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Chapter 6

James shot back, "Yeah, his name's Robert, and that pain-in-the-ass John was with him."

"What? She actually had the nerve to cheat!" Emily's face twisted with rage, and she spat out, "She's got no shame! Where is she? I need to set her straight!"

"Rachel said she already divorced Michael!" James added, watching his brother's face darken like a storm cloud. "Is she for real?"

Michael's silence said it all. His grim look confirmed it.

Emily's face lit up with a wicked grin. "Good riddance! Mandy's the only daughter-in-law I recognize. Who does Rachel think she is!"

Emily's rant made Michael squirm. "Enough," he snapped. He grabbed his coat and stormed out.

James watched his brother leave. "Mom, is Rachel really not coming back?"

Emily huffed, "She wouldn't dare! Even if she wants a divorce, she better not think she's getting a dime from my son!"

James went quiet, lost in thought. Suddenly, he felt someone watching him and looked up.

Mandy was standing by the railing, who knows for how long. She smiled gently when their eyes met. "James," she said softly.

James remembered what Emily had told him: Mandy was the spoiled daughter of a rich businessman and perfect for Michael's career, while Rachel was just an orphan, mooching off Michael. Comparing the two, James gave Mandy a friendly smile. "Mandy."

The next day, Rachel got up early and took extra care with her appearance. She pulled out a tight black dress from the back of her closet, the same one Michael had once called ugly, crushing her spirit enough to never wear it again.

Today, though, she wore it proudly, adding delicate makeup and bold lipstick to complete her elegant look.

When Michael arrived at the court, Rachel greeted him with a disarming smile. "Let's get this over with, Mr. Smith. I've got a busy day ahead."

Michael glared at her, his eyes smoldering with a mix of anger and something darker. "In such a hurry, is it for that Robert?" he growled.

Rachel hesitated for a moment, then realized what he misunderstood. But she didn't explain. Instead, she smiled, "My matters are none of your business, Mr. Smith, right?"

Her dismissive tone irked Michael, making him feel like an irrelevant part of her life. "Do you like him?" he demanded, unable to let it go.

Growing impatient, Rachel shrugged. "That's right, I do. Satisfied? Now, can we get this divorce finalized?"

Michael fell silent, his handsome face tightening into a cold mask. He thought, 'Fine, if she is so eager to rid herself of me, I'll grant her wish.' The court procedures were over within minutes.

Rachel looked at the divorce certificate in her hand, feeling a sharp pang of sadness. From now on, they had no ties. No more compromising. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself, then looked up with a renewed bright smile.

At that moment, a sleek black Maybach rolled up beside them. A pair of long legs stepped out, followed by Robert in a jacket. His face lit up as he saw Rachel. "I'm here to pick you up."

Rachel asked, "Didn't John say he was coming?"

"He's gone to book the whole Neon Entertainment Hub. He wants to celebrate with you tonight and asked me to pick you up first," Robert explained, taking Rachel's bag with a smile. "Rachel, get in. I've got a surprise for you."

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