I am very

skilled at dragging things out. You can give it a try, see how long I can

drag this on. And whether or not you can afford it. As long as I don't

sign, you will remain the mistress. You can drag it out until your looks

fade and you have no capital left. You will forever be unable to shake

off the identity of a mistress. Why wouldn't I be happy about that?"

After finishing her words, a smile blossomed on Joyce's lips, instantly

overshadowing everything around her.

Athena was completely stunned, unable to find a reason to retort. From

childhood to adulthood, besides Luther, no one could make her back

down. Joyce was the second person.

What a formidable tongue she had.

When Athena regained her composure, she realized she was seething

with anger.

She couldn't tolerate being in a disadvantageous position.

She thought and thought, finally finding her counterattack, “I didn't

expect you to have such thick skin. You insist on clinging to the Warner

family. Brother Luther doesn't love you anymore, what's the point of

forcing yourself on him? Let me tell you, even if you don't sign, I have

other ways, and I can resort to legal procedures. You won't eat the

wedding feast but you'll get the wedding punishment. When the divorce

comes, you'll leave with nothing, no assets, no dignity. Don't blame me

for not giving you a chance. If you're sensible, you'll sign now. I will talk

to him and make sure he gives you more alimony.”

Joyce leisurely picked up the black coffee in front of her. She calmly

added sugar and cream, adjusting it to her taste. Only then did she take

a gentle sip.

Athena suddenly stood up, unable to bear it any longer, "Are you trying

to delay the matter, meaninglessly? You're just a abandoned woman,

accept your fate. I am the one who will spend my life with Brother

Luther!"

Joyce drank her coffee and suddenly looked up.

Their gazes met in Athena's eyes.

“You seem to have forgotten something,” Joyce said.

"What?" Athena was puzzled.

“You forgot that I am the young marshal of a warlord," Joyce reminded

her.

"So what?" Athena's expression was disdainful, even if she mentioned

her own background, she had a noble lineage. She didn't necessarily

regard warlords highly.

“It seems you don't understand Pascaylia's laws,” Joyce tutted, shaking

her head. "I am in a military marriage with Luther. If a military spouse

requests a divorce, they must obtain the consent of the military

personnel. Otherwise, the military personnel has the right to veto. You

didn't even know about this? Don't be foolish, only I can propose the

agreement. Sue? He doesn't even have the qualification to sue. Since

this marriage began, only I can decide when it will end. Unless I have

committed a major fault, but obviously, the fault doesn't lie with me.

What a pity."

"What did you say?"

Athena felt a surge of anger in her chest, almost suffocating her. She

never expected this twist. After Joyce's words, it became clear that

military marriages were protected by the law and couldn't go through

the regular legal procedures.

So, as long as this wretched woman refused to divorce, Brother Luther

couldn't regain his freedom? This was something she never

anticipated.

Today, she had intended to force Joyce to divorce and humiliate her in

the process.

Unexpectedly, not only did she fail to achieve her wish, but she was

also played by Joyce. Now, she was utterly humiliated!

Unable to hold back her emotions any longer, Athena slammed the

table and stood up, "Joyce, do you not want to leave here alive today?

How dare you provoke me like this!"

As Athena slammed the table, several black-clad individuals emerged

from behind the cafe screen, each holding a weapon. The two waiters

had long disappeared.

Joyce's eyes turned cold. Indeed, Athena was not simple; she came

prepared. Being born into the Ballard Group, Athena had been exposed

to extraordinary things from a young age. Unlike Charlotte, she didn't

need external forces; she could control them herself. Athena was the

ultimate boss.

However, all of this was trivial to Joyce; she had seen grander scenes.

It was nothing surprising.

Joyce stood up and calmly walked past Athena. She suddenly patted

Athena's shoulder.

"This is a matter between the two of us, calling somany people might

not be a good idea," Joyce said.

Athena sneered, "Whether it's good or not doesn't matter. What matters

is that you must sign today."

Currently, Joyce was pressing on Athena's injured shoulder, causing

her intense pain. It was a gnawing, piercing pain that she would likely

carry for the rest of her life. This severe gunshot wound couldn't fully

heal, and Joyce was the one who inflicted it upon her. How could she

swallow this?

Athena's reaction made Joyce suspicious.

She noticed that Athena seemed to be in great pain, with cold sweat on

her face. It was unusual because nothing seemed outwardly wrong with

Athena's clothes. Why was she in so much pain?

Joyce moved closer and caught a faint whiff of antiseptic.

Her suspicion grew. Could it be a gunshot wound? Only a gunshot

wound would cause such severe aftereffects. And not just an ordinary

caliber gun; it must have been a high-caliber firearm or a sniper rifle.

In her mind, a flash of Otis's death appeared.

She had shot the black-clad woman in the shoulder with a sniper rifle.

Thinking back, it seemed to be on this side. To further test Athena, she

pressed down forcefully, applying pressure near the wound without

mercy.

Sure enough, Athena cried out in pain and couldn't hold it in any longer.

Joyce narrowed her eyes.

Could it be that Athena was the mysterious black-clad woman? The

cruel woman who conspired with Otis to kidnap Anderson? Was it

possible?

If it were true, then Athena's appearance from beginning to end was all

aimed at her.

This was a long-standing conspiracy! It wasn't simply about a first love

or a mistress trying to rise in status. No wonder she always felt that

something was off. It turned out the situation wasn't so simple.

This explained why Luther never contacted her.

Athena forcefully pushed Joyce away. After enduring the pain, she took

a few deep breaths to regain a semblance of composure.

"Joyce, you reap what you sow. Today, there's no turning back for you,"

Athena said, about to snap her fingers and have her people act.

Unexpectedly, Joyce suddenly smiled enchantingly.