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546words
Tears sprang instantly. She shrank into Alexander.
He shielded her immediately, his look accusing.
"She's pregnant! Must you terrorize her?"
Before I could speak, a look of dawning comprehension crossed his face. His voice softened.
"Victoria, I get it now. Why you're making this scene."
He lowered his voice, like soothing a tantrum.
"You just want me home."
"Once Chloe has the baby, I'll send her abroad. Everything goes back to how it was. Nothing changes."
I laughed at his sheer audacity.
Laughed until my throat tightened.
If I'd married for alliance like my family wanted, I wouldn't care about mistresses.
Business marriages are resource mergers. Separate lives are the norm.
But Alexander... he...
He was different.
He was the one clutching that intern-paycheck ring, promising he'd only ever look at me.
He was the one kneeling in that garden of gold roses, vowing to give me the purest marriage.
He was the one with red-rimmed eyes, swearing our love would never be like other hollow society unions.
Now he stood here, casually framing betrayal as inevitable.
I realized my biggest mistake.
Was wanting his heart.
Peel back the facade...
And it was rotten to the core.
I couldn't bear to look at him anymore, turning to the still-sniffling Chloe.
"Miss Summers just said you only love him?"
Chloe's sobs hitched.
I slowly flipped the divorce papers.
"Fitzgerald shares. Properties. Jewels..."
"If you only want him, these material things shouldn't matter, right?"
I pushed the papers towards her, smiling sweetly.
"Why not sign right now? Prove you truly don't want Fitzgerald money?"
"You dowant to be the rightful Mrs. Fitzgerald, don't you?"
Chloe lifted her chin, disdainful. "I'm nothing like you. I love Alex. I'd love him no matter what."
I gave slow, deliberate applause, turning to Alexander. "Hear that?"
Alexander's phone rang abruptly.
He answered. His face grew grimmer.
"Sir, the offshore accounts are frozen too..."
"They said if you don't sign within thirty minutes, they'll start liquidating all personal assets..."
He slammed the phone down. Bloodshot eyes met mine.
I slid the pen towards him. "Sign. Don't make your true love drink rainwater."
Alexander stared at the papers, knuckles white.
Under Chloe's anxious gaze, he finally signed with a trembling hand.
He gritted out the words.
"Victoria, you're burning every bridge. You'll regret this."
"Alexander Fitzgerald doesn't look back. Even if you beg on your knees, I won't forgive you!"
I nodded, ignoring the sharp pain in my chest.
Ten years. Ended like this.
So ugly.
I turned, handing the signed papers to the lawyers. "Gentlemen, the rest is yours."
Then, facing the stunned crowd, my voice rang clear.
"Effective immediately, Sterling Holdings severs all ties with Alexander Fitzgerald."
My heels clicked on the marble. Whispers rose behind me.
"The Sterlings are cutting him off completely..."
"With Fitzgerald Holdings like this... should we...?"
"But Alex istalented... what if he bounces back...?"
"The Sterlings made their stance crystal clear..."
Chloe's tearful voice rose shrilly. "Alex! What about our—"
I pushed open the heavy oak doors. Night air, heavy with the scent of fall, rushed in.
The fickle whispers were finally shut out.
Let's see.
How a man stripped bare, dragging along a clueless tattoo artist,
Plans to make a comeback in Manhattan.
