Delete My Love for You novel Chapter 19

Her voice rang out, steady and unwavering—so unlike her usual hesitant self.

Darren should have felt relieved. He should have felt free.

Yet, inexplicably, his throat tightened, as if something heavy were lodged inside.

Forcing himself past the constriction in his chest, he spoke, his tone low and cold. “Nine o’clock tomorrow morning. I’ll see you in court. If you try to back out again, I swear I’ll hand you over to those three overseas partners.”

The threat hung in the air, and Darren’s expression hardened into something icy.

Charlotte met his warning with a dry, almost mocking laugh. “Don’t worry. Even if I have to crawl, I’ll be at the courthouse.”

With that, she ignored the darkening look in Darren’s eyes and made her way toward the staircase, where she nearly collided with the nanny and Noah.

Noah’s big, dark eyes flicked from Charlotte’s face to the suitcase in her hand. He gave a lopsided grin. “Good. Now I won’t have to see you again, you big meanie.”

Charlotte’s chest tightened at his words, but she managed a bitter smile.

“Mr. Noah Harrington, I hope you grow up healthy and happy, safe in every way.”

Swallowing the ache in her heart, Charlotte turned and walked down the stairs, step by step, leaving behind the mansion that had almost swallowed every last drop of her strength.

Darren, Noah—after today, let’s hope our lives never cross again.

That afternoon, Charlotte arrived at the Harrington family’s ancestral estate.

Nathan Harrington was silent for a long time before he finally spoke. “The Harringtons hold to strict tradition. If a man abandons his wife, he’s dealt a hundred strokes. If a woman leaves her husband, she receives thirty lashes.”

The Harrington family had built their legacy in Astra over four centuries, with deep roots and even deeper rules—unyielding, old-fashioned. Divorce? It hadn’t been heard of in generations.

Charlotte had come prepared. “I’m willing to accept the family’s punishment.”

Nathan’s eyes flashed with regret, but it faded into a weary sigh. If the rules weren’t upheld, how could the family keep future generations in line?

“Steward, fetch the rod.”

The first blow. The second.

The heavy wooden rod whistled through the air, landing hard across Charlotte’s thin back.

“Oh?”

Darren’s eyes darkened, but a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. “So, what did you tell her?”

Nathan answered curtly. “I agreed.”

For a moment, the mask of composure slipped from Darren’s face.

This marriage had been forced on him years ago by Nathan, all because of Charlotte’s pregnancy. Given the family’s values and their ironclad traditions, Nathan was the last person he’d expect to give in so easily.

He’d expected a drawn-out battle, not this… surrender.

Something was off.

Frowning, Darren fixed his gaze on Nathan, eyes narrowed. “Grandpa, did the sun rise in the west today? You and Charlotte both suddenly saw the light?”

Nathan’s chest heaved with silent fury; he simply clamped his mouth shut.

The old steward, seeing this, stepped forward to explain. “Sir, Mrs. Charlotte has already taken her punishment—thirty lashes, as the family rules dictate. Mr. Nathan honored her request for a divorce.”