Her patience completely gone, Annabelle Linton lowered her head and tightened her grip on the pen.

SNAP—

The pen snapped. Annabelle Linton threw it down, radiating an icy chill. "What the hell is your problem!"

"I don’t want a divorce! I don’t want you to be with another man!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The thought of her finding someone else sent a jolt of anger through him. He didn’t want any other man by her side, and he certainly didn’t want another man taking his place!

"Are you done making a scene!?" Annabelle Linton shot to her feet, her face a mask of impatience. "Do you think you get to decide if we get divorced or not?! I came here with you because it’s what you requested yesterday. Did being asked to sign give you the mistaken impression that this can’t happen without your signature?!"

Annabelle Linton felt like she was about to explode with rage.

’What was that about not going out with other men at night?’

’What was he implying?’

’Was he accusing her of cheating? Of having an affair?!’

’If he’s got so much free time, why doesn’t he just go die!’

"Fine, don’t sign! There are a hundred ways to get a divorce. Leona Grant, don’t think for a second I don’t have other options!"

Leona Grant stood up as well, his face a mask of fury. "I don’t want a divorce, and no one can force me! I like you! I won’t let you go! I have a hundred ways to *prevent* a divorce, too!"

Annabelle Linton’s eyes went ice-cold as a chilling smile played on her lips. "Then let’s see you try."

With that, she pushed her chair back and started to walk away.

"Wait a minute!"

Annabelle Linton had only taken a few steps before a clerk from the Civil Affairs Bureau approached her.

The clerk looked her up and down, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. "Miss, is your surname Linton? Did you get married here two years ago?"

The woman was middle-aged, around forty. Annabelle Linton eyed her with suspicion before nodding.

"I knew it."

The clerk gave Annabelle Linton a gratified look, then turned to Leona Grant, her expression hardening as she scolded him. "Now listen here, young man, this is just plain wrong of you! I was the one who processed your marriage certificate. Back then, you were completely unwilling, absolutely reluctant. So what’s all this drama about now?"

The entire room went silent. Even Leona Grant and Annabelle Linton, the parties involved, were completely baffled.

A bad feeling washed over Leona Grant.

Sure enough, the clerk said with a stern face, "Do you remember what you said to this young lady back then? You said, ’Annabelle Linton, don’t you dare think you’re my wife just because you succeeded in marrying me!’"

"’Let me tell you, in my eyes, you’re nothing but a scheming, manipulative woman. You want to marry me, right? Fine. Just don’t come crying to me for a divorce later!’"

The clerk grew angrier as she spoke. "You signed your name and just left, leaving this poor girl here to cry all by herself! I mean, really! You didn’t like her then, and now that she wants to leave, you won’t let her go? Trying to ruin her reputation like this... It’s shameless!"

Leona Grant’s face darkened with rage. "When did I ruin her reputation!?"

"It’s only natural that she would fall for someone else! What gives you the right to think she should wait around for you forever?"

A stranger waiting in line couldn’t resist piping up, asking timidly, "Ma’am, if you handled their marriage certificate, what are you doing working in the divorce section?"

At this, the clerk waved her hand grandly. "I got sick of that job. Half the time, it was the woman begging the man to get married. I hated seeing that, so I switched over to divorces. If it’s not a good fit, then you get a divorce!"

With that, she scurried back to her workstation. Her fingers flew across the keyboard—CLACKETY-CLACK—and then she turned her monitor to face them. "Miss, it says here your divorce is finalized! The paperwork is all in order, so his signature isn’t necessary. Hang on, I’ll issue your certificate for you right now!"

Annabelle Linton was somewhat taken aback by this sudden turn of events.