Wife Unwanted (Corrupt Vows #2)

Chapter 25

Carey

Two years later.

"I WANT A divorce," she announced as soon as I entered the apartment. She was dolled up in her usual Upper East Side socialite Chanel get up. A pink and white skirt suit with a silk blouse and white pumps to finish the ensemble. Her curls were left untamed in contrast to the buttoned up suit below which made her sexy in an effortless way. That familiar desire to ravage her against any furniture came over me once more and try as I might to clamp it down, it was becoming harder and harder as the days went by.

"What did you say?"

She dropped some sheets of paper on top of the living room table and I watched them as they made a soft clutter sound onto the glass. "I've already done everything else. All you need to do is sign."

"Excuse me? It's not every day that a man is given divorce papers while coming home from work. Can I ask why?"

She shrugged. "Is there a reason we should remain married? Your father's dead. And my moth— this marriage is no longer necessary. We've been living like roommates-worse like roommates who hate each other-for years. We're better off apart than together. I won't disparage your name in the media. That's part of the agreement. I will support you whenever you run and as for the money," she took a deep breath, "I only want what I was owed in the prenup." It sounded like a rehearsed speech.

My gaze went to the open windows. Tiny square lights from the buildings surrounding us twinkled in the dark. I spent the better part of the day closing a difficult case that was making headlines. We won and everyone at the office was celebrating. I was even thinking of taking Thalia out for dinner like we used to do when we pretended to act like a normal couple. It wouldn’t hurt to pretend once more.

But I should be happy she's asking for a divorce. This is what I wanted right? Freedom from the last cloying remnant of my father's helicopter parenting.

"How generous of you."

She flashed a tight smile. "I try my best."

I dropped my coat and briefcase and picked up the papers. "How long have you been thinking about this," I said as I looked them over. Everything was in order. She has probably seen a good lawyer. Possibly someone not in our circle or I would have heard at least a whiff about it.

"A couple of years."

Translation: after your father died. I guess since whatever money she was getting from him had dried up, she decided it was no longer necessary to be with me. I flipped through the papers looking for the settlement clause. I scoffed when I got to it. What she wants is very little. A pittance. It’s even less than what's agreed in the prenup. Yeah, right. The math was not adding up.

"Zero assets in the settlement? A million dollars in cash?" If she thought I was going to believe this bullshit settlement, she was lying to herself. I was tired. The case I was working on drained all of my energy all of which I needed to look over this document carefully. "You're going to have to give me some time."

"Good. In the meantime, I will be moving out."

I noticed the suitcase next to her for the first time. It was bigger than an overnight bag. She was serious about this. She had planned everything I had to give her that. But I couldn't let her go. There was a strong sense within in me to tell her she couldn't leave, but why? I've never wanted this marriage. I should be happy. Popping bottles and throwing a divorce party. I've looked forward to this day ever since my wedding and now that she was practically handing me the keys to freedom, instead of celebrating, empty dread envelops me.

"You're not going anywhere," I heard myself say. Thalia cocked her eyebrows. Even she was surprised by the heavy emotion in my voice. One would think I was a rejected husband desperate to hold on to his failing marriage, but that was further from the truth. And yet, as I spoke, I realized I couldn't let her go. "You still have time within your contract, remember?" Her eyes widened. She was so beautiful, I wanted to instead take her in my arms and kiss her. Kiss away whatever this emotion I was feeling and fuck each other back to reality.

"You know about that?" she barely whispered.

I had an inkling my father made her sign some contract in order for her to marry me. That was his way. What he made her sign and what the terms were exactly, I had no idea. But I remember him telling me about how I had at least five years to produce an heir. Put two and two together and well… "Thought you were slick, huh? How much do you have to payback if you break the contract?"

Her silence told me all I needed to know. The sum was probably in the millions. The pieces fell into place. Of course, she had been counting on whatever my father and, by extension, his estate offered her in the settlement. She couldn't pretend to want nothing from me while getting a large piece of pie my father promised her. But a breach of that contract meant she was getting nothing. Should have thought three steps ahead instead of two, dear wife.

Thalia straightened her back, making her look even more regal and resolute. "Still doesn't mean I have to stay in the same place as you. Your father was the one who wanted us to be together. Plenty of couples in our circles don't live in the same place."

"Sure you want to run the risk of negative headlines for the next few months? I don't know if you know, but your husband has just won a high-profile case and everyone is talking about him. They might wonder why his wife moved out."

She scoffed. "Of course it's your reputation you think about."

"Oh, I'm not talking about me." I closed the distance between us. "I am talking about all the speculation and vitriol that will be thrown in your direction. Lets face it, I have goodwill in the eyes of the public and you, at best they will see you as a fame hungry person using my name to seek clout and attention. At worst, they will see you as the social climbing gold digger that you actually are."

Thalia took a step back, and I bit back a smirk. She looked rattled enough. "Fine." She sighed and picked up the suitcase. "I will leave when the contract is up." Thalia shook her head, "Why do you want me to stay when we both know you hate me?"

"Don't flatter yourself darling, I'm just thinking about my future." It wasn't true, but I couldn't explain my reasoning. I watched her as she rolled the suitcase back to her room, slam the door and lock it. I almost wanted to shout that I could unlock it if I wanted, but what would be the point? She had proven that she could no longer be rattled by empty threats.

I sank into the couch and read over the papers again. This was supposed to be my move, not hers. I was the one who left, not the other way round. But I had been so preoccupied by the case and, dare I say, had gotten too comfortable with our marriage routine to realize our five years was almost up. She got one on me while I wasn't even looking. The agreement had very little I could protest against.

After reading through the document thoroughly, I had to conclude she thought about everything. It was pretty ironclad. Everything was standard and written in a way that was advantageous to me and not to her. Her lawyer must either be bad or Thalia herself insisted on it to be like this. I went to the settlement section once more. The only thing she required out of the divorce was the assets she came with, which let's be real, were non existent, plus one million dollars.

There had to be more to this. Thalia is an opportunist. She would never let herself leave this marriage with nothing. Especially now when my profile is high. A smart wife would demand more. She would use this to make it harder for me to drag her through the courts. There had to be a piece I was missing. Soon, I would find it.