The Tenth Monarch

At Lunacorp Tower in Melville, Easton, Ted York was sitting in the twelfth floor guest room, smiling with a gentle look in his eyes, watching as people passed by outside.

That was until a young woman in a black blazer and black-framed glasses strode in, flanked by two men with stern looks on their faces.

"Josie, is Luna still busy?" Ted asked the young woman.

Josie was frowning at him despite his smile, a brief flicker of disgust showing in her eyes. "Allow me to introduce you to these men. They are lawyers representing Lunacorp, and you were asked to come for one purpose only—to sign your divorce papers."

And with those words, she flung a copy of the divorce agreement at Ted.

Ted's smile and gentle expression faded as he frowned.

He did not read the divorce papers, however, instead keeping his eyes on Josie as he asked quietly, "Divorce papers? What's the meaning of this?"

Josie chuckled coolly. "The meaning is very obvious. Luna Lambert—that is, Ms. Lambert—is divorcing you. Quit playing dumb and sign it already, and everyone will be better off. And don't worry—Ms. Lambert is sentimental and will compensate you generously. But if you don't sign the papers, you'll be our enemy. Don't blame us for what happens then."

The carrot-and-stick treatment only left Ted repulsed and frowning, as Josie poised herself loftily as if she was giving him alms.

"Hehe. You've really gotten even more full of yourself ever since you started working as Luna's assistant. Also, become your enemy? Do you really think you can threaten me like that?"

Josie giggled and nodded. "If you want to take it that way, sure. Because everything I said is a fact: sign the papers, and the divorce will at least be amicable. If you refuse, we're going to target you… but what are you going to do about it?

"A word of advice, since we were friends back in the day… Don't put Luna on the spot. You don't deserve her anymore, because you're both from completely different worlds. Forget Melville—Luna's fame and beauty is now known throughout Easton, and she's a self-made woman worth over a billion dollars. But what about you, Ted? What are you compared to her?

"Hell, I could leave that aside and talk about love instead. Is there still any love left between you and Luna? It's undeniable that you two loved each other in the past, but what about the past two years? You and Luna barely met a handful of times—as a matter of fact, have you seen her in the past two months? So what love is there to speak of? A couple that can't stay together will eventually drift apart."

Josie's words were filled with haughtiness, as all of Lunacorp—even people from outside—had always shown her due respect, since she was both Luna's assistant and best friend.

And what was Ted compared to that? He was no more than an ordinary man.

Aside from collecting a little rent from his two shops, all he did was stay in the kitchen, paint, or write gibberish literature. He was supposed to be a young adult in the phase of furthering his career, but there was no such ambition from him, living as if he was already retired way ahead of schedule.

Did someone like him deserve to be with Luna, whose future was endlessly bright? Certainly not!

Ever since Josie started working for Luna, she had met many young and handsome men—some of them self-made entrepreneurs, or heirs to business empires. There was every variety to choose from, and Ted was still nothing compared to them, having nothing going for him aside from his good looks!

Nonetheless, that was when Ted asked, "And that's what Luna wants?"

As if hearing a joke, Josie smirked and nodded nonchalantly. "Of course it's what Luna wants. Why else would these papers have her signature on it?"

Calm slowly crept up in Ted's gaze, and he snorted self-deprecatingly. "So it's all because I have no money and no influence? So she must abandon me because I can't keep up?"

Josie shrugged. "If that offers you any comfort, then yes."

Ted took a deep breath and finally picked up the divorce papers, reading through it.

He chuckled—it was really generous.

But did he really need that?

"So, I'll get the villa, the Benz, cash, and even one of her restaurants as alimony. Hehe, how generous… Talk about an order that can't be refused."

Josie's smirk of disdain broadened in turn. "That's worth over twenty million altogether. Sign those papers, and it's all yours."

After all, they were talking about a lot of money here!

However, Ted suddenly laughed as he stood up, shaking his head and flinging the divorce papers back at Josie. "It's generous, but I'm not signing it."

"What?!" Josie snarled through her teeth, glaring at him.

Ted's eyes turned cool as he fearlessly held her gaze. "I said I'm not signing it, and I don't need your so-called alimony. If Luna wants a divorce, she can get it—but she has to personally tell me that. As for you, Josie Stone… you don't get to intervene in our marriage."

Josie was ready to argue right then, but Ted's eyes suddenly flared in rage as he pointed at the door and bellowed, "Get out! I'm not discussing this any further unless Luna shows up!"

His bellow left Josie flinching—it was the first time she had ever seen him snapping, and she could not help but feel fear.

As the commotion was drawing the employees' attention outside, Josie was left gritting her teeth, glaring viciously at Ted.

Still, before she could leave to look for Luna, Luna herself entered.

She was alluring as ever, her expression of confidence and strut only adding to her charm.

Before Josie could speak, Luna shook her head, gesturing for Josie to be silent.

Luna then picked up the divorce papers from the table, leveling a cool look at Ted as she sighed softly. "There's no need to shout. It's just the outcome of your own incompetence, and behaving like that would only make me despise you further.

"This divorce is what I want, so sign it—if the alimony isn't enough for you, I can add more. But I hope that this will be resolved by today, and we won't have anything to do with each other from now on."

Ted laughed.

The divorce was basically decided on one side, and she even had a third-party deliver her the papers.

And when he snapped, she called it a result of his incompetence?

How laughable.

Still, he said, "I knew this would happen eventually, Luna Lambert—I just didn't think you'd actually go through with it. Let me ask you this: in our years of marriage, have I wronged you in any way?"

Luna shook her head. "You've been very good to me and my family. In fact, you took good care of us at the start, and you never cheat. I can admit to all that, but I'm sorry, I can't stay with you because I can't take it anymore."

Ted frowned but asked quietly, "What have I done that you can't take anymore? That you must demand a divorce?"

Luna sighed. "It's exactly because you've done nothing, and that's what I can't take. I won't elaborate further, so you can just pretend that I'm the one in the wrong, and I won't argue against that. But this divorce is happening regardless—if you don't think my alimony is enough, I can add more, but you mustn't go too far either.

"By the way, I have someone else now. There's nothing going on between us yet, but I'll have him regardless. I hope you won't make things difficult for me and stop our love, and I'll thank you for that."

Ted's face paled as he saw how coldly Luna was looking at him and how tender she was when she mentioned that she had someone else.

He felt as if he could not breathe, like there was a boulder stuck inside his chest.

Eventually, he took a deep breath, picked up the divorce papers, and signed it.

"I don't want any of your alimony. From now on, we will have nothing to do with one another."

And with that, Ted strode out of the door.

As Luna remained on the couch, she watched as Ted left, spacing out.

She thought she would be happy, but she felt disembodied instead—like an important piece of her life was lost.

Even as her nose turned runny, she murmured, "Did I just make a mistake?"

"Of course not!" Josie exclaimed in excitement. "You'll only go further and higher with that loser gone from your life, and you can properly chase after the one you love. Jimmy Cash is absolutely a million times better than him!"

Luna's eyes lit up at the mere mention of Jimmy.

That was right! He was that young, handsome, mild-mannered heir to an empire who had been quietly helping her on so many occasions!

That was why she did not make a mistake—it was only by dumping Ted that she had the right to find the love she wanted!

-

Meanwhile, after Ted left the guest room, he stared at his own hand, not expecting that he had used it to sign those divorce papers and go his separate ways from his beloved.

The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to laugh.