On Our Wedding Day My Husband Announced His First Love Online-Chapter 43: Going to the Civil Affairs Bureau
A faint, cool scent of agarwood seemed to drift through the air, wrapping around me like silken threads.
My brow twitched almost imperceptibly. I finally came to my senses and quickly took a step back, raising my hand to wipe the spot Sebastian Forrest had just touched. "Is it gone?"
"It’s gone." Sebastian Forrest let out a soft chuckle, his expression as calm and unruffed as ever. But as he drew his hand back, he subconsciously rubbed his fingers together, then squeezed them tightly before clenching his fist.
By the end of the meal, I was stuffed, even though I had tried my best to control myself.
My stomach felt uncomfortably full.
"I told you to eat a little less. Now you’re uncomfortable, aren’t you?" Sebastian Forrest shook his head in resignation. "There’s a pharmacy downstairs. I’ll go get you some medicine for indigestion."
Seeing him grab his jacket and head for the door, I quickly tugged on his sleeve. "I don’t need medicine. I’ll be fine if I just go for a walk downstairs to help with digestion."
’After all, I’m pregnant, so there are a lot of medications I can’t take.’
Sebastian Forrest glanced down at my hand clutching his sleeve. Only after I let go did he look up, a smile playing on his lips. "Then I’ll go down with you for a walk. It’ll help me digest, too."
This was the first time I’d gone for a walk in the complex since moving.
Because it was a high-end complex, the landscaping was beautiful. They had even placed ambient lighting along the paths, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere.
Just then, however, my phone rang at the most inopportune moment.
It was my big brother.
Ever since Mom passed away, my big brother had vanished as if into thin air. His phone was unreachable, and no one knew where he had gone.
I knew he must resent me, which was why he was avoiding me.
’I never expected him to suddenly call me.’
"Hello, Big Brother..."
As soon as the call connected, my big brother’s slightly weary voice came through. "Where are you right now?"
"I’m at..." I subconsciously started to say I was at home, but I caught myself and changed my answer. "I’m at a friend’s house right now. Where are you, Big Brother? Where have you been all this time? I’ve been so worried about you."
"Never mind where I am..." My big brother took a deep breath. "I’m asking you, did you have an affair?"
"An affair?" I froze. "I didn’t."
"You dare say you have nothing to do with Sebastian Forrest?" my big brother scoffed. "Everyone is spreading rumors that you had an affair with Sebastian Forrest during your marriage, and that’s why Theodore Grant wants to divorce you!"
He seemed to get angrier the more he spoke. "I knew it! That Forrest kid was acting strange around you on the wedding day! Chelsea Joyce, are you crazy? You knew Mom’s health was too fragile to handle a shock like that, but you went and did this anyway?! You killed our mom!"
"It wasn’t me..." My mind was in a complete panic. ’I don’t know what nasty rumors he’s heard to make him blame me for Mom’s death!’
"Big Brother, please listen to my explanation. I only asked Senior Forrest for help because I wanted to divorce Theodore Grant..."
"Stop making excuses! Chelsea Joyce, you’re the one who killed our mom!"
"Big Brother..."
"I will never forgive you!"
But before I could say anything else, my big brother had already hung up.
Hearing the BEEP BEEP BEEP of the disconnected line, I stood there at a loss. I quickly tried calling back, but all I got was a message that the call could not be completed.
"What’s wrong?" Seeing the panicked and uneasy look on my face, Sebastian Forrest frowned. "Did your big brother misunderstand something about us? Do you want me to explain it to him?"
I shook my head, trying to calm myself. "No, it’s fine. I’ll be the one to explain."
’My big brother must have misunderstood something to think I was the one who killed Mom...’
’As long as I can clear up the misunderstanding, it’ll be fine.’
’If Sebastian Forrest were to get involved, it would only deepen the misunderstanding. My brother probably wouldn’t believe him anyway.’
’But he’s not even picking up my calls right now. I have no way to explain.’
Sebastian Forrest pursed his lips. Seeing my spirits were low, he didn’t say anything else.
I took a deep breath and forced a smile. "It’s getting late. We should head back."
Sebastian Forrest nodded. "Let’s go."
...
Because of that little incident with my big brother, most of the joy I’d felt about finally being able to get a divorce had evaporated.
The night passed without dreams.
Early the next morning, Chloe Miller came knocking on my door.
I was in the middle of brushing my teeth, so I quickly rinsed the foam out of my mouth and ran to open the door.
"You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have you? I bought some soup dumplings and millet porridge on the way. Let’s eat before we head to the Civil Affairs Bureau, okay?" Chloe Miller said with a grin, carrying the breakfast over to the dining table.
I quickly turned and went to the kitchen to get bowls and utensils.
Chloe sat across from me and, noticing my glum expression, raised an eyebrow. "Today’s a great day, Chelsea. How come you don’t look very happy? Don’t tell me you’re still reluctant to leave that scumbag Theodore Grant?"
"How could that be?" I gave her a small smile, then sighed and told her all about the phone call from my big brother last night.
"How could your brother be like that?" Chloe was instantly furious. "Even if you had cheated during your marriage, he has no right to pin something as vicious as killing your own mother on his little sister! That’s disgusting!"
I couldn’t help but frown. ’My brother’s call last night did seem rather strange.’
’It was as if... he couldn’t wait to declare the case closed!’
’He wouldn’t even listen to my explanation.’
’But no matter how long I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out why he would do that.’
"Alright, stop being so down. We have to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and finalize the divorce with Theodore Grant soon! You should be smiling on a momentous day like this!"
I was so amused by the funny face Chloe Miller made that I couldn’t help but laugh and nod along.
Once we had eaten our fill, Chloe Miller tossed the bowls and utensils into the sink. Without a thought for washing them, she pulled me toward the door. "Let’s go, go, go! We’ll do the dishes later, the divorce is more important!"
...
When Chloe and I arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau, I was surprised to see that Theodore Grant was already there.
I instinctively glanced at the car behind him.
"I came alone. Clara isn’t here." Theodore Grant pursed his lips, his voice somewhat low.
Hearing this, Chloe Miller curled her lip and said sarcastically, "I guess she’s at home taking it easy for the baby!"
"Chloe."
I quickly tugged on the corner of Chloe’s sleeve. Theodore Grant had finally agreed to the divorce, and I didn’t want any new complications. I just wanted to get the proceedings over with as quickly as possible.
"Why don’t you wait for me in the car? I’ll come get you when it’s all done."
Chloe Miller nodded, shot Theodore Grant a glare, then turned, pulled open the car door, and got inside.
Once I saw Chloe get into the car, I turned my attention back to Theodore Grant. "Let’s go inside."
But Theodore Grant remained standing where he was. He pursed his lips, his eyes fixed squarely on me.
Just as I was about to lose my patience, he suddenly asked in a low, hoarse voice, "Chelsea, do you still love me?"
’I couldn’t help but furrow my brow slightly. I never imagined that even now, at this point, he would still ask a question like that.’
When I didn’t answer, Theodore Grant’s expression lit up, and a trace of excitement appeared on his face. He grabbed my hand. "You do still love me, right? Chelsea, all you have to do is say you don’t want a divorce, and we won’t go through with it!"
