Chapter 5

Nina hadn’t seen William in seven years.

He had changed so much. The boyish youth she remembered was now dressed in a tailored suit, radiating the confidence and allure of a mature man.

His features were striking. Sharp bone structure, a strong brow, and a chiseled nose. He looked like someone the heavens had favored.

Back in college, Miles and William had been the most talked-about figures on campus. Both excelled academically and had movie-star good looks.

Whenever the two appeared together, it inevitably sparked debates over who was more handsome. The question had never been settled.

To Nina, though, the two couldn’t have felt more different.

Miles was warm and refined.

William was steady and composed.

She had barely recognized him at first.

She never would have imagined that after all these years, their reunion would happen like this.

He was successful. His career had soared.

And she was fresh off a failed marriage, with nothing to her name.

Feeling a bit awkward, Nina asked, “Mr. Lawson, have you eaten yet?”

“No.”

“Then how about we get a table somewhere and talk over dinner?”

William nodded, eyes lowering slightly to hide the weariness there. “Alright.”

Though her funds were tight, she knew she couldn’t just take him to any random place. Not someone of William’s status.

She booked a private room at Bistro L, one of the top restaurants in Harbor City.

It was far beyond what her remaining six hundred dollars could cover.

On the way there, she sent Nadia a quick message.

“Nadia, can I borrow ten thousand?”

“What’s mine is yours. No need to even say 'borrow.'”

A moment later, Nadia transferred twenty thousand.

Along with it came two more messages.

“Nina, he’s not worth it. Miles used to be nothing but an illegitimate son. If it weren’t for you protecting him back then, the Jackson family would have chewed him up and spat him out.

“Now here you are, the wife of a Jackson Corporation VP with a billion-dollar net worth, and you can’t even pay for a meal. If Miles isn’t ashamed, he should be. What a pathetic man."

Nina’s gaze dimmed.

She hadn’t noticed that William, seated beside her, had been watching her the entire time. He caught every word of the messages displayed on her phone.

Without a word, she accepted the transfer and locked her screen, then turned to gaze out the window. The city lights blurred past, her thoughts tangled.

When her parents were still alive, she had a driver to take her everywhere and a live-in housekeeper. Even though her parents tried to control how much she spent, afraid she would waste money, they still gave her six hundred thousand a month.

After marrying Miles, her lifestyle had only become more luxurious. The secondary credit card he gave her had virtually no limit.

But ever since she had moved back to her family home, that card had stopped working.

For the first time in her life, Nina was actually worried about money.

Now she finally understood. In the end, she had always relied on someone else to support her.

Over dinner, she told William everything, laying her situation out in full detail.

Neither of them brought up the past.

Throughout their conversation, William remained cool and distant, strictly professional.

It was as if she were just another client, no different from anyone else who had walked into his office.

“What are you asking for in the settlement?”

“I just want a fair divorce settlement for the infidelity. And the house in North District.”

William lifted an eyebrow, surprised. “That’s all?”

Nina nodded. “That’s all.”

She wasn’t asking for much. Yet not a single lawyer in Harbor City had been willing to take her case.

Once, she had wanted nothing more than Miles’s love.

Now, all Nina wanted was what rightfully belonged to her. She wanted a clean break and a clear line drawn between them.

She had no intention of taking what wasn’t hers. Miles had built his career on his own. She wasn’t foolish enough to fight for a share of Jackson Corporation’s stock.

In the three years they had been married, Miles had paid for everything. She had been nothing more than a woman buried in medication, trying to get pregnant, living off him.

Nina’s lips curved in a bitter smile. As for their joint assets, aside from her family’s old property, not a single asset was under her name.

All she wanted was what she deserved. No more, no less.

William calmly analyzed the situation. Since Nina and Miles had no children, the only matter to settle was the division of property.

“Your demands aren’t difficult. If we can prove Miles was unfaithful, any lawyer could secure a favorable settlement for you.

“But let me be clear. As it stands now, your chances of winning aren’t very high.

“Without solid evidence of his affair, and given your husband’s social standing, if he refuses to divorce, this could drag on for a long time.”

Domestic disputes were always the hardest cases to fight. The courts preferred to uphold the idea that a peaceful home is a happy home.

“I’ll draft the divorce agreement based on your terms. My advice is for you to try to negotiate with him directly. If you can settle this amicably, that would be best.

“But if he refuses to cooperate, we’ll have no choice but to take it to court.”

William’s tone turned serious. “You need to be sure about this. I never fight a battle halfway. If we file suit, I will go all in with you. At that point, Miles will no longer be your husband. He will be your opponent. And what you’ll face won’t be as simple as just dividing assets.”

William had seen this play out too many times.

At first, the wife was determined, furious, desperate to cut all ties, and ready to drag everything into the open.

But then the husband would soften, plead, try to win her back. And many wives, no matter how resolute at the start, would eventually give in.

People were emotional creatures, after all.

He didn’t want to waste time and energy on cases that would fall apart halfway through. It was best to lay it all out clearly from the beginning.

Nina sat there, her mind flashing with memories.

Was she really prepared to cut ties with Miles completely?

They had weathered so many storms together. They had made it this far, against all odds.

How had it come to this?

How had it all fallen apart now?

“I...”

Her phone rang, cutting off her tangled thoughts.

It was Nadia.

“Nina, have you seen the headlines?

“That whole story about them sending her away is total crap. I knew that bastard Miles was lying to you! His mother and Mia were out in public, shopping for baby supplies together, hand in hand. They’re not even trying to hide it anymore!”

Nina froze. “What?”

“See for yourself.”

Hands trembling, Nina clicked on the link Nadia had sent.

“Shocking! Jackson Corporation VP’s wife spotted out and about — suspected pregnancy confirmed, enviable relationship with mother-in-law!”

Pain radiated from her chest, spreading through every inch of her body.

Her lips drained of color. Sunlight streamed through the open window, making her already pale face look even paler.

In her mind, one sentence from Miles echoed again and again:

“I’ll arrange a place for Mia. She won’t appear in our world until after the baby is born.”

How foolish she had been to believe him.

Reality had wasted no time slapping her in the face.

The very woman who was supposed to disappear from her life was now standing in a baby store, one hand resting lovingly on her belly.

And by her side was none other than Nina’s mother-in-law, Yvonne Spencer.