Divorced, But Queen - Chapter 44: Chapter 44

"Mom, it's just a scratch. No need for a doctor. It'll heal in a few days. I'm a little cold… I'm going upstairs," she mumbled, brushing past them without waiting for a response.
Zoe and Luke exchanged glances, both feeling something was off with Silvia tonight.
Silvia remained low-spirited for the next two days. In an attempt to lift her mood, Zoe asked Logan to buy tickets for an art exhibition in the neighboring city.
Silvia wasn't much for painting herself, but she loved viewing artwork. Her bedroom walls were lined with prints from famous artists.
Her favorite was Mono, which was a shame because his pieces had become almost impossible to find.
Hand in hand, they entered the exhibition hall.
The space was hushed; even those who spoke kept their voices soft, absorbed in the world of color and canvas.
Silvia loved this kind of atmosphere. She tugged Zoe excitedly toward a painting near the entrance. "Mom! I know this artist. When I first followed her, she only had a few thousand fans!"
Zoe leaned in, admiring it too. "You've got a good eye, Silvia. The brushwork looks wild at first, but the story beneath it... it's powerful. You can see the depth of the artist's soul."
Silvia beamed, the first real smile she'd shown in days.
They wandered the exhibit, quietly discussing their favorites, until Zoe's phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen, her expression tightening. Giving Silvia's hand a light pat, she murmured, "Nathan's teacher's calling. I'll be quick, sweetheart."
"Okay, Mom," Silvia replied.
Zoe moved to the lounge area and answered, "Hello, Ms. Gibbs."
Valerie Gibbs began, "Mrs. Saxon, I'm sorry to bother you..."
It turned out Larkridge High School had recently hosted a friendly basketball match and lost two games in a row to Stonemere High.
Nathan, unable to stomach the defeat, had led his friends onto the court.
Tensions ran high; shoving led to punches almost immediately.
Someone from Stonemere High School played too dirty and injured a student from Larkridge High School.
Nathan already had a short temper, and this time he simply couldn't hold it back. Then, a fight broke out.
Teachers who tried to break it up got caught in the chaos, taking a few hits themselves.
Fortunately, teenagers heal fast—most injuries were superficial.
But before the dust even settled, trouble struck again.
On the way out, a player from Stonemere harassed a girl from Nathan's class. Nathan exploded and fought him too.
Unfortunately, one of the boys he fought was Stonemere's top student, whose furious parents now demanded consequences, claiming the brawl would affect their son's chances at being valedictorian.
And the player who'd harassed the girl? He ended up hospitalized—his parents were ready to sue.
By the time Zoe finished hearing the full story, she had a headache blooming behind her eyes. She said a few brief words to the teacher, then, without hesitation, dialed Logan. "Your son's been fighting again. You go handle it."
Without waiting for a reply, she hung up and switched off her phone, determined to enjoy the day with Silvia.
Logan stared at his phone for a long moment, massaging his temples before grumbling to his assistant, "Caleb's still not back?"
"No, sir," the assistant replied. "I did reach out. He doesn't sound too happy."
Grinding his teeth, Logan muttered, "Two rebellious brats. One runs away from home, the other picks fights at school. They're both determined to make my life hell."
He waved a hand irritably. "Contact Valerie. Find out what the other side wants. If we can settle it quietly, do it."
"Understood," the assistant replied.
At Cole Manor, Liam slammed the court notice down onto his desk in his study, snorting coldly.
He left the room and climbed the stairs, meeting Hannah as she stepped out of the training room, still toweling sweat from her neck.
"Hannah," he called, taking the towel from her hands and gently wiping her down. "I'm sorry you're having to go through all this."
"It's fine," she said simply.
The first time Hannah had seen the training room, she'd fallen in love with it, even though knowing it had once belonged to Aria made her uncomfortable.
The equipment was top-notch, wildly expensive.
Aria had been wasteful while Hannah was not.
Besides, everything had been thoroughly cleaned and repaired. It would do for now.
They descended the stairs together.
"I received the summons," Liam said, voice low. "The court's arranging a mediation. I won't agree to let Aria walk away with Cole family shares."
He squeezed her hand. "After the divorce is finalized, I'll replace every piece of equipment in the training room. It'll belong only to you."
Hannah allowed a small smile to touch her lips. "We'll be back in Erenoland soon. It'd be a waste. No need to splurge."
Liam's grip tightened. "I'm making the decision. Anything Aria's touched, I won't keep."
A flicker of pleasure lit Hannah's eyes, though she kept her face neutral. "As you wish."
Just then, the butler rushed into the foyer, his voice flustered as he said, "Sir... there's a man outside. He claims to be Miss Aria's... ex-husband."