The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 181

I must have walked in right after Ferris.

I was so focused on the conversation between Lucille and Vivian that I didn't even notice he was there.

It didn't matter. With only a month left on our contract, the agreement required secrecy, but the divorce process still needed to be communicated to both families.

Since things had already escalated to this point, initiating the divorce myself was far more dignified than being forced out by the Sterling family.

But Lucille clearly hadn't grasped the reality of the situation, desperately winking at me. "Why is this child spouting such nonsense out of anger?"

"I wouldn't be so sure," Vivian drawled, sitting back with an air of superiority. "Since Ferris is back, why don't we let her explain exactly what she means by 'it's better if we just divorce'."

She shot me a challenging glare.

I wasn't in the mood to argue with her. Glancing at Ferris standing nearby, I said calmly, "Dr. Sterling and I have discussed it. We're getting an amicable divorce."

Lucille's face twisted in shock. She stared blankly at me, then turned to Ferris and demanded, "I heard that wrong, right, Ferris? You two are just joking, aren't you?"

Vivian scoffed coldly. "Who jokes about divorce? Besides, the Sterling and Hayes families know exactly how this union came to be. A forced relationship never blossoms. Letting go early might not be a bad thing."

With that, Vivian picked up the teacup from the table and took a serene sip.

Hearing this, Vivian slammed her teacup down. She glared at Lucille for a long moment before snapping, "Are you hearing yourself, Lucille? The secret marriage was agreed upon by both families. If the Hayes family felt so humiliated, she didn't have to marry him! And since your daughter joined the Sterling family, it's not like we haven't showered you with benefits. Humiliated? Please."

"That is rich coming from you!" Lucille's voice rose to a shrill pitch. "A wife follows her husband. Has our Selena been anything but devoted to Ferris these past three years? A woman marries a man expecting him to take care of her! You were at the Summers family's engagement party last month, weren't you? They spent millions of dollars on the bride alone! And the Sterlings? You call yourselves one of the top four families in Port Capital, but from where I'm standing, you're cheaper than an average household. If word gets out, the Sterling family will be a laughingstock."

As she delivered the final blow, Lucille slapped her own cheek for emphasis, leaving Vivian so apoplectic she couldn't even form a response.

All I could think was that even though Lucille wore expensive furs and carried Hermès bags, she didn't have a sophisticated bone in her body. The moment she got angry, her true colors bled through.

Though Vivian was harsh with her words, she came from an educated, aristocratic background. After glaring furiously for a long moment, she sighed in exasperation. "Did you hear that, Ferris? This woman genuinely believes her precious daughter has better options than you. She seems to have forgotten who stepped up when Maxwell had to be admitted to the Greenwood Care Center. Now that they have room to breathe, they're eager to burn the bridge."