This Time, I Will Get My Divorce, Mr

Grace saw the glimmer in Charles’ eyes, but when it dimmed, she couldn’t help but prod him in the head. “Why are you always so caught up with your own thoughts? You’re too cowardly, and that’s why you missed Sonia.”

“It’s not my fault,” Charles grumbled plaintively.

She rolled her eyes at him. “Oh, so whose fault is it then? If you had just been bold enough to pursue Sonia romantically, then the both of you might have ended up together from the get-go.”

“It’s not as simple as you think,” he countered, lowering his eyes as he let out a bitter chuckle. “Not every girl could take their guy best friend as a boyfriend, you know.”

“Okay, so how would you know she won’t be able to take it if you never asked in the first place?” Grace pursed her lips in displeasure.

Charles gulped, unsure if he had the answer to his mother’s question.

With an impatient and dismissive wave of her hand, Grace barked, “Very well. Get out of the kitchen. You’re only going to get in my way if you stay here.”

His eyes widened. “You were the one who asked me to come in here, remember?” he argued exasperatedly, only to be ignored and pushed out of the kitchen.

“That kid’s hopeless, and it doesn’t help that he’s afraid of everything. If only he could just man up a little!” She shook her head in frustration. “Looks like I’m going to have to take things into my own hands instead. It’s time to set my son up with the girl of his dreams!” Having thought of this, she pulled out her phone and called a number. “Hi, Alaric. Didn’t you say you have an equestrian facility?”

“That’s right. What about it?” A middle-aged man’s bright and cheery voice spoke up on the other line.

Grace beamed. “Do you think I could have it for the weekend? I only need it for two days, and it’s crucial because I’m trying to set my son up with my future daughter-in-law.”

She had plans to trick Sonia and Charles into going horseback riding together, and she would create little nerve-wracking moments for them along the way.

might blossom into fireworks by

afraid that’s not possible. The facility’s been booked

Which insolent fool has beaten me to it?

as he replied, “Just two. It seems as if

with a brilliant idea. “Do you think you could squeeze two more in for the

grew a little uneasy at

her hip and said darkly, “Have you forgotten how I’ve helped you out in

was only upon hearing this that Alaric broke into a breezy smile. Chuckling good-naturedly, he said, “Alright, you got me. I suppose I’ll just have to be thick-skinned and

up the phone and beckoned Charles and Sonia to

She sprawled on the couch in a daze as she

compliment, and her eyes turned into crescents. “If you think my culinary skills are great,

Sonia agreed, nodding earnestly. “Your offer is

not asking you to resist it at all! I love cooking, and Charles and Curtis are almost never at home. There isn’t a point cooking if there isn’t anyone around to appreciate

when he heard this and paused in peeling the apple. “That’s unfair, Mom. You’re the one who always goes out shopping

through gritted teeth, clenching her fist and making as though she would punch him

his hand and leaped away from her,

so, he sang mischievously, “You can’t hit

comedy that was Charles and

sky darkened. Sonia glanced at the time, and when she saw that it

night,

drop her home,” Grace urged as she shoved her son

muttered. He grabbed the car keys

nodded as she hummed in response, then

“Goodbye.” Grace waved back.

tailed after Charles as they walked out of the villa. Then, they

they pulled up outside Bayside Residence an hour later, Sonia unfastened her seatbelt and opened the

“Okay,” Charles answered breezily.

rounded the car,

equestrian facility. Alaric knows all about it, and the room in the villa has been set

twitched when he

a glimmer in his eyes as he rolled down the car window, and when he saw that Sonia was about to go into the lobby, he tightened his fists and summoned all the courage he had, then called

tracks

breath and tried to school his features into his usual, nonchalant smile so that she couldn’t tell how nervous he was. “My mom just texted and said we should head over to

he had said,