Chapter 32 Putting on an Act
“Elowen Noir, you are really foolish, do you know that? You can’t even understand your husband’s thoughts. It’s pathetic,” Yolanda Steele said with her arms crossed and a haughty tone. “Your husband had made up his mind from the beginning to send your daughter to the Silverton family in order to manipulate her, so he hasn’t divorced you. But you foolishly thought he still had feelings for you. If he really did have feelings for you, why would he be with me for twenty years? And how could he bear to let your daughter marry into the Silverton family?”
“The Silverton family is indeed wealthy, but Elijah Silverton is also notorious for having a bad temper. Freya was forced upon him, which meant she wouldn’t have an easy life. If you’re smart, divorce Leo so that your daughter can escape this misery.”
“You… you’re talking nonsense!” Elowen Noir retorted angrily but lacked strength.
Her momentum was gone.
Freya listened and swayed slightly.
Since childhood, her father had required her to learn many things such as piano playing, dancing and painting. At first she thought Leo Stone wanted her to become a star. Now it seemed that he had planned all along – training her talents just so they could please or seduce Elijah Silverton.Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
Her father was truly calculating!
Being manipulated by her biological father, she should have been numb these past few years but strangely enough it still hurt.
“If you’re sensible then get divorced…”
Freya suddenly pushed open the door calmly without showing any emotion on her face.
“If there’s talk of divorce, let Leo Stone come.” Freya interrupted.
Yolanda Steele was startled when she saw Freya walk in and turned pale immediately.
“W-What are you doing here?”
“You shouldn’t be here, right?” Freya walked in the ward.
Yolanda Steele quickly regained composure since it wasn’t Leo Stone who heard what she said anyway; no matter if anyone else knew about it or not didn’t matter much either way, since at least now they knew about it which made persuading Elowen Noir easier towards getting divorced from Leo Stone. She didn’t want to be a mistress forever nor was she young anymore; she needed an honorable status.
“You heard what I said right? Whether my words were true or false doesn’t matter because deep down inside of yourself, you know that if you want rid of your father, make sure your mother divorces him soon.”
“This place doesn’t welcome people like you, so please leave.” Freya’s expression remained cold throughout their conversation despite Yolanda Steele’s pleas.
“Freya, I’m only trying help…”
“If you don’t leave now, I’ll call Leo Stone and tell him everything you said to my mother. If she agrees to divorce, then I won’t be under his control anymore. He can forget about getting anything from the Silverton family through me. Do you think he cares more about you or his career?”
Freya knew that her father cared more about his career, otherwise he wouldn’t have been dragging things out with her mother for so long. If he truly loved Yolanda Steele, he would have given her a proper status by now.
“You think I’m being used? Aren’t you being used too? He wants a son and you gave him one but he won’t give you any recognition. You’re just a tool for him to have a son. What do you have to boast about in front of me and my mother?”
Freya now understood that Leo Stone didn’t love anyone but power and status. He used everyone around him. Yolanda Steele’s face turned white then blue before finally turning liver-colored; even her delicate makeup couldn’t hide the anger twisting her face.
“You…” Yolanda Steele pointed at Freya but couldn’t find any words to say because there was nothing left for her to argue back with.
Ignoring Yolanda completely, Freya said firmly, “I’m gonna count to three, if you don’t leave, I’ll call Leo Stone immediately!”
Yolanda Steele had originally wanted Elowen Noir to know what Leo’s intentions were so she could agree on divorce and take over herself instead. But she never expected that Freya would turn the tables on her. She was furious inside! With a cold snort, she pretended as if nothing happened and left the hospital room, while Freya closed the door behind her before walking towards Elowen Noir.
“Mom.”
Elowen Noir looked at her daughter with red eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Freya sat down beside Elowen’s bed looking at her mom saying, “You don’t owe me an apology, Mom. You gave me life and an opportunity in this world…”
Elowen Noir took hold of Freya’s hand feeling sad as tears welled up in eyes choking back sobs.
“Because of me, you’ve suffered hardships.” Said Elowen. She bit down on lips trying hard not cry again before continuing, “I should’ve thought more carefully earlier.”
Trying comfort Elowen, Freya tried reassuringly telling her, “It’s okay, Mom. Sooner or later I’ll get married anyway regardless who it is.”
However, Elowen still couldn’t let go. She asked worriedly, “He’s your father, how could he only use you without showing basic affection to his daughter?”
Years had gone by since then causing heartache yet bringing peace at last.
Changing topics, Freya asked curiously, “Mom, I heard that you’re gonna be discharged from hospital soon?”
Elowen nodded. “Yes, I am much better now. I’ve stayed in the hospital for too long and I want to get out.”
Freya did not agree directly, but went to see her mother’s attending doctor. The doctor said that her mother could be discharged from the hospital, as long as she paid attention to maintenance and came for regular check-ups. But Freya didn’t tell Elowen so.
“Mom, please hold back for two more days, okay?”
Freya was looking for a house so that Elowen could be discharged from the hospital and have a place to live.
Elowen nodded in agreement.
“Mom.” Freya hesitated, but decided to ask what she thought, “Will you, do you want to divorce my dad?”
“… Yes, I will.”
Freya pursed her lips. Although she wanted her mother to divorce, Elowen had not divorced Leo for so many years. And Elowen answered “Yes, I will” instead of “Yes, I want.”
“Mom, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ve grown up. I have a job and can make money. Leo Stone can no longer control me with money like he did before. If I didn’t listen to him before, he wouldn’t give me tuition. He doesn’t have a bargaining chip to blackmail me, now that your illness has healed, he can no longer control me. If you don’t want to divorce, you don’t need to.”
She respected her mother’s decision. After all, she had spent most of her life with that man, so it was certain that she had feelings for him.
Elowen Noir felt even more guilty when faced with her daughter’s thoughtfulness and relief. She felt like she owed her daughter a lot.
“I want to divorce. I have been a couple in name only with your father all these years, and there is no need to continue to maintain it.” Elowen said.
She meant it.
“Okay, after you’re discharged from the hospital, I’ll go back with you to find my dad.”
Elowen nodded.
“I have to go to work, so I’ll leave first. I’ll see you after I get off work.”
“No, you are busy with your work. Just come when I am discharged from the hospital.” Elowen said to her daughter with a smile.
Freya replied softly. And she left the hospital.
The driver was waiting for her outside. She got in the car and said to the driver, “Go to the General Hospital.”
Soon the driver drove away.
Freya got off at the place. Liora Valentine happened to be preparing to go out. She just received a call from Elijah asking to meet her.
She met Freya in the corridor.
“Freya.” Liora called to Freya who was about to walk past.
“Anything wrong?”
Liora knew that if Elijah wanted to see her, and he must have done a test and now thought she had his child in her belly.
“Elijah wants to see me. Can you guess what he’ll do when he sees me?” Liora asked and laughed. She dressed up beautifully for the occasion today.
She tilted her head back arrogantly and said, “You married Elijah, but soon enough he’ll leave you.”
Freya didn’t believe her.
“Elijah doesn’t love you. You don’t have to put on a show in front of me!” said Freya.
Liora felt like punching cotton with her fist and glared at Freya hatefully. “Just wait and see! I’ll make sure you’re gone!”
“I’m waiting,” Freya replied fearlessly.
Liora snorted and left on her high heels.
As Freya was about to change clothes, Orion Russo grabbed her hand.
“What are you doing?” Freya struggled but couldn’t walk away quickly enough.
Orion took her somewhere less crowded before stopping and looking at her seriously. “You need to divorce Elijah as soon as possible, because Liora Valentine is pregnant.”
Freya widened her eyes in shock. “Liora Valentine is pregnant? With Elijah’s baby?!”