She Was Never Just the Wife novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

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Celia looked at him, her eyes calm, “I want a divorce, Dad. I’ve already made up my mind,”

“Made up your mind?” Jasper’s voice shot up. “Celia, what do you think marriage is? A game? You get married when you feel like it and divorced when you don’t? The Lucero connection was hard enough to secure. You can’t just throw it away.”

“Three years. Dad,” Celia’s voice stayed steady. “This deal needs to end.”

“Deal?” Jasper slammed his hand on the desk and stood up. “You call this a deal? Celia, I’m your father. Would I ever hurt you? People would kill to marry into the Lucero family.

“Right now, you’re Mrs. Lucero, and everyone respects you. If you get divorced, you’re nothing.”

Celia lifted her head and looked him straight in the eye. “I don’t need anyone’s respect. I just want to live like a normal person.”

“Ane

1 person?” Jasper let out a cold laugh. “Celia, you’re being naive. Name one powerful, wealthy man who doesn’t have someone on the side. Beckham is better than most. At least he acknowledges your position.

“And that child of his wasn’t born during your marriage. It’s not even cheating. Just be patient. When the boy gets a little older, take him in. Then he’s your son.”

Celia looked at the man who was her father by blood and felt something close to laughter rising in her chest.

“Dad,” she said quietly, “did you tell yourself the same thing back then?”

Jasper froze. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Back when you and Mom weren’t even divorced yet, Lainey was already pregnant.” Celia’s voice was soft, but it cut like a blade.

“Did you tell yourself that since the baby was conceived before the divorce, Mom should just raise it as her own once it was born?”

“You…” Jasper’s face flushed crimson. “Celia, is that any way to talk to your father?”

“Was I wrong?” Celia stood up, her gaze icy as she looked at Jasper. “Back then, you betrayed Mom, forced her into a divorce, and married a pregnant woman.

“And now you want me to do the same thing, to endure my husband’s betrayal and raise another woman’s child. Don’t you see the irony, Dad?”

“I’m doing this for your own good.” Jasper’s voice boomed. “Do you have any idea how many opportunities the Lucero family brings us?

“Without them, would Ross Group be where it is today? Celia, don’t forget. Your grandfather begged me to agree to this marriage.”

19:27 Mon, May 11

Chapter 28

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“I know,” Celia said. “That’s why I said yes. I spent three years helping Ross Group get back on its feet. Now I’ve paid back what I owe the Ross family and Grandpa.”

“Paid back?” Jasper was shaking with rage. “Celia, you have my blood in your veins. You’ll never pay that back.”

Celia looked quietly at the man who commanded boardrooms but fell apart at home, her eyes holding no anger, no sadness, just a deep, bone-tired exhaustion.

“So,” she asked softly, “in your eyes, I was never your daughter. Just a pawn to keep the Luceros close. Is that right?”

Jasper opened his mouth to argue, but the words wouldn’t come.

Celia smiled. It was a thin, cold smile.

“Dad, the only reason I agreed to marry Beckham three years ago was because you took my hand and said, ‘Cece, Ross Group was my life’s work. Please help me.’ I said yes, not for you, but for Grandpa.”

She paused, and her voice dropped even lower. “Three years is up. Ross Group is stable. I’ve done my part. Isn’t it ri to let me go?”

“Let you go?” Jasper stormed around the desk and stood in front of her, raising his hand to strike. “I raised you, and this is how you repay me?” His arm came up high.

Celia didn’t flinch. She just lifted her head and looked at im, her eyes clear and calm as a mirror. They reflected his face, twisted with rage.

“Go ahead,” she said quietly. “Hit me.”

Jasper’s hand froze in midair. He looked into her eyes, so much like his dead wife’s, and suddenly remembered that woman looking at him the same way years ago, calm and steady, when she said, “Jasper, let’s get a divorce.”

Jasper had wanted to hit her too, but he hadn’t. Because he knew that once he did, there would be nothing left.

His hand lowered slowly, but his voice stayed hard. “Celia, I’m warning you, if you insist on this divorce, don bother calling me Dad anymore. And don’t think you can ever set foot in this house again.”

Celia looked at Jasper quietly for a long while, and then she gave a soft smile.

“Dad,” she said, “the day you cheated on Mom and forced her to divorce you, you stopped being my

father.”

Then she turned and walked toward the door.

“Celia!” Jasper’s voice roared behind her. “Get back here!”

She pulled the study door open and walked out. The hallway was quiet. Downstairs in the living room, Lainey and Greyson both had their heads tilted up, staring at the second floor with nervous eyes.

Celia walked down the stairs.

19:27 Mon, May 11

Chapter 28

“Celia…” Lainey stood up, wanting to say something.

Celia didn’t even look at her. She walked straight toward the front door.

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