Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce

Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Nothing More Than Ending a Relationship

Wren Sutton listened quietly. Once Isla Griffith’s emotions had calmed down a bit, she spoke, starting with a very practical question.

"Isla, that check... did you take it?"

Isla Griffith shook her head almost immediately, her expression a stubborn mask over her hurt.

"No. I pushed the check back at her."

"I told Sean Sterling’s mother that my relationship with Sean couldn’t be measured in money. After I said that, I got up and left."

"I didn’t even get a clear look at the amount. I just felt that string of numbers was as cold and insulting as the look in her eyes."

Wren Sutton felt a sense of relief at this answer.

"It’s good you didn’t take it. You didn’t lose your dignity in the face of her condescending attitude. That’s very important."

Isla Griffith’s heart still ached, and her voice was thick with suppressed hurt.

"I kept my dignity, but I was furious."

"I can’t believe a melodramatic soap opera plot actually happened to me. The way his mother looked at me, it was like she was trying to get rid of a piece of merchandise. I’ve never been so insulted in my life."

"If it weren’t for her age and the fact that she’s Sean’s mother, I would have thrown my tea in her face."

Wren Sutton reached out and gently took Isla Griffith’s cold hand, silently transferring her warmth.

"I understand. Anyone would be angry at her attitude, that cold, condescending arrogance."

"But the key here isn’t what Sean’s mother thinks. It’s what Sean thinks—and what he does."

Wren Sutton’s tone was gentle, her reasoning clear and organized.

"You two are a couple. You’re supposed to face the future together. This pregnancy concerns both of you, and his mother’s interference is an obstacle you need to overcome together."

"It’s not fair for you to keep this from him and carry this burden alone. It’s not fair to you, and it’s not fair to him."

"You’re robbing him of his right to know, to make a choice, and to stand by your side."

Isla Griffith froze, looking up at Wren Sutton. "You mean..."

Wren Sutton met her gaze, her voice steady and firm.

"Tell Sean everything. About the check, every word his mother said, even the look in her eyes. Tell him exactly what happened."

"Then, watch his reaction. Will he step up to protect you, to confront his mother and fight for you? Or will he hesitate, fall silent, or even back down? His reaction will be the answer to everything."

It was as if a light had switched on for Isla Griffith. Understanding dawned on her, and the confusion in her eyes began to clear.

Wren continued, her voice filled with sympathy but also an unwavering, sober clarity.

"If Sean is worth it, you can figure this out together. You can fight for your future and plan it out. No matter how difficult the path ahead is, as long as you’re united, you’ll find a way forward. But if he’s not worth it..."

Wren paused, squeezing Isla’s hand.

"Then at least you’ll know the truth now. You won’t waste decades of your life on someone you can’t rely on, someone who won’t stand up for you. It’s better to rip the band-aid off now."

As Isla Griffith listened, fresh tears welled up in her eyes.

She had truly heard her. Her best friend’s words were like a sharp, bright needle, piercing through the fog of her agonizing struggle and exposing the core, unavoidable truth of the matter.

"You’re right. I should tell Sean. Hiding this from him is irresponsible—to me, to the baby, and to our relationship."

Isla Griffith took a deep breath, as if steeling herself to face the truth.

But a moment later, a deeper wave of confusion and fear clouded her eyes.

"But... even if he loves me, even if he’s willing to marry me no matter what... I’m still scared."

"Scared of what?" Wren asked softly.

Isla Griffith wiped away her tears and began to voice the deepest fears in her heart, one by one.

"Marriage is never just about two people; it’s about two families. With a mother-in-law who despises and rejects me to her core, what would my life be like?"

"The coldness between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the constant criticism, the indifference and distance... Won’t all of that slowly eat away at my relationship with Sean, like rust?"

"I don’t want my marriage, my family, to start with a thorn in its side that can never be removed."

"And I certainly don’t want to live a life of constant suppression, where I have to walk on eggshells even in my own home."

Isla Griffith was wavering.

Her love and expectations for Sean were in a fierce tug-of-war with her fear of the harsh realities of the future.

Noticing her friend’s resolve falter, Wren gently pulled Isla into an embrace, letting her rest her head on her shoulder.

"I know," Wren said, her voice soft and gentle.

"You’re not afraid of his mother. You’re afraid of a future with no end in sight, of the loneliness that comes from never being truly accepted."

"A bad relationship with your mother-in-law can definitely become the most persistent, hidden wound in a marriage, slowly eroding the love you started with. That’s not an unfounded fear."

"But the only two outcomes aren’t ’fight back and end up battered and bruised’ or ’give in and be miserable for the rest of your life.’"

"You and Sean haven’t even begun to face this together. How can you be so sure it’s a dead end?"

Isla Griffith sat up a little, a mix of complex emotions swirling within her.

Wren pulled a tissue from a box and handed it to her, her gaze both gentle and firm.

"The first step is Sean’s attitude. That’s the starting point for everything."

"He needs to know exactly what his mother did, and he needs to make it clear whose side he’s on."

"If he chooses to be a coward, or just tries to placate everyone without taking a stand, then all your worries about his mother become meaningless."

"Because if he’s not worth it, you’ll never even get to the point where you have to deal with those problems."

"But if..." Wren slowed her pace.

"If Sean unequivocally chooses you—if he’s willing to have a serious talk with his mother and set boundaries for you and for your child—then the entire situation changes."

"It’s no longer you against his entire family. It’s the two of you, together, facing the pressure from the outside."

A flicker of light returned to Isla Griffith’s eyes, as if she could see the faintest glimmer of possibility.

"Once you have his support and action, then you can move on to step two: figuring out how to build your own little family and how to interact with his."

"Your marriage is your fortress, and you two hold the key."

"Your mother-in-law can be critical, but whether you let her affect your lives depends on whether you and your husband are united."

"Distance can be a weapon, but it can also be a shield. Financial independence gives you confidence, and emotional support is your armor. These are all things you can build and cultivate over time."

"And the worst-case scenario..." Wren didn’t shy away, looking directly into Isla’s eyes.

"...is that you see someone for who they truly are and end the relationship."

"It will be painful, of course, but it will also be a relief."

"You’re still young, you’re capable, you have a job, and you have me."

"The sky isn’t falling. You have a long life ahead of you, and there will be someone out there who is truly worthy of you."

Wren squeezed Isla’s hand, her grip gentle but firm.

"Listen to me. You need to take the first step now. Give the choice—and half the responsibility—to Sean."

"Let him tell you, and let him prove to himself, whether the two of you can really walk this path together."

Isla Griffith was silent for a long time. Her tears slowly subsided, replaced by a complex expression—a mixture of sorrow and fear, but also a desperate courage that had been forced out of her.

She squeezed Wren’s hand back and nodded. Her voice was quiet, but it no longer trembled.

"I understand. I’ll tell Sean everything."

Wren nodded and smiled, relieved.

"So, we’ve untangled that mess in your head."

"But there’s something more urgent right now that we can’t put off."

Wren’s concerned gaze fell on Isla’s still-flat abdomen.

Isla followed her gaze, her fingers clenching unconsciously.

"No matter what you ultimately decide, and no matter how Sean reacts, your health and the well-being of this little life have to come first."

As she spoke, Wren pulled out her phone and began scrolling through her contacts.

"I know a gynecologist. She’s wonderful—very professional and understanding. Let’s make an appointment. I’ll go with you to the hospital for a full check-up."

"We’ll get your hCG and progesterone levels checked, and it’d be best to get an ultrasound, too, to make sure the embryo is intrauterine and see how it’s developing."

Watching her friend bustle about, looking up information for her, Isla felt a familiar prickle in her nose. This time, however, it wasn’t from sorrow, but from a deep, heartwarming sense of gratitude.

"Honey, I’m so glad I have you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you."

"It’s easy to feel lost when it’s happening to you," Wren said. "But I still remember when I first got pregnant. You ran around doing everything for me, went with me to the hospital several times, talked me through it, and encouraged me. When I was giving birth to Owen and Nina, you were crying your eyes out in worry outside the operating room."

Isla gave an embarrassed smile at the memory. Of course she remembered how hard she’d cried, how red her eyes had been.

"I was crying because I was worried about you!"

"I know," Wren said. "So now it’s my turn to be there for you."

The talk of childbirth made Isla suddenly remember something.

"Oh, right. You’ve been away for a while. Won’t Owen and Nina be making a fuss?"

Wren shook her head. "They won’t. Adrian took the two of them to my parents’ house."

"Oh, they’re at their grandma’s. That’s a relief."

Isla’s expression relaxed.

"Speaking of Adrian, how’s he been doing lately? Sean hasn’t stopped singing his praises to me, making his cousin sound like a saint. He even asked me to put in a good word for him with you."

"So, what’s the deal with you two now? Are you back together, or...?"

Wren didn’t answer. She just put her phone away with a straight face and checked the time.

"My situation with Adrian isn’t the priority right now. Your situation with Sean is. I just made the appointment. We leave for the hospital in an hour."

Isla was speechless.