Too Late for Love, Mr. CEO のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

Vivienne’s POVI stood there for a long moment after Isabella finished speaking.My fingers had already clenched into the fabric of my clothes without me noticing.A bitter heaviness spread slowly through my chest… until it filled me completely.She wasn’t wrong about one thing.I had always looked up to Alexander.From the moment I entered the Ashford family, I had been cautious… insignificant.When he returned to the manor, I didn’t dare approach him.I would only steal glances.Brief. Careful. Hidden.Sometimes, I would stand near his desk under the excuse of organizing documents… just to watch him work.Those small moments alone were enough to make my heart feel full.And back then…The woman who stood openly beside himhad always been Isabella.Her voice pulled me back.She spoke calmly, almost gentlyabout how she had been forced to leave.How she had ended the relationship.How he had never wanted to let go.Then she said something that made my breath stop.“Every July… he goes

Vivienne’s POV Alexander stood at my doorway for a moment before speaking.“I want to go over the divorce settlement again,” he said quietly. “Come to the library.”I nodded. “Alright.”I set the towel down and followed him out, closing the door softly behind me.The hallway lights were dim, casting long shadows across the floor. We walked side by side without speaking.This silence felt different.Not tense. Not suffocating.Just… final.Inside the library, Alexander went straight to his desk and opened the agreement on his computer. The faint glow of the screen lit his face as he added several new clauses.I stood quietly, waiting.When he finished, he stepped aside.“Take a look.”I moved closer, resting one hand on the desk, and read carefully.The first clause made my fingers tighten slightly.Even after the divorce, we were to continue living together at Crescent Estates. We had to maintain the appearance of marriage in front of our parents—especially Pop-Pop and Nana.Until t

Alexander’s POVThe top comments under the trending topic were filled with mockery and suspicion.No one believed I was some devoted, loyal man.Men like me, they said, always played the same game. It was only a matter of time before the truth surfaced.The comment section had already turned into a battlefield.Some defended me blindly.Some defended Isabella, trying to separate her from the scandal.Others simply watched for entertainment.And many… just enjoyed attacking.Then another trending topic appeared.Vivienne.Overnight, her identity had been completely exposed.People dug up her social media, compared her photos to the leaked images—Everything matched.It didn’t take long before the internet connected the dots.V&R brand director.Chairman Ashford’s adopted daughter.That only made things worse.The comments under her account split into two extremes.One side believed she was the real partner—someone who had known me since childhood—and that Isabella had interfered.The o

Vivienne’s POV ContI knelt before my father’s grave and spoke slowly, my voice trembling in the quiet air.“Dad… I didn’t just come to see you today. I came to tell you something important. I’m getting a divorce.”The words felt unreal, even as they left my lips. They lingered between me and the cold stone, heavy and final.“If you can hear me… you must be shocked. On All Souls’ Day, I was still telling you how good he was to me. I said he was the perfect husband… your perfect son-in-law.”A bitter smile touched my lips.“I sounded so sure. So happy. But now… everything has fallen apart.”I lowered my gaze.“Does it sound ridiculous? Because it does to me.”My fingers curled against my knees.“Ever since he mentioned divorce, I haven’t been able to think clearly. I keep asking myself… how did we end up here? How did love disappear so suddenly?”If someone had told me back then that I would divorce Alexander in just a few months… I would have laughed.I loved him too much.There was n

*** Vivienne’s POV ***On Monday morning, I woke very early. I washed slowly and changed out of the hospital clothes. After breakfast, I sat in the room and waited for Alexander.I chose the seat closest to the door so I would hear him the moment he arrived.Time moved quietly. Nurses came and went. Maggie arranged things without speaking much. My eyes kept drifting to the door again and again without control.My chest felt tight the entire time.Morning passed.Afternoon came.At last, he arrived.He stepped inside and said softly that something had delayed him earlier.I smiled and shook my head. I stood up immediately and walked toward him. I told him it was fine and not too late.I knew I looked eager. I could feel it in my own body.His brows drew together slightly. His voice lowered. He asked if I was happy about the divorce.The question cut straight through me. The pain was sharp and sudden, but I kept my smile steady. I told him yes. I said I was happy and that I would finall