Chapter 7

There was a prolonged silence in the study. It made Nicole restless. She was about to speak up to break the tense atmosphere when Jacob spoke first, interrupting the silence. "Grandpa, you should know that this marriage was never my intention from the start," Jacob said calmly. "I believe I have the right to end a marriage that is meaningless to me." Anson chuckled softly. He took a sip of his coffee as if he had heard the most amusing thing. "As a member of the Blake family, marriage is never meaningful. You've been smart since you were young. I thought you understood this. Nicole noticed Jacob's jaw clenched tightly before he relaxed again, regaining his indifferent and cold demeanor. "Since it lacks meaning, I have the right to end it, though you initiated it." Anson's gaze turned icy. The tense conversation between Jacob and Anson caused the atmosphere in the room to turn more unpleasant. Nicole decided to intervene and break the tension. "Mr. Blake Senior!" Nicole called out and met Anson's gaze. She smiled apologetically. "It doesn't matter what Jacob thinks because I'm the one who wants the divorce." Anson was taken aback. He was at a loss for words. He always assumed that it was Jacob's fault for the problems in his marriage. Jacob was over confident and looked down on Nicole's humble origins. Jacob was a social butterfly, and Nicole was a homemaker. The difference was clear. Anson tried to console Nicole. "You don't have to do this because of him—" "No, Mr. Blake Senior. To be honest—" Nicole sighed deeply. "Mrs. Blake Senior and you are wonderful people, but Jacob is really boring. I feel like a widow when he's not home. "And when he's home, I feel like a zombie. It's hard to decide which is better." Jacob's expression changed drastically. He turned sharply to look at Nicole and gritted his teeth. "Of course, all that's fine. But there is one thing…" Nicole hesitated. She was a little embarrassed. "You see, I'm not getting any younger, and I do like children. We've been married for so many years, and there's been no sign of a baby. Of course, I'll have some concerns…" She trailed off, but the implication was made clear to Anson. His gaze toward Jacob became more complicated. Jacob was furious and at a loss for words. He couldn't very well tell Anson that, despite being married for so long, he and Nicole had never had sex before. If he said that, Anson might as well kill him. Moreover, Nicole's insinuations were veiled. If he tried to clarify himself, it would be awkward and embarrassing. Yet, if he remained silent, he would take the blame. Jacob clenched his jaw tightly. He turned to Nicole and said word by word, "I didn't know you wanted children." Nicole blinked innocently. "Well, given your condition, I thought it wasn't right to comment on anything. It would look bad on you." What condition was she talking about? Jacob could feel his blood pressure rise instantly. His temples were throbbing. Anson became uneasy. He intended to address Jacob's marital issues to prevent any trouble for Maddie, who was to return home soon. Instead, he stumbled upon Jacob's private matters. He coughed awkwardly and stood up. He briskly walked to the door. He then turned back to the two of them. "I'll go check on the food. You two should talk and resolve any misunderstandings before coming down. Take your time." The door was closed shut. Jacob immediately turned around and questioned Nicole, "What were you—" The door creaked open once more. Anson wore an unreadable expression. "Jacob, I have a friend coming over in a few days. He's a very experienced doctor—" Without finishing, he closed the door again. Jacob's anger peaked. He gritted his teeth and spoke, "What nonsense was that? Is the money I gave you not enough to shut your mouth?" Nicole, initially amused by outsmarting Jacob, felt as if she had been slapped when she heard his words. Her eyes darkened, and her smile vanished. She looked at him coldly and mocked, "Jacob, you should be grateful I didn't expose your affair during our marriage. The divorce papers are barely signed, and you're already taking your ex to a hotel. "Maybe you should really see that doctor when he arrives to check for any diseases!" Nicole rolled her eyes. She felt disgusted sharing the same room with Jacob and was going to leave the room. When she was about to leave, Jacob grabbed her arm. His anger flared up, and he warned her, "You better explain yourself. If you dare spread any more lies to Grandpa, you're going to regret it." Nicole didn't want to argue with him and tried to break free from his grasp. However, Jacob held on to her so tightly that she was no match for his strength. In the struggle, several buttons on her shirt popped off, revealing her chest, which was covered in hickeys and bruises. The sight made Jacob narrow his eyes. "What are these? Hickeys?" Nicole tried to cover herself, but Jacob's grip was too strong. He was not giving up. Instead, she exposed the marks further. "As you can see…" Jacob's face turned grim. "Who did this?" Nicole laughed scornfully. "Who cares about a one-night stand partner? Do you keep track of every woman you sleep with?" Jacob was taken aback. He answered instinctively, "I don't…" His voice trailed off as he glared at her. "Don't change the subject. We just signed the divorce agreement yesterday. Without the certificate, we are still legally married. You're the one who's cheating."