From Divorce To Dominance

Chapter 1 Divorced After The Delivery

Late at night, a Rolls Royce rolled up to the swankiest private hospital in Greton. A bodyguard hustled to open the door, and out stepped a sharp, handsome man.

"Mr. Luther, your wife just had a baby. It's a boy!" Tommy Kinard, the hospital director, announced, beaming and bowing a bit with the good news.

But instead of the expected joy, Darren Luther's face was icy, twisted into a sneer. "Now that she's popped out the kid, she's history."

Darren stormed inside, leaving Tommy sweating and scurrying to keep up. Tommy pondered, 'What did that mean? Is the kid not his? No way! The lady in the delivery room looks like a cornered bunny-no way she'd have the guts to cheat on Darren.' The elevator chimed as it hit the twelfth floor. Darren snatched some papers from his secretary, his glare freezing everyone in place. He barged into the room.

Darren's wife, Natalie Xavier, was cooing over the baby. Hearing the commotion, she turned and blushed instantly.

"Darren! You came to see us? I figured work would keep you busy for days. Speaking of which, meet our son-" Natalie said with tenderness.

Darren cut her off, his face a blank slate. "He's your kid, not mine."

"What are you saying, Darren?" Natalie's lip quivered, her eyes wide and teary with confusion.

Darren turned away, his voice like ice. "I'm saying I don't give a damn about this kid. If it weren't for Grandpa backing you, I'd have taken him away ages ago."

Natalie's face drained of color. Eyes brimming with fear, she pleaded, "But... he's so cute. Just look, please? You'll see."

She knew Darren despised her, looked down on her small-town roots, but this was their child-their strongest tie. With hope, she cradled the baby, eager to show him off.

Darren was fed up. "No amount of looking will change a thing. You know how he came to be! Only a hick like you would think it's okay to pull stunts like this. You're disgusting. Stay away from me!"

He pushed her back hard, and Natalie stumbled against the headboard. The baby, startled by the chaos, wailed loudly.

"Shh, darling... Don't cry... Mommy's here..." she stuttered, trying to soothe him, but he cried louder, gasping for air.

Darren's irritation peaked. Instead of sympathy, he spat, "This is absurd! Hush him now!"

Natalie panicked, tears streaming. She trembled as she begged Darren, "I'll quiet him. Sorry."

The baby was tiny, just beginning to explore the world. Natalie couldn't let harm come to him. Without a second thought, she quickly opened her loose hospital gown.

Darren whirled around, furious. "Natalie! Is seducing me all you think about? Don't you get it? You won't make it without a man."

"That's not true!" Natalie bit her lip and turned slightly to start nursing the baby. As soon as he latched on, he stopped crying. She sighed in relief and glanced at Darren from the corner of her eye. But seeing him turn his back, refusing to even look at her, her heart sank. Darren hated her and everything about her. He wouldn't even look her way. In three years, the only time he touched her was that one night when he was trapped and drugged.

The room fell silent, thick with tension and unease.

Even with his back turned, Darren couldn't shake the image of her beautiful form. He swallowed hard, desperate to leave. He slapped the files onto her lap, barking, "Sign this!" "What's this..." Natalie's eyes widened at the words "divorce agreement." "You want a divorce?" she stammered, her voice shaky. "Why? Can't we talk?"

Darren just wanted to end this. Each word was colder than the last. "I suggest you sign and take the money. If you bug me, you get nothing. 30 million dollars is plenty for a hillbilly like you to live the good life. Don't complain!"

"Natalie, I'm not in the mood for this. If I count to ten, you better sign. Otherwise, I'll take your kid!" He clapped his hands, and a group of towering, menacing bodyguards filed in, ready for action.

With one word, they'd snatch the baby. Darren wasn't bluffing; he was dead serious.

Because he didn't love her, he had no mercy. Because he didn't love her, he'd use her greatest weakness-her child-to threaten her. As Natalie closed her eyes, anger left her speechless.

She thought three years could melt his heart, but it was stone cold. Three years-it was more than days or months; it was over a thousand days and nights. Even a dog wouldn't be treated this way. Natalie clenched her fists, bit her lip, and took a deep breath. "I'll sign!"

"After the divorce, you leave Greton, and we act like strangers!" Darren replied coldly.

"Fine! Just as you say!" She picked up the pen, signed her name smoothly, but as she capped it, tears fell, never breaking eye contact.

"But you didn't even like me. Why did you marry me? I told you before-there was no need if you didn't want to. I thought... I thought you married me because you liked me a little... Why?" she asked with her shaky voice. Darren glanced at the signed paper, handed it to his secretary, expressionless.

With a smirk that didn't touch his eyes, he scoffed, "If I didn't marry you, Grandpa wouldn't give me the company. Didn't you know? Why pretend? Natalie, what I hate most is your two-faced act-sweet to my face, but vicious behind my back. Now that we're divorced, I'll transfer the money tomorrow. You can stay at the maternity hospital till you're better. I'm not that heartless."

With that, he left, the lavish room silent again. Natalie leaned back, sobbing.

She was the daughter of the Xavier family, raised in a remote village. At eighteen, she learned of her arranged marriage to Darren. Reluctant at first, she fell hard when she saw him. He was tall, handsome her dream husband. She fell for him without a second thought. What she didn't expect was that to him, she was just a stepping stone for his inheritance. Now that she served her purpose, he was ready to cast her aside. The love she thought she had was a cruel joke.

Natalie cried for a long time until her phone rang. "Ms. Xavier, you've been gone too long. We're all waiting for you. Want us to send a car?"