Chapter 77: The Mother–in–Law’s Two Ultimatums.
Everyone knows there are two ways to get divorced: mutual consent or litigation.
If both parties agree, after the cooling–off period, they can receive the divorce certificate and cut ties entirely.
But Marcus? He made it impossible to go that route.
That option was out of the question.
Sure, she could go through the courts.
But litigation usually drags on for one to two years.
Even
with the to
top–notch legal team Cassius provided, the process could only be shortened to six months at best.
She wasn’t willing to wait any longer.
Every day she remained married to Marcus felt suffocating
Between these two choices, there was a faster alternative-
A solution proposed by Cassius‘ legal team.
The process went like this:
they’d file for divorce through the courts but stop at the mediation stage without submitting the case to the judge.
This way, it would only go through mediation.
If neither party agreed to reconcile, the court would issue a mediation agreement
Here’s the key part:
The mediation agreement carries the same legal weight as a court ruling and can dissolve the marriage
The best part?
Unlike a court decision, the mediation agreement cannot be appealed.
Additionally, any promises made within the agreement are enforceable.
If Marcus tried to back out of his commitments, they could be enforced by law.
For example, if Marcus later regretted transferring her the $20 million and tried to appeal, the mediation agreement would ensure he’d lose.
“Alright, the files look good. Nothing missing
After reviewing the divorce agreement, the court staff filed it.
Gemma silently thanked herself for not ripping up the agreement in a fit of anger earlier.
It turned out to be incredibly useful.
In about three days, the mediation agreement would be issued, and her ties with Marcus would finally be severed.
“Thank you. I really appreciate it,” she said, her voice trembling
Her eyes were misty with emotion.
The massive weight pressing on her chest was finally lifted.
The suffocating fog of frustration dissipated.
She smiled–radiantly, like the sun breaking through the clouds.
A staff member glanced up and was momentarily stunned by her beauty.
Even as a woman, she couldn’t look away.
“I don’t know why,” the staff member blurted.
“But divorcing him feels like the best decision you’ve ever made.”
Gemma’s smile grew brighter.
“I think so too.
When she walked out of the courthouse, the white clouds seemed extra fluffy, and the air smelled sweet. Her steps felt light, her spirits soaring
To celebrate her newfound freedom, she treated herself to two new outfits and a gold bracelet-
Symbolizing her golden day of freedom.
In her excitement, her guard was down. Leaving the mall, she didn’t notice someone following her
She planned to grab an ice cream, but just as she turned a corner, someone blocked her path.
Her heart sank, She spun around, ready to run, but before she could take a step, a sharp pain shot through the back of her neck
Darkness enveloped her.
Fifteen minutes later.
She woke up on a golf course, jolted by a splash of cold water.
Mrs. Wilson–her mother–in–law, Margaret Garraway–was swinging a golf club nearby.
When Margaret’s assistant noticed Gemma had been brought in, he hurried over to report.
Margaret stopped her swing, handed the club to her assistant, and walked toward Gemma
Margaret was nearly sixty, yet her flawless skin and sharp style could convince anyone she was in her thirties.
When Gemma saw who it was, she sighed in relief
At least it wasn’t a violent kidnapping.
Margaret, despite her faults, prided herself on being a refined socialite. She wouldn’t stoop to arson or murder.
At the very least, Gemma’s life wasn’t in immediate danger.
Margaret signaled the bodyguards to release Gemma and let out a cold laugh
“Do you know why I brought you here?”
Her tone carried an air of condescension.
As if meeting her was some kind of honor
Right
Gemma’s heart chilled. Back then, if she wanted to see Margaret, she had to schedule an appointment through the butler. Even if she showed up at the Wilson family’s estate, she’d wait at least an hour at the gate–if they even let her in.
Most of the time, they turned her away, deliberately humiliating her.
Now Margaret had taken the initiative to meet her, a rare gesture.
So, Gemma answered sincerely.
“I’m guessing you want to discuss how much your son is worth?”
Margaret’s face darkened instantly, her imposing aura suffocating
“Gemma, you’ve really grown bold Talking to me like this–do you think you’ll ever set foot in the Wilson house again?”
Gemma was scared at first but quickly steeled herself.
Would groveling now make Margaret let her go unharmed?
Of course not.
In the past, she’d tolerated it for Marcus‘ sake.
But today, with everything laid bare, there was no need to play nice.
“Ms. Garraway, the Wilson family is a shithole. You may be fine with the stench, but I’m not! As long as I’m not a masochist, why would I ever want to go back!”
Margaret raised her hand but froze mid–motion.
Dupter 27 The Mother–in
Seeing Gemma’s defiant expression, she decided it wasn’t worth losing her composure over someone so insignificant. She lowered her hand with a
a sneer.
“Since you won’t cooperate, we’ll do this the hard way.”
At her command, the bodyguards restrained Gemma, tying her hands and feet.
“You have two options,” Margaret said, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes as she saw Gemma’s wrists turn red from struggling.
“First, go live and announce you and Marcus divorced ages ago to protect his reputation.
“Serond, I’ll have you committed to a psychiatric hospital. We’ll claim all your online accusations were the delusions of a mentally unstable woman.”
A bodyguard kicked Gemma’s leg, forcing her to kneel on one knee.
Even so, she bit her lip, refusing to give in.
She had underestimated Margaret
A woman who had held her position as the top socialite wasn’t likely to have a soft heart.
Now she understood why some people went mad or disappeared without a trace in the upper echelons of society. Behind the glamor lay rot and filth.
“I’m not choosing either,” Gemma spat. “And as a doctor, you think I wouldn’t find a way out of a psych ward?” Her words were bold, but she knew Margaret could easily ensure she’d never escape
While speaking, she subtly scanned her surroundings
The area had been cleared–no one was coming to help.
Was everything she had fought for about to be destroyed just like that?
She couldn’t accept it!
Suddenly!
Her fingers brushed against her watch