Chapter 65

"Imogen," Rowan called hastily, trying to stop her. But Imogen had already spoken too much. Whispers rippled through the crowd. The divorce between Rowan and Natalie had been kept secret, fearing Payne Holdings' stock price would collapse if the truth leaked. For years, the rumor mill had painted Rowan and Natalie as the perfect couple—he, the brilliant businessman; she, the devoted wife. A model partnership admired across the industry. Rowan had even hoped to leverage this image to secure a lucrative deal with Morris Group. Frank had made it clear—Rowan could only take over Payne Group if Payne Holdings thrived under his leadership. But if the divorce became public, the company's stock would crash, and Rowan's ambitions would crumble. To Frank, the rightful heir to the family empire was Lucian—no one else. "Mr. Morris, this is a bid. Let's not drag my private affairs into it," Rowan said sharply, desperate to end the discussion. Suddenly, Monica slapped away two bodyguards an