Genevieve was the person Aurora hated most in her life. The situation today was entirely Genevieve’s fault, and she had no one else to blame.
Now, she had even hurt Kimberly. And knowing Kimberly’s vengeful nature, Eric’s words only solidified her resolve.
For a fleeting moment, when Genevieve mentioned her child, Kimberly had hesitated. While Genevieve was at fault for many things, Zachary wasn’t. Under the circumstances, it was understandable that he worried about his mother.
But Eric’s reminder erased Kimberly’s moment of softness.
“Genevieve, stop wasting your energy. I’ll be filing an appeal soon. Get ready to go to court-not just you, but your son too,” Kimberly declared coldly.
“Please… I’ll kneel to you. I’ll do anything you want. Everything in the past was my fault. Please, just spare my son!” Genevieve fell to her knees again.
“Get up! Don’t kneel to her. She won’t spare Zach no matter what. You’re only humiliating yourself,” Paul said, unable to bear the sight. He quickly helped Genevieve to her feet.
When Kimberly saw Paul’s concern for Genevieve, her gaze darkened.
“Mom, bring me the divorce papers,” she said suddenly.
“Divorce papers? Kimberly, what are you doing?” Mrs. Blake asked, confused.
Kimberly and Paul had been in the process of divorcing for a long time, but they hadn’t settled the division of assets, so neither side had finalized it.
In truth, Kimberly had been holding onto a sliver of hope. She didn’t want to separate from Paul.
No matter how flawed he was, no matter how many mistakes he had made, he was still her husband. The issue of dividing their assets had merely been an excuse to buy time, a way to cool off before making a final decision.
But seeing this now, she realized there was no longer any reason to hold on.
Even though she had initiated the divorce, Paul hadn’t tried to stop it. Both of them were already too wounded by their relationship.
Sometimes, when a woman says she wants a breakup, it’s not because she truly wants to leave. It’s to see if she still holds any weight in the other person’s heart, to see if he will try to make her stay.
“Mom, give it to me,” Kimberly insisted.
“Fine, fine. Don’t cry again,” Mrs. Blake sighed and handed over the divorce papers.
These papers had been drafted by Paul. He hadn’t been greedy-he only asked for a few houses and less than a million dollars in cash.
The money was what he had earned over the years from private jobs, and he hadn’t touched a single cent of the Blake family’s assets.
The houses were for the sake of his children, Ivy and the others. At least they would have a place to stay and wouldn’t have to endure hardship outside.
Kimberly knew this-it was why she had pretended to want him to leave with nothing, just to stall him.
“Mom, give me a pen,” Kimberly demanded, her voice icy.
“Don’t let him get away so easily, Kimberly. Make him leave with nothing! Not a single cent!” Mrs. Blake tried to persuade her.
“Mom, give me the pen!” Kimberly shouted.
Left with no choice, Mrs. Blake handed her the pen. Without even glancing at the papers, Kimberly signed her name.
“Paul, it’s over between us. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. Take her and get out of my life. Never appear in front of me again!” Kimberly hurled the divorce papers at him.
Paul was stunned. He hadn’t expected her to sign the papers now, after all this time. He felt a pang of guilt rise in his chest.
“Kim, I… I’m sorry,” he said softly. He had apologized to her countless times before, but it had always been superficial-meant to placate her. This time, however, it came from the depths of his heart.
“Sorry? Paul, tell me honestly-did you ever love me? Even once?” Kimberly asked, her gaze unwavering.
“I… maybe I did. But over time, it disappeared. Your temper drove it away. You would lash out for no reason, and I had to coax you again and again. I could do it once, twice, even three times. But after a hundred, two hundred, three hundred times, I grew tired. Whatever love I had left eventually faded,” Paul admitted. At this point, there was no need to lie.
Kimberly let out a cold, bitter laugh as tears streamed down her face.
“Yes, I was difficult and spoiled. I was the only child of the Blake family, cherished and doted on by everyone. Your status didn’t compare to mine. If I hadn’t truly loved you, why would I have married you?
You say my temper was bad, but do you know why? It’s because you never looked at me when you came home. I knew I didn’t matter to you, and the only way I could get your attention was by acting out.
Do you know why I risked everything to have that child? Because that was our child, the product of our love.
I thought having that child would make you love me, but I was wrong. You continued fooling around outside. Did you really think I didn’t hear the rumors over the years?
I heard them all. I just pretended to be deaf and blind because I didn’t want to lose you. Even though your sweet words were empty, I still held onto the illusion of you.
Because I loved you!
When your affair with Alison became public, I caused a scene at the company-not to hurt you, but to protect my dignity.
I tried, Paul. I tried so hard. But in the end, this is where we are. That child was like the death of my love for you.
From now on, I’m letting you go, Paul.”
Kimberly’s voice was calm, but her expression was that of a lost, helpless child.
Paul had never realized how deeply this spoiled, headstrong woman-this queen he had carefully served-had loved him.
She had known about everything he had done, yet she had kept it all inside, using indirect methods to hold onto him, hoping he would change.
A woman who could tolerate everything he had done must have loved him deeply. And he had squandered it all.
Paul’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. Though Kimberly spoke lightly of letting go, he knew how much courage it must have taken.
There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has died. Paul suddenly felt like a fool.
“Kim, I-”
“You don’t need to apologize,” Kimberly interrupted. “This was my choice. When we got married, my mother warned me, but I didn’t listen. I sowed this seed, so I’ll bear the consequences.
Leave, Paul. From now on, whether I live or die, we have nothing to do with each other.”
Paul finally noticed how frail Kimberly looked on the hospital bed. Her hair was disheveled, her face pale, her shoulders thin.
She was as fragile as a sheet of paper. How had he failed to see how much she needed his protection before?
A deep sense of guilt and regret spread through Paul’s chest, growing heavier with every passing moment.
“Get out! Don’t ever appear in front of us again!” Mr. Blake shouted, shoving Paul and Genevieve out of the room. He grabbed the divorce papers and threw them at them.