The CEO's Hidden Love: Midnight Temptations and Deep Desires novel Chapter 1696

"Look, if you already know that Abigail wants a divorce, you can't say you didn’t see it coming," Dorothy stated, her tone not particularly harsh but with a definitive edge that seemed to settle the matter once and for all.

Craig panicked even more.

He scrambled for an explanation. "Nothing happened between me and Magnolia, I swear!"

"I believe you, but what we're discussing here is how you've hurt Abigail, not whatever your relationship with Magnolia might or might not be," Dorothy sighed, getting to the point. "You might think being innocent is enough, that as long as you know there's nothing going on with any other woman, it's all good. But you've forgotten to consider how Abigail feels."

To her, a partner's feelings were paramount, not some past favor or deed.

Take Everett, for example. No matter how good a woman had been to him in the past, if he knew seeing her would upset his wife, he wouldn't go near her. No moral blackmail could change his mind; his wife's feelings always came first.

"I... I was wrong, I get it," Craig admitted, fully aware of his mistake. From the start, Aurora had rarely shown anger; she truly treasured their relationship, often compromising without limits. This made Craig believe she would never leave him, leading him to neglect her feelings.

"Realizing your mistake is a step in the right direction," Dorothy glanced at Everett, who had remained silent and tense, then turned back to Craig. "So, let's end this amicably. Divorce Abigail without making a scene. After all, you're still the father of her child. I promise you'll still have regular visits."

"You've made promises before, and I chose to believe you. But you failed to keep them. There are no second chances here," Everett stated firmly. Abigail was his pride and joy; seeing her hurt by Craig left no room for negotiation.

"..."

"It's either an amicable divorce or you risk losing all contact with your child. Think it over. But know this: I can no longer trust you with Abigail," Everett concluded, his stance unyielding.

If not for Dorothy, Everett wouldn’t even entertain the idea of Craig seeing their child again. He had chosen other women over Abigail's happiness, and now he'd have to pay the price, lest he mistakenly believe the Lopez family would tolerate his behavior indefinitely.