Caught Him Cheating My Life Restarted (Natalie) novel Chapter 23

"If you care about her so much, then protect her. Darren, let's get a divorce."

Natalie's gaze was fixed on him, sharp and unwavering. She had wanted to leave quietly, but they just had to force her hand.

Divorce! Darren's brow furrowed, his jaw tight as he struggled to contain his fury.

Victoria scoffed from the side. "Natalie, what are you talking about? What have Marie and Darren done to you? With your background, you should be terrified of being thrown out of the Cross family every single day. And you have the nerve to ask for a divorce? I think you've lost your mind!"

"Shut up!" Darren suddenly roared. Victoria jumped, startled.

Darren stared at Natalie, his eyes icy. "Natalie, I told you never to mention divorce. Why are you becoming more and more disobedient?"

His gaze was frigid, but Natalie met it with a coldness of her own. "In your eyes, I'm just a pet you keep, while your precious sister-in-law is the most important person in your life. Darren, it makes me sick. And I won't stand by and watch her treat my son like he's one of her toys!"

Marie smirked. So the woman wasn't a complete idiot. She could see who really held his heart. It was good she knew her place as nothing more than a pet.

"Natalie, I genuinely care for Hanley. How can you say I treat him like a toy? You're blowing this whole nut incident out of proportion. Are you determined to pin some crime on me? Now you're just spewing filth. You have no class at all."

"Be quiet! This is between me and her."

Darren suddenly snapped at Marie. Both Marie and Victoria froze.

Hanley tugged on Marie's sleeve. "Auntie, Daddy doesn't want to divorce Mommy, does he?"

Victoria pulled Hanley over. "Little boys shouldn't meddle in grown-up affairs."

Marie fought to control her rage, then knelt down to face Hanley. "Hanley, your daddy is a good man. He knows that if they divorce, your mommy won't even be able to support herself. He doesn't want to see her destitute. It's all because of you. He doesn't want the future head of a great family to have a mother who's a common street vendor, a low-life. You'd be ridiculed by everyone in high society."

Victoria chimed in, "That's right. Within the Cross family, we can protect her. But once she's divorced, she'll be nothing. She'll only bring you shame. And she wants custody? She just wants to drag you down into the mud with her. I've never seen such an irresponsible mother!"

Hanley's small fists clenched. Marie continued her poisoning. "She's just trying to use you to get more of your daddy's attention. She doesn't think about how hard he works for the Cross Group day and night. All she cares about is being doted on, and when he's busy with work, she throws a tantrum. She has no idea how important the Fairchild Conglomerate deal is, or how much stress your daddy and I are under. Her life is just too easy."