Chapter 196
Chapter 196: “That former Mrs. Cox”¦ is actually quite impressive”¦”’ someone in the crowd exclaimed. Then more voices joined in. “Yeah, she’s nothing like the rumors suggest. She ended her marriage cleanly and decisively.”’ “She drives incredibly well, completely unlike the indecisive person they described her as.”’ “A woman with such impressive driving skills must be spirited and have a heart longing for freedom. How could she possibly be so calculating?”’ Kristopher stood at the entrance of the court, his gaze fixed on the receding car as he listened to the surrounding murmurs. His eyes narrowed slightly. A heart longing for freedom”¦ Was that what Belinda sought? Freedom from their marriage? Did she feel shackled by their three years together? Yet”¦ She was the one who had coerced him into marriage while he was incapacitated. She was the one who had covertly relished his wealth and power. She was the one who had boasted of marrying him solely for his fame and fortune. Now, suddenly, their three-year union was a burden to her? “Kristopher!”’ Cathy’s voice snapped him out of his reverie. She approached, took his arm, and rested her head against it, obstructing his view of Belinda’s departure. “Maggie just messaged me. She wants to celebrate with us and Helen tonight. Are you free?”’ Kristopher’s brow furrowed, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “Celebrate what?”’ Was there really something to celebrate now that Belinda had left him? Stories live now on Belinda maneuvered Allen’s car along the city’s circular highway, driving in loops for hours. By the time they completed several circuits, the clock had struck 3 PM. The early spring atmosphere was ideal, bathed in just enough sunlight to be pleasant. Pulling over beside the seaside road, she flipped open the convertible’s roof and inhaled the salty sea breeze deeply. For years, she had believed that the end of her long marriage to Kristopher would shatter her. Yet, as the divorce became final, a surprising truth dawned on her. She had been suppressing her true feelings throughout their time together. Rather than sorrow, she felt an overwhelming relief and a thrilling sense of liberation. Beside her, Allen sat captivated, watching her with newfound interest. Because of the city road speed limits, Belinda didn’t drive as quickly as she had on the racetrack. But her skilled maneuvers brought back the excitement he experienced when he first started racing. As Allen observed her, his relief was palpable. He was silently grateful for her divorce from Kristopher. Otherwise, he would have only regarded Belinda as a graceful and refined decoration next to Kristopher, not the vibrant and spirited woman she had transformed into. “Is there something on my face?”’ Catching the sharpness of his look, Belinda asked, offering him a playful smile. “Indeed, there is,”’ he responded with a grave tone, his eyes still fixed on her….