Dumped Then Claimed By A Billionaire (Nerissa and Owen) novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Joel’s Concern

“New trick?” Nerissa curled her lips into a faint, cold smile. “Mr. Calloway, are you deaf? I think I made myself very clear. It was my fault before, mistaking that jerk for Mr. Right. Now I’m wide awake. Please sign immediately.”

Owen narrowed his eyes, thinking, ‘Nerissa must be faking. There’s no way she’s this calm. She’s definitely trying to get my attention with this stunt.’

Nerissa’s dirty tactics disgusted Owen. He signed the divorce papers as fast as possible and said coldly, “See you at City Hall, Monday, 8 a.m.”

It was already late Friday night; City Hall had long closed, and it wouldn’t open over the weekend.

There were two copies of the divorce agreement. Nerissa took one, slipped it into her bag, and put it away. She looked up at Owen, her gaze icy, as if looking at a stranger.

“I’ll be there on time,” Nerissa said.

Almost everyone in the room expected Nerissa to resort to threats or tears to stop the divorce. But to their surprise, she turned and left without hesitation.

Evelyn squinted and looked at Owen. “Nerissa’s definitely playing hard to get. Just wait. She won’t show up at City Hall on Monday.”

Joel, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “I don’t think so.”

‘Playing hard to get? No, Nerissa looks like she suddenly woke up,’ Joel thought.

Evelyn scoffed, “Joel, you’re overestimating her.”

Evelyn had lived with Nerissa for more than half a year and knew better than anyone how much Nerissa adored Owen.

Joel turned to Owen, hesitating before speaking. “Owen, are you really set on divorcing? Without her, the company—”

Griffin had often praised Nerissa’s talents in front of Joel.

Joel knew Nerissa had a natural gift for business.

When Griffin was bedridden, he even grabbed Joel’s hand and urged him, “If Owen insists on divorcing Nerissa later, please stop him. I worry he’ll make a mistake.”

Owen’s sudden decision to divorce deeply unsettled Joel.

Choosing his words carefully, Joel continued, “Owen, Calloway Group has already suffered a heavy blow and can’t afford any more setbacks.

“And the company is at a critical growth stage. Without her help, are you confident you can win the Celestial Dome Awards?”

Calloway Group mainly developed online games.

The Celestial Dome Awards were the highest honors in the gaming industry, the ultimate recognition for game creators.

Whether Calloway Group could completely crush their rival and break onto the international stage hinged on winning that award.

Yet at this crucial moment, Owen was divorcing Nerissa.

Joel was deeply worried.

Anger flared in Owen’s eyes as he looked at Joel. “Joel, do you think I’m inferior to Nerissa?”

Owen had never believed that Calloway Group’s turnaround owed anything to Nerissa.

Owen wondered, ‘Besides tweaking my proposals and reviewing files, what else does she do? Owen thought. I graduated top of the Finance Department at Aosthorne University.

‘Surely I’m more capable than Nerissa. Once she’s gone, under my leadership, Calloway Group will thrive even more.’

Joel frowned slightly, concern evident in his voice. “Though Nerissa’s background is ordinary, her business talent is exceptional.”

Kaia sneered, her face dripping with sarcasm. “Business talent? What kind of business talent does a slum girl have?

“Joel, you’ve lost your mind. Owen is the real talent here. He pulled Calloway Group back from the brink of bankruptcy.

“What does Nerissa have to do with it? She didn’t even finish high school. Do you really expect her to keep the company afloat?

“Besides, don’t forget Owen’s latest plan even earned Mr. Stratford’s praise. Owen might just become the first in Aosthorne to cooperate with Stratford Group, let alone win the Celestial Dome Awards.”

Lennox Stratford was only thirty but already a top figure in Cilowesad’s financial world.

At the same time, he was the white knight in every unmarried girl’s dreams in Cilowesad.

Kaia, naturally, admired him as well.

Right now, Owen’s latest proposal had earned praise from Lennox himself, which was a clear testament to just how brilliant Owen’s business talents were.

Kaia’s compliment instantly filled Owen with a rush of superiority. ‘That’s right. I’m the golden boy. Even Mr. Stratford has praised me. My future is destined to shine,’ he wondered.

Sitting beside Kaia, Evelyn nodded approvingly, thinking, ‘Kaia is right. Nerissa didn’t even finish high school. Business talent? What a joke. Calloway Group is already on the right track. If Nerissa stays, she’ll only cause trouble.’

Evelyn then looked at Joel. “Joel, after all, this is family business. If you believe Nerissa really has business talent and don’t want to waste it, why not take her in after she and Owen divorce? Thomas is still single anyway.”

Seeing half his men down, the tattooed man pulled out a pocket knife and pressed it to the girl’s neck. His eyes turned bloodshot. “Don’t come closer, or I’ll kill her.”

The girl had just breathed a sigh of relief, but in an instant, her face turned very pale. She could feel the sharp blade cutting her skin, painfully.

Nerissa had just time-traveled, and her senses were still slowly recovering. She was physically weak, and almost all her strength had been used up moments ago.

As Nerissa pondered what to do next, a stone suddenly flew from the other end of the alley and struck the tattooed man’s leg.

A sharp pain exploded in his knee, and he collapsed to the ground.

A swift figure joined the fray, a man standing tall in a white shirt with sleeves casually rolled up, revealing strong, well-defined forearms.

His skills were excellent; with just a few moves, the punks fell one by one.

Seizing the opportunity, Nerissa quickly approached the girl. She took off her jacket and draped it over the girl’s exposed body, her voice gentle. “Don’t be afraid. It’s okay now.”

Her tone was soft, like warm sunshine on a cold winter day, both dispelling fear and offering comfort.

The girl felt all her terror vanish as she hugged Nerissa tightly, sobbing. “Thank you.”

If not for Nerissa, the girl would have been ruined tonight by those punks.

As the last punk fell, the man pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and carefully wiped his hands. The cool moonlight cast a silver glow on his face.

He lowered his gaze slightly, eyes cool and somewhat distant, landing on Nerissa. His deep voice was charming and pleasant. “Nice moves.”

Nerissa raised her eyes slightly and immediately locked eyes with a pair of deep, piercing eyes.

The man had a strikingly handsome face, noble and elegant, his features radiating refined grace, colder than moonlight itself.

Their eyes met like beams of light.

He was like a beast lurking in the darkness, ready to strike a deadly blow at any moment, stern, with a hint of cruelty and sharpness.

But Nerissa showed no fear. She met his gaze confidently, her tone light. “You’re not bad either.”

‘She’s not afraid of me?’ The man thought, clearly caught off guard.