Mr. CEO Your Wife Has Wanted a Divorce for a Long Time novel Chapter 466

**Freedom 466**
**Chapter 466**

As the final day of the decision period drew to a close, Franklin had yet to make his appearance.

Just like that, the window of opportunity slammed shut.

Maggie had held onto the hope that he would return within a matter of days, but the very next morning, while she was deep in conversation about work with Johnny, an unexpected call shattered her thoughts.

“Mom, Dad’s back!” Isabella exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement, as if she had just discovered a hidden treasure.

Johnny let out a short, incredulous laugh, disbelief etched across his features. “So he didn’t return earlier or later, but right after the deadline? This has to be intentional, doesn’t it?” His tone was laced with sarcasm, and Maggie could sense the irritation simmering beneath the surface.

Maggie placed her phone down gently, a frown creasing her brow. “It’s just a coincidence,” she replied, though her own heart wavered at the thought.

Of course, it had to be mere chance. There was no other explanation.

Johnny, however, was not so easily convinced. The annoyance in his eyes was unmistakable. “Maybe you should just file for divorce directly,” he muttered under his breath, his frustration palpable. “Though with the court’s schedule, that’ll take at least a month anyway—”

Before they could delve deeper into that painful topic, a sharp knock on the door interrupted their conversation, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

Meanwhile, in the group chat shared by Franklin, Levi, Harry, and Julia, a message suddenly illuminated the screen.

Franklin: Dinner tonight?

Levi, ever the quick responder, was on it immediately.

Levi: …

Wait. You’re back? When did you land?

Franklin: Just got off the plane.

Levi stared at his screen, the disbelief growing as he sent a string of three dots, a visual representation of his confusion.

Levi: ……….

Seriously? Just two days ago, there were barely forty-eight hours left in your decision period. I called to see if you could make it back, and you said no, not for a while. I had thought you’d be away for weeks—and now you’re already home? Couldn’t you have arrived just one day earlier? Your decision period is over, man!

Julia had seen Franklin’s message the moment it pinged into the chat, though she chose to remain silent.

She had tried to reach him several times while he was overseas, but he had never answered. Eventually, he returned one of her calls, but when she had asked, “When are you coming back?” just two days earlier, he had given her the same vague response he had offered Levi: “Not soon.”

She had taken him at his word, convinced he would show up a few days later, just to maintain appearances.

Harry, who had just wrapped up a long day at work, stumbled upon the messages and froze for a moment, processing the implications behind them.

Then, with a measured calm, he typed a simple reply.

Harry: @Franklin I’m free. See you tonight.

Franklin: Good.

Levi: …

Julia, on the other hand, had been anxiously awaiting Franklin’s response to Levi’s pointed inquiry, but he chose to ignore it entirely.

His silence felt like a heavy weight pressing down on her chest. Her fingers tightened around her phone, and she remained frozen, caught in a web of uncertainty and frustration.

Then, her phone buzzed again, breaking the stillness.

It was a private message from Franklin.

Franklin: Busy?