The Ex-Wife He Can’t Have novel Chapter 5

Monday.

Jillian first dropped Connor off at kindergarten, then returned to prepare the divorce papers.

She drafted an agreement explicitly stating she wanted neither a single cent nor custody of their child.

Jillian had been a top student since childhood, completing a combined bachelor's and master's degree in computer science at the nation's premier institution, St. Jude's University.

Rationality and composure were her innate strengths. The only misstep in her entire life had been Killian.

The Quincy family all assumed she had married him for his wealth, so she wanted to prove herself by rejecting every dime of his money.

As for custody, she had no leverage.

More importantly, staying with the Quincy family guaranteed Connor a much brighter future.

Even if she fought tooth and nail and won custody, her son might end up resenting her when he grew up.

Rather than letting that happen, it was better to just let go.

At nine-forty, she arrived at the lobby of Quincy Tech.

Because she didn't have an appointment and the staff didn't recognize her, the receptionist stopped her.

She had no choice but to call upstairs. Moments later, Killian's chief assistant, Nate Nash, appeared before her.

Nate was the only employee in the entire company who knew her true identity.

"Mr. Quincy is handling some business right now. You might have to wait a little while."

"That's fine. I can wait."

The two rode the elevator up. Nate led her into a lounge and promptly vanished.

Jillian waited for roughly two hours.

During those two hours, not a single person came to check on her, nor did anyone offer her a glass of water.

Just as Jillian was starting to grow restless, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, and an unfamiliar man in a suit strolled in.

He tilted his head, ready to light a cigarette.

Jillian quickly spoke up to stop him. "Excuse me, sir, there's no smoking allowed in here."

"What the hell?" the man muttered, giving Jillian a once-over. Seeing her plain clothes and unassuming appearance, he immediately raised his voice.

"Are you out of your mind? This is the smoking lounge! If I want to smoke, what business is it of yours?"

Looking thoroughly embarrassed, Jillian apologized, "I'm sorry."

She turned and walked out.

Sure enough, there was a smoking sign on the door. She had simply followed Nate in without paying attention.

Nate had no grudge against her; there was no reason for him to deliberately humiliate her like this.

When she pulled her gaze back, she realized Killian was staring her down, his posture rigid. It was as if he was ready to throw himself in front of the woman the second Jillian tried to hurt her.

Only a man deeply in love would be so fiercely protective.

A sharp pain stabbed at Jillian's heart, feeling like she was being pierced by a thousand needles.

She walked up to the desk, pulled the divorce papers from her bag, and slid them gently across the polished surface.

Killian picked it up, barely glancing at it.

A second later, the papers were whipped straight at Jillian's face.

A single sheet of paper was light, but Killian had thrown it with vicious force. The sharp edge sliced across the corner of her eye, stinging sharply as a drop of blood welled up.

Humiliated, Jillian clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

"You're the one who told me to come," Jillian said.

"You really think you get to call the shots on something like this?"

Jillian froze as realization dawned on her.

Killian wasn't angry that she wanted a divorce; he was furious that she dared to draft the terms herself.

For a ruthless, domineering executive like Killian, absolute control was mandatory. Even a divorce had to be orchestrated entirely on his terms.