Capítulo 17: A Wealthy Family Servant Throws a Divorce Agreement at Me! Stating Plainly That a Commoner Like Me Doesn't Deserve a Thorne

During the second week after the partnership launched, Ella was holding a meeting with her team in the office.

The front desk suddenly called.

"Miss Carter, there are a few servants from the Thorne family downstairs saying they need to see you."

Ella froze.

Servants from the Thorne family?

Her heart sank.

"Let them up."

Five minutes later, three women wearing identical uniforms walked into her office.

Leading them was a woman in her fifties with hair combed impeccably tight, her face wearing an arrogant expression.

"Are you Ella Carter?" She sized Ella up and down, her gaze filled with contempt.

"I am. And who might you be?"

"I am the housekeeper of the Thorne ancestral estate. You may call me Margaret." The woman’s tone was ice-cold. "We are here on the orders of the Old Madam."

Old Madam?

Ella’s heart rate accelerated.

Lucas’s grandmother?

"What instructions does the Old Madam have?"

Margaret didn't answer. Instead, she retrieved a document from her bag and slammed it onto the desk with a sharp snap.

"This is a divorce agreement."

Ella’s face turned instantly pale.

"What?"

"The Old Madam’s meaning is perfectly clear," Margaret crossed her arms, looking down at her superciliously. "The Thorne family’s doors aren't meant for just any random stray to enter."

"A woman like you—of humble origin and poor background—is not worthy of our Thorne family’s heir."

"Sign this agreement, and the Old Madam can grant you a sum of compensation. Fifty thousand dollars, enough for you to live worry-free for the rest of your life."

Ella stared at the divorce agreement on the desk, feeling the blood rush to her head.

Fifty thousand dollars?

Her marriage was worth fifty thousand dollars in their eyes?

"I’m not signing." Ella’s voice was steady, but her fingertips were trembling.

"Not signing?" Margaret raised an eyebrow. "Miss Carter, I advise you to know what’s good for you. No one can change a decision made by the Old Madam."

"If you sign now, you can still walk away with fifty thousand. If you don't—"

She stepped closer, lowering her voice.

"The Old Madam has plenty of ways to ensure you have no place left to stand in New York."

"Your job, your reputation, your future—a single word from the Old Madam is all it takes to ruin every bit of it."

Ella’s fists clutched tightly together.

Looking at Margaret’s arrogant face, the anger in her heart flared up like a volcano.

"You go back and tell the Old Madam," Ella stated word by word, "Lucas and I are legally wedded husband and wife, certified at the city hall."

"Our marriage is completely legitimate and requires no one else's approval."

"As for that fifty thousand—" She picked up the agreement and tossed it directly back into Margaret’s arms. "Keep it for yourselves."

Margaret’s face instantly turned livid.

"You—"

"Please leave." Ella pointed at the door. "I won't see you out."

Trembling with rage, Margaret stormed out with her two servants, slamming the door behind them.

Silence finally returned to the office.

Ella leaned against her chair, feeling as if all her strength had been drained.

The Old Madam of the Thorne family.

She had finally witnessed it.

This was Lucas’s family.

A place where they could trample on others' dignity at will.

She pulled out her phone, wanting to call Lucas.

Yet after dialing the number, she hung up again.

She didn't want him to worry.

Even less did she want him caught in an awkward position between her and his family.

Taking a deep breath, she buried this incident deep inside her heart.

What she didn't know was that right after leaving, Margaret dialed a number directly.

"Old Madam, that woman refuses to sign."

Silence stretched on the other end for a few seconds.

Then came an ancient yet commanding voice.

"Refuses to sign?"

"Then let her learn the price of offending the Thorne family."