No Divorce? The Billionaire's Love Chase! novel Chapter 23

Claudia froze.

York shut the front door, took the suitcase from her hand, and grabbed her arm to lead her back to the living room. Claudia pulled her hand away. "York, what did you just say?"

He took her hand again. "Let's talk upstairs."

She shook him off. "I don't want to stay here!"

"Claudia," he reminded her, "we're not divorced yet."

Her emotions teetering on the edge of collapse, Claudia shoved him hard and made a run for the door. York intercepted her, wrapping an arm around her waist. He lifted her onto his shoulder and strode upstairs.

Claudia struggled the entire way, but he carried her back to the bedroom and dropped her on the bed. He was sweating from the effort. "Calm down first. I'm going to take a shower."

Before entering the bathroom, York changed the keypad code on the bedroom door.

Locked in, Claudia could only wait.

Listening to the sound of running water, she felt all her strength drain away.

For years, this had been their dynamic. It wasn't really an argument; it was more like a one-sided outburst from her. York was always so calm, his voice always so steady.

When he said she couldn't afford to divorce him, he could only be talking about money.

For years, he had supported her, her parents, and her brother. Right now, she truly had no way to repay him.

York stood and walked back to her. He braced one hand on the vanity and the other on the back of her chair, trapping her in the space between. "Claudia, if you're not thinking clearly, let me help you with the math."

He spoke slowly. "When your family went bankrupt, I paid off over 970 million in their external debts. The downtown apartment I set up for your parents and brother is worth over 11 million. My finance department wires 100,000 to your parents' bank account every month, and your brother's elite private school costs me over a million a month in total fees."

He paused. "And of course, that doesn't include your own expenses."

Claudia's heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vise, the pain making it hard to breathe. She forced herself to stay upright, her eyes flashing with defiance. "York, when you married me and helped my family, you gained a sterling reputation. We never signed a prenup. You're the one who cheated, and I'm offering you a clean break by leaving with nothing. I'm not asking to divide our marital assets. What more do you want from me?"

York didn't bother to hide his intentions. "Claudia, I'm a businessman. I wouldn't have married you without getting something in return. The reason we didn't sign a prenup is because I was confident you'd never be able to take a single penny from me."