To hear Helen say the t.i.tle out loud, made Ellie s.h.i.+ver .   She still wasn't used to it . She hoped as Helen had mentioned she would forget to mind it eventually .   Ellie continued with her thoughts . "I'm glad that even though everything happened so quickly that Henry still decided that coming to England with me is something that he wants to do .   I hope that within the next month that I can decide whether or not we have a future . "

"It'll work out somehow .   I know you can do it . Even if you weren't in the position you wanted to be, you would always manage to finish the race . "

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"I'm nothing like you, I could just be bold when I'm around him . " Ellie looked past Helen for a moment as she saw someone who had the same height that Henry .   She considered it must be him for a moment before she noticed the streak of blonde hair and the woman he was lugging behind him who was dragging her feet in the uneven snow covered pavement .   Ellie remembered how Henry's arms had felt when he had touched her . Involuntarily, she looked back at her friends while setting back the cup she had been holding onto the table . "I do feel again and again that I won't be successful at all, but I can't let my s.h.i.+p sink without trying to save it . "

Helen looked at her with concern .   "May sure not to go down while you're trying to fix your s.h.i.+p .   Henry isn't worth losing yourself for . There are a lot of fish in the sea since you're using ocean metaphors . "

Ellie smiled and stood .   They exchanged goodbyes before agreeing that they would need to meet again soon .   Helen gave Ellie one languorous final wave before she disappeared into the crowd . Ellie's feet were sore from walking and sitting for so long .   She considered for a moment to head over to Nolan's apartment before deciding that she would instead go in a more productive and proactive direction .   Ellie stepped off the sidewalk and hailed a yellow cab taxi . The driver looked at her begrudgingly as she told him to take her to Mr . Chou offices . Mr Chou was the Wong family lawyer, technically since she was still married, he was her lawyer too now . In her conversation with Helen, she had reminded Ellie that now she had wealth she should make sure that Henry wouldn't take advantage of it . Ellie was sure that he wouldn't but wanted to be sure for her own clear thinking .

Ellie felt furthered relieved when she was told she didn't have a long wait to see the wizened old lawyer . The lawyer drew her into a conference room and the tap of his fingers slowly turned to a removal of his gla.s.ses as Ellie explained how she had recently come into her own money and land . "That's simply an extraordinary story to see that someone of our Chinese blood can also be a part of British aristocracy . I did read about it on the internet but did not know that lucky lady would be married to one of my longtime clients . How fantastic that a good fortune met a good hearted person . I'm so happy to serve you, I apologize if it seems rude by British law by comparison to American Law is simply fascinating . Some colleagues and I were just discussing your case and the logistics of it . Of course you can trust my discretion so you can remain your anonymity until the process is formalized . " Chou cleared his throat as he struggled to return his excitement to business detachement . "Hearing this good news makes me wonder if the newly minted Baron, would like to retain his honors by staying married to you? I hope so . It will be so exciting to write letters with the strange punctuation . It would be just the best story to tell our prospective clients that n.o.bility use our services . "

"I can't speak for Henry . He has his own mind . Based on our past discussions I think he is still set on getting an annulment .   It's mine as well . " Ellie felt the words in her mouth leave with some hesitation as she wondered if it was still what she wanted . She coughed to gather her thoughts . "Because of the immediacy of some of the repairs of my main property in the United Kingdom, Henry and I have agreed that we will be leaving together to England . If we will be there for a while it is I think a good idea to start the process here so it can be rolling while we're gone and finished when we're back . "

Chou tapped his finger against the table so his heavy wedding ring clanged loudly . Both his and Ellie's eyes were drawn to it as he spoke . "I respect your opinion, but don't know if it would be the best idea to file immediately . There are many perks of being married to a Wong . As an ambitious woman you could very well take advantage of these things to further yourself . I know you have only just recovered from surgery and your circ.u.mstance has changed very quickly . I mean no offense, but before all your privileges are no longer available to you, are there things you want?"

"Henry is a wonderful man . He has always given me everything . I didn't know anything about him before I married him so these privileges I have no idea of . I would like to leave the marriage the same way I started—-with nothing . The Wong fortune is nothing I am looking for . I am sure I will be more secure to start my life single than I will be in this marriage . " Ellie could see that Chou wanted her to continue but his increased interest cut off her point . She knew that she had always been a stubborn person, but the thought of growing comfortable at the Wong building made her feel strangely sick . She didn't want her good intent of just marrying him for the will to be spoiled by the security she felt with a rich partner . It was dangerous to be lulled in by a comfort that if he changed his mind would disappear . She would not stick around for him to look at her like a kept woman . She could see Chou nodding as he had a paralegal bring forth the doc.u.ments . Ellie knew it was better to take this leap then let the monster of uncertainty catch up to her . She would have to stay one step ahead, even if she didn't want to . Henry had to be the one to make a decision because honestly, Ellie couldn't trust herself to look at all that money and say a firm no