Shredded Vows: The Billionaire’s Secret Heir novel Chapter 16

"Of course I am! It's so close, and it's a great learning opportunity to experience a major corporate environment. Plus, we get to make new friends. I heard they even set up dedicated desks for us." Jane popped a piece of meat into her mouth and asked, "What's wrong? You look like you're dreading it. Long face and all."

Lydia didn't know how to explain. After a long pause, she let out a heavy sigh. She'd just have to face whatever came her way.

Over at Gray Enterprises, inside the CEO's office on the thirty-eighth floor.

Dave wasn't there. Summer wasn't there. But Gideon was, and so was Catherine.

The atmosphere between the mother and son was dangerously icy.

Catherine slid the signed divorce agreement across the desk. "Sign it." She was around fifty, immaculately maintained.

Draped in a mink over a tailored ivory gown, her look was minimalist yet undeniably luxurious.

Gideon's gaze landed on the bold "Divorce Agreement" header as his mother continued speaking. "I offered her a small slice of assets, and she signed it without a second thought."

The man's eyes locked onto Lydia's signature, turning sharp and deadly. He felt a sudden urge to strangle her himself.

She threw away her love for him over a bit of money? Where was her supposed undying obsession?

"It's been five years. You don't love her anyway, and looking at her just gives you a headache. She can't carry on the Gray family line, so you might as well let her go. Marry a woman you actually love and live a good life."

"Who said I don't love her?" Gideon glanced at his mother, grabbed the agreement, and began ripping it to shreds. "Why would I have married her if I didn't love her?"

Seeing him shred the contract was shocking, but it paled in comparison to the absolute bombshell he had just dropped. Catherine frowned. "What did you say?"

The man tossed the torn pieces of the agreement into the trash can. "I said I love her, and I'll never divorce her in this lifetime. Stop meddling in our affairs. We will have children."

Feeling the sheer, unadulterated cold radiating from her son, his mother refused to back down. "Yet you make her take birth control pills right after."

Gideon was stunned. He stared at her unblinkingly, a freezing glare erupting from his deep, predatory gaze.

Realizing her slip of the tongue, Catherine immediately felt a surge of guilt.

"Let me give you some advice. There are a lot of reporters swarming outside lately. Until Gideon divorces his wife, it's best you don't insert yourself."

The elevator continued its descent, settling on the first floor. The doors slid open once more.

As Catherine stepped out, Serena stared at her back, thinking, Does that mean I can insert myself after the divorce?

"Did you guys know? The rumored Mrs. Gray works here at the company."

"No way! I haven't heard anything about that."

"Do you live under a rock? Don't you read the news?"

Just then, two female employees walked into the elevator, deep in gossip. Snapped back to reality, Serena perked up her ears. Completely forgetting she was supposed to deliver a document on the first floor, she let the doors close and rode the elevator back up with them.

"The Rumored Mrs. Gray is Summer. They've been photographed together constantly lately. They're totally in love. They co-manage the company, and I heard they even flew back from abroad together."