The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold) novel Chapter 1021

Jessica descended the stairs with her usual grace, a frown on her face. "Fredric, your wife's spot on. 'Through thick and thin, stay next to him.' That's the Stirling family creed. We all know the score with Leopold's 'divorce' was a charade to throw Megan off the scent. And as for Arnold, he got hoodwinked by his mischief-making mom. They had their reasons. But what's your excuse for wanting a divorce? Only to chase after some fresh face, huh? Sheryl was your pick, remember? The Stirling family didn’t make you marry Sheryl. 'For better, for worse,' and all that jazz. You've shared years and kids, and if she's not earned stripes for her triumphs, she sure as hell has for her trials. Can the new girl in town hold a candle to her or put with your quirks the way Sheryl does?"

Her stance was crystal clear. She was vehemently against the divorce. She had zero tolerance for irresponsible heartbreakers.

Fredric knew Jessica would say as much. Chad had set the same example for her back in the day.

This whole mess had ripped open old wounds for her.

But still...

"Mom, there's no love left between Sheryl and me. Why drag it out? A divorce is best for us."

Jessica's tone was stern as if she were laying down the law. "Look, it's normal for the spark to fizzle out after a while. A marriage isn't built on feeling but on duty. You wouldn't want a divorce if you had an ounce of responsibility toward your kids and home. You can have your cake and eat it, but bringing her into this house as a wife? That's not the Stirling way."

Fredric had toyed with the idea, but Jelena wasn't like the rest. She would be nobody's mistress. And he genuinely liked her a lot. She was nothing like the others he had dated or taken to bed.

He glanced at Aurelia, hoping she'd throw him a lifeline, but Aurelia would never speak for him.

She wasn't about to put her head on the chopping block, especially since she objected to the divorce herself.

Her idea of a fair compromise involved Fredric cutting Jelena a hefty check and parting ways with no strings attached.

Fredric was no husband material, not by a long shot. Sure, he might behave while Sheryl was young and pretty. But he'd be out chasing tail again in a few years.