Chapter 7
Clayton’s face shifted-uncertain, uneasy. That slipping-away feeling was growing stronger, clawing at him.
For the first time, he realized she might really walk away.
“If you’re still feeling insecure,” he said suddenly, “then let’s have a child.”
“What?” Aline stared at him in disbelief.
They had been married for three years, and not once had he touched her.
At first, he said he was focused on his career-that they could take their time. She didn’t push him.
Eventually, it just became routine. They slept in the same bed, but he never so much as reached for her.
“We’ve been married three years,” he said, reaching out to kiss her on the cheek. “It’s time we had a baby.”
Aline felt something inside her break-a mix of sadness and bitter irony.
Once, she had wanted that too. She’d imagined them having a child together, building a family.
But when she brought it up, he’d said, “I’m not ready yet. Let’s wait, okay?”
So she waited.
She thought he just needed time.
But the truth was, his heart was never with her. He had kept himself for someone else-for his first love.
She had believed that, with enough love and patience, she could win him over.
But in the end, she had just been a fool.
And now, the moment she asked for a divorce-he suddenly wanted to give her a child?
Aline shoved him away, wiping the place on her face where he’d kissed her.
“You’re disgusting, Clayton.”
His expression darkened. “When we got married, I promised I’d never let you down. So I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear what you just said. If you’re not ready for a baby, we can wait a little longer.”
“There’s nothing to wait for,” Aline said coldly. “I will never have a child with you.”
Clayton looked like he wanted to argue-but then his phone rang.
He answered, and Aline could hear a soft, familiar voice on the other end.
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Chapter 7
“…Okay. I’ll be right there,” he said gently.
After hanging up, he turned to her and said, “I have something to take care of. You should calm down a bit.”
Then he left-just like that.
Aline stood alone in the silence of the villa.
She walked to the window and watched as he drove off.
Of course-he was going to see Joyce.
Did he even realize? Every time he chose that woman over her, he was already betraying her.
Back then, she had married him for one simple promise.
“I won’t let you down.”
But now, that promise meant nothing. Her love for him was gone. This marriage-was already over.
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288 Vouchers
What she didn’t expect was that before she could even draft the divorce papers, Pennycalled to arrange a meeting.
“I’ll give you 30 million dollars,” Penny said bluntly. “Just divorce my son.”
“Deal,” Aline replied without hesitation.
This time, it was Penny who froze, staring at Aline in disbelief. “You’re really willing to divorce my son?”
“30 million dollars, and I’ll sign the papers right now.” She was planning to file for divorce anyway. If someone was offering her 30 million dollars to speed it up, why not?
That money could send countless underprivileged kids back to school. It could save lives, fund treatments, give peo- ple a second chance. It would be a far better use than staying married to a man who never truly loved her.
Seeing how serious she was, Penny quickly pulled out a document and placed it in front of her.
It was a divorce agreement-with Clayton’s signature already on it.
Aline looked at the signature. It was definitely his handwriting. “He asked you to come talk to me about this?”
“That’s not important,” Penny said, her tone dodgy, eyes avoiding Aline’s. “What matters is, I know he wants this di- vorce. Just sign.”
Aline’s eyes lowered slightly. So Clayton didn’t even know this agreement existed.
