Chapter 17
Gregory glanced sideways at Eleanor, taking in the anticipation on her face.
Eleanor said firmly, “That whole situation back then was a mistake. Adam is already in prison and won’t be causing any more trouble, while Fiona is too sick to make a difference.
“Even though Anathea’s uncle is still holding things together, the Jacobson family is nothing but a relic of the past. There’s no way they’ll ever regain their former status.”
She concluded decisively, “So, you should find a time to finalize the divorce. Once Anathea is out of the picture, you can finally marry Natalie.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought, and she added, “And if you and Nat could give me another grandchild, that would be even better.”
Gregory didn’t respond. He simply took a glass of wine from a passing server and took a slow sip. Eleanor mistook his silence for agreement, and her smile grew even brighter.
Sooner or later, she would make sure Anathea was completely gone from the Sinclair family.
Sitting in Brisa’s courtyard, Anathea suddenly sneezed.
“Are you catching a cold?” Brisa asked, her voice filled with concern.
Anathea smiled and shook her head. “No, I’m fine-
Before she could finish, Brisa huffed in frustration. “What is wrong with Gregory? You’re his wife! You’re out here dressed so thinly, and he doesn’t even care enough to make sure you’re warm? Unbelievable! I need to give that boy a piece of my mind-
“Mrs. Sinclair Senior, really, I’m fine.” Anathea quickly stopped her. She changed the subject with a warm smile. “Look, I made some almond cakes for you. They’re fresh–try them while they’re still warm.”
Brisa’s anger faded slightly as she reached for one of the cakes. With a playful shake of her head, she tapped Anathea’s nose affectionately. “You always defend him.”
Anathea lowered her gaze. It wasn’t really about defending Gregory. She’d just been let down so many times that she no longer
expected anything from him.
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Brisa noticed the subtle change in Anathea’s expression, but instead of pressing the issue, she took a bite of the cake. Her face lit up as she gave her a thumbs–up.
“Mmm! I swear, nobody makes these as well as you do! Just the right amount of sweetness. Not too heavy–just perfect!”
Anathea finally smiled a little and pushed the plate closer. “If you like them, have as many as you want. I adjusted the recipe to
make them healthier.”
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Chapter 17
“That’s fantastic,” Brisa said, clutching the plate protectively. She turned to the nearby maids and added, “You all better not try to steal these from me!”
The maids exchanged amused glances, smiling warmly.
One of them leaned toward Anathea and whispered, “Mrs. Sinclair Senior hasn’t had much of an appetite these past few days. But the moment you arrived, she started eating again. If you have time, please come visit her more often.”
Hearing that, Anathea looked at Brisa’s aging face, still bright with laughter. For a moment, she was reminded of her late grandmother. They had the same warm, carefree smile.
She nodded. “Of course.”
But deep down, she knew that the next time she visited, she wouldn’t be coming as Gregory’s wife. She wondered how Brisa would react once she found out about the divorce. Would she be upset?
Getting worked up wouldn’t be good for her health, and Brisa wasn’t young anymore. After thinking it over, Anathea decided to keep it to herself for now. She’d wait until the divorce was finalized and then find the right time to break the news to Brisa.
Still, one thing puzzled her. Gregory had already signed the divorce agreement, so why hadn’t he told her to finalize the
paperwork?
Then again, with his status, he probably didn’t even need to show up in person. The process was likely already in motion. Once the mandatory one–month waiting period ended, the divorce certificate would be issued, and he’d probably just have someone
deliver it to her.
After all, that was how their marriage had been handled too. He hadn’t even been there in person, and Martin had simply handed
her their completed marriage certificate.
Gregory hadn’t shown up until she’d been four months pregnant and starting to show. Even then, their wedding had been a quiet, private affair. The only guests were a few close family members–her parents, Brisa, and Holden. Eleanor hadn’t even bothered to show up, jetting off on vacation instead.
The whole thing had been kept a secret, and there hadn’t even been a photographer. They didn’t even have a wedding album or photos together–except for the few selfies Anathea had secretly taken on her phone.
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