Chapter 340: The decision is made.
The silence which followed, could only be found in the deepest part of the night. None of the couples wanted to volunteer to divorce.
Sienna sighed and addressed Noah and Willow. "Why did you two marry in another city?"
Willow answered, voice trembling. "Because we knew the law of the fox tribe would forbid it. If we applied for a marriage license in this city, we would be denied one. But we are not siblings. We are lovers. We could not wait."
Mr. Shade’s jaw tightened. "And now you jeopardize this family. You have always been the smart one Willow. I thought you had a good were helping Noah become a better man, not a careless one. Do you really think your mother and I should sacrifice our marriage for yours? You deserve happiness, doesn’t she?"
His question seemed to strike a chord in Sienna, and she nearly snapped back on Willow’s behalf, but Noah responded to his father first.
Noah shot back. "I am not careless, I am taking responsibility for my feelings. For the promises I made Willow years ago. Don’t blackmail her emotionally with that question about her mother deserving happiness because she deserves happiness too. You two have had each other for only two years. We’ve loved each other since childhood. We were together first. We have been each other’s firsts in everything. We were waiting to become adults, to finish school and get good jobs before settling down. We have been planning our lives out since we first met. Why should we be the ones to give up?"
The room echoed with their arguments. The lawyers scribbled notes, Captain George watched in silence, Mija and Mika watched in glee. Sienna herself felt the weight of judgement pressing down.
Sienna closed her eyes briefly, recalling her own issues with her mother’s dating life and her mother-in-law’s troubles. She knew too well the pain of being forced to choose between love and duty.
She opened her eyes. "This is not about which couple loves the most or which deserves to stay married the most. It is about what the law can sustain. If both marriages stand, the family tree collapsed into contradiction. The law demands clarity."
Mrs. Shade whispered, "Matriarch....please. Do not destroy us. Do not force us to destroy each other."
Sienna’s voice softened. "I would not choose to be in the position to break your families apart if I could. Giving up a marriage certificate does not mean giving up love. There are other options here that I can suggest. One couple can move to another city and live there without a marriage license."
"I have a business here, I can’t move." Mr. Shade quickly rejected her suggestion. "Besides, our friends already know we are married."
Sienna slapped the table. "I am offering help, you are not. Unless you have a better suggestion or you are willing to sign the divorce papers I suggest you shut up and listen." She looked at the couples. "I do not want to make the decision alone. Is anyone here willing to divorce and move to another city to continue living as a couple?"
Both couples did not react. But, the answer was obvious.
Sienna sighed. "In that case, I will make the decision for all of you."
Silence fell.
Sienna exhaled before giving her judgement. "Mr and Mrs. Shade, you two should divorce."
Mrs. Shade gasped. "No! I will not lose my husband. We fought too hard to be together. Do you know how hard life was for Willow and I after her father passed? If he....."
"Mrs. Shade." Sienna raised her voice sharply. "You and your husband have already had one chance at love. You had Willow’s father and he had Noah’s mother. I am sure that you both bonded over the grief of your dead spouses and it brought you closer. I am truly happy for you because you got to lean on each other and heal. But I candidly think the universe does not owe you a second chance at love with each other.
Your children have been together for so long. Think of the efforts they put into their relationship, maintaining it even after Noah moved away. They have been together longer than most married couples that have walked into my office. I think they deserve a chance at happiness. They deserve to be with each other. Whether it works out in future or not, at least they will have taken the chance.
They will not live with regrets. They will never resent their parents to forcing them to separate. If they divorce today, and end up in miserable marriages, I promise that they will blame you two forever. As the adults, as their parents, I advise you not to allow a fracture to form in your families. I urge you not to be selfish over something so small like a piece of paper.
If you two want to be together, do so, at your own discretion. As long as there is no legal family tree marking Noah and Willow as sister and brother, my office will not give a damn about your relationship. And I think your children feel the same way." She looked at Willow and Noah. "Am I right?"
Noah nodded, and so did Willow.
"Mama has my blessing to be with Mr. Shade." Willow said softly.
The fact that Willow and Noah did not address each other’s parents as mom and dad did not skip Sienna’s notice. Right from the beginning, the young couple had never planned to live like siblings, it seemed.
Mr. Shade looked at his wife, than at his son. His eyes were weary. Finally, he looked at Sienna and said, "We are older. Perhaps it is right that we step aside. Let the children have their future."
Mrs. Shade exploded into a loud, sad, wail, as if she was grieving the death of another husband. Willow started to move towards her but Noah held her back, gripping her hand tight. His body language was screaming, ’I will not lose you at all costs.’