The CEO’s Regretful Belated Love

I pulled the documents out of my bag and held them out to James. "Now that you're done dealing with Yvonne's affairs, let's talk about ours. "James, let's get a divorce." His hand paused for a moment before he let out a low, mocking chuckle. He took the papers without even looking at them. Slowly, he crumpled them into a tight ball, the paper crackling softly in his hand, then tossed them straight into the trash can. "Rory, are you throwing a tantrum?" he asked. "You know I would never divorce you." He gently tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. "I know you've always misunderstood Yvonne, but I've told you from the beginning. I'm only keeping a promise to her. You're the one who refuses to trust me." He placed the bouquet of flowers in my arms, his voice soft and patient, as if he were comforting a child. "Alright, enough about divorce. Your birthday is in seven days. I've already arranged the media coverage. All you need to do is show up looking beautiful." He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "By then, everyone will know you're my wife. That should finally put your mind at ease, right, Rory?" He never took my request for a divorce seriously. Two years ago, I had already brought it up. I had screamed, cried, and fought with him over it, only to give in every single time. Back then, Yvonne had just returned to the country. James had taken her to every major event, using every connection he had to rebuild her reputation and boost her career. The two of them had been surrounded by reporters outside a hotel. The reporters first asked about the rumors that James and I had secretly gotten married. Then they pressed him about whether Yvonne was the other woman in our marriage. James pulled Yvonne into his arms protectively. His expression darkened as he cut the reporter off. "Secret marriage? That's ridiculous. And Yvonne is definitely not a homewrecker." The reporter refused to back down. "Then how do you explain the photos of you and Rory being so close, Mr. Victor?" Yvonne covered her mouth and laughed softly. "Some girls think they're Cinderella and will do anything to marry into wealth. James has been dealing with that kind of trouble for a long time." The crowd immediately understood what she meant and broke into mocking laughter. James didn't say a word to defend me. He simply wrapped an arm around Yvonne's waist and escorted her into the car. The moment the news spread online, rumors exploded across social media. Everyone said I had used tricks to climb into James's life and that I was the real person who had ruined their relationship. I was so furious and devastated that I lost my balance and fell down the stairs. The tiny life growing inside me, the child I didn't even know I was carrying, disappeared in an instant. James stayed by my hospital bed all night. When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw were the bloodshot veins covering his eyes. He was furious. He sued every media outlet that had spread those lies and personally watched as every related trending topic was removed in front of me. But when I asked for a divorce, his answer was immediate. "No. Rory, I will never divorce you. You know how much I love you." I believed he had loved me once. He had fought desperately against a group of armed criminals to protect me, leaving himself hospitalized for six months afterward. To marry me, he had endured his mom Molly's harsh opposition, even taking the beating as two sticks broke across his back. None of that had been fake. But now, the pain he caused me for another woman was just as real. I looked straight at him. "What if I insist on getting divorced?" James stared at me silently for a long time. "If you don't want the Linx family's business to collapse, and you don't want your friend Anna to lose her job, then don't ever mention divorce again." His voice turned cold. "I can't accept it. And I don't know what I'll do if I lose control." He wasn't bluffing. He meant every word. While we were trapped in that standoff, the Linx family's business was hit by one crisis after another. Anna was also removed from the major project she had been leading. That was when I finally understood. I had no power to fight back. When you depended on someone else's mercy, even if you were the one who had been wronged, you would never have enough strength to stand your ground. So I gave in. After that, I never mentioned divorce again. I didn't cry, I didn't argue, and I didn't fight. I simply stood by and watched as James used Victor Group's resources to clear the path for Yvonne, pushing her higher and higher. I watched as Yvonne's fans celebrated their so-called "dominant CEO and his sweet wife" love story. At the same time, I used Victor Group's resources to build my own foundation, strengthen my influence, and create a future where I could stand on my own. By the time James decided Yvonne no longer needed him, I no longer needed him either.