A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 12

12 /470

Chapter 12

“Cora, have you no shame at all?” Joseph spat.

He hadn’t expected Cora to be this shameless. The paternity test was the clearest proof there was, yet she still insisted he had to catch her in bed with someone before she would admit to cheating.

Instead of answering him, Cora said, “I don’t want any more misunderstandings between us when it comes to our relationship, Joseph. You have to trust me. I love you, and I didn’t cheat. The paternity test saying Natalie isn’t your biological daughter is wrong. You can’t take it seriously.

“If you keep being so stubborn, I really will turn on you. Do you have any idea what’s going to happen to you if you divorce me and make an enemy of me?”

At that, Joseph felt the crushing pressure of Cora’s dominance. Her eyes, which were wide as she glared at him, were particularly intimidating. In the past, he would’ve backed down, swallowed his anger, and chosen peace for the sake of the family.

But now, he had nothing left. There was nothing more he could lose, and he’d finally seen Cora’s true colors. He had no reason to be afraid anymore.

He straightened up and met her eyes. “I wanted an amicable divorce, but I know now that you don’t deserve it. I’m going to keep filing for divorce, and I’ll even go to the press if I have to. I want to see exactly who it was you were sleeping with behind my back!”

“Joseph, you-”

Cora’s face turned pale. If Joseph really did that, society would brand her as a cheater, even if she hadn’t done anything. Lowell Group would be dragged into the scandal. The company’s stock would nosedive, and the losses would be immeasurable. Years of hard work would likely go up in smoke.

Considering her position and social status, a divorce was no personal matter. It could set off a devastating chain reaction. And judging by Joseph’s calm, unflinching expression, it was clear that he would do anything if she kept pushing him and backed him into a corner.

She had no choice but to say, “Let’s calm down and talk this through. Airing our dirty laundry in public will only hurt all of us-you, me, and our girls.”

Joseph didn’t want their marriage troubles to blow up into some huge scandal, either, or become fodder for gossip at the hospital. So, he eased up a little. “Then why won’t you listen to me? Natalie isn’t mine.

“That alone is enough to prove you cheated. Our marriage is over. Do you really think I’m divorcing you for your money? All I want back is my dignity.”

“Joe, don’t you know what kind of person I am? Shouldn’t you know whether or not I’ve been messing around with anyone else? We’ve been together for so many years. Doesn’t that count for anything? Haven’t we been loving toward each other? You love me, and you satisfy me. Why would I cheat on you?”