Chapter 9

Natalie snapped, "I know I shouldn't expect anything decent from you. Do you think all men are like you? Worthless jerks who only think with their dicks?" "How dare you insult me?" Rowan roared, losing control of his emotions. Seeing Natalie defend Lucian so fiercely made him convinced there was something between them. His mind went blank, and he forcibly threw Natalie onto the bed. Jealousy surged through him, and he wanted to claim her, to prove that she belonged to him. Within Payne Group, he was inferior to Lucian in every way and often overshadowed by him, yet when it came to Natalie, Rowan knew he was the undisputed victor. "Rowan… get away from me…" Natalie recoiled in disgust. Earlier that day, he had been entangled with Imogen. Given how hurriedly they had left the Payne residence, they might have even slept together. She would never allow him to touch her. In a flash of desperation, Natalie slapped Rowan across the face, her nails leaving deep scratches along his neck. "Mommy…" Sarah cried out from the bedroom doorway. Rowan had wanted to retaliate, but when he saw Sarah standing at the door, he held himself back. Natalie jumped up and ran to the door, taking Sarah's hand and pulling her into the children's room. She locked the door, leaned against it, and sank weakly to the floor. "Mommy… did you and Daddy fight?" Sarah asked cautiously, her face pale with fear and tears streaming down her cheeks. Natalie pulled her into her arms and gently patted her back. "Sally, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," she said softly. After a long moment, she finally calmed down. Looking straight at Sarah, Natalie choked up as she asked, "If… if I divorce your daddy, would you want to come with me?" "Wherever you go, I'll go, Mommy," Sarah said, clinging tightly to her. "But… living with me won't be as easy as living with your daddy," Natalie said gently. "I only want to be with you, Mommy. I don't mind hardships," Sarah cried. "Daddy and Roger aren't the same as they used to be. They're both always siding with Imogen, and I don't want them." Natalie held Sarah tightly, her heart aching like it was being cut with a knife. Fortunately, Sarah was sensible. As long as her daughter was by her side, Natalie knew she could get through whatever came next. … At the CEO's office of Payne Holdings, Imogen was applying ointment to Rowan's neck. She murmured in frustration, "That woman is so cruel. This scratch is so deep, who knows how long it'll take to heal." She cupped Rowan's face and gently blew warm air onto the scratches on his neck. He sat in the chair, his gaze fixed on her face. Compared to the shrew at home, Imogen was gentle in every way, without compare. "Rowan." The office door opened, and Scarlet walked in, carrying her handbag. The scene at the desk between Rowan and Imogen was undeniably intimate. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Imogen straightened up and gave a polite smile. "Hello, Mrs. Payne." "Oh, Imogen is here too," Scarlet said warmly. "You two talk. I'll get back to work," Imogen said, leaving the office and thoughtfully closing the door behind her. "Mom, it's work hours. Why are you here at the company?" Rowan asked, organizing the documents on his desk. "If I didn't come here, how would I ever see you?" Scarlet replied. "We barely get a chance to talk at the Payne residence." "Is something important going on?" Rowan asked. Scarlet took out the prepared divorce agreement from her bag and handed it to him. "Sign this." Rowan didn't sign immediately, carefully reviewing the contents of the divorce agreement. "Divorce? Natalie leaves with nothing, and Roger and Sarah stay with us?" "Yes," Scarlet said confidently. "She's been your wife for seven years and has enjoyed a life of luxury. She should know when to be satisfied. Roger and Sarah are Paynes by blood. Naturally, they should be raised by us." Rowan remained silent, his expression unreadable. "You and Natalie were in a contract marriage to begin with," Scarlet said firmly. "Your grandmother forced you to marry her. Have you forgotten? The woman you truly love is Imogen. "Now that Imogen has finally returned and is still single, divorcing Natalie would allow you to marry her and finally have the life you've always wanted. Isn't that what you've been waiting for? "Natalie is just a small-town girl, an ordinary housewife who can't hold her own in society. She's no help to you in business or at home. But with Imogen, it's different. "She's the heiress of the Chapman family, and the Chapman Group has considerable influence in the business world. Being with her will definitely help you when you rise to become CEO of Payne Group." Scarlet added earnestly, "The Chapman family has its own business, yet Imogen chose to work under you. If that's not devotion to you, what is? You already let her slip away once, Rowan. This time, you must not miss the chance." Scarlet spoke at length, her tone earnest and persuasive. "But Natalie hasn't really done anything seriously wrong," Rowan said hesitantly. "What reason could I use to divorce her?" If he divorced Natalie, he worried about who would take care of Roger and Sarah, and who would manage the household and keep everything in order. Imogen had never been a mother and surely didn't know how to care for children. She also couldn't possibly manage the household as meticulously as Natalie did. "The seven-year contract marriage is the perfect reason for a divorce," Scarlet urged, noticing Rowan's hesitation. "Don't you care for Imogen anymore? Don't you want to give her a proper status?" Rowan suddenly felt uneasy, his mind still echoing with the words he had spoken while arguing with Natalie. "Imogen is just my subordinate. Our relationship is strictly professional. Mom, don't talk nonsense, alright? If this gets out, people will misunderstand." Outside the office door, Imogen heard the entire conversation between Rowan and Scarlet. Her heart sank into complete disappointment. … In preparation for the divorce, Natalie asked her close friend Carmen to introduce her to a divorce lawyer. After reviewing the documents Natalie had prepared, the lawyer, Jasper Hayes, kept shaking his head helplessly. "Mr. Hayes, please don't just keep shaking your head. Please tell us what's going on," Carmen said anxiously, helping Natalie ask. "Based on these documents, the situation is very unfavorable for Ms. Cooper. If she initiates the divorce, she would have a very hard time getting any money or custody of the children," Jasper explained. "Why?" Natalie asked. "Because ever since you married Mr. Payne, you haven't been working. Being a housewife usually puts a woman at a disadvantage in divorce cases. The court tends to favor the spouse with a steady income, so if you try to fight for custody, your chances of winning are very slim," Jasper said. "What if I only want one child?" Natalie asked quietly. All she wanted was to have Sarah with her. Roger had clearly rejected her, and she was certain he wouldn't want to live with her. "That depends on whether the father is willing to give you custody of one child," Jasper replied. "Is there really no other way?" Carmen asked.