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.

blossom into fireworks by

Grace’s bubble burst when Alaric explained apologetically, “I’m afraid that’s not possible. The

Which insolent fool has beaten me to it? “How many of them are there?”

he replied, “Just two. It seems as if

idea. “Do you think you could squeeze two more in for the weekend? Maybe

little uneasy at the

his reluctance, she put a hand on her hip and said darkly, “Have you forgotten

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

attitude to have.” Appeased, Grace hung up the phone and beckoned Charles and Sonia to join her at

She sprawled on the couch in a daze

my culinary skills are great, then you ought to drop by with Charles more often and have meals with

Sonia agreed, nodding earnestly. “Your offer is too

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

unfair, Mom. You’re the one who always goes out shopping and traveling. You can’t seriously blame Dad and me when you barely have time to

through gritted teeth, clenching her fist and making as though

the apple in his hand and leaped away from

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

comedy that was Charles and

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

night, but she

Grace urged as she shoved her

grabbed the car keys from the coffee table and said, “Come

response, then waved at Grace jovially. “Goodbye, Mrs.

“Goodbye.” Grace waved back.

Charles as they walked out of the

they pulled up outside Bayside Residence an hour later, Sonia unfastened her seatbelt and opened the car door. “I’ll get going

“Okay,” Charles answered breezily.

closed the door and rounded the car, thereafter heading straight for the

you and Sonia at Alaric’s equestrian facility. Alaric knows all about it, and the room in the villa has been set aside for the

when he

the car window, and when he saw that Sonia

stopped in her tracks and turned

nonchalant smile so that she couldn’t tell how nervous he was. “My mom just texted and said we should head over

She couldn’t quite hear what he had said, given how