The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

Leila Jennings said, "I was the worst of all my professor’s students."

Rhea Warren silently turned her head away.

’She’d better hope Thorne didn’t hear that.’

Nathaniel Cole seemed unconvinced.

Leila Jennings added, "All the professor’s other students are in combined Master’s-Ph.D. programs. I’m the only one who just has a Master’s."

Nathaniel Cole recalled her file did state that. But the file wasn’t credible—it was too clean. It must have been altered.

With Professor Warren there, he didn’t press the matter further. He simply watched Leila Jennings get into the car and drive away.

Rhea Warren saw the Cole siblings standing by the roadside in her rearview mirror. She turned to Leila Jennings and asked, "How did you get involved with the two of them? The young Miss Cole seems nice enough, but the young master... He’s a very calculating person."

Leila Jennings recalled Sean Sinclair describing him as devious and calculating.

"I don’t have anything to do with Nathaniel Cole. Cherry Cole is my friend, and she’s very likable."

"Alden’s favorite is Cherry, too. He’s always complaining about how boisterous she is, but deep down, he really values her." Rhea Warren suddenly stared at Leila’s face. "Have you lost more weight in the last couple of days? Are you too upset about the divorce to eat?"

"No, my stomach has been upset today. I’ve been throwing up constantly." Leila had no intention of telling Rhea about Sean Sinclair sleeping with Sarah Lynch. She didn’t want to dirty her mentor’s ears with such filth.

"An upset stomach can be linked to your emotions, you know." Rhea Warren took her hand. "I know you love Sean Sinclair very much, and a divorce must be painful. But more than you love him, you need to love yourself."

Leila Jennings’s lips twitched. "I don’t love him anymore."

Rhea Warren patted her hand.

"When the cooling-off period is over, you’ll still need Sean Sinclair to go with you to get the divorce certificate. What has he said about it?"

’Sean Sinclair didn’t want a divorce.’

’He would shut down the conversation even if his own sister, Cecilia, brought it up.’

’Everyone clearly wanted them to divorce, and he was already with Sarah Lynch behind her back. So why wouldn’t he be the one to file for it?’

’So she could slave away at home while he and Sarah Lynch lived out some poetic romance?’

’What a brilliant plan.’

Leila Jennings said, "I’ll figure something out about the divorce certificate."

Her solution was to return to the Sinclair residence the next day and have Sean’s parents handle it. After all, no one wanted her and Sean to divorce more than they did.

Today was also Cecilia Sinclair’s birthday. Unfortunately, her face was so swollen that she couldn’t possibly see anyone, so the party was canceled.

The moment Leila Jennings appeared at the Sinclair’s front door, a cup came flying at her.

She sidestepped, dodging it.

Seeing her dodge, Cecilia became even more enraged. She pointed a finger at Leila and screamed, "How dare you come back!"

Mr. Sinclair questioned her, his voice even more menacing, "Why did you hit Cecilia! She’s your sister-in-law!"

Leila lifted her head, her expression unyielding. "She is Sean Sinclair’s sister. I’m an orphan."

"You!" Mr. Sinclair’s face turned ashen with rage.

Mrs. Sinclair demanded, "Are you still a daughter-in-law of the Sinclair family, or not?"

’No, I’m not,’ Leila thought.

’It’s not like they ever acknowledged me as one.’

"Leila Jennings, do you have any idea that my birthday party had to be canceled because of you?" Cecilia shrieked. "Look at this house! We decorated everything! I already told all my friends they were coming over tonight!"

Cecilia’s birthday was held at home every year. There was no special reason for it, other than to let her friends admire their two-hundred-square-meter luxury apartment in the city center.

They always went to great lengths with the decorations, each detail screaming, "My family is very rich."

Yet these lively celebrations never had anything to do with Leila. She would be busy in the kitchen, only to be met with a disdainful comment from Cecilia to her friends.

"Her? Oh, she’s just one of our maids."

If Sean Sinclair overheard, he would shoot his sister a glare, but he wouldn’t go so far as to spoil her fun on such a happy occasion.

"The decorations won’t go to waste. You can have your party once your face heals." Leila ignored Cecilia’s fury and turned to Sean’s parents. "I came here today because I have something important to discuss with you."

"What could possibly be so important that you’d have to discuss it?" Mrs. Sinclair sneered.

Leila said, "It’s about Sean and me. Let’s talk in the study."

Cecilia tried to follow them in, but Leila blocked her.

"Why can’t I listen in!"

Leila replied bluntly, "Because you have a big mouth."

Cecilia had never been able to keep her mouth shut. If she heard Leila was divorcing Sean, she’d get so excited she’d immediately broadcast it to the world.

Sean Sinclair appeared gentle on the surface, but he was actually extremely controlling. If there was to be a divorce, he would have to be the one to initiate it.

The study door closed, shutting out Cecilia’s frantic shouts.

Mr. Sinclair got straight to the point. "What do you want to say?"

Leila was just as direct. "I want a divorce from Sean."

"What?" Mrs. Sinclair froze for a second, then her face broke into a look of pure ecstasy. She suddenly leaned closer. "Are you serious? You’re really willing to let go of my son, your ticket to a better life?"

Mr. Sinclair speculated, "Did you find someone better to latch onto?"

Mrs. Sinclair’s smile froze. Recalling what Sarah Lynch had said the night before, her expression turned venomous. "Is it that young boss of yours? You cheated on my son, didn’t you!"

Mr. Sinclair was skeptical. "Would a young, successful boss even look twice at you?"

The Sinclairs never missed an opportunity to belittle her.

Leila calmly replied, "He wouldn’t. I just want to make way for Sarah Lynch. Isn’t she the one you all want for a daughter-in-law?"

That was, in fact, exactly what they thought, but having Leila lay it all out so bluntly was a bit awkward.

"Sarah Lynch is the only one worthy of my son," Mr. Sinclair said coldly. "Someone like you... my son can’t even take you out in public. Sarah can help him with his career. You can’t help with anything. All you do is spend his money."

Mrs. Sinclair chimed in, "Exactly. And you hoard his money for yourself."

"So, you want a divorce. What’s the catch?" Mr. Sinclair frowned. "My son won’t agree?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"He signed the papers."

"Wonderful!" Mrs. Sinclair cheered. It was the best news she’d heard all year.

Leila added, "But he doesn’t know it."

"What do you mean?" Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair asked in confusion.

Leila knew only Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair could help her with the divorce certificate, so she had no intention of hiding the truth.

"Sean wanted me to quit my job and stay home to have children. I refused, and I want a divorce. But as he’s told you, he won’t divorce me. So I tricked him into signing the divorce papers. Don’t worry, I haven’t altered the agreement in any way. I’m leaving with nothing."

Mrs. Sinclair’s face lit up at this.

’Leila had finally done something right!’

But what irked her was the implication. "So my son isn’t even worth as much as your measly three or four thousand a month job?"

"Correct," Leila admitted without hesitation.

Mrs. Sinclair sneered. "You’ve got some nerve. After all the money you’ve spent on my son over the past four years... But since you’re being so sensible about this, I’ll let it slide for now."

Leila had no desire to prolong the conversation.

"I need your help with the divorce certificate. I don’t care how you do it, but I want that certificate in my hands the moment the cooling-off period ends." She looked at Mr. Sinclair. "I know you have your ways."

Leila no longer addressed them as ’Mom’ and ’Dad’.

Mr. Sinclair said decisively, "I’ll take care of the divorce certificate."

"Good." With the major issue settled, Leila breathed an inward sigh of relief. "Don’t let Sean find out. If he disagrees, I’ll remain your daughter-in-law forever."

That last sentence was a nightmare for Mrs. Sinclair. She immediately gave her assurance. "Don’t worry. Neither we nor Cecilia will say a word."