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.

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

bubble burst when Alaric explained apologetically, “I’m afraid that’s not possible. The facility’s been booked for the

Disgruntled, she thought grimly, Which insolent fool has

chuckled as he replied, “Just two. It

isn’t a crowd at all.” Her 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 my son and my future daughter-in-law won’t

little uneasy

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

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

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

her shirt. She sprawled on the couch in a daze as she remarked, “Your culinary skills

“If you think my culinary skills are great, then you

nodding earnestly. “Your offer is

Curtis are almost never at home. There isn’t

his eyes when he heard this and paused in peeling the apple. “That’s 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

Grace warned through gritted teeth, clenching her fist

hand and leaped away from her, narrowly dodging

did so, he sang mischievously,

she watched the slapstick comedy that

the time, and when she saw that it was

stay the night,

home,” Grace urged as she shoved her son

that anyway,” Charles muttered. He grabbed the car keys from the coffee table and said,

in response, then waved at

“Goodbye.” Grace waved back.

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

Residence an hour later, Sonia unfastened her

“Okay,” Charles answered breezily.

door and rounded the car, thereafter heading straight

Grace, which read, ‘Charles, I’ve set up a date for 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 both of you, too. I believe that you’ll get the girl of your

when he read the

window, and when he saw that Sonia was about to go

in her tracks and turned

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

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