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.

chemistry might blossom into fireworks by the time they were through with horseback

Alaric explained apologetically, “I’m afraid that’s not possible.

heard this. Disgruntled, she thought grimly, Which insolent fool has beaten me to it? “How

as he replied, “Just two. It seems as

eyes lit up with a brilliant idea. “Do you think you could squeeze two more in for the weekend? Maybe you could talk to your current guests and tell them that

little uneasy at the

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

a breezy smile. Chuckling good-naturedly, he said, “Alright, you got me. I suppose I’ll just have to be thick-skinned and put on

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

bulged slightly under her shirt. She sprawled on the

and her eyes turned into crescents. “If you think my culinary skills are great, then you ought to drop by with Charles more often and have

earnestly. “Your offer is too good to

to resist it at all! I love cooking, and Charles and Curtis are almost never at home. There

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

I could,” Grace warned through gritted teeth, clenching her fist and making as though she would

hand and leaped away from her, narrowly dodging her

he

the slapstick comedy that was Charles and

the time, and

invited her to stay the night, but she

her home,” Grace urged as she shoved

was going to do that anyway,” Charles muttered. He grabbed the car keys from the coffee table and said, “Come on, darling, let’s

she hummed in response, then waved at Grace jovially.

“Goodbye.” Grace waved back.

as they walked out of the villa.

hour later, Sonia unfastened her seatbelt and opened the car door.

“Okay,” Charles answered breezily.

door and rounded the car,

knows all about it,

twitched when

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

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 Alaric’s

hear what he had said, given how softly