The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 118

"There are already executives planning to use a hundred-million-dollar contract just to see how far they can push her."

"The Sinclair Group has a solid reputation. Partnering with them while getting personal favors from Ms. Sinclair is a highly profitable endeavor. Plenty of men are eager for the experience."

"Mom, is this genuinely the kind of woman you respect?"

Eleanor's face drained of color, cycling through several expressions before she spoke sharply. "Seraphina grew up with you. Even if you don't harbor romantic feelings for her, she is still your friend. How can you say something so vile?"

"I'm just stating the facts," Maloney replied coldly.

"If you know what kind of position she's in, why aren't you stepping in to help her?"

"Me? Help her?" Maloney let out a harsh scoff. "Do you honestly think Sebastian doesn't know exactly what I know? Her own flesh and blood hasn't intervened. Why is it my responsibility?"

Eleanor's brow furrowed tightly. She opened her mouth to argue, but Maloney slammed his silverware onto the table with a sharp crack. "I didn't come here tonight to discuss Seraphina. Mom, I have some questions for you."

By the time Maloney left his parents' house, he was suppressing a raging fire.

Two years ago, Eleanor hadn't just used Seraphina to belittle Nora.

She had aggressively questioned Nora's ability to have children.

No wonder Nora had used infertility as an excuse when she brought up divorce a while back.

She had clearly held onto that insult the entire time.

And it was burned deeply into her memory.

How could she possibly be infertile?

Their pre-marital medical checkups explicitly confirmed they were both in perfect health.

The truth was that Maloney simply didn't want children.

Pregnancy meant a halt to their physical intimacy, and bringing another person into the house would completely drain Nora's energy.

Nora was already incredibly busy.

Her career was rapidly ascending, keeping her away from home for long stretches. The nights were their only time for warmth and intimacy. If they had a child, her first priority upon coming home would always be the baby. How much time would she actually have left for Maloney?

A life like that was completely unimaginable to him.

After getting married, Maloney had only taken Nora back to his parents' house twice.

Both times, Eleanor had aggressively pressured Nora about getting pregnant.

Both times, Nora had nodded obediently, promising to try harder.

And both times, Maloney had covered Nora's ears, telling her to ignore every word.

Parents constantly pressuring their children for grandchildren was a common occurrence.

Maloney had already explained it to Nora: he had a younger brother who had married early, producing twin boys a few years ago and adding a baby girl last year.

His brother had lived closely with their parents his entire life. They were the picture-perfect, happy family unit, and they had absolutely no authority over Maloney's life.

Maloney leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes as he pieced together the information he had recently uncovered, meticulously reviewing the past two years of their marriage.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

He stood up, walked over to the liquor cabinet, and grabbed a bottle.

Barely half a glass of red wine hit his empty stomach before a sharp, burning agony flared through him, as if someone had set his insides on fire.

Maloney was a lightweight when it came to alcohol. Hangovers gave him splitting headaches, and drinking on an empty stomach aggressively irritated his digestive system.

He was usually incredibly disciplined about it.

Today was purely an impulsive mistake.

And now, not only was he furious, but he was also in excruciating physical pain.

The agonizing symptoms persisted right up until Nora walked through the door.

She looked like she was in a fantastic mood, practically bouncing as she walked. Her hair wasn't tied back, and the loose strands framing her shoulders bobbed with her every movement.

The moment her soft, fluffy head crashed into his chest, Maloney's only impulse was to throw her down on the sofa right then and there.

But he didn't.

He closed his eyes tight.

Her elbow had just jabbed directly into his spasming stomach.