Chapter 2

"Ms. Jenner, this is the first draft of the divorce agreement." Adam York set the document on the small table beside the hospital bed, his brows tightly furrowed.

He'd already heard about what happened before coming and thought he was mentally prepared, but he still hadn't expected Astrid to turn herself into such a wreck.

Adam had grown up following the Jenner family. He'd started working for Jenner Group back when Astrid's father, Conrad Jenner, was still alive. However, now that the Jenner and Judd Groups had merged, there was only so much he could do, even if he wanted to help.

"I must remind you that if you insist on getting a divorce, you need to be prepared for the worst," he said.

Astrid paused while looking over the divorce agreement. "What kind of 'worst'?"

"After Jenner Group invested back then, its operations were gradually absorbed into Judd Group's system. Over the past few years, Mr. Judd has quietly bought up your family's scattered shares through a series of capital moves.

"At this point, in terms of both equity and business, Jenner Group is already fully merged into Judd Group. With the strength you have now, there's no way you can fight him."

Adam lowered his voice. "If this really goes to court, you might walk away with nothing. I'd advise you to think very carefully about this."

Astrid's fingers tightened abruptly, crumpling the edge of the divorce agreement. She had always known exactly how ambitious and capable Reuben was. She just never imagined things between them would deteriorate to the point of tearing each other apart.

"I don't believe he can control everything," she said through gritted teeth. "Even if it takes my last breath, I'm taking back what belongs to me."

"Fine. As long as you've thought it through," Adam said.

…

Adam's words hit Astrid hard. She sat on the hospital bed in a daze. She only got up when the food delivery person called.

She braced herself against the wall and slowly made her way to the hospital entrance. Out in the harsh sunlight, a familiar Maybach was parked not far away.

Reuben was holding the door open for Eleanor. He had one arm around her waist as he supported her carefully, his movements so gentle that they seemed to drip with tenderness.

Eleanor slipped into the car with a bright, playful smile. Compared to that radiant, glowing face, Astrid felt herself dim into nothing. She watched the car pull away before turning back to her ward to eat.

The lukewarm food was nearly impossible to swallow. Tears splashed onto the plastic container, mixing with the food as she forced each mouthful down. It tasted bitter and unbearably sour.

Astrid had only taken a few bites when her phone suddenly started blaring with an incoming call from Sylvia.

"Where the hell have you been, Astrid? Grandpa's birthday banquet is next Saturday, and it's being held at Judd Estate. Get your ass back here and start preparing for it!"

"I'm not going. Find someone else," Astrid said flatly.

"Who? You're Mrs. Judd now, aren't you? You'd better crawl back here to get it done, even if it kills you!"

Even after everything that had happened, Sylvia still thought she could order Astrid around like a maid.

In the past, Astrid had indulged Sylvia and let her walk all over her, agreeing to every demand without saying no. She'd done it because she loved Reuben and was willing to do anything for his family.

Now, she wasn't going to be that fool anymore.

"Listen up—if you don't come back today and start preparing for the banquet, I'll tell my mom about this so she can teach you a lesson!" Sylvia screeched.

"You think I'd be afraid of a mistress like your mother when I don't even want Reuben anymore?" Astrid countered.

"How dare you!" Sylvia exploded instantly.

The fact that Christine had clawed her way into the Judd household as the other woman was a forbidden topic there. Astrid's words were like a lit match thrown into a powder keg. Sylvia went nuts on the other end.

She started spewing every vile insult she could think of. Astrid simply dropped the call and blocked her number.

Sylvia was so furious that she hurled her phone. Astrid sure had grown a backbone, huh? What gave Astrid the nerve to do this? Did she think Sylvia couldn't do anything to her?

She immediately called Reuben. "Reuben, Mom told me to call that cursed woman and ask her to come back to help prepare for Grandpa's birthday. Not only did she refuse, but she also called Mom a homewrecker and said you and I are bastards!"

"Why were you provoking her in the first place?" Reuben's tone was ice-cold. "And even if you can't stand her, have you forgotten our family's rules? She's your sister-in-law. Who gave you permission to talk about her like that?"

Sylvia immediately shrank back on the other end of the line. "Why are you taking her side? Am I even your sister anymore?"

"Enough of this. Tell Mom to handle the birthday preparations," Reuben said before ending the call.

No matter how meticulously they planned the banquet, his grandfather, Stephen Judd, wouldn't have a kind word or a warm look for the three of them.

His assistant, Lance Sloan, stood off to one side. He said hesitantly, "Mr. Judd, that day at the hospital entrance, I think I saw Mrs. Judd running after your car. There was an accident later. Do you think it's possible that she really isn't feeling well?"

"She ran after my car?" Reuben snorted and slammed his pen down on the desk. "She values her life more than anyone I've ever met. How could she possibly risk her life in a stunt like that? She was just trying to force me to give in."

He waved dismissively. "Ignore her. Once she's done making a scene, she'll come crawling back."

Lance wasn't so sure it was that simple. He didn't like Astrid's clinginess, either. Every time she saw Reuben, she practically glued herself to him like some human-sized accessory.

But she'd been way too quiet from yesterday until now. In the past, she would've wreaked havoc in the Judd household by this point.

Once, Reuben had been away on a business trip on their wedding anniversary, and his flight had been delayed. He'd rushed home right after getting off the plane, only to walk into a living room that looked like a war zone.

The spoiled brat in Astrid had acted up, and she'd literally trashed the place.

This time, though, everything was eerily calm. With her personality, there was no way she would let things go so easily.

Lance thought about saying more, but one look at Reuben's impatient expression made him swallow the words.

…

At 10:00 pm that night, Reuben sat across from his friend, Caleb Sutton, in a private room at an exclusive members-only club.

"I heard Eleanor's pregnant. Not bad, man. You work so fast that it's impressive," Caleb teased, swirling the liquor in his glass.

Reuben shot him a cold, dangerous look. Caleb only grinned wider. "So, when are you divorcing Astrid?"

Reuben tossed back a glass of whiskey. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, but he said nothing.

"You really need to think this through." Caleb leaned in. "Nadine Stewart is coming back next month. Back then, your dad and her mom built the Judd family's empire together. She's definitely coming back for a piece of the inheritance."

He prodded Reuben in the chest. "Now that Jenner Group is just a subsidiary under Judd Group, Astrid is useless to you. But Eleanor is carrying your first child and the Judd family's heir. You know that your grandfather will favor you, if only just for that.

"Divorcing Astrid now and making Eleanor your wife will do nothing but help your position in this fight for the inheritance."

Reuben slowly rubbed his fingers along the rim of his glass, his gaze turning dark.

Caleb's phone rang. The moment he saw the caller ID, his expression softened, and his voice turned syrupy. "I'll be right back, babe!"

With that, he grabbed his jacket and bolted out of the room, leaving Reuben alone to drink in silence.

In the wee hours of the night, Reuben was driven back to his marital home. He pushed the door open to find the living room in pitch-black darkness. There were no lights left on for him like there usually were.

He staggered to the couch and flopped onto it, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Asta, get me a glass of water…"

Silence.

Only when the nagging voice he was used to didn't ring out did he realize that Astrid hadn't come home.

Reuben pulled out his phone, his fingers hovering over Astrid's number. In the end, he slammed the phone down onto the couch. "I'd like to see how long you think you can keep this up, Astrid!"

…

The next morning, Reuben showed up at the office looking nothing like his usual polished self. He wore a wrinkled dress shirt.

"What's up with Mr. Judd? He's usually so put together…"

"Did he get kicked to the couch after fighting with Mrs. Judd?"

The female employees had seen Astrid before and had a strong impression of how spoiled and temperamental she was.

"Got time to gossip about your boss, do you?" Eleanor walked briskly toward them, one hand on her slightly rounded belly.

Her voice was sharp and laced with a deliberate air of superiority as she questioned, "Are all your projects wrapped up? Do you not care about your performance bonuses this month? Get back to work, now!"