Chapter 269
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Elara glanced at Felicity and said, "No matter what, I still appreciate him for bringing my child back." Felicity responded, "I'll apologize on Aubrey's behalf."
Elara looked straight at her. "There's no need. An apology doesnt solve anything. I won't forgive him."
Elara had nearly lost her life. Every bit of torment she'd endured was real. If Asher hadn't had a sudden change of heart and let her go, she didn't even dare to imagine what would've happened to her. After speaking with Felicity, Elara went straight home. Her son had just woken up, and Violet was taking care of him. When Violet saw Elara enter, she said, "Elara, he's awake."
Elara walked over to her son, who was staring at her with wide, curious eyes. She picked him up gently, Violet asked, "Have you given him a name yet?"
"Yes," Elara replied, cradling her son as she sat down. "His nickname is JoJo, and his full name is Jordan Hawthorne.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
"JoJo," Violet said softly, crouching down to look at him. "JoJo, look at me. I'm your aunt." Elara watched Violet's gentle expression and couldn't help but smile.
When Asher finally returned home several days later, the weather had warmed up considerably. Daphne was sitting on the couch when he walked in.
She stood up the moment she saw him. "Asher, you're back?"
While Asher had been away, Daphne had been managing the company's affairs. She walked up to him eagerly. "It's good that you're home. Let me run a bath for you so you can relax."
Asher looked a bit disheveled. After a brief pause, he went to take a shower. When he came out, Daphne was waiting by the door.
As he stepped out, she moved closer, trying to kiss him. "I'm just so glad you're back."
Asher stopped her before she could touch him. "Let's get a divorce."
Daphne froze, staring at him in disbelief. "After all this time apart, the first thing you say when you return is that you want a divorce?"
"I find you repulsive," Asher said coldly.
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, Daphne seemed stunned. "So... you know?"
"Yes," Asher replied. "You have HIV, and you've been hiding it from me. Daphne, you're despicable. Hearing that, Daphne's expression darkened.
Daphne walked over to the armrest of the couch and sat down, her gaze sharp as she regarded Asher. "I didn't agree to this. Lizzie took advantage of me and infected me with HIV? I am just a victim?"
"Is that so?" he asked. Asher looked at her hypocritical appearance. If she had not pretended so well in front of him previously, he would have believed her.
"That's right." Daphne nodded. "Ever since it happened, I've been tormented. I haven't slept peacefully in months. I feel like I'm dying. The only thing that's kept me going is you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had the strength to carry on. You gave me hope." 1/3 10:22 Wed, Dec 11 G.
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"So you decided to drag me down with you?" Asher asked, his voice full of restrained fury. "You never told me anything You kept up the act perfectly."
"What difference does it make?" Daphne said dismissively. "It doesn't affect having kids. With modern medicine and the money we have, as long as we're careful, we will be okay..."
"Daphne!" Asher's voice was low, his anger barely contained. "How dare you?"
Tears streamed down Daphne's face as she said, "Asher, I didn't want this either."
"But you hid it from me. If you'd told me earlier..." Asher started.
"And what would you have done if I had?" Daphne interrupted with a bitter smile. "You would've left me. You would've turned your back on me. Asher, if you'd loved me just a little more, and if you didn't care so much about Elara, I would've been honest with you. "But you made me feel so insecure. I had no choice but to tie you to me like this. It was the only way we could be equals."
Asher let out a cold laugh. "Get out. I don't want to see you."
"Do you really want me to leave?" Daphne asked, her voice trembling slightly. "I was the one who helped you drive away your mother and Dana so you could take over the Linde Group.
"I was your strongest ally. While you were inside, I hired lawyers for you and worked tirelessly to get you out. Now that you're free, you want me gone?"
"I don't want to see you anymore." Asher's eyes bore into Daphne's, his voice cold and unyielding. Asher thought it was the right choice and he hated Daphne very much.
Asher had forgiven Daphne time and again, only for her to betray him in the worst possible way. He tried his best to climb up, but she infected him with HIV, dragging him into her abyss of despair.
It was just because Daphne was infected with HIV, and she needed a partner. She had claimed to love him, but her twisted version of love had become his nightmare.
At his icy words, Daphne's voice softened as she tried to reason with him. "Asher, don't be so cold. I love you. As long as we don't tell anyone, no one will find out. We can still have a future together."
"Leave. Now." Asher's voice was sharp, cutting through her pleas. When Daphne hesitated, he grabbed a vase from the side table and smashed it onto the floor.
He took out his phone and called his assistant. "Get her things packed and throw her out. I don't want to see her again." "Yes, Mr. Blackwood," the assistant replied crisply before turning to Daphne. "Mrs. Blackwood, please."
"Don't call her that," Asher snapped. "She doesn't deserve to be my wife."
Daphne stood frozen, then let out a bitter laugh. "Is this how much you loved me, Asher? Back in Brookfield, before you became CEO, you gave me everything.
"Whatever Elara gave you, you shared with me. But now that we're married, you refuse to give me anything. And now you want a divorce. I guess love really can disappear."
"The moment you infected me with HIV, the love was gone," Asher said coldly. "How dare you even speak of love? Get her out of my sight. Hurry up!"
Before long, Daphne was escorted out of the house, her belongings thrown out after her. The things she'd brought in when she moved in were few, and everything Asher had bought for her stayed behind.
He froze the credit cards he had given her and even changed the Jocks on the house he had once gifted her. At first, Daphine managed to stay in a hotel, but before long, even they refused to accommodate her and chased her out.
On the day of their divorce proceedings, Daphine spotted Asher waiting outside. He wore sunglasses and exuded an air of indifference.
Daphne approached him. "Asher, you've punished me enough. Can't you let it go now? Do you really have to divorce me?"
Asher looked at her without a trace of warmth. He reached into his pocket and then used his long fingers to grip her chin tightly. "The fact that I haven't killed you is mercy enough."
Daphne refused to give up. "Without me, you wouldn't have been able to hold the company together. Sully's imprisonment led the Myerson family to pull all their funding. Asher, let's wait until the company stabilizes before we finalize the divorce. Let me help you through this."
Asher didn't respond. His silence was a wall she couldn't breach. Instead, he motioned toward the city hall. "Let's go." With that, he led her inside to complete the divorce paperwork.