The Marriage That Never Existed novel Chapter 13

Chapter 5

Lewis’s net worth was easily in the billions.

By walking away with nothing, I was undoubtedly giving up a fortune.

Even Victoria and Lewis looked visibly shaken.

And around the conference table, several board members suddenly perked up as well.

I wasn’t sure who left the room first, but one by one, the others followed suit and quietly exited.

These people were closely tied to Lewis and Victoria.

They weren’t going to take sides with an outsider like me.

In fact, they were probably thrilled that I was willingly to give up my right to the assets.

Without me around to claim part of Lewis’s wealth, his position in the company would be that

much more secure.

And Victoria could finally focus all her energy on Lewis–and on the business.

One of them paused near the door and said, “I’ll step out and leave you two to talk.”

But Lewis reached for Victoria’s hand and said, “No need. Stay. We’ve got nothing to hide.”

Nothing to hide?

It was disgusting.

I had prepared myself for this moment.

But watching the two of them hold hands so openly–so shamelessly–still cut into me like a

knife.

I took a deep breath, doing everything I could to keep my emotions from spilling over.

Then I pushed the signed divorce agreement across the table.

Lewis didn’t even bother to look at it. He handed it straight to Victoria.

“Take a look. Is it good to go?”

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She accepted the document with barely concealed satisfaction.

Her lips curled into a subtle, triumphant smile.

After a few minutes of reading, she nodded and said to Lewis, “It’s a clean break. She’s giving up

everything. This version is good.”

She handed him a pen, but Lewis didn’t take it. Instead, he looked at me.

“Are you really sure you want a divorce?”

I met his eyes. “What do you think? I’m not a garbage dump–I don’t take in trash.”

“You should think it over,” he said. “Remarried women rarely get high–quality partners. Victoria… she was never out to push you aside.”

I almost laughed. Was he serious? It was absurd.

I turned to Victoria, whose expression had stiffened.

“Someone who ‘never meant to push me aside‘ couldn’t even give me a damn internship

certificate.”

Victoria forced a smile, clearly trying to come up with a response.

But I didn’t give her the chance.

“I get it. I know what you’re both thinking. Just make me the villain, fine. Call me the third wheel in your relationship–I don’t care. All I want is what I earned. That certificate represents three

months of hard work. That’s it.”

As for the two of them?

I hoped they disappeared from my life forever.

Victoria’s eyes shimmered, as if she were about to cry, but Lewis finally picked up the pen and

signed.

We made an agreement to officially file the divorce after a three–month cooling–off period.

Two copies of the divorce papers were signed.

He also handed me the internship certificate I’d fought so hard for, stamped with the company

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seal himself.

With that, I turned to leave.

But Lewis called out after me, “Emily, you were acting on impulse today. I’ll transfer twenty

million to you. Think of it as compensation.”

I replied calmly, “Thanks. But let’s call it a wedding gift for you two. Don’t say I’m stingy.”

Victoria, seeing that the divorce was really happening, grew bolder with her words.

“Emily, twenty million is enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Don’t be so petty.”

I smiled and said, “If all I wanted was a comfortable life, I wouldn’t be getting divorced… but based on what you just said, maybe I shouldn’t go through with it after all?”

Victoria froze, clearly panicked by the possibility.

She shut her mouth immediately.

Lewis took a deep breath, his voice heavy, “Emily, you’re too young… I’ve spoiled you for too

long.”

I looked at him without a trace of emotion.

“Exactly. I’m young, so I can afford to take risks.”

A divorce? It wasn’t the end of the world.

After all of this–I was still only 21.

The journey ahead was long.

And from here on out, I’d walk it any way I pleased.