Chapter 2 Signing The Divorce Papers

Julian didn't even flinch at Katherine's words. He simply adjusted his tie and turned to look at her, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "This is about last night, isn't it? You're upset I didn't come running when you called?"

Just thinking about the night before sent a deep ache through Katherine, right down to her bones.

Julian's voice was as cold as ever. "Eloise called earlier. She said the Lewis Group deal went through. Apparently, you played a big part. You'll get your bonus. Don't worry."

Katherine froze in place.

Eloise Nash was Julian's favorite little sister, the one he never said no to.

It all came back to Katherine now. Eloise was the one who brought her to that dinner.

Since it had something to do with Julian's business, Katherine hadn't dared to take it lightly. She couldn't hold her liquor, but she still drank-just to do something that might help him.

She never thought that night would end in something so cruel.

Yet to Julian, Eloise had probably just made a small mistake. Something he could overlook. Nothing worth getting upset about.

The hopelessness inside Katherine had swallowed the pain whole. She let out a dry, bitter laugh. "Then let's just cut to the chase. I'm sure you know what happened to me last night. And it won't be long before it spreads. You're the pride of the city, after all. How could you let someone tainted like me ruin your perfect image?"

Julian stepped closer, towering over her. "Tainted? You used a bone marrow donation to push your way into this marriage three years ago. So did you really believe you were so pure and innocent before?"

In three years of marriage, he'd almost never stood this close.

But this wasn't closeness. It was a knife-sharp, cold, and straight to the heart.

Katherine stood there, completely still. She thought about all those quiet moments when she watched him from a distance, wondering if he'd ever look her way. He'd always been distant-but not like this. Why did it feel like he hated her now? Like he was holding on to some silent resentment she could never understand.

Before she could fall too deep into her thoughts, Julian checked his watch and said sharply, "Skip breakfast. Just make lunch and send it to my office."

......

Katherine didn't follow his orders this time.

He'd never treated her kindly. And for years, she had endured it without saying a word. But today was different. Today, she asked for a divorce and vanished without another word.

Sometime after noon, Julian's assistant, Cayson Price, stepped into the office carrying lunch.

Julian glanced briefly at the lunchbox.

It didn't take long for him to realize that Katherine hadn't made it.

He frowned, but with barely any time to rest, he didn't bother complaining. He ate a few bites just to fill his stomach.

Honestly, after three years of being used to Katherine's cooking, nothing else tasted right anymore.

The bad lunch had already put him in a mood, but things got worse when he walked back into his office and saw the divorce papers waiting on his desk.

Catching the look on his face, Cayson paused and asked cautiously, "Sir, you didn't tell your wife it was you last night, did you?"

Julian's thoughts immediately jumped back to the night before. His expression turned cold.

He had only gone to find Katherine to avoid a public mess. The last thing he wanted was a scene tied to his name. But he hadn't expected the version of Katherine he saw-drunk, vulnerable, clinging to him like he was the only thing keeping her steady. She kept whispering his name, crying like she was breaking from the inside.

And somewhere in that moment, he snapped.

Maybe it was her softness. Maybe it was just pent-up frustration. But when desire took over, he stopped thinking. His restraint disappeared. And what followed lasted until long after midnight.

To him, it was a slip-up. Not something he needed to explain, especially not to someone like Katherine. She was driven and greedy. He'd make it up with money. That should do.

As for those divorce papers...

Julian stared at the documents and let out a cold, humorless laugh. He signed without hesitation.

Then he flung the folder toward Cayson. "Send them to her."

As Cayson turned to leave, Julian's voice rang out again, low and sharp. "Find out who arranged for her to be at that hotel last night."