Chapter 6

Joseph was prepared for this and met Cora's gaze head-on. "Cora, you're now the richest person in Jenton. Your net worth is what, 80 billion dollars? And that's even a conservative guess. I'm not going to make some ridiculous demand to split everything equally. That money isn't mine, and I didn't earn it.

"But there's no doubt that you've lied to me for the past 16 years. I'm only asking for one hundred million a year as compensation for emotional damages—that makes 1.6 billion for 16 years. I don't think that's excessive."

Cora's expression cooled. Her beautiful eyes locked onto Joseph's, sharp and searching. She tried to read his true thoughts from every twitch of his face. All she came away with was how suddenly unfamiliar he felt to her. The man she'd shared a bed with for 16 years now looked like a stranger.

Joseph assumed Cora just didn't want to pay. He sneered and said, "You become a completely different person when money comes up. At least now I finally get to see your other, uglier side. If you think I'm just after your money, then forget it. I don't want a dime. Let's just get divorced."

"You…" Cora had really thought Joseph's demand for 1.6 billion dollars was just an excuse. There was no way she was going to agree to something like that.

She'd been about to lash out at him when he suddenly said he didn't even want the money anymore. All he wanted was a divorce. That left her with nothing to say.

"You won't admit you cheated, you won't pay me compensation, and you refuse to divorce me. What exactly do you want? To keep me trapped here for life? I'm telling you right now that it's not happening!" Joseph's voice grew colder.

"Joseph, I'll say this once more—I didn't cheat on you or betray you! If you keep slandering me and dragging my name through the mud, I can sue you for defamation. Just because we're married doesn't mean you get to smear me without consequences. I can and will make you pay for it."

After that warning, Cora switched tactics and softened her tone. "Joe, let's stop fighting, okay? Come home with me. I need you, and our girls need you. Our family needs you."

Joseph might still have been able to hold his anger in if she hadn't mentioned the girls. Not one of them was his. He had no obligation to raise three bastards born from Cora's affairs!

Still, he wasn't the type to scream and shout. He preferred to cool things down, especially since he could hear voices out in the hallway. He deliberately eased his tone and said, "Cora, I've already shown you solid proof. How can you just ignore it? I'll say it again. Natalie isn't mine!"

"You're as stubborn as a mule. If you won't come home, then don't bother coming back ever again! Stay here and rot for all I care." Cora turned and left, feeling deeply disappointed.

From where Joseph stood by the window, he could see her expensive car down below. She waited there for about 30 minutes, clearly giving him a chance to go downstairs and save himself from humiliation.

She'd cheated and given another man three kids. She'd trampled all over the love Joseph had for her. What she did was completely and utterly messed up.

He yanked the curtains shut and went back to watching TV. At some point, he drifted off.

When he woke up the next morning, he noticed his pillow was damp and cold. His tears had caused it. He cursed to himself, wondering if Cora's sudden appearance last night really got under his skin that badly.

Joseph liked to think of himself as strong. But in the relaxed state of sleep, his hidden fragility had quietly surfaced. Without him even realizing it, his tears had soaked the pillow in the night.

He sat there brooding for quite a while. Then, he left the hotel and headed to his in-laws' house. He lingered at the gate for a long moment before finally pushing the door open and going in.

His in-laws, Bernard Lowell and Helen York, also lived in a villa. It was an older house, but it was in a fantastic neighborhood. Everyone in the community was either a retired high-ranking official or some former business titan. In short, everyone there was old money and still carried serious weight.

When Joseph walked in, he saw Bernard playing chess with a retired government official. He greeted them, then learned that Helen was out visiting one of her girlfriends.

The game was in the later stages, and Bernard was clearly struggling. It seemed like he was losing, and he kept shooting Joseph desperate looks. After some guidance from Joseph, he barely managed to force a draw.

The retired official was visibly dissatisfied. After he had achieved such a strong advantage, ending the game in a draw left a bad taste in his mouth. He gave Joseph a look and said, "Come on, Bernard. I had that game in the bag, and you turned it around. I'm not convinced. Let's play another round. But this time, no secret signals between you and your dear son-in-law."

"Dad, I'm going to go read for a bit. We can talk after your game."

Realizing the retired official was annoyed, Joseph excused himself. With Bernard's permission, he went to wait in the study.

About half an hour later, Bernard called him back out so they could walk the retired official to the door. After seeing the guest off, the two men returned to the living room. Bernard had Joseph sit and play a round of chess with him.

Joseph kept trading down pieces, playing safely toward a draw. Bernard noticed and quickly wrapped up the game.

He also noticed that Joseph had sent the housekeeper away, leaving only the two of them in the house. He asked, "What's going on? Why all the secrecy? Just tell me."

Joseph first asked a few questions about Bernard's health. Observing his complexion and energy, he decided Bernard seemed strong enough that what he was about to say wouldn't physically overwhelm him. Then, Joseph took out the paternity test report and placed it in front of him.

Bernard glanced at it, and the easy, relaxed look on his face instantly vanished. His brows knit together, and a faint sense of dread crept in.