Mr. CEO Your Wife Has Wanted a Divorce for a Long Time novel Chapter 467

**Freedom 467**

**Chapter 467**

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood, the Brown and Green families noticed Julia bustling about, preparing to head out. An air of anticipation filled the room, but it quickly turned sour when the news broke.

Tracy, her frustration palpable, slammed her foot against the floor, the sound echoing in the quiet evening. “He came back just this afternoon? Just half a day too late! The decision period has already passed!” Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and anger, each word punctuated by the weight of their collective disappointment.

Sophia, quick to align with Tracy’s sentiments, chimed in with fervor, “Exactly! It feels like such a waste!”

The mood in the room shifted as others nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting the same blend of frustration and regret.

Just two days prior, Julia had shared her thoughts on Franklin’s likely absence before the deadline. Though they had all braced themselves for the worst, a flicker of hope lingered in their hearts. Perhaps Franklin was orchestrating a grand surprise, planning to show up unannounced, ready to finalize his divorce from Maggie before the clock ran out.

But reality had proven harsh.

He had truly missed his chance.

The window for their hopes had closed, and as they processed the news of his return, the weight of regret settled heavily upon them. If only he had arrived just a few hours earlier, the divorce would have been finalized, and they would be celebrating a new beginning for Julia.

Now, due to those precious, lost hours, they faced the grim reality of waiting at least another month.

Yet, as the saying goes, what’s done is done. Complaining would not alter the outcome.

Old Mrs. Green, her voice tinged with nostalgia, sighed deeply. “It has been quite some time since Franklin joined us for dinner. We can’t predict how busy he’ll be going forward, but Julia, if he has a moment, please extend an invitation. We owe him our gratitude for all he has done for us.”

Julia, taking in her grandmother’s words, nodded quietly, offering a soft “Okay,” though her heart felt heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Meanwhile, after a long day at work, Maggie found herself dining out with Johnny, Nolan, and Yulia. The laughter and chatter around the table provided a temporary distraction, but it was fleeting.

Once dinner concluded, she and Yulia ventured out for some late-night shopping, the streets buzzing with life. But as the clock ticked closer to nine, Maggie felt the familiar tug of anxiety as they returned home.

Upon entering, she spotted several unread messages from Isabella, her heart quickening. The texts revealed that Franklin had brought gifts for both of them, and Isabella promised to deliver Maggie’s in a few days.

Staring at the screen, she hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Finally, she replied with a simple, “Okay,” but the word felt inadequate, a mere whisper against her swirling thoughts.

Both Maggie and Johnny looked up, their eyes widening in surprise as Franklin strolled into the conference room, his demeanor calm and collected.

He greeted them with a polite nod, his expression carefully composed.

Maggie felt her heart skip a beat, a rush of emotions flooding through her.

Johnny’s brows knitted together in instant concern.

Then the meeting commenced, and everything unfolded as they had anticipated. Franklin remained seated throughout the session, listening intently but contributing little.

It became increasingly clear that his presence was unnecessary; the discussion at hand had nothing to do with him.

So why had he bothered to show up?

Johnny, unable to contain his frustration, leaned closer and whispered under his breath, “You still think he’s too busy? Looks to me like he’s got plenty of free time.”

Maggie bit her lip, grappling with a mix of hope and despair, as the meeting continued, each moment stretching out like an eternity.