"Roderick, I have a birthday gift for you."
In the large living room of the Santos family, Clara Watson, Roderick's mother-in-law, said icily as she placed a package on the table before them.
Next to her was a young, handsome man, Roderick Holmes, who was dressed in casual wear and had an apron on.
Roderick's eyes lit up in surprise as he unwrapped the package with excitement. His gaze fell on a file inside the box, and he happily checked it out.
After he flipped through it, the excitement on his face wiped away when he found out it was a divorce file.
"What is this?" he was stupefied by what he saw.
Clara's face flushed with disgust. "Can't you see what it is? Today will be the end of the marriage between you and my daughter. Hurry up and sign the file and stop asking me unnecessary questions."
Roderick paused, trying to understand this better, but he was unable to fathom it.
"Felicia and I have been happily married for two years, and we both love each other. Why do we have to divorce?"
"Because you are a stain on her reputation. A good-for-nothing husband like you is incompatible with my daughter, the CEO of the highly successful Santos Corporation."
Roderick was stunned and felt extremely disappointed to hear this.
Two years ago, Santos Corporation was an unknown and struggling company until Roderick married into the family and secretly took them to higher ground.
Now that the Santos Corporation is at the top, he is considered trash.
A bitter smile appeared on Roderick's face. "I can't believe that I'm now a smear in the eyes of the Santos family."
Clara's eyes flashed in anger as she smirked. "You have always been useless all your life. I don't know why father married Felicia to you. You're nothing but scum!"
Roderick felt extremely hurt by her cold words, but he nodded slowly. "You are right."
His response agitated Clara. How can someone be so useless and feel unbothered about it?
However, the emotions on Roderick's face cleared at that moment. He raised his head and said, "Felicia should confront me herself if she truly wants a divorce. It's not anyone else's business."
"She doesn't have the time!" Clara barked.
"She's a busy CEO, and people with names queue before her office. Do you expect her to leave important matters to attend to you?"
This seemed to clarify more about the matter for Roderick. Felicia had become so out of reach that even having a divorce with him meant nothing to her.
"If she can't find the time to discuss this with me, then I won't sign the file," Roderick declared nonchalantly.
This made Clara furious. "Do you think you're that important? It would cost my daughter nothing to kick you out without your consent!"
Roderick didn't bother to argue with her. "We can have this discussion whenever she's ready to confront me and talk about it." He turned to leave.
"You dare walk out on me?!" Clara's head exploded with anger, and she was about to act irrationally when a young, pretty lady appeared in their midst.
She wore an expensive blue gown that accentuated her curves. Her long hair was dark and silky, adding an extra touch of class to her demeanor.
Roderick's heart stopped; he felt deeply hurt as his gaze met the lady, Felicia Santos.
Felicia wasn't left out either. Despite how cold and distant she appeared, a slight emotion was still evident on her face.
An unexplainable tension hung in the air between the duo, causing Felicia's heart to throb.
"Roderick, I'm sorry that this came to you unexpectedly. However, I've prepared a ten million dollar alimony."
Felicia placed a card on the table as she said this.
At that moment, the pain in Roderick's heart spread throughout his body. "I can't believe that all the good times we spent together are worth only a few figures to you."
Felicia's face frowned as she folded her arms. "It's fine, Roderick. I will add an extra ten million. How about that?"
Roderick shook his head. "Do you even think a certain amount of money will be enough?"
Felicia was bewildered. "I'm sorry; I don't think I can give you an amount beyond that."
Roderick scoffed as Felicia misinterpreted him as requesting more money. "I can see how generous you are, Miss Santos. But I don't need a dime of your money."
This ignited Clara's fury. "What rubbish?! How can a worthless person like you feel so arrogant and entitled? Not in this life will I ever allow my daughter to compensate you!"
"Mom?!" Felicia scolded her mother.
Then, she turned to Roderick. "I advise you not to let pride make you lose this huge amount of money. It will help you make your life meaningful."
Without a doubt, Roderick could tell that Felicia had already made up her mind to divorce him. Then, he asked her in a tone empty of emotion.
"Felicia, are you sure you want this?"
She was silent for a moment before responding plainly, "Let's end it, Roderick. I need to take my career to the next level."
Roderick smiled bitterly. He understood her words beyond what she had just said. He couldn't believe Felicia only saw him as a barrier to her career now.
Feeling too lazy to explain anything further, Roderick signed the divorce papers without wasting time.
"From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. As for the money, you can keep it to yourself." Roderick took off the apron he was putting on and left.
At that moment, Felicia felt an emptiness in her heart as she watched Roderick walk away. She had expected him to burst into rage or beg her for reconsideration.
However, he remained so calm and composed as he left. So she became conflicted.
She became conflicted. She couldn't help but to ask Clara, "Mom, isn't this too extreme?"
"What do you mean by too extreme?! The relationship between you and Jonah, the heir of the Quinton family, will flourish now. With Jonah's connections, we will be able to collaborate with the White Group, owned by one of the top four families in Glacia City."
Clara was beaming with happiness as she continued to explain, "Our collaboration with the White Group will yield opportunities to gain shares from Ace Company, the biggest company in the city."
"By then, you will become one of the youngest and most sought-after CEOs in the city!" Clara shouted happily.
However, despite everything Clara said, Felicia's heart remained blank.
...
Roderick was on his way out when he sent a text to someone. "Felicia and I got divorced, and I'm leaving Santos Villa already. It's time to focus more on our primary assignment in Glacia City."