Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 290 - 286: Divorce

Early the next morning, Sienna Thornton and Simon Forrester were still asleep when they were suddenly startled awake by a rapid knocking at the door.

Both of them bolted upright in bed, exchanged a sleepy glance, and after a moment, Simon Forrester pushed Sienna back down onto the bed: "I’ll go check what’s going on. You continue sleeping."

With that, he grabbed the T-shirt and lounge pants from the bench at the end of the bed, put them on, and went to open the door.

The interruption left Sienna without any desire to sleep, so she got out of bed and followed.

Simon opened the door, glaring at Sylvia Langley standing there, with a tense tone: "Why are you knocking so early in the morning?"

Sylvia ignored him, glanced at Sienna standing behind him, and asked, "Do you have a yoga mat?"

"Uh?" Sienna snapped back to attention, "Yes, please come with me." Saying this, she left the room, fetched a yoga mat from the laundry room, and handed it to Sylvia.

Sylvia took it without expression, laid it down by the floor-to-ceiling window, and started doing her yoga.

Sienna washed her hands and went back to the bedroom, where Simon had already returned to bed.

Having lost her sleepiness, she went to the walk-in closet to change clothes and prepared to make breakfast.

When she came out, Simon was also up, sitting on the bed, looking at his phone, with a grumpy expression, ready to snap at anyone.

"I’m making breakfast. Does Aunt like Chinese or Western style?" Sienna asked.

Simon replied, "You make what you want; she can eat it or not."

"Alright."

Ultimately, Sienna made a Chinese breakfast: millet porridge, fried eggs, and a couple of side dishes.

Sylvia ate very gracefully, remaining silent throughout. Like Simon, she didn’t speak while eating.

The mother and son sat facing each other, both wearing a sullen expression, very much alike.

Sienna, sitting beside Simon, felt awkward and didn’t dare speak, occasionally glancing at the scenery outside or observing Sylvia’s expression.

Sylvia’s cheek, the one that had been hit, looked even more swollen today, with four distinct fingerprints. It’s clear Zane Forrester had used great force last night.

Though Sienna disliked Sylvia and even found her somewhat annoying, the thought that she was Simon’s mother, and she had been beaten, surely made Simon feel terrible, which in turn saddened Sienna.

Before they got home last night, Simon seemed fine, but after seeing Sylvia, his mood took a nosedive—a change Sienna noticed.

It made sense; if your mom got hit, who would be in a good mood?

-

The room remained quiet for a while. Sylvia had nearly finished eating and picked up a napkin to wipe her mouth, sitting up straight with her beautiful eyes looking at Sienna across from her, appearing ready to speak.

Simon had also lost his appetite; he pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth and looked lightly at his mother, instantly on guard.

Seeing him acting as if she might eat Sienna alive, Sylvia rolled her eyes at him, cleared her throat, and said, "I thought it over last night, and I want to divorce your dad. Then I want to hire Thornton as my lawyer."

Sienna: "..."

Simon: "..."

Sienna sneaked a glance at Simon.

He breathed heavily, his chest heaving beneath his T-shirt.

Sienna pressed her lips together and said nothing.

The atmosphere turned tense for a moment before Simon gritted his teeth, saying, "Okay, I support your decision. But Candy’s specialty isn’t family law, so I suggest you hire a different lawyer."

Sylvia certainly understood that he didn’t want Sienna to get caught up in this mess, worried it would be difficult for Sienna within the Forrester Family later.

But she had other plans.

She turned her eyes towards Sienna and said earnestly, "This isn’t purely a divorce case. I married that deadbeat husband domestically, but his company is in the United States, involving the division of international assets. If I don’t hire you, I’d have to find separate lawyers in the United States and domestically, which is too troublesome. So after thinking it over all night, you’re the most suitable choice."

Sienna’s scalp prickled; under the table, she discreetly pinched Simon’s thigh.

Simon grabbed her hand and then held it tightly, interlocking their fingers.

He looked calmly and seriously at Sylvia: "I’ll hire the best divorce lawyers both in the United States and domestically for you, forming a team to help you handle the cross-border divorce lawsuit and thoroughly carve out my dad’s assets, okay?"

"But have you considered that if another lawyer fights the case, a certain percentage of the assets divided have to be paid as fees," Sylvia said, "If I get 10 billion yuan, I might have to give up to 2 billion to the American lawyer as their fee. But if I hire Thornton, wouldn’t that money not be wasted?"

Sienna realized the implication: she felt American lawyers would charge her a 20% commission on the divorce settlement, whereas hiring her son’s girlfriend might save some money?

She was just about to remind Sylvia that she was now part of a law firm and had partners, making it difficult to take private cases and that divorce lawsuit commissions must be charged at a certain rate without negotiation.

Before she could speak, Simon spoke up unhappily: "American lawyers charge you 20%, so naturally Candy must also charge 20%. That’s how divorce cases work!"

He probably intended to dissolve Sylvia’s plan, hoping she’d find someone else. However, Sylvia simply smiled indifferently, "Giving two percent to Thornton is better than giving it to an outsider, right?"

Hearing Sylvia acknowledge Sienna as one of them, Simon’s expression softened slightly.

He was about to ask Sienna for her opinion when the fingers tucked under the table with hers suddenly tightened. This told him Sienna agreed, and in front of Sylvia, he asked, "Whatever you’re thinking, just say it."

Sienna smiled and looked at Sylvia, "Auntie, thank you for your trust. Since your case isn’t a simple divorce case, depending on my personal strength is definitely not enough, so let me discuss it with my partners tomorrow and get back to you, alright?"

"Sure, no problem!" Sylvia agreed readily, "I need to go out later. Could I borrow an outfit and some makeup from you? Would you mind?"

Sienna quickly replied, "Not at all, not at all. Feel free. The walk-in closet is in the master bedroom, so please choose yourself."

Sylvia smiled and left the dining room.

Once she was gone, the smile on Sienna’s face disappeared completely. She turned to Simon and whispered, "If you don’t want your parents to divorce, then I have to take this case. If another lawyer takes it, they will definitely get divorced."

Simon looked unhappy: "I know."

Sienna patted his hand, reassuring him, "It’s okay. I’ll find a way to prevent them from divorcing, don’t worry."

Simon felt conflicted: "Honestly, I don’t even know if I want them to divorce or not."

Like most children in the world, he didn’t want to see his parents divorce. But he was also conflicted, afraid Zane Forrester might physically harm Sylvia Langley again in the future.

-

With Sylvia around, Simon and Sienna didn’t talk much.

Once they finished breakfast, Simon cleaned up the kitchen and dining table while Sienna went back to the bedroom to see if Sylvia needed anything.

Not finding her there, she went to the walk-in closet.

Sylvia was standing in front of the wardrobe picking out clothes. Seeing Sienna enter, she smiled lightly: "Thornton, you have a good eye! All these clothes are niche yet well-designed styles. Not many socialites in Brimfield understand these brands."

As she spoke, she glanced over Sienna with a sidelong gaze, "No wonder my son is head over heels for you. Even if your figure is only a nine, wearing these clothes instantly makes it a nine-point-eight."

She implied that Sienna attracted Simon Forrester merely with her looks.

Sienna felt quite displeased but knew better than to show it, so she smiled and said, "When I met him, I wasn’t wearing these branded clothes."