Chapter 5 - A New Haven|
Matthew’s face contorted in anger. He dropped the yellow roses onto a chair, stepping toward the bed with his finger raised.
"You can't divorce me, Elise! Do you have any idea what that will do to my company right now? The board is already calling an emergency meeting! You’re my wife, and you will come home and issue a joint statement with me!"
Before Matthew’s hand could get anywhere near Elise, Julian stepped in front of him.
Julian didn't raise his fist. He simply grabbed Matthew by the throat, shoving him backward against the wall with enough force to rattle the framed art hanging on the drywall.
"Did you miss what the doctor said?" Julian whispered, his gray eyes burning with lethal fury. "Zero stress. If you raise your voice in this room again, I will have my security team throw you out of the window."
Matthew choked, grabbing at Julian’s wrist, but the billionaire’s grip was like iron.
"She’s my wife..." Matthew squeaked out.
"Not anymore," Julian replied, releasing his grip and letting Matthew slump against the wall, gasping for air. "My legal team has already drafted the separation papers. You will sign them, or I will personally finance a forensic audit of Hayes Dynamics. I wonder how your board will feel when they find out about the offshore shell accounts you’ve been using to pay off your mistress?"
Matthew’s eyes went wide with terror. "How... how do you know about that?"
"I know everything," Julian said coldly. "Now get out before I call the police and have you arrested for trespassing."
Matthew looked at Elise, then at Julian, realization washing over him. He was completely outmatched. He turned and fled down the corridor like a whipped dog.
Julian turned back to Elise, his breathing slowing. "I'm sorry you had to see that."
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Elise looked at the door, a heavy tear rolling down her cheek. "I gave him five years of my life, Julian. I gave up my career as an architect to support his dream. And I was nothing to him."
Julian walked to the side of her bed and gently took her cold hand. "You were never nothing, Elise. He was just too blind to see what he had."
