SWNOVELS Chapter 975
Brittany nestled into his embrace, a frown marring her pretty face. "I'm not really feeling the vibe of this place. Last time at Saskia's wedding, she mentioned you've got quite the reputation for attracting trouble. Don't you think you owe me an explanation?" Isaac chuckled softly, the sound warm and comforting. "Do you really not know whether I've been a bad boy?"
She knew him well; bringing this up was just her way of lightening the mood.
"And what if I didn't?" Brittany teased.
Isaac's hand cupped her face, his thumb pressing against her lips with gentle insistence. "Seems to me, Mrs. Salter, you're the one who should be explaining, not me."
Brittany sensed he was digging up the past and immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. "Let's not go there."
He leaned in, and they shared a sticky, intimate kiss.
They were about to leave when the sound of brisk footsteps approached.
"Madam, Mr. Lynette has transferred all his assets. The divorce papers have been sent several times. Are you really not planning to sign them?" the lawyer asked.
Leila's face went pale. "It took me forever to marry him, and now he thinks he can just throw me away? In his dreams! Get in touch with my family's lawyers. Apply some pressure. If he wants a divorce, he's going to have to give me half of everything." Brittany sucked in a breath. She knew Yuri had been talking divorce, but Leila had been stubbornly refusing. But she hadn't paid much attention to it until now.
Little did she know, Yuri had already prepared the divorce papers and had issued several ultimatums, only to be met with Leila's refusals.
Whatever the confidant said next, Leila let out a cold laugh. "He dreams of being laid to rest next to Juliana? Over my dead body. Arrange for someone to switch out the ashes!"
Juliana hadn't been able to be with Yuri in life; Leila was determined to keep them apart in death as well.
Brittany stood rooted to the spot, her eyes chilling over with anger.
After a few more curses aimed at Juliana, Leila hung up the phone and left.
Isaac, noticing the change in Brittany's demeanor, wrapped an arm around her. "Don't worry about your mother's ashes. I'll have someone keep an eye on them."
Brittany clenched her fists. "Do you think my mother marrying Robert had anything to do with Leila?"
Isaac wasn't sure. "I'll have someone look into it."
Brittany composed herself and returned to the dining room with Isaac.
When dinner finally started, Yuri remembered the business at hand and turned to Leila. "I've given you the papers. If you refuse to sign them, I'll have no choice but to take legal action." The sound of a spoon clattering against the table punctuated the tense silence. Leila's face turned ghostly white.
Gabriel, confused, asked, "What papers?"
"The divorce papers."
Gabriel choked on his words.
Leila's eyes brimmed with tears. "I won't agree to a divorce."
"Then we'll have to let the law decide," Yuri said, his mind made up.
"I won't sign. Our marriage is fine; the courts won't grant a divorce," Leila said with a forced smile.
Yuri looked at her and laughed coldly. "Our marriage is fine? You must think I'm blind to what's been going on all these years."
Leila's blood ran cold as she realized what he was implying.
Yuri, considering the presence of their children, withheld further comment. "You have three days. If you don't sign, I'll make everything public."
Leila stood up abruptly, sobbing, and rushed upstairs.
Brittany watched her go, piecing together the meaning behind Yuri's cryptic comments. Over the years, trapped in a marriage of appearances, Leila had been unable to restrain herself and had taken many lovers. Yuri was well aware of this and had gathered enough evidence to prove it.
Gabriel, overhearing the mention of divorce, grew worried. If the divorce went through, Saskia's ties to the Lynette family would be severed.
What would become of their business collaboration?
Lost in thoughts of profit and gain, Gabriel failed to notice Saskia's hand balling into a tight fist.