Chapter 88: Chapter 88

During the courtroom debate phase, after my lawyer stated the request, Adrian Gordon’s lawyer started refuting point by point, showing no sign of "cooperating" at all.

The lawyer whispered to me, "Didn’t you say... the defendant would cooperate? But with this stance, they’re insisting that there’s no breakdown in your marital relationship. The judge might side with him, and you’ll have to wait for a second trial..."

A second trial would take at least three months.

But I can’t wait even a single day.

Ignoring the courtroom order, I directly interrupted Adrian Gordon’s lawyer, raised my hand, and stood up, saying, "Your Honor, I’m suddenly feeling unwell, may I have a few minutes’ break?"

"You may have a ten-minute break, and we will resume court afterwards."

"Thank you, Your Honor."

As I walked out of the plaintiff’s bench, passing by the defendant’s seat, I whispered, "Adrian Gordon, can you come out for a moment?"

He looked indifferent and grim, with an appearance of clear displeasure, but stood up and followed.

After exiting the courtroom, I took out my phone and motioned in front of him, "Are you insisting on forcing me to submit Amanda Gordon’s criminal evidence to the police, and send your sister to jail?"

Adrian Gordon stared at my phone, his mouth moved as if he was still hesitating.

I couldn’t believe he could really abandon his own sister.

I had a bad feeling, worried that there would be no decision today.

Suddenly, Olivia Gray rushed over, her face anxious, "Why did you come out? Is it over? Is the divorce finalized? Lily Miller, you must delete that video!"

Seeing my former mother-in-law, a glimmer of hope rekindled in my desperate heart.

"Old Madam Gordon, you better hurry and persuade your son, he wants to send your daughter to prison." I said to Olivia Gray, giving Adrian Gordon a side glance.

"What?" Olivia Gray froze for a second, looking at her son with confusion, "Is the case not over? Then why are you out here?"

"Your son isn’t cooperating, I requested a break to talk to him further."

"Not cooperating?" Olivia Gray looked at her son, instantly angry and disappointed, "Adrian, how foolish can you be! You’re not even caring for your own sister? Do you know that Amanda just attempted to slit her wrists in the hospital room, luckily they discovered in time, and the doctors managed to save her! Otherwise, I would be burying my child today! Boohoo... What did I do to deserve this, one unfilial son and an unfortunate daughter..."

As Olivia Gray spoke, she started to sob and wail, losing all the dignity of a noblewoman.

I was inwardly shocked, unable to believe that Amanda Gordon had the courage to attempt suicide.

Adrian Gordon was also startled by his mother’s words, quickly holding onto Olivia Gray.

"Mom? What did you say? Amanda attempted suicide?"

Their voices were a bit loud, drawing the attention of my supporters outside waiting to cheer me on, who quickly gathered around.

"Old Madam Gordon, what’s wrong with your daughter? Why on earth would she attempt to commit suicide?"

"Yes... Did she get dumped by a lousy man?"

Although these middle-aged women were all wealthy socialites, they couldn’t help but indulge in gossip, chatting away.

Amanda Gordon’s scandal was suppressed by the Gordon Family, so the outside world was still unaware.

However, with the mother and son of the Gordon Family making such a ruckus, it would be difficult to keep it under wraps anymore.

I looked at Adrian Gordon, quietly reminding him, "If you don’t want your family’s reputation damaged, and don’t want your sister to face jail time, then stop opposing!"

Adrian Gordon still supported Olivia Gray, and upon hearing this, turned back to look at me, visibly struggling internally.

"Adrian, do you want me, as a mother, to kneel before you? Just divorce her! Divorce her now! Or I will disown you as my son!"

Olivia Gray clutched Adrian Gordon’s arm tightly, crying as she gave her order.

The wealthy ladies continued their chatter but some kindly comforted Olivia Gray.

But the comforting was insincere, just satisfying their gossiping nature.

Adrian Gordon’s face showed extreme conflict, still appearing indecisive.

I shook my phone again to remind him, "If you insist on not divorcing, then I’ll call 110 right now."

Saying that, I had already dialed a "1".

Suddenly, Olivia Gray’s body went limp, falling to her knees before Adrian Gordon, not only startling me but also making those wealthy women exclaim.

"Young Master Gordon, you’re courting disaster! Having your aged mother kneel to you!"

"Old Madam Gordon, what did Lily Miller do to make you so resentful, forcing your son to divorce her?"

"Oh my, if I had such a good daughter-in-law like Lily Miller, I would laugh in my dreams. Your family is truly unfortunate, oh so unfortunate."

"If you ask me, you should——"

"Silence!" The noise was utterly irritating, and every word seemed to rub salt into the Gordon Family’s wounds, provoking Adrian Gordon to thunderously roar in anger.

The scene fell completely silent.

The wealthy women immediately closed their mouths, still communicating with each other through glances.

I never imagined that this "support group," despite not being able to enter the courtroom to observe, would cause such a significant blow to the Gordon Family.

The treatment of my lifetime VIP card was certainly not in vain.

Adrian Gordon was driven to the brink of madness by these people. Once the scene quieted down, he knelt down to help Olivia Gray up, "Mom, I’ll divorce Lily Miller, don’t do this; sister will be fine."

Olivia Gray lifted her swollen eyes, nodded hoarsely, "Good... with your credentials, you shouldn’t fear not finding a wife. I assure you, the moment you divorce, matchmakers will flock to the Gordon’s doorstep tomorrow."

Ha—I couldn’t hold back and laughed aloud.

The wealthy ladies were also taken aback, then quickly cried out, "Oh my, with your son’s chaotic private life known to all, which good girl would marry him?"

"Shut up! What business is it of yours!" Olivia Gray angrily retorted, "A bunch of gossips! Uncultured!"

The wealthy ladies were no pushovers either and weren’t about to feel wronged, so a war of words quickly erupted.

Fortunately, a bailiff appeared in time to escort them all out.

The judge announced that the court session would resume.

Adrian Gordon and I returned to our seats.

"Your Honor, I agree that the marriage between Lily Miller and I has irreparably broken down, and I consent to the divorce."

Finally, Adrian Gordon acted like a real man.

My lawyer was stunned, whispering to me, "How did you negotiate? His attitude made a complete one-eighty!"

I smiled faintly, "Secret."

The lawyer also smiled, "Then I earned this money a bit too easily."

The judge was also taken aback by Adrian Gordon’s sudden change of heart, repeatedly confirming, "Defendant, are you sure you truly consent to the divorce?"

"Yes, I consent to the divorce."

Adrian Gordon reiterated, turning his gaze to me, staring steadily.

I glanced at him calmly, then looked away to the judge, waiting for the court’s decision.

The judge was consulting with others, moments later, he sternly knocked the gavel—

"After the court’s examination and ascertainment, both parties, Lily Miller, the plaintiff, and Adrian Gordon, the defendant, have a legally valid marriage, and both parties voluntarily and willingly filed for divorce. The court confirms that the marital relationship has irreparably broken down, and reconciliation is ineffective.

Therefore, the court pronounces: the divorce between the plaintiff, Lily Miller, and the defendant, Adrian Gordon, is granted.

The case acceptance fee will be borne by the defendant, Adrian Gordon.

The judgment will be delivered within ten working days; both parties, please be attentive to receiving it.

Court session concluded!"

With a single decisive gavel strike, I almost burst into tears of joy while sitting in the plaintiff’s seat!

The divorce is finally finalized! At last!

In stark contrast to my inner joy, Adrian Gordon sat dumbfoundedly at the defendant’s seat, as if mourning deeply.

I looked at him, with no intention of going over to comfort him, and directly followed the lawyer out.

The wealthy ladies still hadn’t left, and when they saw me coming out, they immediately came forward to ask about the result.

"Thank you all for your concern, it’s done, it’s done, this also has your contributions, thank you, thank you!"

A group of wealthy ladies immediately cheered: "Miss Miller, congratulations on being single again. My nephew is twenty-eight this year, a Stanford graduate, an executive at a listed company, with an annual salary of five million, here’s his photo, take a look..."

"Miss Miller, twenty-eight is too old! Brother-sister relationships are in vogue now. My son is only twenty-three, a graduate student, sunny and handsome, definitely a match for you!"

I never dreamed that life would have such a spotlight moment.

I had just stepped out of the grave of marriage and so many people were scrambling to bury me again!

I’ve never felt so popular!

"Thank you all for your kindness, I have no plans to remarry for now, thank you."

As I was being blocked by the wealthy ladies, Adrian Gordon also walked out of the courtroom.

He looked unwell, his figure carried a sense of tiredness and loneliness, even his steps seemed heavy as if weighed down.

I glanced at him and then forced myself to look away.

Who knew that in the next second, that figure would fall to the ground straight away!

Immediately followed by Olivia Gray’s cry: "Someone! Help! Help, help!"

Quickly, everyone gathered around, talking over one another.

"What happened to Young Master Gordon? Did he faint from sadness over the divorce?"

"Oh dear, such a tragedy..."

I stood unmoving from a distance, the lawyer beside me asked: "Aren’t you going to take a look?"

"No need." I declined lightly, then took out my phone to dial 120.

I’m not a doctor; even if I went over, I couldn’t help much. Calling an ambulance is as far as the last bit of affection between us goes.

As I stepped out of the courthouse, I felt the warm, bright sunlight and realized the dark clouds that oppressed me for months finally dissipated.

The lawyer noticed my good mood and sighed: "Don’t blame me for pouring cold water on you."

I laughed and asked, "What do you mean?"

We descended the stairs together, and the lawyer explained: "In a divorce case where the first trial determines divorce, starting from the day after the divorce judgment is issued, both parties have fifteen days to appeal. If neither appeals, the judgment becomes effective after the appeal period expires. Which means, Mr. Gordon still has a chance to regret and file an appeal."

"What?" I stopped in my tracks and turned to the lawyer, "There’s such a rule?"

"I remember telling you about this."

I was somewhat dumbfounded, not recalling when the lawyer mentioned it.

"So, even if the court has already ruled for divorce, you can’t remarry immediately, or it will constitute bigamy. If it’s a second-instance judgment, there’s no appeal period, once divorced, it’s final, nobody can change it."

Listening to the lawyer’s words, my mind started to stir again.

Adrian Gordon shouldn’t appeal again, right?

Olivia Gray even knelt in public today, doesn’t the Gordon Family want to save face?

If he appeals and doesn’t want a divorce anymore, wouldn’t Olivia Gray be infuriated?

Saying goodbye to the lawyer, I returned to my car.

Feeling somewhat complex, both happy and anxious, relaxed yet worried.

I thought of calling my grandma to report on the case’s outcome, just as the call went through, I saw an ambulance speeding this way.

"Grandma... yes, the case is over, Adrian Gordon still has some conscience left, granting the divorce."

Grandma also breathed a sigh of relief.

As I listened to Grandma’s happy chatter, my eyes were fixed outside the window.

Adrian Gordon was carried out by medical staff on a stretcher, Olivia Gray followed beside, and as they descended the steps, she accidentally twisted her ankle and fell, assisted up by the medical staff.

Sitting in the car, I was shocked by this scene, my brows furrowed tightly.

"Yes, Grandma, I know, I have things to attend to, let’s talk when I come back for dinner this weekend."

After hanging up, I kept staring outside the car.

There was an oxygen bag on Adrian Gordon’s stretcher.

After he was put in the ambulance, the medical staff immediately jumped in to perform CPR, racing against time. The source of thɪs content is novelFɪre.net

Olivia Gray got into the ambulance with assistance, visibly crying from afar.

When Adrian Gordon collapsed just now, my first reaction was to think he was pretending, playing the sympathy card.

But now it seems, it wasn’t an act, he seems genuinely ill, seriously ill.

Could it be an old ailment relapsing?

The ambulance roared away, leaving me in a daze until the phone rang, pulling me back.

On closer inspection, it was Daniel Carter.

A flicker of excitement rose in my heart, unbidden thoughts of the lawyer’s caution surfaced in my mind—though the court has ruled for divorce, you can’t remarry immediately, or it will constitute bigamy.

What am I thinking? Fantasizing about marrying Daniel Carter?

I quickly shook my head, dispelling these wild and audacious notions.

Daniel Carter’s voice was warm and low: "It’s already over, right?"

I answered faintly, feeling he probably learned my trial concluded from some source.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t call at such a coincidental time.

"Then should I congratulate you on escaping misery?"

I gave a slight smile, feeling somewhat heavy-hearted, "How did you know the result?"

"Guessed. Didn’t you say you’re confident at noon?" he responded with a smile.

Suddenly, fatigue washed over me, I felt drained, not wanting to speak much, just said lightly, "Yes, the judge ruled for divorce, but we still have to wait for the divorce judgment to come down, then another fifteen days, if there’s no appeal from the other side, the judgment takes effect."

"This complicated? How long until you’re officially divorced?" he asked in surprise.

"I’m not sure, but usually the judgment is issued in ten days, so it’s about a month, similar to the cooling-off period for divorces..."

Saying this, I suddenly felt as if I had wasted my efforts.

Actually, with the evidence of Amanda Gordon’s crimes, I could have requested that once the cooling-off period ended, Adrian Gordon directly agrees to divorce.

Calculating the time, both options were almost the same.

"It’s indeed a bit slow, but at least there’s the dawn of victory in sight." Daniel Carter comforted.

"Since everything is going smoothly, can we have dinner tonight to celebrate?"

I was slightly surprised, not expecting him to be so eager to invite me for dinner.