“If she doesn’t cooperate, how do you plan to divorce her?” Vivienne asked Broad, her tone laced with irritation.
Broad glanced down at his watch. “She’s just not ready to give up yet. Once she realizes she can’t win me back, she’ll accept my terms and cooperate with the divorce.”
He knew Miranda didn’t want the divorce. She lacked a supportive family, had no real means of supporting herself, and couldn’t live without him. These were her little tricks, he thought. She’d come crawling back to him eventually.
At that moment, Broad’s phone buzzed. It was his mother, Marcia.
“Broad, are you planning to divorce Miranda?” Marcia’s voice carried unmistakable displeasure.
Broad hesitated for a moment, surprised that his mother had found out so quickly. After a brief pause, he admitted, “Yes, Mom. Miranda and I have reached the end of the road. Divorce is inevitable.”
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before Marcia’s voice returned, now firm and unwavering. “I don’t agree with this divorce. Miranda is a good woman. She’s taken care of the family so well. You can’t treat her like this.”
Broad frowned deeply, his irritation growing. He hadn’t expected his mother to side with Miranda. “Mom, this is between Miranda and me. Please don’t get involved.”
But Marcia wasn’t about to back down.
“Broad, your grandfather is about to undergo heart surgery. And at a time like this, you want to stir up trouble with a divorce? Are you trying to anger him to death?”
“I’m telling you right now-go get Miranda back. Your grandfather can’t handle any more shocks.”
With that, Marcia hung up abruptly, leaving Broad with a dark expression.
Vivienne, who had overheard the conversation, feigned surprise. “Oh my, Broad, how did your mother find out so quickly? Could it be Miranda who told her?”
“It must be her!” Broad replied, his face clouded with anger.
He had suspected all along that Miranda wasn’t serious about the divorce. To win him back, she must have gone to his mother for help.
Vivienne, worried that Broad might reconsider the divorce because of Marcia’s words, quickly chimed in, “Darling, we can’t let Miranda succeed. She’s clearly trying to use your mother to force you into reconciling.”
Broad’s expression hardened, his tone icy. “Don’t worry. She won’t get what she wants.”
—
Elsewhere, Eric’s car was parked outside Miranda’s apartment building.
Miranda unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the car door. “Thanks again for today,” she said.
Eric unfastened his own seatbelt, leaning toward her. “If you really want to thank me, how about doing me a favor?”
Miranda paused, turning to look at him with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity. “Don’t tell me you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend.”
Eric clutched his chest dramatically, pretending to be wounded. “I’m heartbroken, Miranda! How could you say that?”
“Cut it out, Eric,” she said, rolling her eyes at him. “Anything but playing your girlfriend, and I’ll consider it.”
“You’ve just hurt me again!” Eric replied, his tone mockingly hurt.
Miranda ignored him, stepping out of the car and heading toward her apartment. But Eric wasn’t done yet.
“Wait! The day after tomorrow, there’s a charity dinner. I need a date. Will you come with me?” he called out, following her with a quick stride.
Before Miranda could refuse, Eric had already placed an invitation in her hand. She stopped in her tracks, staring down at it. By the time she looked up, Eric was back in his car.
“Don’t be late!” he reminded with a big smile when starting the engine.
Miranda sighed, looking at the invitation in her hand. She hadn’t intended to decline Eric’s request. After all, now that she was preparing to take over her family’s company, such social events would soon become unavoidable.
Still, Eric’s way of handling things annoyed her. Since leaving her husband, she had vowed never to let another man dictate her life or make decisions for her.
But considering Eric had helped her twice already, she decided to accompany him to the dinner.