"Our two families are deeply bound to each other through this marriage. We can't just decide on a divorce casually! Cole, can't you think things through before making a decision? How are we going to explain to our families if we suddenly file a divorce?"

Compared to Yvonne's turmoil, I remained calm and composed. 

"It's not a big deal. I'll talk to them. As for the connection between our families, you don't need to worry about it. It was your family who needed the Joplin family back then, and this marriage was essentially a partnership.

"Now, Langley Group has grown strong enough not to rely on the Joplin family anymore. Besides, a divorce isn't going to affect our business relationship either. Profit triumphs over all in the business industry, after all. I'm sure both our families are aware of this, so there's no need for me to explain this further, right?

"All your worries are pret

Since Yvonne was so protective of Jared, I couldn't be bothered to say anything else. 

"In this case, let's stick to what we discussed before," I said promptly. "Each of us takes one child. Jonas comes with me. If you still refuse, I'll have to file for divorce and settle this in court."

I handed her the divorce agreement and a pen, signaling for her to sign it. 

I was certain that she would sign. After all, her relationship with Jared was now making headlines. Our marriage would inevitably be exposed if we brought this matter to court. 

The public would label Yvonne as an adulteress by then, and Jared, the highly adored superstar, would be branded as a homewrecker. Such media opinion would do them no good, and the best option was for her to sign the papers quickly. 

Gripping the pen, Yvonne seemed as though she wanted to snap it in half. With a sullen expression, she ultimately sig

Jolted out of my reverie, I began scrolling through the discussion posts online about Jared. 

Several tabloid accounts had released a video of him visiting Langley Group to have dinner with Yvonne. Though the video was taken from a distance, it wasn't hard to see the two were very close. They even fed each other, just like a real married couple. 

Yvonne had never done anything like that for me. Now, it became all the more evident what I truly meant to her. 

The posts were also flooded with comments. 

"Isn't it clear that they got married and had kids in secret? After all, he couldn't make his relationship public while he was focused on his career at the time."

"If they had chosen to announce it back then, rumors of him being sponsored by her might've circulated, and people might've also thought he was leeching off her. Their relationship being exposed now isn't necessarily a bad thing. Doesn't that prove that he got to where he is now on his own?"

"Damn, this is the ultimate power couple. This is even better than a drama. I'm shipping them already!"

"I heard they've been together since college. They're the epitome of high school sweethearts. Just how sweet is that?"

Sometimes, the internet's power was downright terrifying. In less than a day, someone had dug up old, intimate photos of Jared and Yvonne from their university days, further solidifying their image as a happy, perfect couple. 

I watched coldly as evidence of their blissful past went viral on the internet. My heart sank. 

Realizing that scrolling through these posts was utterly pointless—it was pure self-torture—I tossed my phone aside and buried myself under the sheets. I tried to sleep, but with my mind weighed down, I couldn't.

Morning came far too quickly before I could get any rest. 

I stayed in bed, not bothering to get up. Instead, I listened to the sounds of Yvonne and the two kids having breakfast outside. 

It wasn't until the kids were about to leave for school that I dragged myself out of bed. 

"You can take them to school today," I said to Wyatt. "I'm busy today."

Both Wyatt and the kids were stunned. 

"Alright," Wyatt finally replied, his tone laced with unease. 

No matter how busy I was, I had always been the one taking the kids to school. I preferred handling everything on my own because I wanted to be a good father. 

But now, it didn't seem necessary anymore. I decided it was time to prioritize myself. 

With no need to worry about the kids, I found myself with a lot more time. I spent the day at the office dealing with work and only returned home around dinnertime. 

To my surprise, Yvonne had come home even earlier than I had. She frowned and began reproachfully, "Where have you been all day? Are you just going to neglect the kids?"

Calmly, I took a seat and joined them for dinner. I served Jonas some food and said, "I'm not their nanny, so why must I handle these things? Can't you do it?"

Yvonne's expression instantly darkened. 

Tugging at my sleeve gently, Jonas pleaded, "Daddy, please don't fight with Mommy."

"I won't," I replied, ruffling his hair. "Let's eat first."

I hadn't intended to argue with Yvonne in the first place. 

After dinner, I called her into the study and handed her the divorce agreement I had the lawyer draft earlier today. 

"Have a look at it. If there aren't any issues, hurry up and sign it. Then, we'll find a time to finalize the divorce."

Yvonne's pupils were blown wide when she saw the divorce agreement. Agitated, she immediately tore the document to pieces and threw them straight into the trash. 


"Our two families are deeply bound to each other through this marriage. We can't just decide on a divorce casually! Cole, can't you think things through before making a decision? How are we going to explain to our families if we suddenly file a divorce?"

Compared to Yvonne's turmoil, I remained calm and composed. 

"It's not a big deal. I'll talk to them. As for the connection between our families, you don't need to worry about it. It was your family who needed the Joplin family back then, and this marriage was essentially a partnership.

"Now, Langley Group has grown strong enough not to rely on the Joplin family anymore. Besides, a divorce isn't going to affect our business relationship either. Profit triumphs over all in the business industry, after all. I'm sure both our families are aware of this, so there's no need for me to explain this further, right?

"All your worries are pretty nonexistent. I'll just print another copy, and you should sign it as soon as possible."

By the t

Chapter 9