Just then, Lucy's phone rang.
Steven's voice came through the speaker, drawling and clingy. "Lucy, are you done yet? If you don't come back soon, they're all going to make me drink as punishment.
"If Zack throws a tantrum and refuses to divorce, forget it. I'm a little dizzy, sure, but even if I had a few more drinks, at worst I'll just end up in the hospital for a couple of days."
Lucy shot me a disapproving look at once. Then she softened her voice and coaxed Steven for quite a while before finally hanging up.
She suppressed the impatience in her tone and said, "Zack, do you think I don't know you? You can't live without me. That kind of threat doesn't scare me at all. Enough, okay? I don't have time to argue with you. Let's get this over with. Don't keep Steve waiting."
The moment Lucy dismissed me, the last trace of reluctance in my heart disappeared. I handed the documents to the clerk.
After checking them, the clerk issued our ninth divorce certificate to Lucy and me. At the end, she chuckled and said. "Over here, it's rare for us to see the same couple this many times. Looking forward to your tenth visit!"
I shook my head and looked straight at Lucy. "There won't be a next time."
With that, I turned and walked out of the courthouse.
Lucy chased after me, relentless. "Zack, you know it was just to help Steve with his truth-or-dare game. He has health issues and can't drink. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?
"You know it yourself. We've divorced and remarried so many times, but I've always put you first. You're the one I love most. That's beyond question. Tomorrow, when you propose, I'll make it up to you, okay?"
Hearing that only made my heart grow even heavier. I was sick of this whole charade. I wanted nothing to do with Lucy anymore, and I'd never marry her for a tenth time.
But just as I was about to speak, I was cut off.
A large bucket of ice-cold liquid was poured over me. Instantly, I was soaked through.
It was the dead of winter, and I shivered uncontrollably.
I forced my eyes open and saw Steven standing in front of me. With a smug grin, he yelled, "Surprise!"
The sharp smell of alcohol hit me, making my head spin. I grabbed Steven by the collar, about to punch him, when a slap landed on my face first.
"Zack, are you out of your mind?" Lucy snapped icily.
Steven hid behind her, looking pitiful. "I was just joking. Lucy, didn't you say Zack is getting old? I just wanted to wash off that old-man smell. He's not mad, is he?"
"He wouldn't dare!" Lucy sneered. "Last time he proposed, I made him kneel in public for three hours, and he didn't even complain. Why would he make a fuss over this now? If he dares to get angry, next time he proposes, I'll livestream it for everyone to see and make him kneel for an entire day!"
"Lucy, this is our last divorce," I said flatly. "I'm not proposing again."
Her smile froze when she saw the icy resolve on my face.
But as soon as my words fell, my coworkers, who had come with Steven, burst out laughing.
"Zack's improved this time! That act was pretty convincing. Playing hard to get now, huh? He might actually rattle Ms. Quinn!"
"I bet tomorrow, no, maybe tonight, Zack will be back home proposing again!"
The director, Henry White, sneered. "Zack's been turned into a lapdog by Ms. Quinn a long time ago. And now he thinks he can put on airs?"
The taunts grew louder and harsher. I was used to it and didn't react, but Lucy suddenly exploded.
She glared at Henry and thundered, "Who do you think you are? How dare you insult my man? My company doesn't need someone like you! You're fired!"
The others were stunned. So was I.
Henry was highly capable and a veteran employee of the company.
Yet Lucy fired him on the spot, just to defend me.
