Chapter 782: Chapter 480: Let’s Pick a Date to Finalize the Divorce
Owen’s words made Henry Sullivan pause for a moment: "Don’t talk nonsense."
"Looking at your face, do you really think I’m talking nonsense, or are you afraid because you think I have a point?
Henry, we’re all adults here, especially you. Compared to Ivy Miller, you’re quite a mature older man.
Most young girls are usually not immune to mature men.
You’re excellent, both in appearance and internally, enough for anyone to easily fall for you.
If others could fall in love with a man like you, why do you think Ivy wouldn’t?
The time you’ve spent together isn’t long, but the two of you are quite suitable.
I understand your character; if it wasn’t for that initial spark, you wouldn’t have married her.
Given that, your interaction in the future can only get better.
Don’t say she could fall in love with you, with a girl as lovely and cheerful as she is, it’s not impossible for you to fall for her too.
Sometimes, it’s not that you don’t understand, but that you are unwilling and afraid to believe it.
Actually, dealing with this is straightforward: understand your own heart clearly.
How do you feel about Ivy Miller versus Isla Linton?
Is there any chance in this life for you to fall in love with Ivy, or give her hope for a future?
Everyone knows how tragic a loveless marriage is.
Ivy is such a lovely girl, marrying you in her prime. Do you really have the heart to let her down for a lifetime?
Don’t wait for Ivy to ask you for a divorce, think it through.
If you can love her, then honestly tell her.
Ivy, I can love you. Just give me a little more time.
If you can’t, confirm that you won’t love another woman aside from Isla in this lifetime, that’s fine too. Just tell her, let’s divorce, I can’t give you the happiness you want.
Release her early, give her freedom, as for the child... You need to consider Ivy’s wishes. If Ivy wants it, let Ivy have it. If not, you support the child. From a legal standpoint, Ivy has an advantage over you.
I believe you wouldn’t want your mother to raise your child. After all, everyone knows your mother’s character, and her way of educating is unacceptable."
Henry Sullivan fell silent again, his expression quite grim. After a long while, he sighed: "Do you also think that I’ve dragged Ivy down."
"I’m your buddy, I certainly don’t think you’ve dragged anyone down, but if you could have told Ivy before the marriage that you already had a woman you loved, giving her a chance to choose, perhaps things would have gone better.
After all, Ivy is quite innocent. Even if I weren’t your friend, I’d still feel pretty sorry for Ivy. If you can give someone love, then love them well. Think about it, even if you love Isla Linton so much, can you make her return to you?
Let’s say, in the best-case scenario, she can return, but if Ivy gives birth to your child, can you really just abandon her and the child you’ve affected so deeply to love Isla Linton at all costs?
Are you that type of person? I really don’t believe it, because if you truly were, you wouldn’t have waited so many years for Isla."
Owen checked his watch: "I’m telling you, I still have to go out later. If you can wait for me, then stay here. I’ll be back in two hours. If you can’t wait, then hurry back to console your wife.
Don’t choose to escape when there are problems; face them courageously. How big a deal is it? Don’t get too hung up. Honestly, the one who left you is Isla, even if back then she almost bore your child. Even if that child was lost due to your family’s oversight, this isn’t the absolute reason she left you.
If she truly loved you so much she couldn’t help herself, she could have faced the storms with you. The reason she didn’t is because she didn’t have confidence in you. She feared losing you in the end, so she chose to escape in that way."
"Stop talking," Henry shook his head. "Go ahead and do what you need to."
Owen raised a brow: "I’ve said similar things in front of Faye Townsend and Roman; everyone has their perspective. Faye thinks Isla’s self-esteem is too strong, Roman feels it’s due to a lack of communication between you two.
And I just think she didn’t love you enough. Because she didn’t love you enough, later on, it led to a lot of losses. Never mind your feelings towards Isla, I’ll say one last thing.
If you don’t properly cherish and love Ivy Miller, then you’ll hurt yet another woman. In fact, Ivy Miller is far braver than Isla Linton. Being with a brave person, you’ll become brave too. Enough, I shouldn’t say more."
He stood up and patted Henry Sullivan’s shoulder: "Buddy, take some time to think it over. I’m heading out. Help yourself to something to drink.
Although I don’t quite agree with drowning your sorrows in alcohol, sometimes it’s quite effective."
Owen took his jacket and left. Henry Sullivan looked rather grave, having no mood to drink with his mind in such chaos.
Ivy didn’t feel too comfortable at home either. During the festive season, she couldn’t talk about her discomfort with her best friends.
Everyone else was cheerful, while she had made a mess of things. Tonight... would she have to sleep alone at home?
She looked around the living room, feeling that the home suddenly became cold and empty.
Her hand caressed her belly, eyes brimming with tears: "Baby, what should mommy do?"
She exhaled, a sudden fear creeping into her heart after speaking about divorce so resolutely.
If they really divorce, the child would be without a complete family.
But... no, Henry doesn’t love her. Even if she stays by his side, she can’t give him happiness.
Even though she is happy now, if Henry remains unhappy, her happiness will eventually erode away too.
Rather than leading a miserable life, why not give up on this marriage that shouldn’t have happened in the first place?
She lay on the sofa with a hug pillow, lost in thought for a long time, not knowing when she slowly drifted into dreamland.
After Owen left, Henry sat in the bar for a little more than twenty minutes before getting up to leave.
It’s New Year’s today, and there will surely be fireworks tonight.
Ivy might be scared at home alone.
He drove back home, and as soon as he entered, he saw Ivy lying on the sofa asleep, hugging a pillow.
He walked over and sat on the coffee table, looking at her, as Owen’s words from earlier played in his mind.
If you can’t love her, divorce her, set her free...
If you don’t cherish her, she’ll just be another woman you’ve hurt.
His brow furrowed deeply; if he divorced her, what would become of her? And himself?
Would they become strangers with no further connection?
No, they wouldn’t. There’s a child, linking them together for life.
Because of this child, she might be even more pained. He shook his head helplessly. Should he really fulfill her request and divorce her?
He likes this marriage, likes to look forward to coming home after work every day, to cook for her, to see her enjoy his food and smile happily saying it tastes great.
She says she’s happy in this marriage, but isn’t he happy too?
He’s very happy too, isn’t he?
He got up and walked to the bedroom to get a blanket and covered her with it.
His movements were gentle, yet it still woke Ivy up.
She opened her eyes to see him, and instantly, all her sleepiness vanished.
Looking at him, Ivy blinked: "You... why did you come back?"
"There will be fireworks tonight. I was afraid you’d be scared alone."
Ivy sat up: "That’s a pretty lame excuse."
She thought he would say, "I’ve thought it over, I can’t divorce you."
That’s the kind of man he is, never saying what she hopes to hear.
"It’s not an excuse, I was really worried about you."
"Worried... what good is worrying," Ivy stood up, pouring herself a glass of water. After all, he couldn’t give her the happy marriage she wanted, couldn’t forget Isla Linton, and the man she had beside her was nothing but an empty shell.
Ivy took a sip of water and looked at him: "Henry, I’ve thought it over carefully for a long time, and I’ve decided. Let’s divorce. Pick a date and we can get the paperwork done."
"Have you really decided? Didn’t we agree things were going well before?"
Ivy shook her head: "Were we really doing well before? How could a mismatched marriage be good? Henry, I’ve said that I’m happy with you, and if you didn’t have Isla in your mind, you’d be the perfect husband for me. But the problem is you can’t forget her, and I don’t want to compete with a woman you can’t erase from your thoughts anymore.
My happiness, I must take control of it. Before I find myself facing a situation I don’t want, I’ll cut the ties swiftly. Don’t worry, I’m not a woman who can’t let go; I will forget you.
I’ll also tell our child that mom and dad didn’t split because they didn’t love each other, just our personalities weren’t compatible, and I’ll raise them to still love us even if we part ways.
Henry, truly, our marriage can’t continue. We look fine now, but who can guarantee it won’t sour in the future? Let’s separate while we can still..."
"Ivy," Henry abruptly interrupted her.
"Honestly, I didn’t expect this to happen today. My head is really messed up right now. I can’t promise happiness, but I can commit to forgetting Isla."