Returning to the Military after the Divorce Free Preview

When Quinn Bridger delivered the project proposal to Trent Grafton's office, she happened to see Trent fastening a ruby necklace around Sidonie Stonehurst's neck.

She stared at the ruby necklace, entranced. It was the same necklace she had begged Trent to bid for after seeing it in the auction catalogue.

In their three years of marriage, she had never once asked him for anything.

The first thing she asked him to do was to purchase the necklace, simply because it was a cherished heirloom from her mother.

“A mere necklace has you so captivated. I always said you were a vain one,” Trent's friend, Yorick Lamont, said with a look of disdain.

Ignoring Yorick's mockery, Quinn swiftly stepped forward, reaching out toward Sidonie's neck.

In the next moment, her wrist was seized by Trent. “I've already given the necklace to Sidonie.”

“But you promised to give me that necklace!” Quinn said, her usually beautiful face marred by a rare display of anger.

Trent frowned, a clear displeasure in his eyes. “Stop messing around. This is my gift to celebrate Sidonie's promotion to co-pilot.”

Messing around? A chill ran through Quinn's heart. “What if I insist on having that necklace?”

From the side, Yorick mocked, “Trent, I've always said that Quinn is not worthy of you. She's vain and incompetent. You should divorce a woman like her sooner rather than later. Only a woman like Sidonie truly matches you.”

The marriage between Trent and Quinn was a secret known only to a select few. However, it was common knowledge that Sidonie was Trent's first crush.

“Don't be ridiculous. I have no interest in being a homewrecker,” Sidonie declared disdainfully, then promptly removed her necklace and nonchalantly tossed it at Quinn's feet.

A necklace worth millions was casually discarded on the ground as if it were mere trash.

Quinn's eyes welled up with tears as it was the necklace her mother treasured immensely.

Slowly, she crouched down, gradually drawing the necklace into the palm of her hand.

The cold edges of the necklace bit into the palm of her hand.

Condescendingly, Sidonie spat, “What a woman should truly care about is knowledge and perspective. Instead of squabbling with me over a necklace, you'd be better off enriching yourself!”

“What kind of knowledge or perspective does she have? She went to some trash university, and if it weren't for Trent's kindness, letting her hang around in the company, she'd probably be sweeping the streets!” Yorick scoffed.

All those insults, and Trent hadn't spoken a single word in Quinn's defense.

As such, Quinn rose to her feet, ignoring Yorick completely. She fixed her gaze on Sidonie. “You keep saying you don't want to be the homewrecker, yet why did you readily accept a necklace worth millions from someone else's husband?”

Sidonie scoffed, “I merely regarded it as a casual gift from a friend. I didn't pay any attention to its value!”

“Really? So friends casually gift million-dollar necklaces now, do they? I assume Yorick is also your friend. Has he ever gifted you anything worth millions?” Quinn mocked.

Sidonie was left speechless. Even Yorick, who was standing next to her, wore a somewhat stiff expression.

“Enough,” Trent said irritably. “It's just a necklace. Don't blow it out of proportion!”

Quinn tightly clutched the necklace in her hand. To Trent, it was just a necklace, but her mother once used it in a war-torn foreign land in exchange for medicine and food, thereby saving fifty orphans.

For her, the necklace was not just a mere piece of jewelry, but also a symbol of her mother's steadfast conviction!

Taking a deep breath, Quinn recalled the phone call she had received before entering the office. It informed her that her parents' ashes were already on the plane, set to arrive in Jexburgh tomorrow.

She lifted her gaze toward Trent, saying, “All right, let's not discuss the necklace anymore. Tomorrow, my parents' ashes are being transported back from abroad. I would like you to accompany me to collect them.”

What worried her parents the most, when they were still alive, was her marital affairs. They always hoped she would settle down and start a family.

She wished for him to accompany her to retrieve her parents' ashes, granting her and her parents a measure of dignity.

Trent was momentarily taken aback. He remembered that during their wedding, Quinn had once mentioned that her parents had tragically died overseas due to an unforeseen accident.

A glint flickered in Sidonie's eyes, while Yorick scornfully retorted, “Quinn, you really have no shame, don't you? To think you'd even resort to such an excuse to get Trent to accompany you!”

Quinn ignored Yorick and only focused on Trent.

A flicker of hesitation flashed across his handsome face. However, he still said, “All right, I'll accompany you tomorrow.”

Without uttering another word, Quinn turned around and left the CEO's office.

As she stepped out of the room, she heard Yorick questioning, “Are you really going to accompany this woman tomorrow?”

“No matter what, Quinn is my wife,” Trent said in a serious tone. “It's my duty to accompany her to retrieve her parents' ashes.”

“That woman was absolutely spouting nonsense. Who in their right mind would travel so far from abroad just to bring back the ashes of an orphan's parents?”

Each mention of the word “orphan” pierced Quinn's heart.

She lowered her gaze, studying the necklace in her hands. “Mom, Dad,” she murmured, “I'll come for you tomorrow!”

The following day, when the agreed-upon time came, Trent was nowhere to be found.

A flicker of unease subtly crossed Quinn's heart.

She dialed Trent's number, only to be met with his impatient voice on the other end. “Sidonie's mother twisted her ankle. I'm accompanying her to the hospital.”

“Trent, hurry over here and help my mom,” Sidonie's voice echoed from the phone.

“All right,” Trent responded, his voice ever so gentle.

Before Quinn could say anything else, Trent had already hung up the phone.

Quinn felt a chilling sensation enveloping her heart, as if her throat was being strangled. She wanted to cry out, to express her grievances, but in the end, she found herself unable to utter a single word.

How ludicrous. My husband could accompany his first crush's mother to the hospital for a sprained ankle, yet is unwilling to accompany me, his wife, to collect my parents' ashes! Taking a deep breath, she firmly stood up, left the mansion, and drove to the entrance of the military camp.

The military camp was solemn and dignified. At the entrance, guards dressed in military uniforms stood, rifles in their hands.

Quinn stepped out of the car, her back straight and her steps firm.

Even though she had been discharged from the military three years ago, her stance still resembled that of a soldier.

She made her way to the military camp step by step. Once she reached the front, she stood firm, raised her right hand, and executed a flawless military salute.

Even if she had to do it alone, she was determined to bring her parents' ashes back home!

Then, Quinn shouted, “Retired soldier Quinn Bridger from the original Falcon Special Forces, here to retrieve the ashes of former Peacekeeping Force members Montague Bridger and military doctor Arlene Gurney!”

Her voice pierced through the military camp's skies as the gates slowly swung open.

Whoosh!

Two rows of soldiers marched out in perfect unison, taking their positions at the entrance of the camp. Raising their right hands, they saluted toward Quinn.

Then, Quinn saw Dominic Zahn, an old commander dressed in his military uniform, personally carrying an urn as he approached her.

Atop the cremation urn was the national flag.When she looked at it, her eyes stung.

The flag embodied her parents' steadfast conviction!

Back then, when her parents accepted their mission from the government to join the Peacekeeping Forces abroad, they were already prepared for the possibility of making the ultimate sacrifice.

“The remains of your parents were found intertwined, so they were cremated together overseas. Their ashes are all contained here,” Dominic conveyed with a hint of regret.

“It's better this way.” Quinn gazed at the urn under the national flag. “Mom and Dad loved each other deeply. They would have wanted to be together even in death.”

Dominic nodded, suddenly standing up straight. He handed the urn to Quinn. “The spirit of fallen heroes will never fade!”

The soldiers standing behind Dominic echoed in unison, “The spirits of fallen heroes will never fade!”

Their deafening shout pierced through the clouds!

Tears welled up in Quinn's eyes. She held her back straight and, once again, she gave a solemn salute to Dominic and the soldiers.

“I, Quinn Bridger, hereby welcome my parents home!” She took the urn from Dominic.

Though it was heavy, it inexplicably provided her with a sense of peace.

Three years ago, her parents died in a foreign land. At last, she could bring them home!

After handling the matter of the ashes, Dominic finally noticed that she came alone.

“Where's your husband? He didn't come with you?” Dominic was aware of Quinn's marriage.

With a faintly lowered gaze, Quinn softly said, “Mhm. He's busy, so he didn't come.”

Dominic had watched Quinn grow up. She was once a child full of energy and ambition, but three years after marriage, her face was etched with fatigue.

“If you ever run into any trouble, just let me know. I should be able to help,” Dominic said, patting Quinn's shoulder.

“Thank you, Mr. Zahn!” said Quinn.

“Also, if things don't go as planned out there, you can always come back. The doors of the barracks will forever be open to you!” Dominic added.

Quinn nodded. After bidding farewell to Dominic, she returned to the car, cradling her parents' urn.

With utmost care, she placed the urn on the passenger seat and started the car. “Dad, Mom, I'm taking you guys home!”

When she returned to the mansion, Quinn could hear the voice of her mother-in-law emanating from the living room. “Now that Sidonie is back, and she's even a female pilot, you should hurry up and divorce Quinn and marry Sidonie instead.”

“We're just friends, Sidonie and I,” came the deep voice of Trent.

“What friend? Everyone knows you like Sidonie. She has a good education, a great job, and she's Nimbus Air's first female pilot. Quinn has nothing. She's unworthy of you!” exclaimed Jacinda Grafton, Trent's younger sister.

A chill ran through Quinn's heart. She had been married for three years, supporting Trent's business ventures. She had worked late into the night, pushing herself to the limit for the sake of the company. There were even instances where she had gone to work with an IV drip attached to her. Yet, all her efforts were now met with a dismissive “Unworthy.”

Just then, Jacinda suddenly spotted Quinn. “Quinn, you really have no shame, eavesdropping like that!”

Quinn stepped forward. “I wasn't hiding, so how could I have eavesdropped?”

“It's good that you heard me. If you know what's good for you, you should've divorced my brother sooner. Don't hold him back from being with Sidonie.” Jacinda's tone was as dismissive as ever.

“Enough, Jacinda!” Trent warned sternly.

Jacinda was not one to back down. “I'm not wrong. Quinn has nothing. She just took advantage of the fact that Sidonie was away from you, which is why you ended up marrying her!”

Trent frowned. “Jacinda, are you done talking?”

Jacinda pursed her lips, not daring to say anything more.

Penelope Hayes stepped forward, comforting her daughter.

Trent furrowed his brows, walking up to Quinn. His gaze fell on the urn adorned with the national flag that she held in her hands. “This is...”

“It's my parents' ashes,” Quinn said. “I've brought them home.”

A flicker of regret flashed in Trent's eyes. “I'm sorry. I was supposed to accompany you today, but Sidonie's mother sprained her ankle, so—”

Before Trent could finish his sentence, he was abruptly interrupted by a sharp voice.

“What, ashes?” Penelope glared intensely at Quinn. “How could you bring such an unlucky thing back home?”

Unlucky? Quinn looked at Penelope in disbelief. “These are my parents' ashes. They aren't unlucky!” They were valiant heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country, deserving of the utmost respect!

“No matter whose ashes they are, they bring bad luck!” Penelope said irritably, “Get out immediately. Don't allow this thing to enter this building!”

Quinn held the urn tightly in her hands. “I'm not leaving. This is my home, a place I bought with Trent after we got married!”

“What do you mean you bought it with Trent? He paid for it,” Jacinda said. Then, she called out to Trent, “Trent, Mom just had eye surgery. The doctor said she shouldn't get agitated. Quickly, send Quinn away!”

A flicker of hesitation flashed through Trent's eyes, but in the end, he said, “You should leave for now and find a place to keep the ashes.”

Quinn could only feel her heart steadily sinking. How could he say such a thing?

“Do you also think my parents' ashes bring bad luck? Can't we temporarily keep them at home?” She stared intently at him, demanding an answer.

Trent didn't utter a word, but his silence spoke volumes.

“What if I don't want to?” she said. “Trent, in the three years we've been married, I've never wronged you or your family! When you started your business, I was there by your side, sharing the hardships of entrepreneurship with you. When your mother was diagnosed with cataracts, many doctors said her eyesight couldn't be saved. It was I who accompanied your mother, visiting every hospital in Jexburgh, leveraging all the connections I could, to secure an appointment with the best ophthalmologist in the city. That's how we managed to save her eyesight! I've always treated you all as family, but have you ever shown respect to mine?”

Her words caused the expressions of the Grafton family members to turn sour.

Jacinda said indignantly, “What do you mean you helped my mom? It was only because Trent is rich that the best ophthalmologist in Jexburgh was willing to meet her! Also, what's that about you helping Trent with his business? It's just that Trent was supporting you, that's all. His company went public because of his own abilities, not because of you. Don't make it sound like it was all your doing!”

Quinn simply looked at Trent. “We've been married for three years. Is it really not okay for me to keep my parents' ashes at home for a few days?”

Trent frowned. “Quinn, stop messing around.”

“What if I refuse?” Quinn stepped forward.

In a fit of rage, Penelope stormed up to Quinn, raising her hand swiftly to slap the latter. “As long as I'm here, don't you dare think about putting any ashes here!”

Stumbling slightly, Quinn endured the slap to her face.

As Quinn was still struggling to steady herself, Penelope seized the opportunity. She forcefully pushed the urn in Quinn’s hands, and it almost slipped out...

Quinn's pupils abruptly constricted. Almost instantaneously, she clutched the urn in her arms protectively, ensuring it was not harmed in the slightest.

“This contains my parents' ashes! How could you be so disrespectful?” Quinn exclaimed in anger.

“This is my son's home. If you dare to keep that terrible thing in my house, I'll smash it into pieces! Your parents need to see how hateful and rude you are to our family!”

Penelope kept running her mouth, saying the nastiest crap.

Quinn's eyes were filled with rage, her hands tightly clutching the urn. “Even if you are my mother-in-law, you have no right to insult my parents like this!”

Trent said, “Quinn, please take it outside. Don't upset my mother anymore. She just had surgery not long ago and shouldn't get angry. If anything were to happen to her, I would never forgive you!”

Quinn's hands were slightly trembling as she held the urn, her eyes filled with an even greater fury!

They had been married for three years, yet he couldn't even show her parents the basic respect they deserved!

Seeing that she hadn't left, Trent was displeased. “You're still not leaving? Do I have to chase you away?”

In a fit of rage, Quinn laughed instead, lowering her gaze to the urn in her hands. Mom, Dad, I really have married the wrong man!

Three years ago, Trent nervously looked at her, saying, “I don't have a house or a car. Would you still marry me?”

She said, "I do." Why? Because the day she got the news that her parents had died, he was there quietly by her side, wiping away her tears. That's what got to her.

After her parents' passing, Dominic once spoke to her sincerely. “Quinn, while they were alive, your parents were most worried about your marriage. The special forces are too dangerous. I don't want you to end up like your mom, dad, and brother. I believe your parents will also wish for you to live a safe and peaceful life until old age.”

Following the death of her parents and the disappearance of her brother, she was the only one surviving member of her family.

As such, she retired from the military and married Trent. She believed, even if their relationship wouldn't be as loving as her parents', at the very least, they could treat each other with mutual respect.

Yet, Trent was tearing away at that last shred of dignity.

In fact, when he had nothing at all at the beginning, his first capital for entrepreneurship was from her parents' death gratuity.

As such, she couldn't help but wonder what her parents would think if they were looking down from the heavens, knowing their ashes were denied entry by the son-in-law who used their death gratuity to start his business.

“Fine, I'm leaving!” Quinn declared, her head held high and her back as straight as a rod, refusing to let her tears fall.

She can bleed, she can sacrifice, but there's no way she should shed tears for someone so heartless!

She decisively turned around and left without any hesitation.

Jacinda didn't seem to realize what was going on. “She just left like that?”

“Hmph, this is Trent's house. She's got no say here! She's just an orphan. Who does she think she is?" Penelope grumbled.

As Trent watched Quinn walk away, he felt kinda empty inside, like he'd lost something.

...

With the urn in tow, Quinn arrived at the funeral parlor to store it.

She wanted to take her parents' ashes back to their hometown for burial. However, there were still a series of things to be done back home, like making a tombstone, so she could only temporarily keep the ashes there.

“Mom, Dad, wait a little longer. I'll take you back to our hometown soon.” Quinn looked at the urn. “I will find Rowan in the future. Together, we will pay our respects to you both. I believe he is still alive.”

Her elder brother, Rowan Bridger, was also a soldier. Five years ago, while on a mission, he vanished at the border.

Back when she was in the military, she had also tried to locate her brother, but there were never any leads.

Once she had laid her parents' ashes to rest, she was set to journey to the border in search of her brother's whereabouts!

After arranging the ashes, Quinn planned to leave the funeral parlor.

Outside, there was a gentle rainfall. She moved forward, umbrella in hand, when she overheard some whispers.

“There are so many cars outside today, and I even saw a lot of government leaders. Did a big shot pass away?”

“Haven't you watched the news? Mr. Edward of the Whitethorn family has passed away. They're about to hold a memorial service for him!”

“Oh my, to think it's the Whitethorn family. Who will take charge of the Whitethorn family from now on?”

“Who else could it be if not that lunatic?”

Only then did Quinn understand why there were so many police officers stationed outside the funeral parlor earlier. It turned out that it was the day of the funeral for Mr. Edward.

In Jexburgh city, everyone knew the Whitethorn family, and nobody dared to mess with them. They've got crazy power around here.

As she stepped out of the funeral parlor, she noticed a long line of vehicles parked outside, all black luxury cars, indicating the high esteem in which the deceased was held.

Just then, the door of the luxury car nearest to her swung open, and someone arrived by the door's side, umbrella in hand.

A tall figure slowly emerged from the vehicle.

The black umbrella obscured the upper half of the man's face, yet Quinn could still make out the distinct features of his lower face.

His nose was straight, his lips thin with a hint of moisture, and his hands were long, veiny, and all angles. Way too hot and dangerous.

Quinn just pictured him pulling a trigger. It fits him almost too well.

Just then, her eyes locked with a pair of cold, unmoving eyes.

His eyes were beautiful, but there was this scary calmness in them, like nothing in this world could really get through to him.

Even though he was supposed to be an attendee at the funeral that day, his face didn't show a trace of sorrow.

The person holding the umbrella for the man respectfully said, “Mr. Whitethorn, please come this way.”

Mr. Whitethorn? Quinn was taken aback.

In just a fleeting moment, the man brushed past Quinn.

It wasn't until Quinn entered the car that she realized, at some point, a layer of cold sweat had formed in the palm of her hand.

Pulling out her phone, she saw a message from Trent waiting for her.

Trent: My mom and Jacinda have already left. After you've settled your parents' ashes, come back. I need to talk to you.

Quinn glanced at the text message coldly, started the car, and headed toward the mansion.

Inside the mansion, Trent was seated in the living room, lounging on the couch. As soon as he saw Quinn return, he promptly rose to greet her, asking, “Have your parents' ashes been properly settled?”

“Yeah,” she said nonchalantly.

“Don't blame my mom. She's just getting old and freaked out by anything death-related, like urns. It's not that she's intentionally targeting you.” Trent raised his hand, gently wrapping his arms around Quinn. “Baby, I'm sorry. I know you had a tough day today. I promise, I'll make it up to you.”

Make it up to me? A wave of sorrow surged from the depths of Quinn's heart.

Trent's embrace was warm, yet it left her feeling a bone-chilling cold.

The ones who truly suffered an injustice were not her, but her parents, because even though they were fallen heroes, their ashes couldn't even enter their daughter's home.

There's nothing he can do to make up for this! To think I once yearned for his embrace, but now, I don't need this fake warmth anymore! Quinn pushed away from Trent's embrace, her gaze falling on the man she once loved. “Trent, let's get a divorce.”

Trent frowned. “Divorce? Just because my mother didn't allow you to bring your parents' ashes into our home today?”

His tone suggested that it was merely a trivial matter.

Chilliness welled up in Quinn's heart. I really shouldn't hold any more hope for this man.

“It's not just that. There's also Sidonie. If we get a divorce, it presents a perfect chance for you to marry her,” she said.

“I've told you before. Sidonie and I are just friends, nothing more. Don't overthink it,” he said, clearly displeased.

Quinn found it all rather absurd. No one believed that he and Sidonie were just friends. Yet, he insisted on saying they were friends as a cover-up for his infidelity.

“I'm exhausted, and I don't want to keep up with this marriage anymore,” she said.

There was no greater pain than a broken heart. She had already lost all feelings for Trent.

His complexion shifted, and the feeling of losing Quinn intensified within him.

It seemed as though the woman before him would truly depart from his life in the next moment.

“If you're still worried, then let's have a child together,” he suddenly suggested.

“What?” Quinn's face was filled with shock. They had been married for three years, yet he had never laid a hand on her.

At first, he had been preoccupied with his career after their wedding, and he expressed a desire to go with the flow when it came to sex, so she didn't press the matter.

Over time, it gradually became a habit.

Even though they shared the same bed, he had never laid a finger on her.

“We've been married for three years, so it's time we have a child together,” Trent said, all the while leaning down to plant a kiss on her cheek.

Suddenly, Quinn found the situation both comical and desolate at the same time.

Once upon a time, she, too, had hoped that they would have a child together.

However, at that time, he merely said, “I'm not ready yet. Can we wait a bit longer?”

As a result, she waited.

She thought he just wasn't ready to be a father yet.

Unexpectedly, it was because he held someone dear in his heart. He was preserving himself for his first crush.

She thought that her feelings for him and all her efforts would one day move him.

In the end, however, she ended up feeling like nothing more than a joke.

However, the moment she had made up her mind to divorce, he surprisingly suggested they should have a child together.

With a forceful shove, Quinn pushed Trent away, her hand brushing against the spot where his kiss had just landed. “Trent, you're disgusting!”

Trent's expression darkened. “Quinn, when we got married, I promised I wouldn't let you down. So, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear whatever you just said. If you're not ready to have a child now, we can wait a bit longer.”

“There's no need to wait any longer. I will never have a child with you!” Quinn said coldly.

Trent was about to say something else, but his phone suddenly rang.

When he answered the call, Quinn heard Sidonie's voice coming from the phone.

“All right. I'll be right there,” Trent gently said to the person on the other end of the phone.

After ending the call, he turned to Quinn and said, “I have something to attend to right now. I need to step out. Take some time to calm down.”

With that, he left in a hurry, leaving Quinn alone in the mansion.

Through the mansion's window, Quinn watched as Trent departed in his car. He's off to see Sidonie again, isn't he? Does he realize that he's betraying me every time he leaves me for Sidonie?

Back then, Quinn was in love with Trent. His promise of never letting her down was the reason she married him.

At that moment, however, the feelings she once had for him had vanished. Hence, there was no reason for her to maintain the marriage.

What Quinn hadn't expected, however, was that before she could even draft the divorce agreement, her mother-in-law had already called to arrange a meeting.

Penelope's tone was aggressive when she said, “I'll give you a hundred million if you divorce my son!”

“All right!” Quinn agreed readily.

At that moment, it was Penelope who was taken aback. She stared at Quinn with a puzzled expression. “Are you truly willing to divorce my son?”

“One hundred million, right? I'll divorce him immediately.” After all, Quinn had been planning to divorce anyway, so it was only natural that she would be happy to get a hundred million out of it.

One hundred million could allow numerous school dropouts to return to their studies. It could also give many people suffering from illnesses a chance to keep on living.

Upon seeing the situation, Penelope quickly produced a document and placed it in front of Quinn.

It was a divorce agreement that had already been signed by Trent.

Quinn stared at the signature. Indeed, it was Trent's handwriting. “Did he send you to discuss the divorce with me?” she asked.

A flicker of unease crossed Penelope's face as she replied, “Don't concern yourself with the details. All you need to know is that he's been considering a divorce. You'd better sign your name quickly.”

Quinn's gaze fell lightly. In other words, Trent was unaware of that divorce agreement.

Although she had no idea how Penelope managed to get Trent's signature on the divorce agreement, it made no difference to her.

Quinn picked up the pen and signed her name.

“After the required thirty-day waiting period, your divorce will be finalized. During this time, it's best if you behave yourself and don't slip up in front of Trent!” Penelope warned.

Quinn raised an eyebrow. Is she suggesting that I should keep Trent in the dark about the fact that I've signed the divorce agreement?

“Sure,” Quinn responded.

“In fact, one hundred million is too much. For an orphan like you, twenty million should be more than enough.” Penelope tried to haggle.

She even thought giving an orphan twenty million was too much.

“If we were to proceed with a typical divorce, I could walk away with half of Trent's marital property. If you think one hundred million is too much, then how does one and a half billion sound?” Quinn said sarcastically.

Penelope nearly lost her breath when she heard those words. She could only grit her teeth in frustration and say, “Fine. One hundred million it is. Don't go back on your word!”

With a cold laugh, Quinn knew she would definitely not back out.

All she hoped for at that moment was to extricate herself from that marriage as soon as possible.

In the afternoon, Quinn arranged to go shopping with her friend, Laura Wentworth, and they bought a few items.

When Laura heard about Quinn's impending divorce, she was quick to express her approval, saying, “You should have divorced him a long time ago. The tabloids are filled with stories about Trent and Sidonie's scandalous affairs. One's a cheater, the other one's a mistress, and they're doing it openly.”

Quinn said in a nonchalant tone, “After the divorce, whatever they choose to do is none of my business.”

“When do you plan on taking your parents' ashes back to your hometown for burial?” asked Laura.

“Maybe a month from now. After my official divorce from Trent, I will take my parents' ashes back to our hometown.”

When it was time for dinner, Laura brought Quinn to a high-end restaurant.

No sooner had the two of them settled into their seats when laughter from the adjacent table reached their ears. Among the chatter, a name familiar to Quinn was mentioned.

“Trent, when are you getting married to Sidonie? Make sure you invite us to the wedding reception when the time comes.”

“I reckon it won't be long before we'll be attending the wedding reception. What's so special about Quinn, anyway? She's just a graduate from a diploma mill. If it weren't for Trent's kindness in giving her food, she would probably have starved to death. And yet, she has the audacity to claim the position of Mrs. Grafton!”

“Sidonie is truly one of a kind. She graduated from Qudnard University, and she was the campus belle of her faculty! To top it off, she's Nimbus Air's first female pilot. That should go down in Nimbus Air's history, don't you think?”

The people at the next table were engaged in an animated conversation. Due to the screens partitioning each table, they were oblivious to Quinn's presence.

Laura was so infuriated that she nearly snapped the fork in her hand. Just as she was about to storm out and give those people a piece of her mind, Quinn stopped her and said, “The person they're talking about is me. Let me handle it!”

With that, Quinn rose to her feet, circumventing the screen. “Why not now? You guys should hold a wedding reception now.”

Suddenly, everyone at the table turned their attention to Quinn.

Trent's brows furrowed.

“Stop it. They were just talking nonsense. They didn't mean to hurt your feelings!” Trent said.

Disappointment flickered in Quinn's eyes. Even when she was slandered to that extent, Trent still wouldn't defend her in the slightest.

“What would it take for their words to be considered hurtful? Do I need to kneel, slap myself, and say I shouldn't have married you?” Quinn sneered. “Don't forget that it was you who proposed to me in the first place, Trent!”

Trent's buddies exchanged uneasy glances, and even Sidonie's complexion seemed a bit off.

A flash of displeasure crossed Trent's eyes as he grabbed Quinn's hand. “Let's not do this here. Let's talk at home.”

“No. Let's just say everything right here.” Quinn shrugged off his hand. “Frankly, you and Sidonie make a good pair. One's a cheater, and the other's a mistress. I wish the two you to live happily ever after.”

The color drained from Trent's face, while Sidonie's complexion turned deathly pale in an instant.

One of Trent's buddies, Yorick, retorted, “Quinn, what gives you the right to speak ill of Sidonie? In what way do you think you can compare to her? What makes you think Trent should love you, an orphan and a graduate from a diploma mill, instead of Sidonie?”

“What a load of bullsh*t!” Laura stormed forward, fuming. “What nonsense about a diploma mill? Quinn graduated from National Defense University!”

“Hahaha!” Laughter erupted all around. “Can you believe that a graduate from a diploma mill is actually saying that she graduated from National Defense University?”

“Quinn, you and your friend are truly two peas in a pod. You two are equally shameless!”

Sidonie's complexion had significantly improved as she stood up, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “If you're going to brag, you should back it up openly. Falsely claiming your own qualifications will only make you a clown!”

Laura was livid. “Why would there be a need to lie? You can easily verify it on the academic website!”

Quinn held her friend back, her cool gaze fixed on Sidonie. “I don't need you to judge my educational background!”

Sidonie frowned upon hearing that. Clearly, she's just been exposed for falsely claiming her qualifications. She should be feeling guilty and embarrassed. Why does she seem so unabashedly calm about it? Her attitude is unsettling!

Just then, Sidonie caught sight of a few figures approaching from not too far away, looking as though they were about to pass by their table.

Among them, there was one individual she recognized.

“Professor Griffin!” Sidonie called out, a smile dancing on her lips. “It's been a while. Are you also here for a meal? What a coincidence.”

Gordon Griffin recognized Sidonie and said, “Oh, it's you. It's been a while.”

Gordon had some connections with the Stonehurst family, and they interacted occasionally.

“You're a professor at National Defense University. Interestingly, someone at our table claims to be a graduate from there. I wonder if you might know her,” Sidonie said.

Meanwhile, the others, as if anticipating a spectacle, chimed in, “Exactly! Quinn, didn't you say you graduated from National Defense University? You must surely recognize your own professors!”

With a leisurely stride, Quinn moved forward. “Professor Griffin, it's been a while.”

“Wow! You really know how to put on a show!”

“You really see yourself as a graduate from National Defense University, huh?”

“How could Professor Griffin possibly know you?”

The belittling and mocking words were echoing around, but they came to an abrupt halt when they saw Gordon gently patting Quinn's shoulder.

” I didn't expect to see you here. It's been several years since we last met,” Gordon said.

“That's right. It's been quite a few years. How have you been keeping?” Quinn responded.

“Everything's fine! I've heard about the matter regarding your parents. My condolences,” Gordon said with a soft sigh.

“Thanks,” Quinn responded softly.

Those who had originally planned to enjoy the spectacle were all wearing faces of surprise at that moment.

Sidonie's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief. “Professor Griffin, d-do you really know her?”

“Of course. I used to teach her. How could I not know her? Back then, she was the top science student in Jexburgh. Her arrival at the campus even caused quite a stir,” Gordon stated.

Those who had been waiting to see a spectacle, at that moment, their faces couldn't be described as anything less than unsightly.

Quinn was the top science student in Jexburgh. Anyone who studied knew just how difficult it was to achieve such a status.

In fact, she could definitely be described as a genius.

Moreover, it was said that getting into National Defense University was even more challenging than Qudnard University. Not only did one need excellent academic performance, but one also had to be physically fit.

The color in Sidonie's face fluctuated between shades of red and white. Just a moment ago, she had been confidently dismissing Quinn as a mere clown.

At that moment, it seemed as though she had become the clown.

Trent was also full of surprise. He had never known about these things. Quinn had never mentioned her accolades to him before.

At that moment, he suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity with the wife he had shared his life with for three years.

“Professor Griffin, is this your student?” A cool male voice suddenly rang out, snapping everyone back to reality.

“Yes.” Gordon introduced the two to each other, “This is my student, Quinn Bridger. Quinn, this is Julius Whitethorn, Mr. Whitethorn from Whitethorn Group.”

As soon as Julius Whitethorn's name was mentioned, everyone's expressions immediately changed.

The former head of the Whitethorn family, Edward, had passed away, and his successor was none other than Julius.

Eagerness shone in everyone's eyes. If they could establish even the slightest connection with Julius, they knew they would reap considerable benefits.

“Hello, Ms. Bridger.” Julius extended his hand politely.

It was then that Quinn realized the man standing before her was the same one she had seen at the entrance of the funeral parlor.

However, at that moment, without the shield of an umbrella, the man's face was even more clearly etched in her eyes.

His hair was slicked back, revealing a full forehead, a high-bridged nose, and lips as delicate as water. Beneath his long eyebrows, a pair of profound black eyes was as still and deep as the ocean itself.

Although the man was speaking to her gently at that moment, it was impossible to discern what he was truly thinking.

“Hello, Mr. Whitethorn,” said Quinn as she extended her hand for a handshake.

His hands were clean and pretty, with distinct knuckles. When Quinn shook his hand, she felt an instinctive sense of crisis.

It felt as though those hands could turn into lethal weapons at any moment.

It was a brief handshake.

Others nearby were eager to engage in conversation with Julius as well.

Julius seemed to lack interest in anyone else, saying, “Professor Griffin, let's head to the private room first.”

Gordon nodded, giving Quinn a few pieces of advice before he continued walking ahead with Julius.

Trent then walked up to Quinn, saying in a dissatisfied tone, “Why didn't you tell me you were a top science student from National Defense University?”

Quinn looked at Trent with a nonchalant expression, for he had never asked before.

“Does it matter?” she asked.

Just as Trent was about to speak, a gunshot suddenly rang out in the restaurant.

Someone in the restaurant pulled out a gun and fired in the direction of Julius.

Immediately after, there were continuous shrieks of terror.

Just then, Quinn was abruptly shoved with a forceful push. She stumbled, nearly falling over.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Trent lifting Sidonie in his arms, seeking refuge beside the folding screen.

The person who had pushed her moments prior was Trent.

When the crisis hit, Trent chose to save Sidonie instead of Quinn, his wife.

How many more times is Trent going to let me down? A coldness enveloped Quinn's heart as she stared blankly at Trent, her face devoid of any expression. Didn't he think I could be hit by a stray bullet when he pushed me?

As if he had sensed her gaze, Trent looked toward Quinn, a flash of guilt crossing his face.

When he heard the gunshot, his only thought was to protect Sidonie. By the time he came to his senses, he had already pushed Quinn away.

Upon reflection, he wanted to appease Quinn. He knew she was a woman who was easily pacified. In the past, even if he made mistakes, a few soothing words would always rectify the situation.

Right when he wanted to appease Quinn, his eyes suddenly widened in shock. He saw Quinn's lips moving, opening and closing as she said, “Trent, I don't want you anymore.”