From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 78

13:19 Mon, Oct 20

From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life

Chapter 78 Freedom at Last

The result was clear.

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Harriet walked out smiling, while Lewis followed behind, looking crushed. A heavy gloom clung to him, the complete opposite of Harriet’s bright mood.

Athena stood up and walked over to Harriet. She was about to ask something, but Harriet smiled first. “We’re done talking.

“Lewis agreed to the divorce!”

Athena’s eyes widened. She couldn’t help but glance at Lewis. He actually agreed? What did Harriet say to him?

When she looked over, Lewis happened to lift his head.

Their eyes met. In his gaze, Athena caught a mess of emotions. Guilt weighed so heavily on his face he could hardly hide it.

“Let’s start the hearing,” he said.

Since both parties were in agreement, the court quickly approved the divorce.

What she had expected to be a bitter fight turned out to be almost too easy.

Athena gave up custody of Dion, leaving him in Lewis’s care. He didn’t object.

As for the property, Harriet had already arranged everything. Lewis only glanced at the terms and offered no protest. He seemed unusually compliant.

Athena’s surprise deepened.

She almost wondered if Harriet had hypnotized Lewis or slipped him some kind of mind- bending drug.

Otherwise, how could Lewis be this obedient?

Even when the hearing ended, Athena still felt like she was dreaming. She stared at the divorce papers in her hand, then pinched herself hard.

Ouch.

It was real. She was divorced from Lewis.

“How about that? Pretty amazing, right? Didn’t I tell you I’ve never lost a case?” Harriet popped

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13:19 Mon, Oct 20

Chapter 78 Freedom at Last

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behind her, grinning with pride at Athena’s dazed reaction, unable to resist showing off.

“The court usually doesn’t want couples splitting on impulse. They often set a cooling–off period, sometimes even delaying the divorce after the first hearing to see if feelings change.”

She winked. “Of course, I pulled some strings to make it smooth.”

Her expression practically shouted, Go on, praise me! I’m amazing!

Even if the strings she pulled were thanks to Zaden, it didn’t stop her from taking the credit in front of Athena.

Athena studied her deeply. “You really are something.”

Even the lawyer Kit hired hadn’t given such a guarantee. Winning a divorce in one shot was rare. After all, cases that failed on the first try far outnumbered those that succeeded.

Still curious, Athena asked, “What did you say to Lewis when you were alone?”

At that moment, Lewis stepped out too. His face didn’t look as dark as before, almost like he had put down a burden.

He blocked Athena’s path.

Athena watched him warily, unsure of what he planned to do next.

“Athena,” he said, voice steady, “I agreed to this divorce to make on, we’re even.”

up for

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mistakes. From now

Lewis’s eyes grew sharp, glinting with determination. “But we’re not finished.”

With that, he said nothing more. He turned and walked away, his stride full of confidence.

Athena stood frozen.

Why did it feel like she had divorced him, yet hadn’t really shaken him off? Lewis acted as if their bond were still firmly in place.

Athena and Harriet left the courthouse together. The process had been messy, but the result was final. She had her divorce papers.

This was her new beginning.

From now on, she and Lewis had nothing to do with each other.

Now that only Harriet was with her, Athena no longer had to hold back. She pressed, “You still haven’t told me. What exactly did you say to Lewis that made him agree to the divorce so

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13:19 Mon, Oct 20

Chapter 78 Freedom at Last

quickly?”

Harriet’s lips curved in a sly smile.

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“Nothing much. I just cursed him out, poked at what was left of his conscience, and guilt- tripped him into agreeing.”

She tapped the steering wheel and chuckled. “Guys like Lewis aren’t hard to figure out.

“First, I revealed it was you who saved him. That kind of guilt hits deep. That’s the best time to push him. Wait too long, and he might get over it.

“Second, he knows his life is a mess–Nina, his mother, Dion. As long as they’re around, you’ll never give him the time of day. He probably thinks if he cleans all that up, he can come back to you later.

“That scumbag probably thinks he can divorce you now and come crawling back later, maybe after he’s done with Nina. If he ever shows up wanting to reconcile, don’t even give him the time of day. Just slam the door in his face.”

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