The obesitated but eventuallyplied, pulling Evan out of the room.


    as they led him away, he nced back at Ms. Linden, his face filled with a hint of defiance. "Mom, don''t talk down in Ari. Don''t insult her."


    Mrs. Linden''s face flushed with anger. "You buat, are you trying to teach me what to do? She made a move to follow him, but Evan had already slipped away down the hall. Aslight warmth spread through my chest. This kid maybe he wasn''t so bad after all. With an air of annoyance, Mrs. Linden strutted back into the room, choosing a chair as if she owned the ce, and sat down with her chin beld high. "Mrs_Linden, "I began, "Whatever it is you have to say, let''s get it over with 1 mexhausted and need to rest" My bluntness seemed to catch her off and he raised an eyebrow, clearly ready tounch into one of her cants, but after a tense pause, she


    e swallowed her anger, st


    er, shifting into a more controlled one


    Mrs. Linden was, after all, a woman in her sos who had seen the world. She scanned me from head to toe before speaking in a condescending voice. "I heard you''re nning to divorce Elijah


    Heard'' i couldn''t help but chuckle. "There''s no need for rumors, Mrs. Linden. I''m filing for divorce."


    Her lips culed in a mocking meer. "Aif you would actually go through with it."


    I cased an eyebrow, meeting her gaze without flinching "Whether or not I''ll go through with it, I guess we''ll find out soon enough


    Her face twisted in frustration for a moment, as if myposure had thrown her off bnce. She took a deep breath and reorganized her words, forcing herself back into her ley demeanor "Ama, you must have found someone richer, someone with more status to make you feel so bold, hmm?" she sneered


    "Don''t forget, you weren''t always ethic. Back then, you were so desperate to marry into the Linden family that you groveled outside my door, begging for three whole days and nights!" Her words jolted me, and 1 stared at her with narrowed eyes. Begging? Could I have been so desperate, so degraded, that I''d begged to be allowed into this family?


    As much as I wanted to believe it wasn''t true, I had no memory to confirm otherwise. The fragments I''d heard painted a picture of me being so crazily in love with Elijah that I''d done anything to be with him. And now, hearing this story from Mrs. Linden herself was like a punch to the gut


    Suppressing my disgust, Theld my tone cold and steady. "If you''re here to the our insults, you can leave. Elijah and I will handle this in court."


    She nearly leaped out of her seat at my words, her manicured finger pointing usingly at me.


    "Ariana, do you still refuse to show respect? Elijah made you a respected woman, married you into the Linden family, bought you luxury goods, and put up with your antics and all the EMBUNYA SURAnt you causedus!Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    What did we ever do to you? Her voice cracked with outrage. "Ah has done is give and give, and you repay him by demanding a divorce?


    Her eyes narrowed, scrutinizing me with suspicion. "I''ve heard that you''ve been getting rozy with that eldest son of the Wood family. That''s why you''re turning your back on Elijah now, dnow


    fishing for a wealthy husband. And now that


    Before I could respond, she barreled on, her voice rising in venom. "Of course! I new you were a cunningdy, ying innocent in college while is you''se manned, you can''t even beluve yourself! You''re nothing but a slur"


    The seam of profanities continued to pour from her lips, so vile and unrestrained that I''dnew My inations un ped the to remain silent. My upbringing told not to engage with someone this uncouth.


    Inever imagined hearing suchnguage from someone of her states. Finally, her trade ended. She took a seat, visibly tied from her verbal assault, and sipped from a ss of water.


    She looked at the expectantly, likely anticipating that her curburar had broken me dowIL


    Unfortunately for fen, I simply checked the clock, noting that her outburst hadsted a full 30 minutes.


    "Mrs Linden," I said, mytone deliberately cales. "Aur you done talking?"


    She drove, her band trembling as it held the ss of water.