He Traded My Trauma for Her Redemption - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

After a long while, I fell into a deep sleep, my cheeks still blushing.
The next day, outside the clerk’s court, perhaps Jayden hadn’t expected me to step out of a car belonging to the Dickensons—he visibly froze at the sight.
“Cordelia,” he said, pausing awkwardly, “it must’ve been hard on you these past few days.”
As the car windows rolled down one by one, he finally got a clear look at the man sitting beside me.
Jayden’s vibe shifted, as if facing an enemy. “Mr. Dickenson… why are you here too?”
In his mind, probably, the process of canceling our divorce shouldn’t have involved anyone else.
Mervyn stepped out, his long legs hitting the pavement as he casually shut the door behind him.
“There’s something I need to handle,” he said lazily. “Naturally, I had to be here.”
Jayden didn’t dare question him further. Noticing the displeasure on my face, it looked like he chose not to overthink it.
It wasn’t until the clerk at the window handed us the stamped divorce certificate that he realized things had veered far beyond his expectations.
His face darkened.
“This isn’t right! We didn’t come here to get divorced! There must be some mistake!”
The staff member, clearly used to scenes like this, remained professional and unbothered.
“Sir, the divorce certificate is already valid. If you and this lady are to remarry, please proceed to the marriage registration window next door.”
Jayden clearly wasn’t willing to accept it.
“Did anyone even ask for my consent? Is this how sloppy your process is? I haven’t even—”
Suddenly, his gaze landed on the man not far away.
The color drained from Jayden’s face. He looked back at me, lips trembling.
“Cordelia… he threatened you, didn’t he? That’s it, isn’t it?”
He took a step forward, almost frantic.
“No—why would he do this? You already—”
I looked at him calmly.
“Jayden, when I said I wanted a divorce, I meant it.”
His head dropped, his expression full of remorse.
“I was too full of myself. You had every right to be mad. I watched the security footage from that day… It was Ivy’s fault. I’ve already told her to move out of our home. Once you come back—”
I let out a soft laugh. Too late.
“That’s not my home anymore. Whether Ivy stays or goes has nothing to do with me.”
He opened his mouth to say something else, but a sharp voice behind us cut in.
“You’ve already got the certificate—what’s the point of chatting for so long?”
I picked up my bag and stood. Under Jayden’s disbelieving gaze, I walked with Mervyn to the marriage registration counter next door.
Before Jayden could react, two burly men came forward and politely “escorted” him out.
Getting our marriage license went so fast, it felt surreal.
By the time we received our certificate, the smile on Mervyn’s lips nearly reached the back of his ears.
But just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance.
Jayden, eyes bloodshot, shouted at me in a hoarse, furious voice.
“Cordelia! You divorced me just so you could marry him? Are you insane?!”
His voice cracked, desperation bleeding through his rage.
“No—that’s not it! He must’ve threatened you, right?!”
His gaze snapped to the man at my side, hardening like steel.
“Mr. Dickenson, from one man to another, don’t make things hard for a woman. If there’s a problem, come at me!”
Mervyn’s laughter was chilling.
“What were you doing back then? When you handed your wife over to someone else for the sake of another woman, why didn’t you ask me to come at you then?”
I had never seen Jayden look so menacing before.
But even so, he had no rebuttal. Refusing to give up, he pressed on.
“Mr. Dickenson, what’s the point of forcing a woman who doesn’t love you to stay by your side?”
Suddenly, a vein on Mervyn’s forehead twitched.
“And how do you know she doesn’t love me?”
The face that had always been refined and calm now bore a look of unrestrained madness.