“Who wouldn’t say so?”
The chatter faded away as the restroom door next to the break room swung open. A man in a black shirt stepped out, droplets of water still clinging to his fingers. His expression was stormy–almost intimidating.
When Aiden walked into the office, he found his boss standing by the window, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers as he stared out at the city skyline. You couldn’t read anything from his face, but the tension in the air made his mood obvious.
“Mr. Newton, the leaks just keep coming,” Aiden said, handing over the tablet.
“Did you find out who’s behind it?” Theo asked, voice low.
Aiden hesitated, glancing away.
“Patricia?” Theo guessed, catching the look in his assistant’s eyes.
Aiden nodded silently.
These two–Theo and Patricia–had barely tolerated each other for years. Sometimes they’d go weeks without a word, never close, but never like this. In just half a month, ever since Theo’s relationship with Ms. Miller became official, whatever thin thread had connected husband and wife was finally snapped.
“Get the car. I’m going home.”
Bang-
The heavy front door of the villa slammed open.
Theo strode inside, expecting the house to be dark and silent, Patricia already asleep. But tonight, for once, she was sitting on the living room sofa, back straight, waiting.
The whole place was shrouded in shadows, just a single lamp casting a warm, muted glow. The tension in the air was almost physical–thick, heavy, tinged with something unspoken.
Patricia wore a white slip dress, her long hair cascading in soft waves down her back. Her skin was flawless, nearly luminous, like a perfect pearl. Even the faint makeup she wore only made her look more ethereal. Sitting there, you almost forgot about her limp.
She really was beautiful.
If only she hadn’t always been so sharp, maybe things wouldn’t have gotten to this point.
“Waiting for me?”
Patricia’s answer was gentle. “Yeah.”
Theo shrugged off his jacket and tossed it over the back of the sofa, taking a seat across from her. He studied her face, searching for a crack in her calm. “I can give you anything–anything but a divorce. Just tell me what you want.”
1/2
15:40
Chapter 34
Patricia’s voice was steady. “I only want a divorce.” For a second, it felt like they were just two old friends, chatting about life.
Theo knew how stubborn she could be, but he still tried to reason with her. “Patricia, if we divorce now, it’ll ruin me. You know that. I’ve only been running Newton Enterprises for two years. If people find out about an affair and a divorce, it’ll be a disaster–for me, for the Newton family. It’s more than a scandal. It’s a catastrophe.”
He tried again, softer this time. “Ask for anything else. I’ll give it to you.”
Patricia gave him a small, reassuring smile. “I’m not going to make a scene.”
She looked him in the eye. “You don’t really want to be stuck with me forever, do you? I can’t give your family an heir. Even if you and Ms. Miller have a child, everyone will see it as illegitimate. You grew up in this world–you know how wives cling to their status just to keep others out. I’m willing to let go, to let you and Ms. Miller be together. Isn’t that what you want?”
She paused, her voice softening. “And honestly, it’s just a temporary mess. With your skills, you can handle anything. Everyone’s seen how well the company’s done since you took over–no one’s blind to that. The shareholders aren’t stupid. Swapping you out won’t make them richer.”
Patricia painted the future with gentle words, making it all sound so easy.
But the more Theo listened, the heavier his heart felt.
If she’d always been this gentle, would they have ended up like this?
Silence settled between them, thick and uncomfortable. Patricia couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
She leaned forward to pick up her glass, but her fingers slipped. The glass hit the floor and shattered, sharp edges sparkling on the tile.
Theo stood up, smoothing his slacks, and walked over. He crouched down, carefully gathering the broken pieces and setting them aside on the coffee table.
He was about to tell her to be careful, but then he looked up–and met Patricia’s gaze, soft and brimming with something he hadn’t seen in years. In that instant, something inside him–something he thought was long gone–suddenly broke free.
Chapter 35
