"Sit here," Arthur pointed at his brown and golden antique sofa placed in his living room, for her to sit.
Venessa looked around as she couldn't get enough of the interior. It was vintage yet classy. Not too over-showing but at the same time looked sophisticated. She hasn't been here before, they broke up before he completely moved here. He used to visit this place once in a while when they were together but she really never had the chance to come here and she regrets that.
"It's beautifully designed, your house."
"Are you leaving for somewhere?" Venessa asked as she saw Arthur shrug at her compliment and impatiently looking at his timepiece.
"Yeah," he didn't lie. He did plan to leave for the event but it was in the evening. It's fine even if he doesn't clear out to her exactly when he needs to leave.
"I….won't take much of your time then," Venessa replied apologetically and got ready to stand up from the sofa.
"It's fine. You wanted to talk, let's talk," Arthur replied casually, half sitting on the edge of his sofa opposite to her.
Venessa took out a file filled with a few documents and handed it to him as Arthur's questioning gaze fell on them.
"He handed me these at night."
Arthur took those documents to find a title clearly written on the first page.
Divorce Agreement.
His questioning gaze deepened but Venessa already knew what it meant without him spelling.
"No, it's mutual. We both agreed on it and we already signed those almost 3 months ago. The court has given us one more year to think about it but both of us decided to reduce or cancel this penalty. So he made me sign this, this will help me get out of this marriage sooner. More like a few days of some procedure and we're over."
As if they already weren't.
Venessa knew what she was saying was part of her today's script and she believed she played it right but somehow her voice hitched in a sudden wash of sadness.
But why would she feel sad? It wasn't in her script at all. But maybe it was making this act more natural in some way.
12 hours ago
"Sign it," Stefan came home earlier than usual to find Venessa having her idle time in her room.
She knew Stefan didn't go to his office today. He must have been at the airport to talk to Alexis for the last time before she comes back to town. Or maybe he just stared at her back helplessly like he did in the past few years.
One thing she knew and hated the most about this man is, he looked like the fearless one and yet he was really a coward. In fact, the most cowardly man in cases of love and relationships.
Venessa stared at the documents he was holding in a forced confusion as her mind was already somewhere else.
Yes, she won't be his wife anymore but at least he could behave a little for a few more days. She is behaving herself, so why can't he do that now? He was so good at it for six freaking years but something has stirred him so bad this time around. She knew that well.
"What are these?"
"Read."
Venessa took those documents in her hands and let her eyes go through those neatly printed letters.
The document said if they signed it, they don't have to wait for that one year to get officially divorced. They can be free in just a few days.
By the time Alexis returns to the city, they won't be together anymore. Not in papers or lawfully. Of course, they weren't together spiritually anyway. Those marriage vows were a few bullshits they had to spell out for the public show anyway.
"It says we don't pretend to live together anymore," she spoke out, not knowing if she said it for herself or for him to hear.
Perfectly done, Stefan Ashford.
You're so eager to get rid of me and yet I am glad I can see a man inside you alive now.
Venessa wanted to say all of it out loud but restrained herself. Her hard gaze fell upon his clenched jaw and then at the papers. She started reading the second clause of the agreement when blood rose on her veins.
"What does this supposed to mean?"
Venessa's eyes darted towards her soon-to-be ex-husband, wondering if he takes her as a joke.
In the second clause, it's written she will get half of all this property except his family home. That's exactly what she mentioned to him carefully before their divorce. That she doesn't want a single cent from him after they are over.
She doesn't want to look like a money-hungry bitch pathetically clinging to his money because she has no one in this world left to call home.
Her father died but that doesn't mean her self-respect died too. She isn't someone who can not live without a man. She earns for herself well enough.
"Are you pitying me, Stefan Ashford?" Her questioning gaze pierced through his gaze. She didn't know what was going inside his head but she genuinely hated how unreadable he looked right now.
Arthur was a lot better in that case, at least the short amount of time she spent with him made her feel that she knew him. And this man, she doesn't even know what and why he does anything and how his emotions work anyway even after six freaking years.
Comparing these two wouldn't be a good idea anyway as she never really saw Stefan as someone she wanted to know. Or maybe she did for once in the meanwhile of this contract marriage but those are all in the past.
"It needs to be done," Stefan replied, his expression stubborn.
"What do you mean it needs to be done? Explain," Venessa clenched her fist, restraining herself to react less.
"The court will not allow it if I divorce you a few months after your father's death. He didn't sign the company to you as you didn't want it. And if I'm not giving you anything after divorce, it's basically leaving you penniless. Settlement laws don't work that way."
"So, you think I'm penniless?"
"I never said that. And I don't know why you're so against it. I don't mind giving you half of what I own," Stefan took a step forward, but there was so much distance between them that even taking a few more steps won't help them.
Him in his sharp business look and her in her comfortable pajama, perfect combination for marriage household fights. Almost as if she was complaining about her husband spending time with her. But the scenario was exactly the opposite. Both of them just wanted to be out of each other's side as soon as possible.
"So you take me as your charity case, don't you?"
Venessa felt incredibly hurt, she didn't know why. She could have taken the situation logically as it was the best way to get away from each other sooner. But when she signed the divorce agreement and refused to take any settlement money from him, she thought it would be over peacefully after one year.
She didn't need to rush for the separation as she knew there wasn't anyone waiting for her divorce just to start afresh with her. And she thought he was the same. But that's where she was so wrong about it.
"Is my money charity to you? You didn't even use a single cent from my money for all these years and now you're calling yourself a charity case? Why do you want to lower yourself so bad, Venessa Vergara?" Stefan took a few swift steps to reach her and held her petite shoulders with his hands.