Chapter 1 Divorce

"Brenden, our Daniela..."

In the stark cold of the morgue, Corinna Roberts knelt, tears clouding her vision. Next to her was the small, charred figure of her daughter, almost beyond recognition.

How was she to bear the grief of losing another child? Just three years ago, a tragic car accident had triggered a premature labor, resulting in the death of her twin son before she could even hold him.

Since then, all of Corinna's affection and hopes had been centered on her another child who survived-Daniela Roberts, who had joyously turned three just the day before.

Only yesterday, Daniela's laughter filled Corinna's arms, her childish voice proclaiming her wish to stay together forever.

Daniela, so young and precious...

Yet now, a harsh male voice shattered the solemn atmosphere. "Corinna, for years I've endured raising this bastard, and you've never appreciated it. Are you really expecting me to grieve now?"

Brenden Roberts' tone was cold, void of sorrow, even as their daughter lay deceased before him.

Not only did he display no sorrow, he even also labeled her as a bastard.

"Do you hear yourself, Brenden?" Corinna's voice trembled, tears welled up in her eyes, her disbelief deepening with each echo of his words.

"You're the one who's lost touch," Brenden retorted, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper, his eyes flashing ominously. "Explain how, Corinna, you bore a child when I had been vasectomized?"

Corinna staggered, struck by the accusation, her shocked gaze locked on him.

What was he implying?

A vasectomy had been performed on him? When?

Reflecting on a specific incident from four years ago, just after their marriage, Corinna vividly recalled how Brenden, in a state of intoxication, had forced himself upon her. He might have forgotten that night due to his drunken state, but for Corinna, the memory was clear and painful, leaving no doubt that Daniela was indeed his biological child.

As Corinna was still trying to come to terms with this revelation, a document fluttered from above and landed on the shroud covering Daniela. Wrapped in the chill of the morgue, Brenden's cold tone cut through the silence. "Sign these divorce papers. From this moment, I break all bonds with you and your family, the Gordons."

His words allowed no space for discussion.

In the stark setting of the morgue, with her daughter's body next to her and the divorce papers before her, every aspect seemed to cruelly ridicule the years Corinna had spent in marriage with Brenden.

This move to cut ties with the Gordon family made it clear.

The four years she had poured into nurturing their marriage were mere trifles to him.

To Brenden, the marriage had clearly been merely a strategic ploy for revenge.

With her lips tightly pressed together and her face ghostly white, Corinna resolutely responded, "I refuse to sign."

Her father was still fighting for his life in the emergency room after attempting to save Daniela. Did Brenden think he could dictate their marriage or its dissolution at his convenience? Why should she agree to his demands?

Corinna was just about to speak when a sorrowful female voice interrupted from the doorway.

"Please forgive me, I never imagined it would end like this. Corinna, my son had no intention of causing harm."

Brinley Quinn, accompanied by her son from a previous relationship-Larry Quinn, stepped into the cold morgue. Her eyes momentarily lingered on the charred remains before quickly masking her emotions.

She then noticed the divorce papers resting on the cloth and her expression subtly changed.

"Why are you here?" Corinna asked, her eyes brimming with tears, her voice thick with contempt as she confronted the woman who had captured Brenden's heart.

If Brinley's son hadn't caused the fireworks disaster, Daniela would still be alive.

Brinley, brushing aside Corinna's hostility, brought her son closer to Brenden, explaining, "The fire was an accident. Larry is just a little boy. I should have watched him more closely."

Brenden casually responded, "It's okay."

His dismissive words stung Corinna, her pain deep and sharp.

Brinley, undeterred, added, "I'm really sorry, Corinna. Larry gets too much freedom from Brenden, you see. Fathers and sons have this unique connection. I'll ensure he's better disciplined."

Father and son?

Did she mean Larry was actually Brenden's son?