Chapter 7
585words
I chose my father's private club—neutral ground with friendly security.
Nathan arrived with that insufferable smugness of a man who thinks he's won.
"Iris, I'm glad you've come to your senses," he began, settling into his chair like a king granting audience. "Couples shouldn't hold grudges. I've already spoken to Vivian, and she's agreed to be more... discreet."
"Nathan," I cut him off, sliding a document across the polished table, "let's discuss Cosmos Technology's ownership structure."
The smugness evaporated from his face.
He scanned the document, and his expression collapsed like a house of cards.
"Equity transfer agreement?" He shot to his feet, voice rising. "What the hell is this supposed to mean?" His eyes bulged with shock and dawning horror.
"It means," I said, lifting my teacup and blowing gently across the surface, "that effective immediately, Cosmos Technology belongs to the Harrington family."
"Impossible!" he roared, face flushing crimson. "I built Cosmos from nothing! You have no right!"
"On what grounds?" I set down my cup and met his gaze with arctic calm. "Be honest with yourself, Nathan. Without the Harrington name and money, would Cosmos even exist? Your 'genius' was built on the foundation my family laid for you."
"You... you..." He jabbed a finger at me, trembling so violently he couldn't form coherent words.
"I always believed that as husband and wife, what's mine is yours. I willingly stood in your shadow, letting you bask in the CEO spotlight while stroking that fragile ego of yours."
I rose slowly, looking down at him.
"But I was wrong. I treated you as a partner. You treated me as a stepping stone. I'm done being your doormat."
"You have two options." I held up two fingers. "One: walk away with nothing. You and your little side family disappear from my life completely. For Andy's sake, I'll let you keep the hollow title of 'Founder' so you save some face."
"Two: I'll see you in court, where I'll present evidence of your affair and misappropriation of marital assets. You'll lose everything—including what's left of your reputation."
Nathan stared at me like I was a stranger—one who terrified him.
He never imagined his compliant, gentle wife could be this ruthless.
"Iris..." he attempted one last plea, his voice breaking. "Do we really need to do this? Think about Andy..."
"Stop using Andy as a shield," I cut him off icily. "You don't deserve to call yourself his father."
I slapped the paternity test report against his chest.
"Take a good look. See whose son your precious 'Leo' really is."
Nathan took the report, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
When he reached the conclusion, he went completely still.
His eyes widened, bloodshot and wild. Shock, rage, and humiliation contorted his handsome features into something barely human.
"No..." he muttered, his sanity visibly cracking. "Impossible... this is fake! You forged this! You're lying to me!"
"Get another test if you don't believe me," I said coldly.
Nathan aged a decade in seconds, collapsing into his chair with vacant eyes.
Nothing destroys a man's pride more thoroughly than discovering he's been raising another man's child for seven years.
Looking at his broken form, I felt nothing but ice in my veins. "Your decision?"
In the end, Nathan chose to walk away with nothing.
He lacked the courage to face me in court—and the dignity to face that cruel truth publicly.
Like a beaten dog, he signed both agreements with a trembling hand.
