"Vincent Gray, look into my eyes and tell me truthfully, do you still love, and think of me as your rightful wife?"
Vincent went silent instantly. He wasn't sure how to answer the question that Chloe asked. When they first got married, he thought that he would love her forever and have many children with her. Having a family of his own was nice, but when she got pregnant, Vincent got impatient waiting to have sex, so he went outside and started fucking around to relieve himself.
That first time he cheated, an incredible ecstasy overwhelmed him. He couldn't stop after one incident - he was addicted to that feeling, causing his behavior to spiral to the point of no return. He continued to cheat on many women while ignoring Chloe. After Mackenzie was born, his habit only got worse.
If he said he loved her, she might tear through it and call him insincere, and she wouldn't be wrong.
Chloe bit her lower lip, and the tears started streaming freely from the edge of her eyes, "Fine, I'll ask you a simple question!" She stammered. "Are you willing to fuck me just like you did before I got pregnant?"
…
Another question was left unanswered.
Vincent wouldn't lie that he felt so gross to even think about fucking Chloe when she got fat from pregnancy. Plus, the years of mothering Mackenzie made Chloe fatter and unkempt, giving Vincent more reasons to sleep with his secretary and even more women outside.
Even after Chloe had reverted back to her original body...
Vincent gulped. He was absolutely tongue-tied right now, unable to answer any question from Chloe.
Chloe's heart sank when she realized that Vincent didn't say anything. She knew that she was already undesirable to him. There was no reason to stay.
"I'll take your silence as a no then." Chloe spat out, her face red with anger. "Fine then. That's a good reason for a divorce. Sign the paper. I'll handle the rest—"
"No."
Chloe was astonished when Vincent still firmly refused.
"What do you want then? What do you want from this kind of loveless marriage? If it's about Mackenzie, we can take turns parenting and make her feel there's nothing wrong between us. Simple as that," Chloe said.
She shook her head out of disbelief, she just couldn't understand this man at all. "I just can't, Vincent. You don't desire me at all and you forced me to play house while you fuck around outside. Do you think I'm just a piece of furniture in your house? Are you fucking mad?!"
Chloe struggled again, and Vincent finally released the grip on her wrists. She looked at Vincent, her eyes glazed with tears.
Vincent took a deep breath. He had to pin this back on Chloe. She shouldn't be talking back to him!
"Do you think I'm stupid? I know you - you just want to take half my money from the divorce settlement, so you can sleep with other men, ain't that right?" Vincent asked. He sounded calm when he accused Chloe of such a thing.
"Leech." He spat out at the end.
"How dare you! I don't need your fucking money, not after all this!" Chloe yelled. "I will only take my belongings and my daughter. Nothing else!"
Chloe walked off from Vincent and went to their bedroom. She had already packed everything in big luggage— containing only her clothes and a few bags and shoes.
She returned to Vincent, who stood still, eyeing her like a hawk.
"Sign the divorce paper. I can't wait for us to officially end our relationship in court," Chloe said. She walked to the front door, and Vincent finally reacted.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Anywhere that's not here. I will bring Mackenzie's stuff with me after finding a place to settle. It won't take long." Chloe said firmly.
"You won't survive, Chloe. You won't be able to work anywhere. You're 35 years old. Nobody wants an old woman like you-" Vincent said ruthlessly.
Chloe halted her steps and looked over her shoulder. She was so hurt that she wanted to cry again. But there were no more tears to be shed. She was done with him.
"I hope you won't say the same thing to your next woman, Vincent Gray."
Chloe finally left the house, leaving Vincent alone in the home they built together. She called a taxi and asked the driver to go to the nearest motel because she didn't have much money.
Chloe turned her head and watched the beautiful home she treasured so much. She had a lot of memories there, but the bad memories outweighed the good ones.
'My beautiful family….' Chloe mumbled, lamenting over her shattered family.
**
Meanwhile, Vincent was still trying to process what had just happened. He sat on the sofa and put the divorce paper on the table.
He grumbled and placed his hands against his head. Did he really say those hurtful things to Chloe just to vent out his anger? His instinct told him not to divorce her, despite him being unsure if he still loved her or not.
The divorce settlement wasn't an issue. He had so much money from his company and inheritance. Even if Chloe had to get half, he would still be filthy rich.
Signing this paper would mean that he could be free from the guilt of cheating. He could sleep with anyone he liked without repercussions, and Chloe had already said that she would take Mackenzie with her.
He would be free...
"But why?" Vincent asked himself as he continued pondering. "Why can't I sign this divorce paper?"
Vincent sat in a daze for a while until he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He checked the caller, thinking it would be Chloe who changed her mind.
But it was someone else…
Vincent picked up the call and was greeted with the familiar voice of a man that disappeared for ten years and reappeared as a young CEO.
"What is it, Vernon?" Vincent asked.
"Big brother, are you free today? It's been a while since we met, why don't we grab lunch together?"
Vincent sighed, he missed his long-missing little brother a lot, but he wasn't in the best condition right now.
"I can't right now. There's a problem."
"A problem? Is it a big one? Can I help?"
"It's not that important. I'll tell you later, okay?"
"Sure, Big bro."
Meanwhile, Vernon's eyes didn't leave the sight of his sister-in-law with a huge luggage, flagging down a taxi. The taxi driver helped her put it in the boot, and Vernon finally hung up as he watched the taxi drive away from the mansion.
It seemed that he stumbled upon a goldmine in his bid to take down his older brother.
"Not that important? Then let me make her a big problem for you, Big bro."