Secrets Of The Worthless Husband

"Review this divorce agreement and sign it if all is in order."

At the entrance of the Sunglow Hotel, Ashton Baldwin paused and looked at the speaker-his wife, Emalee James.

It was Bobby James' birthday today. Ashton had faced many challenges to find a perfect gift and to arrive on time.

Yet, instead of receiving a warm greeting, Emalee presented him with divorce papers.

Ashton managed a strained smile and gently lowered her hand that clutched the document.

"Emalee, it's your grandfather's birthday today. There are many guests around. This isn't the time for jokes like this," he said, chuckling nervously.

However, his smile froze immediately after he finished speaking.

A chill of coldness and repulsion in Emalee's gaze struck him, something he had never witnessed before.

"This is no joke. Sign the divorce papers and leave," she declared firmly.

Desperation crept into Ashton's voice as his hope dwindled. "Why? Is this about your old flame?"

Upon his question, Emalee merely nodded, and then handed him a bank card.

"You already know why. No more words are necessary. There's money on this card. Think of it as a settlement. Sign it, take the money, and we're done," she stated icily.

Ashton's mouth twitched, but before he could respond, a mocking tone interrupted him.

"Emalee! Just divorce him already. Why bother with a settlement? Does this loser even merit that?"

Tristan James, Emalee's younger brother, had come over, wearing a look of contempt.

Locking eyes with Ashton, Tristan raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "What are you staring at? Did I offend? Remember, the James family holds a notable reputation in Inewood. My sister, a CEO, is both skilled and stunning! And you, Ashton, have proven to be an utter nonentity. What have you contributed in these two years other than sponging off us? Do you really believe you deserve her?"

He turned to look at his sister and added, "Rather than wasting money on him, Emalee, you should let me use it for a new car. At least that would be of some use!"

Emalee exhaled softly, a hint of resignation in her voice. "Ashton may not have shown much capability, but we are married, after all. Just let him take this money as his compensation."

These words left Ashton feeling both sad and powerless.

It appeared he had merely been a substitute in Emalee's life.

How could she understand that his choice to underperform was intentional?

Ashton was fully capable of eclipsing others if he desired.

Yet, he feared his success might revive Emalee's insecurities, reminding her of her talented first love who had once left her.

Choosing to suppress his abilities, Ashton had supported Emalee, allowing her to be the one to shine.

Despite his efforts to cultivate their love over two years, it was not enough to touch Emalee's heart.

Now, with her first love back, she was ready to end their marriage?

The absurdity of it made his heart sink.

People's affections, he realized, could indeed be fleeting.

"Emalee, I must ask you one final time. Are you certain you want to end our marriage?" he inquired, his voice tinged with a chill.

Emalee nodded decisively.

With a quiet sigh, Ashton resignedly said, "Well, thank you for rescuing me once. We're square now."

As he brought up their past, Emalee's face twitched with unease.

She cut him off quickly, pushing the bank card toward him.

"Why mention the past now? Just take the card and go."

Tristan, witnessing this exchange, could hardly contain his displeasure.

"Really, Ashton? You think you deserve this money?" he scoffed, moving aggressively to intercept Ashton's hand, attempting to snatch away the card.

Tristan underestimated Ashton, who, despite his frail appearance, possessed unexpected strength. He held onto the card firmly, resisting Tristan's efforts to take it.

In a moment of frustration, Tristan pushed Ashton forcefully.

Distracted, Ashton nearly lost his footing. He remained upright, but the cherished pocket watch his mother had given him fell to the ground and shattered-a final memento from her.

Ashton froze, overwhelmed by the loss, his thoughts empty.

Seizing the moment, Tristan grabbed the bank card from him.

"Hauling around junk like this, it's no surprise you're destined to lose," Tristan mocked. He glanced at the broken watch and boasted, "Phillip is not only a renowned lawyer abroad but he's also committed to taking good care of my sister. He's likely to help us secure the deal with Skyline Group, something our family has long coveted. Forget my sister, Ashton. I heard you two haven't even consummated your marriage these past two years."

Ashton's gaze turned frosty, and he swiftly knocked Tristan to the ground with a kick.

Tristan howled in agony, curling up on the ground.

Emalee, witnessing the scene, yelled out in anger, "Ashton! Remember, Tristan is my brother, and we're still married. Don't cross the line!"

Ashton retorted with a sneer, clearly disillusioned, "He just destroyed the last thing my mother gave me. Isn't he the one going too far?"

Stunned into silence, Emalee watched as Ashton, with a deep breath, snatched the divorce papers from her and signed his name without hesitation.

As Ashton solemnly signed the divorce papers, Tristan, regaining his footing, sneered at him.

He said through gritted teeth, "You're wise to not challenge us. Without the backing of our family, you're nothing!"

No sooner had Tristan finished his taunt than Ashton moved quickly and struck him across the face.

"Hold your tongue. I'm done with the James family. Don't push me," Ashton retorted sharply.

Stunned by such a reaction, Tristan lashed out, "You're a worthless loser, Ashton! You're too cowardly to confront my sister, so you lash out at me? She's well rid of you. You were never worthy of her!"

Despite Tristan's harsh words, Ashton merely chuckled and faced a shocked Emalee.

"Remember this decision, Emalee. I hope you don't come to regret it," he remarked coolly.

Unexpectedly, Emalee, who should have felt relieved at the separation, was seized by a wave of doubt.

It was the first time she had seen such an icy glare in Ashton's eyes.

Silently, she bit her lip, acknowledging the painful truth.

Her successful climb to CEO was fueled by her relentless focus on her career. At home, Ashton had meticulously managed their lives, enveloping her in care and attention.

Just as regret began to surface, the sound of an approaching car broke through her thoughts.

The sharp honk jolted her, dispelling her moment of hesitation.

As the horn honked, Emalee's heart skipped a beat, erasing any lingering doubts she held about divorcing Ashton.

She spun around to see a new BMW X7 parked just behind her, and from it emerged a tall, commanding figure.

Her face, once devoid of warmth, lit up with a smile when she recognized the man-Phillip Watson, her unforgettable first love, standing sharply dressed, his hair slicked back, gold-rimmed glasses framing his eyes.

Phillip caught Emalee's gaze and returned a calm smile.

Clutching a bouquet of red roses, he approached her with poised confidence.

Ashton, observing from the sidelines, felt a pang of self-mockery.

Emalee had never looked at him with such affection in all their time together.

Tristan, spotting Phillip, beamed and hurried over.

"Phillip, it's been too long. You're looking better than ever! No wonder Emalee couldn't move on from you!" He laughed heartily.

Phillip acknowledged him with a nod and a smile; then his gaze shifted to Ashton, who stood quietly beside Emalee.

"And who is this?" he inquired softly.

"That's Ashton Baldwin," Tristan answered quickly.

Phillip scrutinized Ashton, his smile fading into a look of scorn. "Ah, Ashton, I see. You seem alright. It's no wonder you managed to live off the James family for two years."

He then strolled over to Ashton, casually draped an arm around Emalee's shoulders, and flashed a triumphant look.

"I ought to thank you, though. Your vigilance over Emalee kept her unclaimed, but your services are no longer required. I'll take good care of Emalee from now on. Once the divorce is finalized, you should make yourself scarce, Mr. Ex-husband," he taunted, patting Ashton patronizingly.

Ashton cast a sidelong glance at Emalee, who appeared unbothered by Phillip's closeness, and he couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

Never in their two years of marriage had Emalee shown him such intimacy.

Emalee, perhaps feeling uneasy, lowered her gaze and gently extracted herself from Phillip's embrace.

"Let's not do this here. There are people watching," she murmured, her tone mild.

Tristan couldn't help but laugh heartily. "Ashton, did you catch that? In all your years together, you never held my sister the way Phillip just did. And yet, you dare ask her to not regret leaving you? What makes you so bold?"

Ashton's expression grew stern. "Only time will reveal the truth," he replied coolly.

Both Tristan and Phillip scoffed at his response.

Tristan taunted, "Are you stuck in the past? The idea that 'a poor young man's potential should not be underestimated' is long outdated. You couldn't dream of matching even a fraction of Phillip's achievements!"

Playing the role of the peacemaker, Phillip chimed in, "Ashton, you've been nothing more than a servant in the James family for the past two years. It's been difficult, sure, but they did shelter you, right? There's no need for hard feelings now that we're settling everything. You're clearly out of your depth, so it's best you part with Emalee gracefully. Today's a significant day with many distinguished guests present-try not to make a scene."

Just as Ashton was about to retort, his phone rang. Distracted, he answered and was greeted by a soft, soothing voice.

"Hello, is this Mr. Ashton Baldwin?"

Without waiting for his reply, the voice's owner continued, "This is Rosalie Campbell, from the Campbell family in Inewood. Your reputation in medicine precedes you. We've been trying to reach you for a while. There's a patient who needs your expertise, and we're prepared to offer a million dollars for your services."

Rosalie was sure Ashton would leap at such a lucrative proposal, but his response was unexpectedly dismissive.

"I'm sorry, but please find someone else," Ashton said tersely, and ended the call.

His mind was too clouded with current events to consider anything else.

Rosalie was stunned by how swiftly Ashton had dismissed her offer, without a hint of negotiation before he hung up. She was at a loss as to what to do.

As the eldest Campbell daughter, cherished by all, she had never encountered such blunt rejection.

Yet, motivated by thoughts of her ailing sister, Rosalie was determined not to give up.

She bit her lip and swiftly dialed another number.

"I need Ashton Baldwin's exact location within ten minutes. What? He's at the Sunglow Hotel for Bobby James' birthday? Quickly, prepare a thoughtful gift for Ashton, no matter the cost. We need to demonstrate our sincerity to him. Ensure he doesn't leave. I'll personally go and invite him here," she instructed, and then ended the call.

As Ashton set his phone down, his face clouded with concern.

It was clear that someone had disclosed his private details, and the caller was surprisingly familiar with one of his concealed identities.

Nearby, Phillip and Tristan misread his troubled look.

Tristan jeered, "What's with the long face, Ashton? Are you hunting for jobs? Did you just reject an offer?"

"My personal matters are none of your concern," Ashton responded, his tone icy.

Phillip, smirking arrogantly, chimed in, "Did they offer you too little? You should have just asked me for a job. Since you've looked after Emalee for two years, I can get you a job. You could be our security guard or driver. That way, you'd see how well we get along every day. Given that you and Emalee were hardly close during your marriage, it might at least make you feel included."

Phillip's words dripped with condescension as he reveled in his own sense of superiority.

Ashton scoffed, "I don't need a job from you, and you certainly can't afford what I'd require."

Phillip and Tristan burst into prolonged laughter.

Phillip, with a smirk, challenged Ashton. "Oh, you think we can't pay you? How about five thousand a month? Have you ever earned that much? Or perhaps you're holding out for a million-dollar annual salary? Do you think you deserve it?"

Despite their biting ridicule, Ashton dismissed them, choosing not to mention the recent million-dollar offer he had received to treat a patient.

Emalee, who had remained quiet, now showed a hint of concern.

"Ashton, why create more problems? I thought you were humble and grounded. Clearly, I was mistaken. You've shown nothing but failure and arrogance. Phillip extended a job offer, and this is how you respond? You disappoint me," she criticized.

Ashton, his resolve hardening, responded, "Emalee, that's quite an assessment. You think Phillip is doing me a favor? That I should be grateful? You're disappointed in me? Frankly, my disappointment in you is even greater."

Emalee's anger flared, but she found herself speechless. In a burst of fury, she exclaimed, "Ashton! We're divorced. You shouldn't be here. Leave now!"

Ashton shook his head, his voice steady. "My faith in the James family has completely vanished. I'm only here to extend my birthday wishes to Bobby. Nothing more."