**TITLE: A Divorce 786**
Leona sat in the dim light of her living room, feeling as though she were drowning in a tempest of betrayal and fury. The recordings and videos Amy had sent her played over and over in her mind, each frame a brutal reminder of the reality she had been desperately trying to ignore. The sight of Marcus, her husband, laughing and flirting with Josephine—the very woman she had once welcomed into her home—was like a dagger twisting in her heart. How could he betray her trust so casually? Anger surged through her, hot and relentless, as she grappled with the rawness of her emotions.
Every word in those audio recordings echoed in her ears, each hushed conversation between Marcus and Josephine a testament to their deceit. The late-night rendezvous, the secretive whispers—it was all too clear. The man she had loved was entangled with someone she had once considered a confidante, and the realization sent waves of anguish crashing over her. Leona clenched her fists, her body trembling with the urge for retribution. Josephine had crossed a line, and the thought of making her pay for this betrayal consumed her thoughts like a wildfire.
In her turmoil, Leona sought refuge in the steady presence of her grandfather, Rupert. He was a pillar of strength, a man who had weathered many storms in his life. Yet, as she approached his door, uncertainty gnawed at her. Would he understand the depth of her pain? Would he support her in her quest for vengeance? With a deep breath, she splashed cold water on her face, determined to mask her turmoil as she made her way downstairs, seeking the quiet solace of the living room.
The moment she entered, the butler and Helena exchanged glances, their expressions morphing from surprise to concern. The morning light filtered through the windows, illuminating the tension etched across her features like a canvas of despair.
Helena stepped forward, her voice gentle yet probing. “The Heiress, would you like me to prepare some breakfast for you?”
Leona shook her head vehemently, her stomach churning at the mere thought of food. “No, thank you,” she murmured, her voice barely audible, as if any louder might shatter her fragile facade.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, the butler quietly retreated upstairs, leaving Leona alone with her tumultuous thoughts, the silence amplifying her inner chaos.
When Rupert finally emerged, assisted by the butler, he settled into his armchair, his gaze falling upon Leona with a mix of concern and curiosity that made her heart ache.
“Did you not sleep at all last night?” he inquired, his voice calm yet probing, as if he could see right through her carefully constructed mask.
Leona felt her heart constrict painfully. “How could I possibly sleep?” she replied, her voice thick with emotion, each word laden with the weight of her anguish.
Rupert, with his characteristic wisdom, responded, “Someone else has made a mistake, yet here you are, punishing yourself for it.”
Leona’s anger simmered beneath the surface, bubbling like a pot ready to boil over. “Grandpa, I swear I will destroy Josephine. I will bring ruin upon the Sutton family,” she declared, her voice rising with fierce determination.
Rupert regarded her with an arched eyebrow, the irony of her words not lost on him. Just days prior, she had been pleading with him to assist the very family she now sought to dismantle.
“And what of Marcus?” he pressed, his tone steady, almost challenging. “What do you plan to do about him?”
Leona froze, her expression hardening as if struck by a physical blow. “Don’t even mention him. Right now, I can’t bear to think about what to do with him. All I want is to see Josephine suffer.”
“I was nothing but kind to her, and she had the audacity to seduce my husband. I will make sure she pays dearly for this betrayal,” she spat, venom dripping from her words.
Rupert studied her intently, his eyes searching for a glimmer of reason. “The true culprit here is Marcus, not Josephine. You must understand that he likely has entanglements beyond just her. How many lives do you intend to destroy in your quest for revenge?”
For a moment, Leona was rendered speechless, the realization that Marcus had betrayed her with others slicing through her like a sharpened blade.
“Are you suggesting I should get a divorce?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly, vulnerability creeping into her tone. “What about Mason?”
Rupert’s response was measured, his wisdom unwavering. “Whether you choose to divorce or not is entirely up to you. If you decide to end your marriage, it has no bearing on Mason’s future. Do you genuinely believe you need Marcus to support him?”
“Don’t use my child as an excuse to justify your life decisions. If you remain unhappy, you will only end up blaming him for it,” he added, his gaze unwavering, grounding her in the moment.
“You choose to believe Bryan, an illegitimate daughter, over what Xavier has to say? How does that make sense?” Rupert challenged, his voice rising slightly, frustration seeping through.
Leona glared at him, her frustration palpable. “So what did you and Xavier uncover? You didn’t discover anything significant, did you?”
Rupert shot back, “Of course we found things, but your bias towards Josephine made it impossible for us to share that information with you.”
At that moment, Aunt descended the stairs, her ears catching snippets of their heated conversation. Her eyes widened with curiosity, clearly intrigued by the tension in the room.
“What’s this, Patriarch? Have you uncovered who it was that saved Xavier?” she inquired, her voice laced with intrigue, her presence adding another layer of complexity to the already fraught atmosphere.
In the aftermath of betrayal, Leona stood at a crossroads, her heart heavy with the weight of her choices. The tumultuous emotions swirling within her had transformed into a fierce determination, but it was a determination fueled by anger rather than clarity. As Rupert’s words echoed in her mind, she began to grapple with the reality that revenge might not provide the solace she sought. The thought of dismantling the lives of those who had wronged her began to feel like a hollow victory, and the realization that Marcus was the true architect of her pain forced her to reconsider her path. The battle for her dignity and her child’s future loomed larger than the petty squabbles that had consumed her.
With each passing moment, Leona felt the grip of vengeance loosening, replaced by a burgeoning sense of empowerment. Rupert’s unwavering support and wisdom illuminated a new perspective—one where she could reclaim her narrative without resorting to destruction. The prospect of a divorce, once an unfathomable thought, now stood before her as a potential means of liberation. As she contemplated the road ahead, Leona understood that her journey would not be defined by the pain of betrayal but by her resilience and ability to rise from the ashes. It was time to forge a new identity, one that would honor her strength and provide a stable foundation for Mason. In this moment of clarity, she resolved to embrace her future, not as a victim, but as a woman ready to reclaim her life.
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
In the next chapter, readers will witness Leona standing at the precipice of a life-altering decision, as the emotional turmoil from her recent discoveries continues to churn within her. With Marcus and Josephine’s betrayal weighing heavily on her heart, the internal conflict between vengeance and self-preservation will take center stage. As Jacob and his daughter arrive, the atmosphere will crackle with tension, forcing Leona to confront not only her feelings of betrayal but also the potential consequences of her actions on Mason. Will she succumb to the urge for retribution, or will the looming presence of her child compel her to seek a more measured approach?
Anticipation will build as Leona navigates the complexities of her relationships, particularly with Aveline, who may hold the key to unraveling the tangled web of deceit. The chapter will delve into the dynamics of family loyalty, as Leona’s choices ripple through the lives of those around her. Expect heated confrontations and poignant moments of reflection that will challenge Leona’s resolve and push her to reconsider what truly matters. As the stakes rise, will she find the courage to redefine her identity and embrace a future free from the shackles of her past? The next chapter promises to be a gripping exploration of love, betrayal, and the quest for empowerment, leaving readers eager to discover the path Leona will ultimately choose.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Urging Him to Get a Divorce (Aveline and Xavier)
When is the novel ending? It’s so unnecessarily long… not a single intimacy or connection just fighting and bickering from the beginning to end...