He Offered Me to Strangers to Save Her

Natalie's POV: "If your wife didn't care so much about who you dated, you wouldn't have to work this hard." Derek's smile faded. "Don't talk about Natalie that way." Then he turned, took Vanessa Shaw's hand, and softened his voice again. "Have dinner with me. Anywhere you want. Please?" I wiped a tear from the camera screen and looked once more at the man in the photograph—my husband. The first time I caught him cheating, I'd pounded on the hotel room door and demanded that he come out. He'd scowled at me and said, "Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?" Then he'd signed the divorce papers. Less than three months later, he came begging me to remarry him. When I refused to see him, he waited outside my building. Snow piled on his shoulders as he stood there holding my favorite hot chocolate and gazing up at my window. Eventually, I opened the door. He pulled me into his arms and cried as he promised over and over, "If you come back, I'll change everything." His hands shook so badly on the day we remarried that it took him two tries to slide the ring onto my finger. I wiped away his tears and never brought up the pain he'd caused me during our first five years together. A message from my editor-in-chief appeared on my screen. Editor-in-Chief: Where are the photos? I sent them over. Natalie: I caught Derek cheating. I'm writing this story myself, and once I file it, I'm resigning. Then I messaged his mother, Diana Prescott. Natalie: Diana, I want a divorce. I still want to become a financial news anchor. Before Derek and I remarried, she'd asked me, "Do you really believe he'll change? Natalie, if you ever decide to leave, come to me." Diana: Come see me tomorrow morning. I'll have a lawyer waiting. I was about to leave when a server recognized me. "Mrs. Prescott?" Derek released the woman in his arms and rose with an easy smile, as though nothing had happened. "What are you doing here?" Vanessa looked perfectly composed. "You heard me. I've been turning him down this whole time. You need to speak to your husband." I glanced at the necklace. "You turn him down while sitting in his lap?" Her expression chilled. "I don't date married men." "Then stay away from him." Vanessa picked up her purse and turned to Derek. "You're going to stand there and let her humiliate me? Don't ever come looking for me again." Derek stopped her, then glanced back at me impatiently. "Apologize." I stared at him, my chest so tight I could barely breathe. "You're the one cheating, yet you want me to apologize to her?" "She's different from the others. I've spent three years pursuing her. Don't make her refuse to see me because of you." My eyes burned again, but my voice turned cold. "I won't apologize." His face hardened. He beckoned to the bodyguards by the door. "Help her apologize." Two men seized my shoulders. I struggled and looked at him. "Derek, make them let go!" He brushed the hair from my cheek and said gently, "Stop being stubborn, all right?" I turned my face away. He withdrew his hand and nodded to the men behind me. "Be gentle. She doesn't handle pain well." My knees slammed against the floor. Pain blinded me. I gritted my teeth and looked up to see Vanessa finally smile. "I didn't realize you were willing to go this far for me. Fine. I'll have dinner with you tonight." She glanced down at me. "Although it looks like your wife needs you more." "I've waited three years for this dinner." Derek bent to help me. His fingers brushed my knee, and he frowned. "Didn't I tell you to be gentle?" I shoved his hand aside and pulled myself up against the table. He tried to support me again while murmuring, "Wait for me at home. I'll be back as soon as dinner's over." "Do whatever you want." My leg buckled again near the door. Behind me came his cheerful voice. "What do you feel like eating? You choose the restaurant." The elevator doors closed. My throat tightened as I lowered my head and replied to the lawyer. Natalie: I've made up my mind. I want a divorce. Please draft the agreement.