Shattered Vows: Call Me Auntie Now novel Chapter 92

Mrs. Hayes was delighted by the flattery. "Dante is very busy lately, so he hasn't had much time for you. Don't let it upset you."

At the mention of Dante, Vivienne's smile faded.

"Mrs. Hayes, Dante told me yesterday that he doesn't want a divorce right now," she said, her eyes welling up with tears.

"I've waited for him for so many years. I'm just so afraid... that I'll wait for nothing."

The Ambrose family's business had been booming over the last few years, and Mrs. Hayes feared Vivienne might give up and marry into another influential family.

She decided it was time to drop the charade. "You don't need to worry about that. Dante and Quinn are already divorced."

Vivienne jolted, staring at the older woman in disbelief. "What did you say?"

"I used my connections to finalize their divorce papers in secret. Dante doesn't know yet, so you must absolutely not breathe a word of this to him."

Wild joy erupted in Vivienne's chest, but she forcefully suppressed it, keeping her expression restrained.

"But secrets always come to light. He'll find out eventually."

Mrs. Hayes took a delicate sip of her coffee, her tone utterly calm. "I set a deadline with Quinn. In just over a month, when the Hayes Group's new branch goes public, we will officially announce their divorce."

She shot Vivienne a stern look of warning. "Until then, I need you to behave and keep your distance from Dante. In the eyes of the public, he is still a married man, and he is still Quinn's husband."

Vivienne agreed without hesitation. "Don't worry, I understand completely!"

Knowing Dante was already a free man was all the reassurance she needed.

—

With the preliminary round of the 'Luminous Silhouette' competition fast approaching, Quinn spent the entire next day holed up in her studio.

All the designs for the first round had been drafted and the fabrics cut.

The only thing left was the sewing and final assembly.

Her team worked together seamlessly, and the studio hummed with busy, creative energy.

By closing time, everyone else had left, but Quinn was struck by a sudden burst of inspiration for a vintage clasp design and stayed behind to work on it.

Just as she was finishing up, her landlord called to remind her that the lease was about to expire and she needed to find a new place soon.

Hanging up the phone, Quinn felt a wave of frustration wash over her.

She figured she still had a little time and decided to deal with the move after the preliminary competition.

"Oh, so our relationship was thriving when we lived together?"

Dante froze.

It was true that he had constantly been working late or traveling on business. The number of times he returned to Belvedere Gardens each month could be counted on one hand.

Even when he was home, they barely spoke to each other.

His connection with Vivienne was bound by years of gratitude, a sense of responsibility, and deep guilt.

But his feelings for Quinn were far more complicated.

He admitted that when she used to constantly pick fights with him, he had found it exhausting and annoying.

Yet now that it came to actually divorcing her, he found himself unwilling, reluctant, and entirely unable to let go.

Lately, these conflicting emotions had been tearing him apart.

He yanked Quinn into his arms, holding her so tightly it hurt, resting his chin on her slender shoulder.

His voice dropped into a desperate, pleading whisper. "Honey, let's stop this. Let's just make up, okay?"