CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 52: Just Sign It (2)

For a moment, it was as if she had returned to those two placid years they’d once shared. He would always be like this, smoking and lost in thought. She would brew him a rich, aromatic cup of coffee to keep him awake, or sit cross-legged beside him with a book, sneaking glances at his furrowed brow as she read. And in those moments, she had felt so cozy and content.

But now, the huge suitcase beside him was a harsh sight that brought her back to reality, reminding her of how unrecognizable their relationship had become. She reined in her thoughts, averted her gaze, and said,

"Please wait a moment."

Then she walked upstairs. Julian Donovan watched her cold, distant figure and took another harsh drag from his cigarette.

A short while later, she came back downstairs, holding a document. She walked up to him and, as she handed it over, said,

"Just sign it."

Julian Donovan raised an eyebrow, glanced at her, and took the document. The next second, a frosty look covered his entire face. His fingers suddenly tightened, crumpling the document into a ball. He glared at her furiously.

"What’s the meaning of this?"

’She actually threw a divorce agreement at him? She’s getting more and more out of control! Since when was it her turn to take the initiative in their relationship?’

Naomi Shaw was unaffected by his anger. She just stood there looking at him, her tone calm.

"Now that my father has passed away, there’s no need to maintain this marriage anymore. I know you don’t love me. I’m sorry for being so willful and clinging to you in the past. I won’t do it anymore. And I won’t keep holding on, getting in the way of you and Miss Jennings. I’ve already signed the agreement. I’m just waiting on you."

She had prepared this agreement long ago, just waiting for Ian Shaw’s passing to have this showdown with him.

Julian Donovan was so angry he laughed. He rose slowly, tightening his fist until the agreement was a crumpled ball in his palm, then casually tossed it into the nearby trash can.

"You want a divorce?"

He leaned closer, his thin lips curling into a cold, sinister smile.

"Have you already found the next man to take you in? Or have you forgotten what I said about making you regret this?"

Naomi Shaw’s face paled. She had rehearsed those lines in her mind a thousand times to be able to say them so nonchalantly. She thought he would be eager for her to suggest divorce, that he would sign without a second thought. She never expected him to laugh so coldly and say such cruel words.

Julian Donovan’s smile grew even colder.

"So, before I’ve had my fill of watching you suffer... you want a divorce? Not a chance!"

After he spoke, he picked up his luggage and left without a backward glance. Naomi Shaw could finally take no more. She turned and screamed a mournful accusation at his retreating back.

"Why are you doing this? If you keep dragging this out with me, aren’t you afraid Miss Jennings will resent you for not giving her proper status?"

’Was it worth it? Ruining things for both of them, refusing to end the marriage just to torture her, leaving the woman he loved without a proper title. He had promised her father on his deathbed that he would take care of her, but she knew that was just to comfort her father, not because he genuinely wanted to.’

Julian Donovan didn’t turn his head, viciously throwing back a reply.

"My business is none of your concern!"

Then he strode out the door and disappeared. Naomi Shaw glanced at the agreement in the trash can and sank helplessly onto the sofa. ’Why? Why? Why did it have to be this way, where they both ended up losing?’

’She thought she could find release, but instead, she’d plunged herself into an even more painful abyss. Maybe their relationship really was as he’d said: she couldn’t get out, and he wouldn’t come any closer.’

Julian Donovan stormed to his car with his luggage and threw himself inside. ’She wants a divorce? What a joke! How dare she be the one to bring it up? Who the hell does Naomi Shaw think she is, wounding his pride like this? Even if they were to get divorced, he should be the one to initiate it. He hadn’t said a thing, and here she was, bringing it up first. It was infuriating! Who gave her the nerve to treat him this way?!’

After Julian Donovan left, their relationship returned to its state before his arrival: no contact. In fact, it was even worse. At least back then, they never fought. This time, after his return, they had argued twice, and those arguments had completely obliterated the last shred of affection between them.

In truth, when Julian Donovan left, he had felt a sliver of pity for her. First, because Ian Shaw was gone, and he felt she was all alone. Second, because he saw how she was struggling through her pregnancy with their child. And third, perhaps, because he had promised Ian Shaw on his deathbed that he would take good care of her. But her divorce agreement had destroyed every last bit of that pity in his heart.

About four months after Julian Donovan left, he suddenly received a call from Ken. Ken’s tone was as calm as ever, even though he was reporting a major event.

"Young Master Donovan, congratulations. You have a son. Six pounds, six ounces. The baby is safe, but the mother has not yet regained consciousness."

Julian Donovan’s hand trembled, and he almost dropped his phone. When he came to his senses, the first thing he asked Ken was,

"What happened? Wasn’t she due next month?"

As a doctor, he knew the typical gestation period all too well. If he remembered correctly, she was due next month. By then, he should have finished setting up the company with Caleb Rhodes and their partner, and he’d been planning to go back and check on her. No matter what was between them, the baby was, after all, his child.

Ken answered calmly,

"A premature birth."

Julian Donovan’s voice deepened suddenly.

"How?"

It seemed Ken had been waiting for that exact question. He reported back in a light, breezy tone,

"I heard she saw a news report about you kissing that starlet and spending the night at her place. She missed her step and fell down the stairs."

A long silence hung on the other end of the line.

Ken remained silent on his end as well. He had stopped everyone from crusading against Julian over the matter and had called him personally. He’d deliberately used that light, breezy tone to describe the premature birth. At a time like this, perhaps only such a nonchalant attitude could truly sting Julian Donovan. As Julian Donovan’s most loyal retainer, this time, he was absolutely not on his side.

And he had succeeded.

After a long moment, Julian Donovan’s voice finally came, slow and strained.

"How is she now?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Ken let out a heavy sigh.

"Her life isn’t in danger, but she’s very weak. She’s been unconscious the whole time."

Julian Donovan opened his mouth, finally managing to speak.

"I’ll go back to see her in a little while."

"If you’re not coming back right now, then don’t bother coming back at all. You won’t be needed then."

Ken, once again channeling the loyal retainer willing to risk death to defy his master, hung up as soon as he finished speaking.

"I’m really busy right now. I can’t get away for even a day... Hello?"

Julian Donovan tried to explain, but Ken had already coolly hung up. He irritably tossed his phone aside, ran a hand through his hair, and began pacing the room in frustration.

This was the office of the company he had just formed with Caleb Rhodes and their third partner. The desk intercom buzzed, and his secretary’s voice came through.

"President Donovan, Miss Jennings is here."

Ken’s words flashed through his mind. He yanked at his tie and barked at his secretary,

"Tell her I’m not here!"

The secretary was puzzled. "Huh? But didn’t you two have an appointment?"

His fury practically incinerated the secretary through the receiver.

"Enough with the stupid questions! I told you to stop her, so stop her! Otherwise, don’t bother coming to work tomorrow!"

The secretary stammered a terrified agreement.

He slammed the intercom button, then grabbed his cell phone, pried the battery out, and tossed it aside.

’Annoyed. So damn annoyed. That was the only thing he felt. He didn’t want to see anyone. He just wanted to be alone.’