My CEO Ex: Let Me Go.-Chapter 42

The car was silent for a long time.

"Vivienne, about the car accident... it’s my fault. I caused you trouble, and I’m really sorry," Alexander’s voice was low and heavy as he spoke, his dark eyes meeting mine.

"You’ve already apologized. None of us expected these crazy fans to still be fixated on it. I don’t blame you," I said, trying to keep my voice calm, my face expressionless.

Alexander opened his mouth as if to say something, but then fell silent. Yesterday’s events were still unclear to me. I’d initially thought it had something to do with the makeup incident, but now, I couldn’t even read the words on my phone or computer screen.

He didn’t need to worry about me seeing the criticism and slander online, but his mood hadn’t improved.

"Sorry," he said again.

"It’s fine. Let’s just forget about it," I answered lightly, though my emotions were anything but calm.

The car fell silent again.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed before I broke the silence. "What time is it?"

"Ten after two."

"How long has it been? Why hasn’t Maggie arrived yet?" I asked, feeling a bit anxious.

"Maybe she hit some traffic. Let’s wait a little longer," Alexander said, his lips tight, his face tense.

"Alright," I replied softly.

After a few more minutes, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. "Why is Maggie still not here? Alexander, can you call her and find out where she is?"

"Okay." Alexander opened the car door and stepped out. The cool breeze hit my face, and I realized he was wrestling with his own inner turmoil.

Isabella’s suffering had come from him—leading to her severe depression and multiple suicide attempts. He had promised her he’d always be there, that he’d never leave. He couldn’t go back on that.

As for me, if I lost him, I still had Pop-Pop and Nana, people who cared about me. Maybe after the divorce, I’d even be happier. But Isabella had nothing left—just him. If he left her, she’d probably fall apart.

Between the two of us, he had no choice but to apologize to me.

Alexander closed his eyes for a moment, then turned to look at me in the car. He pulled out his phone and dialed Maggie. "Maggie, I forgot to bring the folder. It’s on the table. Can you come to Family Court? We’re waiting for you at the entrance, please hurry."

Maggie responded quickly, "Okay, Sir."

Alexander returned to the car and told me, "Maggie was stuck in traffic, had to take a detour. She should be here soon."

"Mm."

"Vivienne," he called suddenly.

"Mm?" I turned to look at him.

"After we divorce... will you marry him?"

I paused for a moment before answering, softly, "I think so."

"Good," he said, his voice quiet but sincere. "Then I wish you happiness—being with the one you love, growing old together, living a happy life."

His words made my throat tighten, and I quickly turned away, only managing a soft, "Mm."

I could never wish him happiness with Isabella Blackwood.

He truly didn’t love me, and that’s why he could say something like that. But what he didn’t know was that I, too, was about to divorce him, and after it, he’d get what he wanted—marrying the girl he loved, becoming her husband, living the life he’d always dreamed of. As for me, I would walk away from it all, never finding the happiness we once hoped for.

"Mrs. and Mr. Hawthorne," James knocked on the car window. "Maggie’s here."

"Got it." Alexander and I both got out of the car.

Maggie quickly approached and handed Alexander the folder. "Mr. Hawthorne, I brought it."

"Thank you," he murmured.

Then, he turned to me, stepping forward and taking my hand. "Let’s go. Watch your step."

"Mm." I didn’t say anything more, just gave a small nod.

His hand was still warm and firm, holding mine tightly. I couldn’t help but remember the winters when we’d leave work together, and he’d always hold my hand first, then tuck it into his pocket to keep it warm.

A sudden wave of emotion hit me, and my lips trembled. My heart was filled with regret.

Three years ago, we walked side by side into Family Court to get married. Now, three years later, we were walking hand in hand into the same place, but this time, it was for a divorce.

This would be the last time he could openly hold my hand. After today, we wouldn’t be husband and wife anymore. From now on, we would each go our separate ways.

He would marry the woman he loved and grow old with her, while I would walk away from all of this, embracing freedom.

James and Maggie exchanged a look, both sighing in unison.

Alexander and I walked into the Family Court lobby.

The staff greeted us. Seeing the beautiful couple before her, the receptionist pointed to the marriage counter. "Please go over there to fill out the forms for marriage."

"We’re here for a divorce," Alexander said flatly.

The receptionist froze for a moment, then pointed to another window. "For a divorce, you’ll need to go over there."

Alexander took my hand, and we walked over.

The receptionist still looked puzzled. It was her first time seeing a couple so calm and composed about a divorce. It was truly unusual.

"The line’s long ahead, so we’ll sit over there and wait a bit," Alexander said.

"Okay," I nodded.

Since I couldn’t pass the time by playing on my phone, I started listening to the conversations around me. On the marriage side, couples were sweet and warm, while on the divorce side, there was constant bickering. Some were loudly airing old grievances, even shouting at each other. A few seemed to change their minds midway, suddenly deciding they didn’t want to divorce after all.

Everything was chaotic.

Couples like us, quietly going through a divorce, were rare.

Suddenly, Alexander’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it. "Hello, Sebastian?"

"Alexander, Vivienne, you both need to come to the hospital right away. Pop-Pop collapsed! His condition is critical, and they’re trying to resuscitate him. Dr. Whitaker says it’s not looking good."

Alexander’s face drained of color in an instant, his chest shaking with a tremor. "Alright! We’re on our way!"

He grabbed my hand and pulled me outside.

"What’s going on?" I asked, panic creeping into my voice. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Sebastian said Pop-Pop collapsed. He’s in critical condition, and they’re resuscitating him!"

"What? We need to hurry to the hospital!"

The divorce didn’t matter now. Compared to Pop-Pop, it was nothing. The divorce could wait; my grandfather only had one life.

"Mrs. and Mr. Hawthorne, are you...?" James asked.

"We haven’t finished the paperwork. Sebastian called. Pop-Pop’s in the hospital, and we need to go to Saint James right now." As he spoke, Alexander opened the car door for me, helped me in, and quickly slid into the backseat.

James, looking just as somber, immediately started the car and sped toward the hospital.

...

Saint James Hospital

Alexander pulled me along as we rushed toward the operating room. "Nana, Sebastian, how’s Pop-Pop? How long has he been in there?"

"An hour already," Sebastian Hawthorne replied.

Alexander clenched his fists, his knuckles going white.

"Nana, Pop-Pop will be fine," I said, my vision blurring as I slowly sat beside Evelyn, offering her a soft, shaky smile.

Evelyn smiled faintly and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Vivienne, I’ve been married to your Pop-Pop for so many years. I’m at peace with it. I knew this day would come eventually. Don’t worry about me. You should be more concerned about yourself. You look pale. What happened to your forehead? Is it serious?"

"It’s nothing, really. Just a scratch." I shook my head, trying to keep my emotions in check, forcing a smile that felt more painful than tears.

I couldn’t bear the thought of what would happen if Pop-Pop didn’t make it. The last time I saw him, he seemed fine. How could things have changed so suddenly?

I just couldn’t accept it.

We waited outside the operating room for another three hours.

The longer we waited, the grimmer everyone’s faces grew.