The Ninety-Ninth Spring Goodbye

The next day, I went to the Grant family estate.

I placed all eight divorce certificates in front of Mrs. Grant.

"Mom, Vivian and I got divorced again."

Mrs. Grant looked at me with pity in her eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Vivian wronged you. You two were so happy back then.

"But this time really is different. I have contacted several doctors, and they all said the chance of recovery is high."

Mrs. Grant pushed a business card toward me, hope in her eyes.

"I'm getting old. All I want is for you two to live well together.

"Lately, she has remembered quite a few things from the past..."

Before she could finish persuading me, I interrupted.

"But she has never remembered anything about me."

I lowered my head and avoided the pity in Mrs. Grant's eyes.

The room fell silent until she suddenly spoke again.

"If you leave, and Vivian remembers you but cannot find you, she will go insane."

For the past three years, every time we divorced, Mrs. Grant would say that exact sentence.

And every time, because of that sentence, my heart softened.

Again and again, I remarried Vivian.

Before I could respond, there was movement at the entryway.

Vivian walked in wearing heels, carrying several shopping bags.

The moment she saw me, her brows twisted together.

"Julian, did you come to my mother to complain again?

"I already kicked you out, and you still won't leave me alone. Can you really not live without me?"

Mrs. Grant shook with anger. She shot to her feet and slapped Vivian hard across the face.

"Have you made enough of a mess? How far are you going to push Julian?

"Without him, you would have died a long time ago."

I sat on the couch, my hands clenched into fists.

I could not help thinking of seven years ago.

Her marriage with Nolan had been painful.

Nolan had enjoyed every bit of her love, yet he had already been keeping other women outside.

When her husband's affair was exposed, she became the laughingstock of high society overnight.

When she brought people to confront him, Nolan even sold her private photos at an auction.

Then he took ten million and disappeared.

After that, Vivian developed depression. When she tried to jump into the river, I was the one who saved her.

"So what? He just wanted money, didn't he?"

Vivian still looked stubbornly at Mrs. Grant.

"I don't care what Nolan did before. I love him, and I could never love anyone else.

"I will never regret it either."

In an instant, Mrs. Grant looked as if all strength had been drained from her body.

She turned back and looked at me with apology in her eyes.

Vivian rubbed her temples, then lifted her chin as if making a concession.

"Julian, if you want to remarry me, fine. We'll only get divorced again anyway. You'll be the one embarrassed, not me.

"If you really can't live without me, then let's go to the courthouse now.

"This is your eighth divorce, isn't it?"

I tugged at the corner of my mouth. I could no longer connect the person in front of me with the Vivian in my memories.

"I came today to make things clear with Mom.

"You're free now, Vivian."

Vivian froze. Her hand trembled slightly at her side.

She stared at me in surprise, then quickly returned to normal.

"Playing hard to get, are you? Too bad that doesn't work on me.

"Fine. You said it yourself. Don't come clinging to me again."

Vivian said it through gritted teeth.

Ignoring Mrs. Grant's attempts to stop her, she threw the things in her hands onto the floor.

Then she turned and left.

Mrs. Grant nearly blacked out from anger. She shouted at Vivian's back.

"You will regret this!"