The cigars glittered under the dazzling lights. Victor picked one out, placed it between his lips, and savored the rich,
intoxicating aroma.
“Who sent this? It’s good.”
He opened the second gift. It was a chest filled with glittering jewelry.
Everyone instantly recognized it…..
It was not just any jewelry. It was the lavish gift the family had once given Claire.
The moment they saw the treasured gift returned, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone understood what this meant.
Victor’s cigar almost slipped from his lips. Regaining his composure, he steadied himself with his cane and commanded, Damian, open the third one.”
”
Damian’s face darkened like a thundercloud. He clenched his fists, strode over to the final box, and forced himself to open it, suppressing the rage simmering beneath the surface.
It was a delicate box.
Still, compared to the first two gifts, the contents inside were shockingly plain, even worthless.
Damian stared in disbelief. It was a divorce agreement.
Divorce?
Claire actually wanted to divorce him?
Victor snatched the papers from his hand. After scanning them for a few seconds, his face turned thunderous. He raised his cane and struck Damian hard across the leg. Damian stumbled, nearly falling.
“Look at yourself, you fool! What the hell have you done?” Victor struck his once–beloved son again and again. “You’ve humiliated me in front of everyone, and you couldn’t even hold on to your wife!”
1/3
Chapter 6
+25 BONUS
Damian let out a bitter laugh. “Why should I hold on to her? Do you think I have no idea about the agreement you made with her? She probably never wanted to be with me in the first place!”
Victor’s eyes furrowed. “What agreement?”
Serena was in the corner of the room. Her eyes flickered with guilt.
Damian was stunned for a moment. “You didn’t know?”
Victor’s voice grew thunderous with anger. “So you’re accusing me behind my back now?”
As the old man’s breathing grew labored, his aides hurriedly helped him out of the hall.
The family quickly dispersed under a strict order of silence. The grand room fell eerily quiet.
Damian stood rooted to the spot, staring at the thin divorce papers in his hand as though he had turned to stone.
The next moment, his face was cold and expressionless as he tore them to shreds.
The bits of paper fluttered to the ground, crushed beneath his heel he ground them into the floor.
Serena called his name gently beside him, but Damian only shot her a frosty glance. Taking the car keys from his chauffeur,
he left the house and drove himself straight to Claire’s old address.
The house was coated in dust. The evening sky was already dark, and not a single light shone inside.
The gifts he had sent her sat piled up beside the mailbox like a heap of unwanted trash.
Damian spent the whole night outside her door, chain–smoking until his eyes turned bloodshot.
Dawn broke. The house remained silent.
A crushing sense of dread clawed at his chest. He immediately instructed his subordinates to investigate Claire’s
whereabouts.
Three days later, he finally got an answer. Claire had already left the country.
As he watched the airport surveillance footage, the last frame showed Claire calmly removing her SIM card and tossing it
into a trash can.
As the realization struck him, a searing, unbearable ache tore through his chest again and again.
Why did she leave?
Did she really want to disappear from his life so badly?
Was it just because he had let his attention wander to another woman for a little while?
How dare she!
How could she have the guts to leave him, to divorce him, as though it was her choice?
He would not allow it. He could not allow it! Claire would never get away from him!
As soon as her location was confirmed, Damian booked the fastest flight. Without packing a single thing, he headed straight for the airport.
In the airport terminal, Serena stepped in front of him, blocking his way.
Damian, where are you going? Are you really going to leave me and the baby behind?”
Her belly was already slightly showing. Damian’s eyes flicked from the swell of her abdomen to her reddened yet utterly dry eyes. His voice was heavy with exhaustion and disdain. “I’ve already arranged a new place for you. From now on, you’ll stay
Serena was about to say something, but he shoved past her without another glance. The warmth in his eyes was long gone.
Chapter 6
there and quietly raise the child.”
