Female Novel
Chapter 957
Saule had assumed they were just dating. Ending things would have been straightforward, withoutmuch fuss.
But now, they were married.
"Then you two need to move quickly and file for a divorce," Saule insisted, but they remainedmotionless on the sofa.
Their hesitation and reluctance stirred complex emotions within her. "Pearl, I wouldn't haveinterfered with your pursuit of happiness if it were just for my sake. But the possibility of you twobeing relatives changes things. It's morally wrong. Do you understand?"
Bitterness filled Pearl. "Mom, I know. I understand that."
"I know that you and Rick are sensible people. You guys know what to do when you face this kind ofissue. Just don't wait for me to urge you, okay?"
Saule sincerely hoped for Pearl's happiness. Even though she hadn't been part of Pearl's life untilnow, she wished for her daughter to lead a peaceful and fulfilling life.
If the truth of Pearl's biological relation to Richard were to be exposed, their future would be full ofhardships. People would keep on criticizing them.
Sitting on the sofa, Pearl contemplated their predicament carefully. Then, she stood up and pulledRichard to his feet. "Let's go."
At this point, she refused to accept that she was Richard's cousin.
Richard remained silent, but his expression was somber. Feeling disheartened, he spoke up, "It'sthe weekend, Pearl. The marriage bureau is closed."
Strangely, Pearl felt a sense of relief knowing they didn't have to rush things.
"Well, you'll have to go there when it's open," Saule insisted firmly. She might have been frail, butshe was resolute in this matter.
"Mom, please calm down. We know what to do," Pearl reassured Saule gently. Staying at WaldorfResidence would only stir painful memories for her mother.
"Are you two living together now?"
"We're staying in separate rooms. Don't worry, ma'am. I respect Pearl's boundaries. I won't doanything without her consent. Nothing inappropriate has happened," Richard explained earnestly.
Saule sensed something odd. They were married, yet they hadn't consummated their relationship.
She regarded Richard with newfound respect. Despite being a man, he showed restraint andrespected Pearl's wishes. He was the kind of man one could build a lifelong partnership with.
It was a pity, Saule thought. If only they weren't cousins, they wouldn't be facing this problem.
"I don't need to say much. You two seem sensible enough. Do what you think is best," Saule saidwearily, the weight of the situation evident in her voice.
Shifting away from the gloomy topic, Pearl redirected the conversation. "What happened to lead youto bump into the Jesseltons?"
Saule took a deep breath. "Life abroad was going well, but a local troublemaker took an interest inme. He wanted to marry me, and since everyone knew I lived alone, I decided to relocate to avoidhim. But someone tipped him off, and he came to my house, attempting to assault me."
It was another grim chapter in Saule's troubled life, but Pearl sensed there was more to it than metthe eye.
"I grabbed a nearby vase and struck him with it in self-defense. Unfortunately, it killed him. I turnedmyself in to the authorities. It was deemed self-defense, so I was sentenced to fifteen years inprison."
Pearl didn't expect such a seemingly gentle and weak woman to be this strong. In that moment, shefelt a surge of empathy for Saule's plight, her wandering existence, and her turbulent life.novelbin
"What happened after you were released from prison?"