Amy Sinclair hesitated, her fingers lingering above the container of insects she was about to add to her peculiar collection.

"You never took me seriously when I said I wanted a divorce," she said, her voice eerily composed. "So I took matters into my own hands and filed the papers. I warned you last time—after the holidays, you'd hear from the court."

Alexander Blackwood's tone was glacial. "I've already agreed to the divorce. Withdraw the lawsuit. Now."

"That's not possible," Amy replied smoothly. "What if, after the cooling-off period, Mr. Blackwood suddenly changes his mind and drags this out indefinitely?"

"After all, you haven't actually given up anything yet. All you've done is sign a pardon for Nathan and arrange the first treatment for Victoria."

Alexander's voice dropped lower, colder. "Yet you don't seem concerned about me backing out."

Amy didn't flinch. "When dealing with someone like you, Mr. Blackwood, it's smart to have insurance. Otherwise, who knows what tricks you might pull?"

Alexander had a suspicion why she was so confident. "Even with Sebastian Kingsley's help, do you really think you can pull off another stunt like last time?"

Last time, he had been blindsided. He never expected Amy, who had always seemed so docile, to strike so ruthlessly. Had she been planning this divorce all along, without any hesitation?

The thought made his chest tighten.

"Don't worry," Amy said. "I know that trick only works once. It won't fool you again."

Alexander's voice turned dangerously quiet. "Amy. Are you really going to force this?"

At this point, even he couldn't lie to himself anymore. If Amy didn’t want the divorce, why hadn’t she returned? Why hadn’t she shown even a hint of remorse?

Not even Liam was involved now.

The warmth in her gaze was gone—no tenderness, no affection. Every move she made was calculated, leaving no room for retreat.

Only now did Alexander truly grasp the reality. Amy wanted this divorce.

A surge of inexplicable fury rose within him. How dare she divorce him? Hadn’t he given her everything?

Amy’s voice, cool and detached, cut through the silence.

"Am I the one being unreasonable? You’re the one who refused to listen. I’ve said all I needed to say about the divorce."

"Since we’ve reached an agreement, you’ll hold up your end, and I’ll hold up mine."

"As for the lawsuit… once we receive the divorce certificate in a month, I’ll withdraw it."

With that, she hung up.

Alexander stared at his phone, his chest constricting with a frustration he couldn’t release.

The room was suffocatingly silent.

Nathan Prescott, knowing Alexander preferred quiet, hadn’t invited his usual boisterous crowd this time.

After Alexander’s ten-billion-dollar gesture to help him and Victoria, Nathan had felt a twinge of guilt. He’d only invited Dominic Whitmore, a childhood friend.

With so few people present, the conversation from the phone had been crystal clear.

Nathan, who had always wanted Alexander and Amy to split, now found himself speechless. He exchanged a stunned glance with Dominic.

"Dominic… do you really think Amy wants to divorce Alex?"

He had wished for this day for so long. Yet now that it was here, an unexpected dissatisfaction settled over him.