Chapter 5

Ted was packing up while John was hurrying to his villa.

While he did not have that many possessions, they were not that few either—aside from laundry, he would be taking his stationery, art tools, and art pieces. After all, those actually belonged to Ted, and he refused to take anything that was not bought with his money.

However, his heart was really broken.

In and around the spacious villa were the beautiful memories of his loving marriage, but though the place stayed the same, the people had changed.

Ted sighed softly, but just as he picked up his luggage to leave, his phone rang.

"Excuse me, is this Mr. Theodore Quill?"

The mere mention of the name left Ted's eyes flashing, the air around him changing dramatically.

Suddenly, he was a lofty king, and none would ever dare to meet his eyes.

"You've got the wrong number. I'm not Mr. Quill."

He was ready to hang up, only to be surprised when the voice on the other end chuckled. "Why, yes—you go by the name Ted York now. Oh, I mean no offense, but I just chanced upon a painting hanging in an old friend's house, and one that's relatively new.

"Hehe… How have you been, Mr. Quill—I mean, Mr. York? Your works remain masterpieces, and the style that seemed embedded within would definitely find its ranks among the greatest artists in history. That singular style is really something no one could imitate…

"Anyway, the reason I've called is just to tell you that the painting will soon be auctioned off. It was also alleged that many of your old friends will be showing up on the day of… but I wonder, wouldn't people start guessing and asking questions when such a recent piece that's clearly your work surfaces?"

Ted's eyes narrowed coldly, and he asked quietly, "Out with it already. Who are you? What do you want?"

"Nothing much." The voice chuckled again. "I just think it's a shame that I couldn't have the pleasure of meeting you despite hearing so much about you, and I've also run into a little trouble that I'd need your assistance for… So may I ask if you have some free time?"

Ted smirked coolly in turn. "So, you're threatening me? That makes you the second person to do that today. Hehe… It's impressive that you'd have the balls to do that when you know who I am, so I'd really like to meet you now. But are you still brave enough to do that now?"

"Hehe. So your edge hasn't dulled, Mr. York. But since I have the audacity to call, I definitely wouldn't be afraid to meet you. So, may I ask when you could make time? I'll send someone over to pick you up."

"Come to Melville in two days. Call me when your boys get here," Ted replied flatly and hung up.

He was silent for a moment before suddenly bursting out in laughter, perhaps too furious or simply entertained.

"Hahaha! What a fun day it has been—first, I'm served divorce papers, and then threatened… Now, even my alter ego has been unraveled and threatened again. Heh. This is great!"

It just so happened that Wendy and Dean arrived outside and were left trading glances.

"Mom, why is he laughing so much?" Dean asked uncertainty. "Has he lost it because Luna divorced him?"

Wendy frowned. "Who cares—he doesn't get to play the sympathy card. Press the bell already! I'll make him really crazy if he dares refuse to return our money."

Dean nodded and pressed the bell.

Ted frowned deeply right then, absolutely furious.

Was there really no end to this?!

He was ready to snap just as he opened the door, but his temper cooled when he saw that it was Wendy and Dean.

He and Luna were divorced, but he had undoubtedly treated Luna's family as his own over the years, even if they had lost their initial niceness.

Still, he quickly led them inside and made them tea. "What brings you here?"

Wendy studied Ted from head to toe and frowned. "I heard you divorced Luna?"

Ted paused, but he soon reclined against his couch and nodded. "Yeah. Just signed the papers today."

Holding his gaze, Wendy demanded quietly, "And you have nothing to tell me? Aren't you going to explain why?"

Explain why?

Was she not hoping for them to get a divorce the most? Why did it feel like she came to judge him instead?

Nonetheless, Ted shrugged. "I don't know what to say or how to explain it. All I was told was to meet her at her office, and then I was served the papers. If you need an explanation, you'll have to ask Luna herself what she thinks."

Ted was being honest—Luna was the one who divorced him, and he did not ask for it.

But this was not the answer Wendy wanted.

Even though she knew the truth, this answer simply would not do!

"What?!" she snapped, smacking the table. "The way you put it, it's as if my daughter is doing you an injustice! Are you saying a man like you can't even understand why your wife would divorce you? And you still think you're righteous?!

"If you were behaving and did nothing wrong, then tell me—why would Luna divorce you?! I know Luna the best, and she would never cheat! So, she wouldn't have divorced you unless you did something she couldn't forgive! So tell me, what did you actually do?!"

Wendy's outburst made her look just like a lioness defending her cub. Anyone who did not know better would buy that act on the spot and believe that she really came to defend her daughter's honor.

Ted, however, frowned.

He knew this family too well—or perhaps did not actually know them at all.

However, there were things that had to be said.

"Mother, I'm just telling the truth. I've done nothing—you all know very well what I've been doing every day and what I'm like. Aside from writing literature and making art, the only other place I frequent is the supermarket. So tell me: how could I have wronged her?

"As for why we're divorcing, I wouldn't know. But if you insist that she wouldn't cheat and wasn't the one who demanded a divorce, you're going to have to ask her about that, because I can swear on my conscience that I've not seen anyone ever since I married Luna. Forget cheating—I never made friends, men or women. She's the only person in my world."

His conscience was undoubtedly clear, and everything he said was only factual.

However, it angered Wendy nonetheless. "Shut up, loser! You've already divorced my daughter! You have no right to call me mother!"