NOVEL NEXT Chapter 346: Ultimatum 1
Ultimatum 1
Gwen, Regina and Pearl didn't prepare themselves for the surprise awaiting them when they finally arrived at the mansion.
They were hoping to quietly bypass the mansion's external security and sneak into their respective room unnoticed.
Sadly, as Gwen's car pulled to a halt, they were approached by four of the senator's uniformed armed security guards.
"Yes, can I help you?" Gwen demanded icily as she stepped out of the car, wearing a look of arrogance and superiority.
Pearl and Regina also climbed out of the car, shoulders raised and their gaze condescending.
"Good morning, Madam Gwen." The head guard politely accorded all three women the necessary respect. "The senator has authorised me to escort all three of you to the drawing room."
All three women exchanged alarmed and suspicious glances.
"May I ask why?" Regina could feel her heart slamming wildly against her chest as guilt watched over her.
"Am afraid I don't have that answer ma'am."
"In that case, please inform Dad that we need to freshen up first before we can join him," Gwen commanded with an air of au
"I'm afraid this is not a request ma'am. It's an order." The lead guard gestured forward, his deep steely voice and his chilly aura giving no room for arguments.
"I'm sure it's nothing serious, Mom. Let go." Gwen gave her mother a reassuring smile.
When all three women stepped into the drawing room, it felt as though they had all walked into an Antarctic dome, causing them to shiver.
They were stunned to find the senator already dressed and seated on his favourite single couch like a judge about to preside over a case. His expression was blank, and his mood unreadable. But his aura was dark and dangerous, making all three women fidget slightly.
Also, to make matters worse, the senator wasn't alone.
Three gentlemen, all decked in well-tailored black suits, exuding authority and a clear sense of professionalism, were seated opposite him.
Regina and Gwen immediately recognised the older and more dignified gentleman seated at the extreme right as the family lawyer.
"Sis, what is the family lawyer doing here so early?" Pearl whispered, tugging at Regina's dress.
"I have no freaking idea," Regina replied in a muffled voice, her alarmed and suspicious gaze shifting between the lawyer and her husband.
"I smell trouble." Gwen echoed her worries, as she observed a black folder in front of the senator.
"Let me handle this." Regina stifled her fear and moved forward.
"Greg, why did you..."
"Good morning, Mrs Shawls." The family lawyer, Barrister Robert Duke, greeted politely, cutting Regina off. He stood up and approached her. "I'm glad you could join us."
"The feeling is not mutual, Robert." Regina spat out, her voice sharp and lethal. "The last time we saw, you were happily sending me to prison. So forgive me if I don't feel motivated by your sweet-coated tongue or your friendly gestures. I'd rather appreciate it if you tell me what you're doing here and why my husband has summoned me like one of his servants."
"I'm sure you'll find out if you can just sit down and let get this over with quickly."
"Quickly!" Regina raised her brow. "What are you talking about, Robert?" She demanded in a raised voice, her alarmed eyes flashing to her husband.
"Mrs Regina..."
"No..." Regina put her hand forward, silencing the lawyer. She marched over to where her husband was seated quietly and demanded in a high-pitched voice.
"What the hell is he talking about Greg? What do we need to get over with quickly? Are you planning on sending me back to jail because of the fight you had with your brother? Or wait a minute...." Regina lasts hysterically, staring at the black folder in front of her husband. "Are you planning to divorce me? Is this what this is all about? First, you put me in prison for something we could resolve quietly as a family, and now you're planning to get rid of me?"
"Sis, calm down." Pearl quickly stepped in, acting the part of a peacemaker. "You don't need to overreact. Who said anything about a divorce. Your husband loves you so much and he would never do such a heartless thing to the mother of his daughter. Am sure your husband has a good explanation for inviting the lawyer, right brother-in-law?" She looked at the senator smiling.
Senator Gregory gazed narrowed, his expression darkening.
'Did this wretched whore, who had been sleeping with his younger brother just call him her brother-in-law?'
The senator's hands balled into fists. He resisted the urge to stand up and give her a dirty slap as his narrowed gaze shifted to the miserable slut he had been calling a wife all this while. The same woman who had been responsible for Fiona's sorrow and untimely death. The same woman who had deceived him for years making him take care of another man's child while cheating on him.
If looks could kill, Regina would have been smitten by the senator's sinister scowl. He didn't utter a single word to her. He just glared at her, his sharp gaze boring through her twitching eyes as if he could see the blackness in her soul.
Every muscle in the senator's body wanted to grab Regina by the neck and strangle her to death for the untold pain she had brought into the Shawls family.
However, the senator remained calm. He had a plan and he wasn't going to let his emotions get in the way.
"Do you see what I'm saying? He wants to divorce me." Regina cried out turning to Gwen for help. "Your father wants to divorce me, Gwen. Please do something."
"Stop talking nonsense, mum." Gwen rebuked her mother feverishly even though she could see the writing clearly on the wall. "You are overreacting. Just like Aunt Pearl said, Dad can never divorce you. You are my mother and I am his daughter. I'm sure Mr Robert is here for other business, right?" She looked up at the lawyer, who simply shrugged in response.
"Why don't you all sit down and hear what I have to say before drawing up any conclusions." My Robert said plainly, gesturing to all three women.
"Mum, let's sit down." Gwen pulled her mother to one of the couches and forced her to sit while stroking her back. "I'm sure it's nothing serious. Let's just keep our fingers crossed."
Pearl perched on the armrest of the double couch beside her sister. She leaned closer and whispered.
"Don't worry sis. I don't think he is stupid enough to divorce you knowing he could lose half of his entire asset."
Regina nodded, sniffing while staring at her husband, whose gaze was becoming suffocating by the second.
"Good morning everyone." Mr Robert started calmly. "Thank you all for settling down. I'm not going to waste one more second seeing that we have already wasted so much time trying to settle down. My client here..." He pointed respectfully to the senators. "... Has called upon me today to execute his wish concerning this family based on recent trends and discovery."
Mr Robert signalled one of his partners, and the latter quickly brought out some stapled documents from his brown leather bag. He collected these documents and flipped through them briefly before standing up and walking over to Regina.
"Mrs Regina Shawls..."
Regina felt her heart do a fatal somersault as the lawyer brought out a ballpen from his breast pocket.
"... I am afraid I have bad news for you."
"I knew it." Regina cried out.
"Shh..." Pearl cautioned her sister as the lawyer continued talking.
"Based on your illicit and immoral dealings, Senator Gregory Shawl has decided to quietly dissolve this marriage." Mr Robert drops the signed divorce paper and the ball pen in front of Regina.
"What!" Gwen jumped to her feet.
"Unbelievable!" Pearl hissed standing up.
"A divorce!" Regina screamed, also standing up.
"You can't do that, dad." Gwen shook her head.
"It's already done." Senator Gregory replied coldly between clenched jaws
"You can't get rid of me that easily Greg. Not until you tell me the illicit and immoral things I have done to deserve this humiliation." Regina flared up, picking up the divorce paper and throwing it at the lawyer's face.
Senator Gregory chuckled bitterly, as he leaned back on his chair, staring at the unrepentant and shameless woman before him. His gaze shifted to the black folder on the table in front of him before looking up to meet Regina's furious gaze.
"What is so funny, huh?"
"Mrs Regina..."
"Shut up, Robert, and let my husband tell me what I have done wrong." Regina barked at the lawyer. "I have been nothing but a good wife to this ungrateful man. I gave you a child and I have been with you ever since your wife died."
"Not one more word about my wife you worthless tramp." Senator Gregory roared, shooting up to his feet, his gaze darkened like a looming storm. "You will sign that divorce paper right away or I will destroy you."