Claudia rubbed her temples, a headache coming on. This was a classic case of trying to be clever and failing miserably.
Her original plan was to get York and Ann into bed together, then blow the situation up with Ann's cooperation, using public opinion to force York to divorce her.
Instead, she had ended up trapping herself, and now there was a rift between Ann and York.
But in Ann's eyes, Claudia's silence was a sign of guilt.
With no ideas of her own, Claudia sat on the sofa, trying to think of a solution. "Do you have any good ideas?" she asked Ann.
Ann stared hard at Claudia's face, then hesitated before saying, "I have one idea, but I don't know if you'd be willing to do it."
Claudia looked up at her. "Go on."
"Pick a man, sleep with him once, and I'll bring York to catch you in the act," Ann said. "When York sees you in bed with another man, he'll definitely divorce you!"
Claudia stood up with a cold laugh. "Ann, I want a divorce, yes, but I'm not going to play games with my own reputation and body."
Ann's emotions started to spiral. "Don't make it sound so noble! You knew drugging York wouldn't work, but you still pushed me to do it. You're lying about wanting a divorce! You're just jealous of me. Everything you've done is to drive a wedge between me and York. You never planned on divorcing him at all!"
Claudia couldn't be bothered to argue. "If you think I'm deceiving you, then you can just go back to wherever you came from. York loves you so much, he'll find you even if you're far away. You should go."
"I was born here, I grew up here," Claudia continued. "My family, my friends, my career—it's all here. You expect me to give all that up, to leave my comfort zone and go into exile for some jerk? You two aren't worth it."
Ann shot back, "All this just proves you can't let go of York and the Ferguson family's wealth and status!"
Claudia was speechless. "Ann, instead of wasting your energy provoking me, you should be thinking about how to get York to divorce me."
"And remember this, Ann," Claudia said, her voice sharp. "As long as York and I are married, we are a legal couple. I can spend his money however I want, and I can sleep with him whenever I want. And if one day I have a change of heart and decide to give the Ferguson family an heir, then there will be truly nothing left for you."
"So, while I'm still willing, you'd better hurry up and find a way to make York divorce me."

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