Chapter 5

The sight of the empty house sent a surge of anger through Daryl.

He pulled out his phone and called Jennie.

“We’re sorry. The number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later.”

Daryl froze at the automated message.

Had Jennie blocked him?

His surprise quickly gave way to fury.

What right did she have to block him?

He had even bought flowers and come home to humour her. What more did she want?

Daryl turned to leave, but stopped at the door. He took out his phone again and called Chloe.

The call went through, but it rang for a long time before she answered.

“What do you want?” Chloe asked impatiently.

A dangerous look crossed Daryl’s face. He forced down his anger and asked, “Is Jennie with you?”

“It’s been over a month, and you’re only just getting home? You finally remembered you have a wife?” Chloe snapped. “Too late. Sign the divorce papers as soon as possible. Since all of you keep saying Jennie shamelessly forced you to marry her, she’s setting you free now. You can do whatever you want with your precious 'friend', and no one will be there to stop you.”

She hung up before he could argue.

Daryl stared at the phone in disbelief.

His grip tightened around the phone.

Fine.

If Jennie wanted to make a scene, he would let her.

He had plenty of ways to force her to come crawling back.

Meanwhile, Chloe tossed her phone onto the couch with a scowl.

“That bastard actually had the nerve to ask where you were.”

Jennie lay beside her under a blanket, looking utterly exhausted.

“He still thinks I’m just throwing a tantrum.”

Chloe frowned. “What if he refuses to sign?”

Jennie gave a bitter smile.

“He doesn’t love me. He’s just not used to losing someone who worshiped the ground he walked on. Once he gets used to it, he’ll sign.”

Seeing her like this made Chloe’s heart ache.

“Jennie, let’s take a trip. I’ll book the flights now, and we can leave tomorrow. Maybe you’ll even meet someone hot while we’re away.”

Jennie wanted to get out and clear her head, so she nodded.

“You decide.”

Chloe immediately booked the tickets and planned the trip.

Early the next morning, before sunrise, Chloe dragged Jennie out of bed. After they washed up and ate breakfast, they took a cab to the airport.

While they were waiting in line to board, Jennie received a call from her mother, Linda Chandler.

“Jennie, did something happen between you and Daryl?”

Jennie’s heart sank.

“What happened?”

“Last night, Fisher Corporation suddenly canceled every deal it had with Chandler Corporation. This morning, they warned other companies not to work with us. The bank loan that had been approved a few days ago was also rejected today because of some supposed issue with the paperwork. Your father and brother have been scrambling to deal with everything. Neither of them has been home since last night.”

Jennie’s chest tightened.

“Mom, don’t worry. I’m coming home right now.”

She ended the call, grabbed her boarding pass back from the gate agent, and hurried toward the exit.

Chloe rushed after her.

“What happened?”

“Daryl is going after Chandler Corporation. I have to go back.”

“Damn it. How can he be this underhanded? I’m coming with you.”

They took a cab straight to the Chandler residence.

A heavy gloom hung over the entire house.

The moment Linda saw Jennie, she hurried over and took her hand. Her fingers trembled with fear.

“Jennie, you’re back.”

Jennie looked around.

“Where are Dad and Ethan?”

Linda wiped away her tears.

“Your father is at the bank trying to fix the loan situation. Your brother went to find Daryl and ask about the canceled contracts, but he’s been waiting since last night and still hasn’t been allowed to see him.”

She hesitated, knowing the question might be inappropriate, but she couldn’t hold it back.

“What happened between you and Daryl? Why is he suddenly trying to crush our company?”

Jennie clenched her jaw.

Hatred burned in her eyes.

Daryl had done this on purpose.

He was using her entire family to threaten her.

If she insisted on the divorce, he would destroy Chandler Corporation.

The Chandlers were wealthy, but they were nowhere near the Fishers’ level. Against a corporate empire like Fisher Corporation, they didn’t stand a chance.

When Jennie remained silent, Linda realized the situation was far worse than she had imagined.

“Did he hurt you?”

Jennie lowered her head.

It took her a long moment to find her voice.

“Mom, I want to divorce Daryl.”

The words struck Linda like a bolt of lightning.

The room spun, and she nearly lost her balance.

“Divorce? Why?”

Jennie placed a hand over her abdomen.

She wanted to tell her mother everything.

But the words died in her throat.

If her parents found out Zara had caused her miscarriage and that she might never be able to have children again, they would rather go down fighting Daryl than compromise with him.

She couldn’t let her father’s life’s work be ruined because of her.

“It’s nothing. We had an argument. I’m going to talk to Daryl now. Whatever happened between us, he had no right to drag the company into it.”

She turned to Chloe.

“Chloe, take care of my mom for me. I’ll be back soon.”

After leaving Linda in Chloe’s care, Jennie grabbed the car keys and drove to Fisher Corporation.

In the reception room, her brother Ethan Chandler sat alone.

A cup of coffee, long since gone cold, rested on the table in front of him.

He clearly hadn’t slept all night. His eyes were bloodshot, dark stubble covered his jaw, and his suit was wrinkled. The usually confident and polished man looked exhausted.

“Ethan.”

Seeing her once-proud brother in such a state made Jennie’s nose sting. Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

Ethan froze for a moment before rising and walking over to her.

He cupped her face and gently wiped away the tear at the corner of her eye with his thumb.

“What are you doing here?”

“Daryl has gone too far.”

Jennie’s heart ached for him.

With trembling hands, she took out her phone and called Daryl.

He declined the first call.

Then the second.

Only on the third did he finally answer at his leisure.

“What?”

“I’m in your reception room. Get here right now, or I swear I’ll burn this place to the ground.”

Jennie practically roared the words before hanging up.

Ethan looked worried.

“Will he come?”

He knew Daryl didn’t love his sister.

Throughout their marriage, Jennie had always been the one giving everything.

Would Daryl really show up just because she called?

Jennie’s expression was cold.

“He did all of this to force me to meet him. Of course he’ll come.”

Sure enough, the reception room door opened the moment she finished speaking.

Daryl walked in with one hand in his pocket, wearing the smug expression of a man who believed he had already won.