NovelEnglish"I asked you to keep it quiet after you got pregnant, but you ran to Joyce to confess. You made Joyce lose face in front of so many people on the set. She suffered from depression and ended her life, You put her in the ground, and yet | was the one who took the blame. Joyce's death is on you - doesn't your conscience weigh you down at all?" The words sent fearful panic through Sheryl's heart.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe person she dreaded mentioning was Joyce.
"Fredric, don't you dare play the victim and twist things around," Sheryl snapped, her voice laced with venom, "You were the one who complained that Joyce was too sensitive, too fragile. You regretted proposing to her, remember? You said | was better for you, more bubbly and vivacious." Fredric let out a derisive snort, "I thought you were a strong, independent woman who could handle herself. But you're worse than Joyce, clinging and desperate. If I'd married her instead of ending up with you, | bet I'd be happier." Spitting on the ground in disgust, Sheryl shot back, "With your womanizing ways, your wandering eye, Joyce would've ended up depressed and suicidal anyway. Only | have been generous enough to forgive you. And now you want a divorce? | won't give you the satisfaction. If we're going down, we're going down together." Their argument escalated, but Aurelia and Leopold exchanged a knowing look. It was tto step in and separate them.
"Sheryl, let's head back to the room," Aurelia said, wrapping an arm around Sheryl's shoulder. "Let's get the kids and go grab sbreakfast. They must be starving." As Aurelia guided Sheryl away, Leopold clapped Fredric on the shoulder.
"Man, you've got ssoul-searching to do," Leopold said firmly, "Sheryl hasn't wronged you. You're the one who's messed up here. You desire freedom and your own way, but that also implies you should give her what she is entitled to. Why should she consent to a divorce that only serves your interests?" Fredric's face was a picture of confusion, "What, you expectto hand over everything to her?" Leopold replied, "Not to her, to your daughters, Nina and Mira. If you guys split, Sheryl will just look after them. But custody stays with the Stirling family. It's the way it's always been." Fredric balked, "I'm not walking away with nothing. Nina and Mira will marry off someday, and all that wealth will go to strangers.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmPlus, | might have other kids. | can't give it all to them." "You're a young guy, Fredric. You can make more money," Leopold reasoned, "Don't sweat the small stuff." Fredric scoffed, "Giving them half is my final offer." Leopold, his voice growing stern, continued, "You know the family council will never approve your divorce as things stand. Even if | don't vote against you, | can't support you either. | won't go against our family traditions. At most, I'll abstain from voting, and so will Aurelia. The elders might enjoy their own escapades, but when it comes to you and the family code, they'll choose tradition.
They're a lot more conservative than us." Fredric fell silent, his brow furrowed in thought.
"And what about her drugging me? Isn't that a violation of our code?" Fredric challenged.
Leopold spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness, "All she did was sleep with you. Since when does a wife need to be punished for that?" Fredric was taken aback, "But it's the principle of it. What if it had been poison? She could have killed me." "Personally, I'm on your side about the divorce," Leopold said, "But if you think freezing her out and breaking her down will make her want to leave, you're dead wrong."
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