The Belated Bride: Becoming My Own Muse Chapter 15

The Belated Bride: Becoming My Own Muse Chapter 15

Eleanor froze.

“What did you say?”

I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and placed them on the coffee table.

“The position of Mrs. Van Ness. I don’t want it anymore.”

Bianca’s eyes flew upward, startled.

Eleanor’s face changed color completely.

“Claire, who do you think you’re threatening?”

“I’m just notifying you.”

I looked at Bianca.

“Ms. Moore likes things that have already belonged to someone else. It just so happens, I’m no longer fond of this one.”

Bianca’s face flushed a deep, angry red.

“Claire, how can you say that about me?”

“Did I say something wrong?”

I smiled.

“You wanted the dress. You wanted Christian. Now I’m giving them both up. So why do you still look so victimized?”

Her tears were about to fall again.

Eleanor was furious. “Claire! Do you really think this family can’t survive without you?”

“You absolutely can.”

I nodded.

“So sign the papers quickly.”

Eleanor stood up, enraged.

“And who do you think you are? If Chris hadn’t married you, would you have any of what you have today? That shabby little studio of yours—how many contracts did you get solely because of the Van Ness name attached to them?”

I looked at her and really, really wanted to laugh.

The Van Ness family had been repeating this line for three years.

They always thought I was living off their name, using their connections.

What they didn’t know was that the biggest client of my studio had never been the Van Ness family.

The few contracts I’d done for Van Ness Tech… I’d actually shaved my own profit margins down to next to nothing, just so Christian wouldn’t lose face in front of his board.

I didn’t bother to explain.

Explaining to people who have no intention of listening only makes you look pitiful.

But someone else wouldn’t let me stay silent.

Footsteps sounded at the door.

Christian walked in.

He’d probably heard the tail end of the argument from outside, and his expression was dark.

“Mom, that’s enough.”

Eleanor scowled. “You’re defending her? She wants a divorce!”

Christian looked at me.

“Claire, go upstairs first. I’ll talk to Mom.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

I said, “The papers are right here. Let me know when it’s signed, and I’ll be on my way.”