Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Inside the town hall, Gilbert wasn't alone. He had brought Edwin with him.

"Here's the deal." Edwin glanced at Gilbert, leaning back in his chair as if he had no stake in the matter, and pulled a stack of documents from his briefcase.

"Sherilyn, these... are from Mr. Johnson for you. You've been putting off dealing with this, so let's take the opportunity now. Just sign where you need to, and I'll handle the rest."

Alimony? Sherilyn shook her head immediately. "I can't take it."

It wasn't that she was being overly sentimental or putting on airs. The Johnson family took her in when she was without a place to call home. She had to admit the Johnson family took great care of her over the years. The Johnson family had no obligation to do so. This marriage was her way of repaying their kindness. 'Paying back' a kindness shouldn't involve receiving payment.

"Ugh!" Gilbert was getting impatient. "Just take it!"

Afraid she would refuse again, Gilbert said sternly, "This is from me to you! It's from Gilbert to his ex-wife, nothing to do with the Johnson family or Grandma!"

Sherilyn was shocked. With him putting it that way, she was at a loss for words to refuse.

"Come on, let her sign." Frustrated, Gilbert pulled a cigarette and lighter from his pocket, though smoking wasn't allowed in the hall.

"I'm going for a smoke." He stood up and headed to the smoking room. All content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

"Sherilyn." Edwin handed Sherilyn a pen. "Come on, sign these. Without your signature, you probably can’t get the divorce decree today."

It seemed that way.

"Alright." Sherilyn nodded, took the pen, and signed her name on each document.

"Here." Edwin passed her a stamp pad. "You'll need to press your thumbprint, too."

"Okay." After signing all the papers and leaving her thumbprint, Sherilyn cleaned her hands with a wet wipe just as Gilbert came back.

Edwin checked their IDs one last time. "Everything's in order. We can proceed now."

Having been separated for four years and agreeing to a no-fault divorce without dispute over assets or children, they got the process quickly completed.

"Here, you two keep these." The clerk placed two divorce decrees before them.

"Thank you." Holding her divorce decree, Sherilyn had fingertips trembling slightly.

Was she that happy? Gilbert watched her, a complex emotion welling up inside him.

He had been looking forward to this divorce for so many years. Yet, it seemed Sherilyn was the one who felt liberated.

"So..." Carefully putting the divorce decree into her backpack, Sherilyn bit her lip, showing a hint of a smile. "If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

"Sherilyn." But Gilbert stopped her.

"Hmm?" Sherilyn wasn't intimidated by him anymore, her expression brightening, "Is there something else?"

Gilbert said in a low voice, "I'm sorry."

Suddenly, Sherilyn was stunned, hardly able to believe what she was hearing. Was Gilbert actually apologizing to her?

Gilbert's brows furrowed, his face gloomy, but then he smiled. It was a self-deprecating smile. "What are you looking at me like that for? I know I wasn't a good husband."

So what? Not every apology deserves forgiveness.

Sherilyn forced a smile. "It doesn't matter anymore. It's all in the past."

Yes, it was all in the past.

Gilbert took a deep breath and chuckled, "Funny, you might not believe me..."

"What?" Sherilyn was puzzled.

"Back when..." Looking at Sherilyn’s naturally beautiful face, Gilbert said hoarsely, "When we got married, I genuinely wanted to try and make it work with you..."

Otherwise, he wouldn't have slept with her. Even though he didn't particularly like her then, he thought responsibility could sustain a marriage.