Separated

"It won't come too fast, Shirley '' this was his last word and judging by his countenance, he doesn't want the fault to come from him and also wants to act persistent as if he doesn't want to lose her.

He returned home to meet the isolated living room, no valid news yet on Ashton neither has he made any efforts to get new furniture.

Rustling sound came from the lobby and soon, Shirley strolled in slamming some documents on the bare floor.

"What is it?" he questioned with raised eyebrows.

"What do you think?" Shirley picked up the document flashing it on his face, he collected it from her.

"You seem desperate for this" he paused, giving his wife a weird look.

"Are you already having an affair, outside?" he asked cryptically.

"That is the last thing I will ever do. If I'm tired of you, I better leave than cheat" Shirley said nervously, he smirked.

"Do you know if I sign this document, it is truly over between us. I will never have any contact with you nor take you back as my wife" he informed her vividly with seriousness, he had no smile.

"I... I know and I will be leaving with my child, Christy" Shirley stammered.

"My daughter doesn't step an inch out of this house" he said in ire.

"I'm not leaving this house alone, I must take my child with me" Shirley disagreed.

"Then you are not ready for the divorce" he sighed and beckoned to leave the room, she exhaled deeply.

"I will leave alone then but hope you also know what you are losing?" Shirley smirked mockingly, strolling closer to her husband.

"My family will cut off from your financial stream giving you little or no support and also, you will lose plenty of investors" Shirley said confidently.

"I think I'm good with or without your family, Shirley," he said, holding a tough smile.

"I will also come back for my child, I know she will choose me instead of you" Shirley said handing the document to him, he received it.

"I will sign it now, since we have reached an agreement," he paused.

"I'm also anxious to know if your daughter will yearn to be with you" he added with a smirk before leaving the room.

The supreme court of New York city, needed people in attendance were already seated on long brown benches. The courtroom had an intense atmosphere as the attorney and chief judge entered into the room, Shirley and Blake were seated far across each other with their attorney beside them.

The divorce was a serious affair that needed upper hand as Shirley's family were also not in approval of their daughter's decision but yet she didn't bulge.

"I'm tired of this marriage," Shirley said insistently.

They were having the next hearing, Shirley's parents had no choice but to make their daughter happy even if it's for the last time. They accepted her decision and brought the matter to the high court.

"... In conclusion, both parties vow not to contact each other from today on" the chief judge said rhetorically.

"Yes" Shirley said.hhHting his medicated glass.

"I want my child," Shirley said.

"My child is going nowhere" he disagreed.

"There is a problem here" the chief judge muttered softly rubbing his nose bridge.

"You know it's not possible based on your disagreement on " the chief judge increased his voice.

"How about we hear from the child, who will she love to stay withisth?" someone echoed from the crowd.

"Very good, very good" the chief judge nodded his head in adjournment.

Suddenly, the court room opened and Emerald entered the room with Christine.

"Christine, Blake Thompson. Kindly step forward" the chief judge called out.

She allowed Christine walk up to the center of the courtroom while she took her seat in the front row.

"Do you have any idea that your parents are separating?" the chief judge questioned.

"Yes, I was told," Christine said fluently.

"What is your take?" the chief judge asked.

"My parents were never in love so I see no reason for keeping them together. What is best for them is being separated" Christine said courageously even when some eye tried to stop her, she continued fearlessly.

"Wow. You seem not to be on good terms with your parents" the chief judge was surprised, unlike other children that stood by their parents.

"So, in this case who would you love to stay with for the rest of your life?" The chief judge made a comeback.

"My father," Christine said bluntly.

"Your father? Why?" the chief judge questioned.

"Because my father is arrogant and rude but has the best heart, unlike my mother" Christine explained brilliantly, her words soften the heart of most men including Blake who was staring at his bold child.

Emerald smiled.

"Christine, don't do this to your mother. You know I can risk whatever for you" Shirley cried out.

"I'm sorry mum, I gave you chances yet you couldn't act like a mum" Christine informed her mother sadly.

"But you know I will forever be your mother whether you like it or not, my blood runs through your veins!" Shirley shouted in anguish.

Shirley couldn't believe that her child abandoned her, even if she wasn't a good mother, at least a good child will ever stay with his or her mother. She was in pain to see her investment leaving her with no conscience, she was hurt yet tried to hold her tears in. Shirley stared at Blake in anger, he took her child away - so she thought.

"Mr. Blake and Shirley are announced as divorced from today onward and their child, Christine will base with her father, Mr. Blake and stop every connection with her mother" the chief judge hit the mace immediately after he finished his statement.

"Course arises" the chief judge leaves the courtroom and everyone begins to drift out.

"Christine, Christine" Shirley attempted to touch Christine who was standing in front of her father but the police officer dragged her out of the room.

"Sir, are you sure of your decision? I know Miss. Shirley is kind of overbearing, she is still the mother of your child" she tried to urge him towards his decision, he smirked turning to her.

"It's not as if I can delete the signature I have already signed. I will go with the flow" he said.

"Dad, does this mean you will be nice to me... forever?" Christine asked anxiously.

"Take her home" he said after giving Christine an annoyed look, tucking his hands in his trouser pocket, he left the room.

"Aunt Em, did I make the wrong choice?" Christine asked sadly whilst watching her father leave the room with confident strides.

"Neither your mother or father are wrong choices, follow your heart" she said lovingly.

"What about dad, will he ever get married again? Will the woman treat me well? Will I be abandoned?" Christine asked impatiently as tears gradually gathered around her eyelids, she smiled and gently cleaned Christine's eyes.

"You will be fine as long as you have your father with you, trust me" she gave her a reassuring smile, Christine smiled.

"Even if they want to abandon me, I don't want to lose you" Christine embraced her tightly, sniffling with her face buried in her stomach.

"Now enough of this, Christy. Let's go home" and they left the courtroom holding hands.

Days without Shirley in the mansion become peaceful and stress-free as neither Blake nor Christine overwork the maid.

And during these days, Blake decided to re-purchase his stolen properties thus there were few hectic activities going on.

She joined the maids to rearrange the mansion with the available furniture and time for the payment of the bills, and one of the company privy walked up to her.

"I heard you are the one making the payment," he said.

"Yes, how much is it?" She asked with her eyes staring at each of the furnitures and activities of the maids.

"The total bills of every material sent here as of yesterday and today is in the tab" he said handing the bill to her, she glanced through it.

"Am I seeing these digits correctly? $25 million dollars?" she cleaned her eyes and checked it again, it didn't change.

"Yes, Ma. Mr. Blake knows about the cost price" he said.

"Sure, sure" and she leaves the room to bring in the check.

It's not as if she didn't know the price, she was hoping to get some compensation if the furniture did not reach the exact amount that Blake left.

Rolling back to the shady luxurious bungalow house of the Benson's, few cars parked at the parking lot. In the living room, Shirley debates with her parents in anger. The court decision was not in their favor and now they are not happy with her decision one bit.

"You know we told you beforehand, Blake is a businessman, he knows how he rolls his dice,'' her mother, Veronica argued.

"Whatever you say, I'm no longer interested in Blake. It's not as if I ever loved him" Shirley rolled her eyes in disgust.

"Do you know that Blake has already thought of the pros and cons of your decision before accepting to divorce you? Do you know that our influence is now difficult to even compete with his company?" Veronica made a comeback to wake her child up out of her trance but Shirley remained adamant.

"I'm no longer going to accept this arranged marriage of yours. I'm out of it. Fuck Blake!" Shirley squealed in anger.

"Really?" Shirley's father, Mr. Benson questioned and his voice resonated the atmosphere, they turned to him.

"If you want to give up on your marriage, what about your daughter, our grandchild?" Benson asked anxiously and Shirley's jaw dropped.

For a second, she totally forgot about her child.