Chapter 193
Chapter 193: “Who’s really causing the trouble, you or me?”’ Belinda retorted with a sneer. “Don’t think I don’t know you engineered all of this online.”’ She held Cathy’s gaze. “You leaked my marriage certificate with Fred’s name by mistake, and you exposed my miscarriage.”’ Belinda’s laugh was bitter. “Kristopher and I were married in private. We could have ended it quietly, allowing you both to start fresh. But you chose to drag us into the spotlight. Kristopher pities you and has stopped me from revealing your role as the other woman. Do you honestly think you’ll escape the consequences of your actions?”’ With that, Belinda wrenched her arm free. Though she applied little force, Cathy lost her balance and stumbled backward”right toward Kristopher. Strong hands caught her in mid-fall. Cathy’s eyes sparkled with relief as she turned her head. “Kristopher, did you see what””’ Her voice caught when she realized it wasn’t Kristopher who had saved her but Allen. Cathy recoiled as if struck by electricity, stepping quickly away from Allen. He wasn’t surprised by her reaction. Folding his arms, he slipped in front of her, blocking her view of Kristopher. “Cathy, let’s stay out of other people’s divorces. Not every drama is worth our attention.”’ With that, he turned to Belinda and gave her a quick wink. Belinda shrugged and moved past them to stand beside Kristopher. “Let’s finish this, Mr. Cox.”’ Kristopher’s brow furrowed as he caught her wrist, his voice low and tense. “Belinda, you”¦”’ He wanted to ask whether the divorce was merely a temporary fix, maybe with plans to reunite later, or if she was truly done this time. Pride, however, kept the question from his lips. Belinda glared at his hand on her wrist, annoyance prickling her skin. “Is there something else?”’ Kristopher dropped his gaze. “Nothing.”’ “Then let’s go.”’ Belinda tossed the words over her shoulder and stepped inside. Kristopher stood frozen for a long moment before exhaling heavily and following her into the courthouse. Divorce had seemed the answer to their troubles, yet now, at the threshold, his certainty wavered. A wave of reluctance washed over him”if he let her go, could he ever win her back? Outside, Cathy realized Belinda had entered without Kristopher and mistook his hesitation for waiting on her. “Kristopher, I won’t go in with you then,”’ she said gently. “You handle the divorce.”’ She added with false warmth, “I’ll be here, waiting for you.”’ Her words snapped him back to reality. He released a relieved sigh and forced away his doubts, convincing himself that Belinda would be the one to suffer most from the divorce. It would be Belinda who felt the distress. Why should he be concerned? Even if he never proposed they remarry, Belinda would surely return to seek reconciliation. With that thought in mind, he squared his shoulders and entered the courthouse. The buzz around Kristopher and Belinda’s divorce was so intense that other couples stepped aside to let them pass. The staff, eager to keep proceedings running smoothly, hurried them to the front to file. Lacking the agreement drafted by Marc, they proceeded with the terms Belinda had prepared herself. Belinda chose to walk away with only her personal belongings and her beloved ragdoll cat, Fluffy, leaving everything else behind. “Miss Nelson, are you sure you don’t want anything else?”’ one clerk asked gently, aware of the scandal with Cathy. “Legally, you’re entitled to half of Mr. Cox’s assets acquired during your marriage. Are you certain you wish to relinquish that?”’…