Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 87: Divorce Isn’t His Decision to Make

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Divorce Isn’t His Decision to Make

For a moment, Tristan Lockwood felt his heart losing weight, constantly falling.

He quickly walked over and swiftly snatched the divorce agreement from her hands, only letting out a breath of relief when he saw her signature was absent on the signing page.

Then he turned slightly to face her and asked accusingly, "What are you pulling this out for?"

"Didn’t you say before that I should sign it once I’ve thought things through?" Claire Hale answered honestly, "I’ve thought it through now, I can divorce you. Just give me the agreement; I’ll sign immediately."

Her expression was calm, her tone level.

It was as if nothing had ever happened.

Tristan Lockwood, however, crumpled those sheets into a ball and shredded them right away.

Then, looking at her, he said, "You don’t need to sign right now."

Claire Hale lowered her eyes, "Signing now is the best time."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Isn’t it?"

She curled her lips at him, bending into a faint smile.

The smile lacked the usual chill, and none of the usual confrontational sarcasm she directed at him.

Instead, it resembled the few cold plum blossoms they passed while strolling together in the morning.

Blooming alone, wilting alone.

Claire Hale said, "Today is Grandpa’s birthday banquet; all present are prominent families. In such a setting, for this to happen – from now on, I’ll become a joke within the upper circles. If rumors spread about my marriage to you, the Lockwood Family will also become a joke."

She lifted her eyes and looked at him seriously, "Grandpa would never allow the Lockwood Family to become fodder for jokes."

Tristan Lockwood instinctively retorted, "I’m the one married to you; whether we divorce or not isn’t something he can dictate."

When his words fell, he met her knowing gaze and suddenly realized.

This statement basically confirmed that Byron Lockwood had already been contemplating their divorce.

Seeing the complex emotions in his eyes, Claire Hale chuckled lightly and said, "It’s normal for Grandpa to think this way. Any head of a family would choose to sacrifice the pawn to save the king. Besides, divorcing me would be beneficial to you, isn’t that right?"

At ordinary times, Tristan Lockwood would think Claire Hale’s words were insincere, like she was scheming against him.

But today, her eyes were far too clear, devoid of any guile.

Typically, she enjoyed opposing him, bickering incessantly, not letting go of even the smallest gain or loss. Yet, when facing such a big picture, she sensibly and generously made the decision no one anticipated.

She had even thoroughly considered Byron Lockwood’s plan without any resentment. Without causing any trouble for the Lockwood Family, she stated the matter of divorcing him.

Only, Claire Hale didn’t know: from the banquet until now, the matter of divorce was never within Tristan Lockwood’s considerations.

He would never agree to her divorce request at this moment.

Divorcing her now wasn’t fulfillment.

It was akin to leaving her in a blizzard, to fend for herself.

He couldn’t bring himself to do such a thing.

Tristan Lockwood stared at Claire Hale for a long time before saying, "Today’s events, I will thoroughly investigate the instigator. You don’t need to worry about the rest. Once the year is over, continue managing your firm properly. Everything will pass."

Claire Hale said, "Tristan Lockwood, you don’t have to pity me. Really, you don’t."

"I’m not pitying you," Tristan Lockwood looked at her and said, "As long as we are not divorced, you’re my wife. You’ve suffered such humiliation today; as your husband, isn’t it only natural to seek justice for my wife?"

Claire Hale was suddenly stunned, staring fixedly at him.

Tristan Lockwood’s determined gaze made her feel a moment’s illusion – as if he was making a promise to her.

Yet promises shouldn’t exist between him and her.

Inside Claire Hale, that heart she believed long dead began to tremble uncontrollably.

An untraceable ache started spreading from her heart, coursing throughout her body.

Only then did Claire Hale slowly realize that every part of her body was screaming with pain.

It seemed she wasn’t entirely numb, nor completely indifferent.

Nor was she as invulnerable as she imagined herself to be.

Ultimately, she was more like a child pretending to be strong after falling down.

When comforted by the person she cared most about, her mental fortress collapsed in an instant.

When she realized tears were falling into her palms, Tristan Lockwood almost immediately drew her into an embrace.

Like finally finding a fulcrum, Claire Hale’s body trembled uncontrollably, sobbing sounds leaking out alongside tears. She gripped his clothes tightly, burying her face into his chest.

Tristan Lockwood gently patted her head, then cradled her face, bending down to kiss the trails of tears on her cheek.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

Claire Hale shook her head.

Not better at all.

She felt they were dying of discomfort.

"Why is it precisely at this moment you’re staying by my side..." She shed tears quietly, letting them stream down, "You should push me away, Tristan Lockwood... I don’t need your kindness."

She initially thought no one cared if she cried or felt miserable.

Never dared to hope he’d open his arms to her without hesitation at her most helpless, sorrowful, needing support moment, standing firmly by her side.

However, Tristan Lockwood held her face, kissed her lips tenderly and fervently.

In moments of vulnerability, warmth and safety from physical touch sometimes speak louder than helpless words.

After all, body heat is warm, and the embrace is real.

Real enough to make one become irresistibly attached.

That night, Claire Hale had a long dream.

She walked in a world of ice and snow, on the brink of freezing to death, when a warm fire suddenly appeared ahead.

She was so cold, cold enough to rush forward recklessly and throw herself onto the blaze.

The fire went out. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Remaining warmth scorched her skin.

Only after even the embers completely extinguished did she slowly realize scars from the burning covered her everywhere.

Claire Hale woke suddenly in the delayed pain, finding herself embraced by Tristan Lockwood.

His deep, eye-catching face gradually overlapped with the image of little Tristan Lockwood standing in front of her when she was young.

A newfound fear emerged in Claire Hale’s heart.

She began fearing those feelings long turned to ash might reignite amidst his fleeting warmth.

What happened today had already destined that she and he would inevitably divorce in the near future.

The more gentleness he gave her now would only become a soul-devouring slow poison, infiltrating her bones and blood, causing her to lose disastrously on the day they finally part ways.

"Awake?"

Tristan Lockwood’s crisp voice suddenly sounded above her head.