Chapter 853

Claire refused to accept this.

She was determined to finalize the divorce today, and absolutely no one was going to stand in the way of her freedom.

Not even Madeline!

Without hesitation, she called Madeline’s number directly.

It took a while for her to answer, and before Claire could even say a word, Madeline launched into an accusatory tirade. “Did you leak the news? Why are you always bullying me? You already stole my parents, why do you have to ruin my career too? What did the Lynwood family ever do to you?”

“What kind of nonsense are you spouting?” Claire thought the woman was completely unhinged. “Did Felix go to you? Tell him to call me back right now!”

On the other end of the line, it was as if Madeline couldn’t even process normal conversation. “Are you trying to force me to my death, Claire?”

Claire was already in a terrible mood and had absolutely no patience for this melodramatic garbage.

“Just make sure he calls me before you drop dead!”

“If I die, it’ll be your fault, Claire!” Madeline continued, completely ignoring the demand.

Claire lost her temper. “Then hurry up and die! Stop wasting perfectly good oxygen!”

Enough was enough!

Her most anticipated day of the year was being ruined by this pair of lunatics.

Claire forced down the rage bubbling inside her and tried calling Felix a few more times.

But the calls never went through. Eventually, his phone was simply turned off.

Refusing to give up, she stayed seated at city hall.

From morning until afternoon.

People constantly filtered in and out of the building.

She watched countless lovers become legally bound to one another.

She watched their radiant, joyful faces as they posed for photos by the entrance.

Yes, getting married was supposed to be a day worth remembering.

But when she and Felix had gotten their license, he had worn an icy glare the entire time.

Forget about taking commemorative photos-even their official marriage certificate photo was taken in a rush.

In the picture, there was a visible gap between them.

The photographer had kept urging them to step closer. Urging him to smile.

Reminding them that this was a lifelong commitment.

But Felix flatly refused, and eventually barked at the photographer for being annoying.

Perhaps because she had been waiting for so long, a clerk eventually brought her a cup of hot water.

“Thank you.” Claire wrapped her hands around the cup for warmth, but she still felt freezing inside.

The clerk was a kind-hearted woman

was a

who had likely seen this exact

scenario play out countless times gentle word of

She offered a gen an hour-Way

don’t you go grab something to eat? You can’t just sit here on an empty stomach.”

Claire had been sitting there all day; everyone could see it.

That was why the woman felt compelled to gently warn her, “Don’t punish yourself over this.”

Holding the cup, Claire asked her, “If

we miss today, does that mean

have to restart the thirty day period?”

swao

The clerk nodded. “Yes.”

Her shoulders slumped.

She didn’t want to wait another thirty days.

She didn’t want to wait a single day more!

Standing up abruptly, she told the clerk, “I’m going to find him. I’ll try to be back before you close!”

Claire rushed to the Joyner Group as fast as she possibly could.

This time, the receptionist didn’t try to stop her.

Claire went straight up, only to find an empty office.

“Mr. Quigley left this morning and hasn’t been back since. We can’t reach him

either,” the assistant explained.

“Did you try calling Madeline?” Claire demanded.

The assistant looked a bit awkward. “Not yet.”

“Call her.” Claire was truly out of time.

Half-coerced, the assistant finally dialed Madeline’s number.

The moment the call connected,

Claire barked from the side, “Tellt

to pufelix on the phoner have

emergency

her

an

The assistant spoke up, looking thoroughly embarrassed. “Mr. Quigley answered.”