Alex immediately stepped forward, greeting her with a respectful bow.
"Good afternoon, ma'am."
Her expression softened, and she offered him a warm smile. "Alex, dear, it's always a pleasure to see you."
Without missing a beat, she glances at Richard, her gaze cold. "I'm so sorry you had to witness this trash bag's ridiculous behavior tonight. He doesn't know his place "
The brothers-in-law snickered, eyeing Richard with disdain. "Our little slave wants a divorce?" One of them taunted, as the others laughed in unison.
Linda and Lydia bowed slightly as their mother took a seat on the plush couch.
"Welcome, Mother," they said, together, all traces of humor gone as they deferred to her presence.
Katherine glanced at Alex, Linda, and Lydia, a faint smile playing on her lips. But her focus quickly shifted back to Richard, her eyes sharp and expectant as she waited for him to speak.
Richard held her gaze, his heart racing, but his voice steady. "I want a divorce," he repeated, more firmly this time. "And I'm not going to change my mind about it."
The room remained tense, everyone watching him, waiting for what he'd say next. Richard squared his shoulders, his resolve unshaken. "I'd rather test my chances outside than stay here and be treated like a pig."
Linda opened her mouth, ready to protest, but before she could utter a word, Katherine lifted her hand in a swift motion, silencing her daughter.
Richard's gaze remained locked on Katherine, but he could sense the frustration simmering in Linda as she was forced into silence. The room was charged with unspoken tension, the weight of Richard's words hanging in the air.
Lydia, watching from the side, couldn't hide her excitement. She quickly sat down, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, eager for the inevitable clash between Richard and her mother. A smirk tugged at her lips as she leaned back, ready to enjoy the unfolding drama.
Katherine's eyes remained fixed on Richard for a moment longer, as if weighing her next move. Then, without breaking her gaze, she spoke to Linda.
"Linda, darling, why don't you attend to your guest? We wouldn't want to bore our esteemed Alex with all this... domestic nonsense," she said smoothly, dismissing the tension with a casual wave of her hand.
Alex, always quick to seize an opportunity, stepped forward with a confident smile. "Why don't you come with me, Linda? We can head to my executive lounge and discuss the finer details of our business meeting."
Linda nodded, casting Richard one last glance, half contempt, half amusement, before turning on her heel. She looped her arm through Alex's, her smile returning as they walked toward the door.
"We'll be back later, Mother," Linda called over her shoulder.
Katherine offered a graceful nod, watching them leave. The door closed behind them, and the room fell into a heavy silence once again.
"Mother," Jack spoke up, yawning as if the entire situation bored him. He stretched lazily, casting a disinterested glance at Richard. "It's been a while since we beat some sense into this fool's twisted head. That's probably why he's got the audacity to mention the word 'divorce.'"
He smirked, his words dripping with disdain as he looked over at his brothers, who quickly shared in his amusement.
"Yeah, bro," Philip chimed in, his grin widening as he leaned back in his chair. "I do enjoy it when we beat the crap out of him. It's always a good time."
The brothers chuckled together, their laughter ringing out in the room, as if the idea of physically tormenting Richard was nothing more than a casual pastime. Their eyes gleamed with anticipation, eager for Katherine's approval.
Richard stood his ground, feeling the familiar weight of their cruelty bearing down on him, but he kept his eyes fixed on Katherine, refusing to back down this time.
"You will do no such thing," Katherine's voice cut through the room, sharp and commanding. "No one touches Richard."
The air grew still as everyone froze in shock. Jack and Philip exchanged bewildered glances, clearly not expecting this reaction. Even Richard, who had been bracing himself for their usual cruelty, stood stunned.
Ever since he had married into this family, Katherine had never called him by his name—not once. Hearing it now, from her lips, sent a ripple of surprise through him.
"Mother, what do you mean?" Mark, her second-born son, asked, his confusion evident. He glanced from his brothers to his mother, unsure of what was happening.
Katherine ignored his question entirely, her gaze never leaving Richard. There was something unreadable in her eyes, and for the first time, Richard couldn't tell what she was thinking.
"I understand you're frustrated, son-in-law," Katherine said, her tone suddenly softer, almost gentle. "We haven't been good to you, that much is clear. But deep down, I know you love your wife, Linda."
Richard's confusion deepened. He stood there, speechless, trying to grasp the sudden change in Katherine's demeanor. He didn't trust it—this family had never shown him an ounce of respect, and now she was speaking as if she cared.
All he could do was watch, waiting to see where this unexpected twist would lead.
Katherine reached into her purse and pulled out a sleek business card. She held it out to Richard, her eyes fixed on him. "Let's start on a fresh page, son-in-law. How about I get you a job?"
Richard blinked, unsure of what to say. The idea of Katherine helping him in any way seemed unreal.
"Take this card," she continued, her voice calm and steady. "It's a booming company. Tell them Katherine sent you, and they'll offer you a position. A good one."
Richard stared at the card, torn between suspicion and curiosity. Was this some sort of manipulation, or had Katherine truly decided to change her approach? He hesitated, still unsure of her intentions.
Katherine's children watched her in bewilderment, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion. They seemed to wonder if this was some kind of dream.
Finally, Richard moved forward and took the card from her hand, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface. The gesture felt surreal, almost too simple to carry such weight.
He cleared his throat, forcing the words out. "Thank you, Mother."
"Go now," Katherine replied, her tone shifting back to its usual authority, cutting him off before he could say more.
With that, Richard quickly turned on his heel and hurried out of the mansion, the heavy door closing behind him with a finality that echoed in the stillness.
Finally, Lydia found her voice. "Mother? I don't understand. Why are you doing this?"
Philip jumped in, his tone incredulous. "He doesn't deserve this, Mother! You're just letting the rat out of his cage."
Jack leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "We need an explanation, Mother."
With a sinister smile curling around her lips, Katherine regarded her children, her demeanor shifting. "The best way to permanently deal with a rat is to release it from its cage and allow the cats to handle it."
The air in the room grew tense as her words sank in. "That scumbag," she continued, her voice rising with anger, "has the audacity to talk about divorce in this mansion."
Her smile quickly faded, replaced by a fierce glare. "The humiliations he's about to face are nothing compared to what he has seen in this house."
Jack's lips curled into a mischievous smile, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Well played, Mother."
Philip chuckled darkly, the atmosphere thick with their shared excitement. They were ready to see Richard squirm, and Katherine's plan only fueled their eagerness for the drama to unfold.