Chapter 35
Patricia’s face could stop traffic–she was the kind of beautiful that made people do a double take no matter where she went. Her skin was flawless, her features delicate and classic, framed by a sleek fall of hair. When she looked down, her long lashes fluttered just enough to make her seem both vulnerable and untouchable.
Theo knew this wasn’t the real Patricia. She was never this quiet, never this distant. But today, something was off.
As Theo got up, Patricia reached out without thinking, steadying the edge of the table so he wouldn’t bump into it. It was such a small gesture, but he noticed.
He looked down at her, unsettled by the way she was acting. This wasn’t the sharp, confident woman he was used to.
“You’re right about a lot of things,” he said, “but I’m still not going to divorce you.”
“Patricia, you’ve barely left the house for years. There aren’t many people willing to stick their necks out for you.” Theo sat back down across from her, calm but firm. “Just let it go. I don’t want to get nasty with the people close to you. This is me being as fair as I can.”
She had saved his life once. He’d never claimed to be a perfect man–he had his flaws, and he didn’t pretend otherwise. But when it came to Patricia, there was still a line he hadn’t crossed.
Patricia’s voice was cool and even, stripped of its usual bite. “You know I don’t tolerate betrayal, Theo. Falling from grace was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. If you won’t divorce me, then as your wife, I won’t just sit back and let anyone treat me like dirt.”
“If you don’t end this marriage, Nina’s not going to make it out of this.”
Theo’s eyes flashed. “If something happens to Nina, do you have any idea what’ll happen to the Martin family?”
“What happens to them isn’t my problem.”
“Patricia, this isn’t as simple as you think.”
She shot back, “And it’s not as complicated as you want me to believe. You know what they say, Mr. Newton–there’s only room for one queen in a castle.”
“I bet you’re scared I’ll go public, right? Mr. Newton, my patience has a limit.”
There was nothing left to say.
Theo stared at her, his eyes cold and unreadable. “You’re really going to force me to divorce you?”
“Isn’t that what you’re doing to me?” Patricia said, her voice sharper now. “You cheated. You turned me into the villain. Don’t act like this is all on me.”
“Patricia, I never wanted to hurt you.”
“You just didn’t mean to. That doesn’t mean you didn’t.”
15:40 06
Chapter 35
Back at the Newton Estate, Kelly sat tensely on the sofa, her frustration clear as she looked at her mother, her words coming out sharper than she meant.
“Mom, can you really just sit and watch everything Theo’s worked for get destroyed?”
“He’s been fighting for this since he was a kid. Now he’s finally the CEO of Newton Enterprises, and you want him to throw it all away? That’s just cruel.”
Grandma’s face was set in stone. Even in her seventies, she sat straight–backed, every bit as
commanding as ever.
“Have Patricia make a statement,” Grandma said. “Tell everyone it was Al–one of those fake videos. Just blame it on that.”
Kelly gave a short, bitter laugh. “Patricia? You really think she’d help us out? If she doesn’t make things worse, we should count ourselves lucky.”
“So what do you think we should do?” Grandma asked. She knew Kelly never liked Patricia, but now wasn’t the time for grudges.
“Divorce. Let them both go their own way. It’s the only real solution.”
“If they divorce, your son’s finished. Once people start calling him ungrateful and disloyal, he’ll never get rid of that reputation. Not in this lifetime.”
Kelly fell silent for a moment. She knew exactly what a divorce would mean. But staying married?Kelly fell silent for a moment. She knew exactly what a divorce would mean. But staying married? There was only one way that could end, and i
