"Hello," Yolanda Greenwood’s voice ca out hoarse, "Both parties are willing to divorce, can we make this quick?"
Cooper Coldson glanced over at her, feeling the agitation stirring in his heart once more.
Had they been sitting here already? Was Yolanda so eager to rush things?
He coldly spoke, "We’ll follow the procedure."
Yolanda looked back at him with red eyes.
Cooper’s voice remained chilly, "It was our families’ decision for us to marry. My grandfather really liked her, and her mother was quite satisfied with ."
Yolanda’s eyes widened slightly, not expecting him to say that.
She sniffled, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
"Does that an there are no feelings between you two?" the staff mber spoke again.
"Yes."
Yolanda heard Cooper’s reply, feeling a deafening rumble in her ears, wishing all of this would end quickly.
The staff mber set down the marriage certificate and started to review the divorce agreent.
"Any children?"
They both fell silent.
The staff mber looked up, a clear question in their eyes.
"No," Yolanda imdiately said.
The staff mber seed dissatisfied with her prior haste, muttering softly, "If you’re in a hurry, then answer the questions quickly."
She asked again, "Does the woman agree to leave the marriage with nothing?"
"I agree," Yolanda quickly responded.
Having finished reviewing the divorce agreent, the staff mber looked at them seriously, "Marriage may be between two families, but the most important part is the two of you. If there were no feelings to begin with, there should be no pressure from family to stay together."
"Yes, we’ve understood our mistake," Yolanda said with her head down.
The staff mber then turned their gaze to Cooper.
Cooper finally spoke reluctantly, "I get it."
"Alright then, you two can head back ho today," the staff mber stood up, "In 30 days, co back together to collect your divorce certificate."
Yolanda was slightly startled, "Does it really take that long?"
"Didn’t you see the new regulation? There’s a 30-day cooling-off period for divorce. If you change your minds within that period, you can annul the divorce. If you still wish to proceed, both parties must be present after 30 days to obtain the divorce agreent. Otherwise, you have to reapply."
The staff mber looked at both of them, "Do you understand?"
"We understand," they both said in unison, exchanging a glance before leaving the Civil Affairs Office together.
At the entrance, Yolanda turned to look at Cooper. Tomorrow she would leave Gray City for Ully Town, and they probably wouldn’t see each other again during the next 30 days.
Her gaze drifted across Cooper’s features, still finding him as handso as ever, more so than any of her paintings.
Her eyes conveyed reluctance and longing but ultimately settled on resolve.
"Then I’m off," Yolanda spoke first.
Cooper panicked montarily, "Won’t you stay for a al?"
He quickly added, "Just a... farewell al."
"Probably not," Yolanda withdrew her gaze, looking down, "I won’t keep you from celebrating with lissa Greenwood."
She stepped back, lifting her face to muster a smile, "I’m going now, really going."
She retreated step by step, waving gently.
Cooper watched her, suddenly recalling sothing Noah Coldson had said to him that morning.
"Cooper, one day, when you realize she’ll never be in your life again, you’ll understand what I an."
He took a hurried step forward, "What are your plans from now on?"
Yolanda sniffled, shook her head, and as she turned around, her tears poured down like rain. It felt like she was carving out a piece of her heart.
She left swiftly, not looking back, nor intending to ever do so.
Cooper remained there, watching Yolanda’s figure shrink and eventually disappear.
He chuckled softly to himself, turning to tell Richard Reyes, "What’s with this woman? It’s not like we won’t ever see each other again."
Richard was surprised to detect a hint of... choking in his boss’s voice?
He didn’t dare say anything, but he clearly read a farewell in Yolanda’s departing silhouette. This ti, she truly didn’t want the president anymore.
When Cooper returned to the car, he ntioned wanting to eat, likely because he felt a void, probably from hunger.
Richard ventured to ask, "Should we contact Miss Greenwood?"
"Probably not. She left in such a hurry, she must be busy."
Richard said no more. He never referred to Yolanda as Miss Greenwood; he was talking about lissa Greenwood.
Obviously, Cooper realized this too soon after and looked visibly upset.
Then Noah Coldson called, "Are you divorced?"
"Do you really want us to be divorced?" Cooper retorted.
Noah was puzzled, "Not divorced?"
Cooper gritted his teeth, "Do you think divorce is that easy? There’s a thirty-day cooling-off period. The state doesn’t encourage divorce!"
The phone was hung up.
Isabella Ross hurried to ask, "How did it go? Are you divorced?"
Noah considered it for a mont, "It seems not."
"Damn!" Isabella went back to her business.
Noah then called Yolanda, asking the sa, "How did it go? Are you divorced?"
"Yes," Yolanda’s voice was downcast.
Noah was even more puzzled, were they divorced or not? Clearly, Yolanda wasn’t in the mood to talk.
"Well then, I won’t bother you anymore. Let know before your next prenatal check-up, I’ll accompany you."
"No need," Yolanda tried to sound normal, "Thank you for your care these past days, but I won’t trouble you anymore."
"Noah," he quickly spoke, "As I’ve said before, even if you divorce Cooper, you’re still family to , considering what’s in your stomach..."
"Really, it’s fine. We’ll also be moving out of the house, and I’ve inford the cook and housekeeper," Yolanda was resolute, "Thank you for everything, goodbye."
Noah wanted to insist, but the call was already disconnected.
Isabella approached again, "What happened? What did Yolanda say? Is the child alright?"
"It’s fine," Noah packed up, "Mom, I need to step out."
He had to see Yolanda, feeling that if she moved out, it would be hard to locate her again.
As expected, when Noah arrived at the flat he had rented, he found that Yolanda and Lola Gold had already moved out.
He imdiately called Yolanda again, "You’ve moved out?"
"Yes, big brother, I’ll transfer the rent and other expenses right away..."
"Why?" Noah sounded angry, "Don’t you trust ? Don’t you believe I would take good care of you?"
"It’s not that," Yolanda felt Noah’s turmoil for the first ti, "Big brother, as you know, Lola’s situation... we want to leave Gray City and stay elsewhere for a while."
Noah’s expression changed, "You’ve left Gray City?"
"Yes." Yolanda knew Noah’s reach and that he could easily find out where they had gone.
She pleaded, "Big brother, Lola and I really want to leave for a bit. Maybe we’ll return soon. So, could you keep this a secret for us?"
Her final request was, "Please don’t co looking for us!"
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