You're Just My Ex-Husband,My Lord-Chapter 38- It’s a pity for Emma
Morrison started the car, muttering as he drove off, "Laurent sure is carefree. I mean, with her background, she could easily be considered the richest person in Burg Eltz. Why didn’t she at least try to get something from you? A house, a car, anything."
For some reason, Dave found Morrison’s words particularly grating.
Logically, when it came to divorce, there would always be disputes over property. And considering that her ex-husband was someone as wealthy as him, it seemed even more natural for there to be a fight over assets.
But she hadn’t fought at all.
From the very beginning, she had made it clear that she wanted nothing—no house, no car, no money. Not even their daughter.
That alone spoke volumes about her determination to end the marriage, her decisiveness and resolve.
This realization made Dave’s anger flare, and a dark, aggressive edge filled his eyes. He clenched his jaw and said coldly, "I’ll see how she survives in this city with nothing."
Morrison, sensing the growing hostility in Dave’s tone, couldn’t help but feel sorry for Laurent. He knew that if any company in Burg Eltz dared to hire her, Dave would likely buy it out of spite, red-eyed and furious.
Laurent took a taxi back to Adeline’s place, and on her way, she stopped at a hair salon near the community entrance. Without hesitation, she told the stylist she wanted to cut her hair as short as possible.
The stylist, perhaps used to seeing people who sought drastic changes after difficult times, quickly got to work. After washing her hair, the stylist wielded the scissors with determination, and Laurent’s long, sleek black hair was ruthlessly cut off.
For a brief moment, Laurent felt a sharp pain in her heart.
All the admiration, all the love, all the feelings she once had for him—along with the divorce certificate in her bag—seemed to vanish into thin air, gone like ashes in the wind.
The stylist, noticing Laurent’s features and elegance, gently advised against cutting it too short, suggesting that it might make her look too masculine. Laurent, trusting the stylist’s opinion, agreed, and they settled on a shoulder-length cut with some gentle curls for a lively, playful look that still retained a soft, carefree feel.
When Laurent looked at her reflection in the mirror, she felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
As she left, the stylist offered her some comforting words, "Starting fresh from your ’head’ is just a psychological comfort. What truly matters is starting from the ’heart.’"
Laurent, touched by the kindness, smiled and thanked the stylist before stepping out of the salon. She thought to herself that, if given the chance, she would return to this place and recommend it to Adeline and her other friends.
Indeed, it was a fresh start from the heart. Changing her appearance was just the outward expression of what she needed to do inside—truly letting go and moving forward.
Back at Adeline’s apartment, Laurent immediately called her parents to tell them the marriage was officially over.
Over the past few weeks, her parents had been following the progress of the divorce, though she hadn’t shared any details about Dave’s harshness. She knew that if she had, her father would have flown to Burg Eltz to confront him.
She had never mentioned to her parents how neglected she felt by Dave, because she knew her father never liked him. She didn’t want to fuel the rift between them.
Her father wasn’t particularly against Dave. In fact, Dave was an impressive man—handsome, capable, and well-mannered. But as a father, seeing that Dave didn’t love his daughter was enough to make him never fully accept him.
As Laurent spoke with her parents, she couldn’t help but recall the past. When she had given birth, her father had rushed to see her and had witnessed the way Dave had treated her. That moment had solidified his dislike for Dave, and from then on, he had never been fond of him.
Laurent dialed her mother’s number, but it was her father who answered. She could tell right away that her father had grabbed the phone from her mother, eager to hear the news. He asked, his voice filled with urgency:
"Laurent, how’s it going? Is the divorce finalized?"
Her mother, overhearing, scolded her father for the way he phrased it. She said, "What’s wrong with you? Why are you so eager for her to get divorced? No one should be in such a hurry for their daughter’s marriage to end."
Her father, however, was resolute in his response:
"What’s wrong with asking? I just want her to be happy. I’ve been hoping for this divorce to happen as soon as possible."
Laurent couldn’t help but laugh at the banter between her parents. She understood her mother’s feelings, the concern for Emma and her future happiness. Her mother likely didn’t want to see her daughter hurt or disappointed. But Laurent also understood her father’s perspective—he was only concerned about her present well-being and happiness.
Her father and mother, though coming from different angles, both wanted what was best for her. One worried about her long-term happiness, while the other focused on her immediate peace of mind. And despite their different viewpoints, both loved her deeply and only wanted to protect her.
Laughing softly, Laurent interrupted their debate, offering a straightforward update.
"I just finished the divorce paperwork. I gave Emma to him, and I’ll have one visit with her each week. I didn’t ask for anything else."
When she finished speaking, she could hear her mother sigh deeply on the other end of the line, filled with both concern and regret. But her father, on the other hand, was delighted.
"Good! It’s about time! You should’ve divorced him a long time ago!"
And then, without hesitation, he added, "And it’s good you didn’t want anything from him. We don’t need his money."
Her father’s reaction was a strange mix of relief and approval. Laurent felt both comforted and bittersweet as she listened to the voices of the two people who loved her most in the world.
Father sighed deeply at that moment, his voice tinged with sorrow.
"It’s a pity for Emma, my little sweetheart, but there’s nothing we can do about it. In the future, when she has holidays, you can bring her back here to stay with us."
"Mm." Laurent responded softly, her heart heavy at the mention of her daughter.
After that, Laurent’s mother, evidently having heard enough from her husband, quickly took the phone away from him and asked in a gentler tone, "What are your plans now? Are you going to stay there?"
Laurent’s response was firm, though tinged with a hint of finality, "I won’t stay here."
She knew it wasn’t just about leaving her marriage; it was about starting anew—moving forward from the past, despite the deep emotional weight she still carried.
Laurent paused for a moment after her decision, as if the weight of it all settled in. Her mind had been filled with the thought of running far away to escape, but her mother’s words made her reconsider the bigger picture.
"I’m sorry, Mom. I’ve been selfish."
She glanced at the suitcase beside her, the symbol of her plans to leave it all behind.
"I’ll go visit Marylin and Zoey first to clear my head. After that, I’ll come back. I’ll be with you both from now on."
The idea of returning to the small town felt comforting now. The pace of life was slower, simpler. She could be closer to her family, find peace, and rebuild—not just for herself but for them too.
It wasn’t just about escaping anymore. It was about finding a place where she could start anew with a sense of stability, without running away from her responsibilities. And perhaps, most importantly, she could give her parents the peace they deserved after all these years of worry.
The future still felt uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, Laurent could breathe a little easier, knowing she had made the right choice for her family.
Her mother finally let out a sigh of relief, then reminded her:
"It’s good to go out and have some fun, clear your mind, and come back to live well. But be sure to be careful."
Laurent responded to each point with an affirmation.
