Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Clayton thought, ‘She did all this just because I helped Valerie? Her family once did us a big favor.
‘As my wife, Audrey should’ve understood that. She didn’t have to look after Vally like I did, but she at least shouldn’t go after Vally, go against my family, or even try to ruin my firm.’
Even now, Clayton couldn’t believe Audrey was really serious about the divorce. He thought, ‘She’s acting out because she thinks I married her out of love. She thinks she’s special.’
He pulled himself together and said coldly, “Just come back with me to see my parents. Apologize to Wyatt and Alexa. Then—”
“Clayton, are you mentally unwell or do you just assume everyone else is as sick in the head as you?” Audrey took a few steps back.
The streetlamp’s dull yellow light cast across her face, and those sharp features suddenly looked icy, almost too stunning to look at.
She retorted, “Riley came at me and trashed my family to my face, and you think I should apologize to her?”
Clayton’s breath caught in his throat. He wondered, ‘Mom and Riley never mentioned Riley started it. They only said Audrey went crazy and hit her. I need to get to the bottom of that.‘
He reined in his temper a bit. “I’ve set Vally up with a job and a place to stay. She’ll get used to life here soon.”
He paused, softened his tone, and added, “Audrey, let’s put the past behind us. Things can go back to the way they were.”
Clayton knew Audrey didn’t have anywhere better to go. Besides, he’d
gotten used to her always being there–her cooking, her care, and the way she looked after everything without him asking.
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He figured that since the marriage worked for both of them, they
shouldn’t get a divorce. Once things smoothed out again, they could be a real couple. Maybe even have a baby.
Audrey let out a bitter laugh. “Of course it’s easy for you to move on. You weren’t the one humiliated. You weren’t the one betrayed.”
“I never betrayed you. Nothing ever happened between me and Vally,” Clayton said, his voice turning cold again.
Audrey bent down, picked a blade of grass, and snapped it into pieces right in front of him. Then, she tossed it at his feet. “Put that back together. Make it like it was before, and I’ll forgive you.”
“Audrey.” Clayton reached for her wrist, but she slipped away before he
could touch her.
The more she pushed him away, the thinner his patience wore. He didn’t want to admit it, but these past few days without her had been rough. He didn’t want to let her go. He still wanted to give her a chance.
He continued, “I’ll get my mom to give back my salary card. You’ll take care of the finances from now on, okay? Just come home with me. Make peace with Wyatt and Alexa—”
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“Make peace my ass.” Audrey’s temper finally snapped, and she kicked him hard in the shin.
In her mind, she cursed, ‘Is this guy brain–dead or just deaf? I’ve said it many times. Valerie framed me, and he still threw me into Ashwood.
“Riley showed up at my door running her mouth, and he wants me to beg his family for forgiveness? What, does the whole world revolve around the
Patels?‘
Audrey said sharply, “Clayton, if you don’t sign those divorce papers, I’ll
sue.”
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The hard kick caught him squarely. He staggered backward, stepped on the half–eaten apple, and landed flat on his back.
Luckily, it was grass, so no real injury was caused, but it was humiliating.
No one had ever dared treat the famous lawyer this way. With his pride, there was no way he could take this lying down. He swore to himself that he’d definitely end the marriage with her.
Audrey turned around and walked away. Just as she reached the building entrance, a hand clamped down on her shoulder.
Clayton’s voice rang out again. “If you’re still pissed, hit me again. I meant what I said for your own good. Making peace with my family is only gonna help you.”
Audrey let out a low, scornful laugh. “Clayton, what the hell did Valerie feed you to trust every single word she says? I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t need forgiveness from anyone.
“From the moment you brought Valerie back, every single thing you did hurt me. And I didn’t get a damn thing out of it.”
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Audrey yanked her arm free and said firmly, “Let me make it clear again. I am NOT throwing a tantrum. It’s not some threat. I want a divorce from you. Got it?”
“I don’t agree with that,” Clayton replied flatly.
He stood tall, still looking every bit the polished man he’d always been, though the shoe print on his knee stood out. Still, it didn’t take away from his looks.
He added, “If you come back home with me and make things right with my family, I’ll give you whatever you want–money, a house, even a baby if that’s what you’re after. But a divorce is not happening.”
Audrey crossed her arms and gave him a slow, mocking once–over. She
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still remembered when he first asked her to marry him. She hesitated for only a few seconds before she said yes.
She agreed partly because he had a certain charm in her eyes, partly because he was smart, accomplished, and, sure, good–looking.
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She believed in the idea of growing love after marriage. It was risky, but if both people put in the effort, she believed it would work.
Thus, after their marriage, she stuck by him through thick and thin. She
ook good care of him and even ignored his family’s scorn. She comforted
rself that they didn’t live together after all.
Things had been good after their marriage until he brought Valerie into the picture.
Audrey wasn’t the type to run from a bet, and she wasn’t afraid to lose. She chose this path with her eyes open. So now, she could walk away just as clearly.
What surprised her the most was that the one clinging on now was Clayton.
She said, “Mr. Patel, if we get divorced, I can release a statement saying our marriage broke down long before and Valerie never stepped in as the other woman. But if you refuse to sign, I can’t control what the public thinks of your arrangement.”
Clayton didn’t blow up this time. He actually smiled and said, “So you do care about Valerie. That means you still love me. You’re jealous.
“I swear I never betrayed you. I only helped her because I owed Mr. Patterson. What we have won’t be affected by anyone else. Come home, Audrey.”
Audrey couldn’t resist it but kicked him again. “Clayton, you think I can’t live without you? I agreed to marry you without hesitation, and I can leave you just as fast. I wouldn’t want trash like you even if someone paid me.
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GET FUCKING LOST.”
Clayton stumbled back into the wall, and the fury he’d been holding in finally exploded.
He shouted, “Audrey Patel, if you divorce me, you’ll never survive in Ironhaven.”
He thought with a sneer, ‘She’s got no job. She can’t even afford her mortgage. Without me, her life will fall apart.
‘With her pretty face, she’ll be targeted by someone. Without my protection, she might end up getting pulled into some sketchy backroom deal at a private club. That kind of life would crush her. She wouldn’t
survive it.‘
Clayton grew up with everything handed to him–wealth, respect, people fawning over his family. Just coming here to talk to Audrey had been pushing his limit.
He didn’t want a divorce, but he would never bow his head and submit to
her.
“You won’t have to worry about how I live after the divorce,” Audrey snapped as she stormed toward the elevator. “And Clayton, keep your damn dog on a leash. If anyone shows up barking at my door again, I
won’t be so nice.”
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Clayton stayed standing at the stairwell entrance. The motion light clicked off, and with it, his anger seemed to dim too. In his heart, a flicker of fear crept in.
As Audrey opened her door, Calvin stepped out with the trash. He didn’t seem to have noticed any of what just went down. He just smiled, nodded a casual hello, and walked off.
