He Asked Me to Sign the Divorce Papers or Pay Him Ten Million in Compensation

Chapter 2 The Judgment

I had never expected that Edmund, the man who had built his entire empire on a single business suggestion I gave him years ago and who now possessed a fortune worth more than a hundred billion, would choose to settle our ten-year marriage in such a cold and calculated way.

Katrina leaned in to glance at the ledger and dramatically covered her mouth. "Oh, my God! Ten million dollars! Delores, you really know how to spend, don't you!"

She slipped her arm through Edmund's and gazed at him with open admiration. "Edmund, you are incredible. I cannot believe you supported a woman like Delores, who only knows how to spend money, for ten whole years, and you still kept such a good temper."

Edmund clearly enjoyed the praise. He gave Katrina's cheek a playful pinch.

"That is exactly why I cannot afford to keep her any longer. I need a woman who can actually support me in my career."

The two of them flirted openly, completely ignoring my presence.

I took a slow, deep breath and spoke in a calm, steady voice. "Edmund, you founded the company after we were already married. Under the law, I am entitled to half of it."

Edmund gave a cold laugh. "The law? Delores, you are a homemaker with no professional experience, and you want to lecture me about the law? The company shares were placed in my parents' names from the very start of the business. They have nothing to do with me. The house, the cars—everything is registered under my parents. I do not have a single penny in my own name. If you doubt me, feel free to check the records."

He had planned every detail with ruthless precision and sealed off every possible path I might have taken.

"So now you have only two choices," he delivered his final ultimatum. "Pay the money or leave."

Before I could absorb the full weight of his words, Edmund's mother and sister arrived exactly on schedule, as though they had been waiting for the perfect moment.

Edmund's mother, Estelle Garrett, swept through the door without sparing me a glance. She rushed straight to her son, seized his hand, and began to wail.

"My dear son, you have suffered terribly! I always knew these past few years have been so difficult for you!"

Edmund's sister, Clara Garrett, followed right behind her. She snatched up the thick ledger.

"Tsk, ten million dollars over ten years. Delores, you have been living better than a queen."

She slammed the ledger back onto the table with a heavy thud. "My brother works himself to exhaustion outside to earn money, while you sit at home throwing it all away. Does your conscience not ache at all?"

They had not come to help us reconcile. They had come to accuse me.

Watching the expressions on their faces, I felt only deep disgust.

"Mom, Clara, please do not speak that way," Edmund said, pretending to intervene.

Estelle immediately seized the opening and changed her tone, launching into a speech designed to guilt me.

"Delores, I understand that this feels painful for you. But put your hand on your heart and think clearly. Has Edmund had an easy time? A man who works outside faces crushing pressure every day. When he comes home, all he wants is a little peace and comfort. He is simply confused right now. As his wife, you should show understanding. Just apologize, admit your faults, and this matter can be put behind us. Why turn it into such an ugly scene? Who would benefit from that?"

She spoke of mediation, yet her eyes kept drifting toward the divorce agreement. Her true intention could not have been clearer.

They wanted me to accept the ten-million-dollar debt and walk away with nothing. That was the only ending they considered acceptable.

Clara made no attempt to soften her words.

"Exactly! You are nearly forty years old. After the divorce, carrying a ten-million-dollar debt, who would ever want you? If you went to the job market looking for a nanny position, they would reject you for being too old! My brother is already showing great generosity by letting you leave with nothing after ten years of marriage. You should feel grateful!"

She smiled with open contempt and continued, "You actually think you can claim part of the assets? That is nothing but a fantasy. If you cause trouble today, my brother's company could face serious problems tomorrow. Are you prepared to take responsibility for that?"

The three of them worked together like a perfectly coordinated team, shifting every ounce of blame onto my shoulders.

Edmund's affair became proof that I had failed to understand him. His hidden assets became evidence of my greed.

This absurd ledger had been transformed into irrefutable proof that I had spent ten years living in laziness and luxury.

Katrina watched the entire exchange with obvious delight. She took out her phone and snapped a photo of everyone. The caption read: Family meeting. Feeling like such an outsider here.

Below the post, comments from her circle of socialite friends had already begun flooding in.

"Katrina, you are far too kind to tolerate any of this."

"Get that old woman out of the house right now! Edmund, you have got this!"

"Hilarious. Spending ten million dollars in ten years. This woman is a bottomless pit. My heart truly goes out to Edmund."