Expired Membership, Expired Marriage

When Catherine saw the signed divorce papers, her whole body began to shake. The monitor beside her started blaring alarms as her vitals spiked.

The doctor tried to examine her, but she pushed him away.

Her eyes were bloodshot as she clutched her chest. "Honey, I promise I won't use your money anymore. I'll hand over everything I earn, okay?"

I didn't show even the slightest reaction. "No. I just want a divorce!"

Aubrie, who had been holding herself back, finally exploded. She stepped forward and slapped me hard.

"How can you be so heartless? Catherine ended up in the hospital because of you, and since you walked in, you didn't even ask about her condition. All you want is a divorce. Is your heart made of stone?"

I touched the fresh handprint on my cheek. "I have no obligation to take care of her."

Daxton, seeing that I was unmoved, hurried to support the staggering Aubrie. "Gabriel, what is wrong with you? At least make it clear—why are you divorcing Catherine? I refuse to believe you're this cold."

He stared at me, searching for answers.

I let out a mocking breath and punched him square in the face. "Whether I'm cold or not has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business before talking to me."

Daxton stared at me in shock.

Furious, Aubrie tried to hit me again, but I pushed her back lightly, and she stumbled several steps.

At that moment, even the coworkers who had stayed silent couldn't take it anymore.

"Gabriel, how could you disrespect Aubrie and Daxton like that? Catherine has treated you so well and given you everything, yet you want to divorce her over some supplements? Are you even human?"

I glanced at them and asked, "What business is it of yours? Are you done with your work? If you're done, go home and pay attention to your husbands and kids. Don't stick your nose in my family."

A few of the women who were close to Catherine immediately bristled.

"Catherine is one of the kindest people we know. How did she end up marrying a cold, selfish jerk like you? Do you even know she's about to get a promotion? Her salary will be even higher!"

"Don't bother with him, Catherine. Divorce him. Let him regret it!"

I laughed coldly. "Don't worry. I will never regret it."

Hearing this, my father-in-law, Jordan Francis, couldn't stand it. He glared at me and said, "Fine! We're done tiptoeing around this man like he's some untouchable VIP!"

He lunged forward, trying to grab the papers from my hand.

Dad blocked him quickly and forced a polite smile. "Jordan, please don't be upset. Gabriel is being impulsive. Let's all calm down.

"You can rest assured. As long as I'm here today, I won't let them get a divorce. I'll take Gabriel home and straighten him out!"

At that, he pulled me by the arm, trying to drag me away.

However, I tore myself free with all my strength.

"I told you I'm not going anywhere. I'm divorcing today. None of you can stop me."

Dad, who had never faced defiance like this before, finally lost his temper. He slapped me, causing me to fall to the ground.

"Do you think I can't control you? Let me make it clear! If you dare go through with this divorce, I'll cut ties with you. From today on, you're no son of mine!"

The papers slipped out of my hands and scattered across the floor.

My eyes burned as I clenched my teeth. "Fine. If none of you are on my side, there's nothing more to say then."

I leaned down to gather the divorce documents.

In the next second, Dad shoved me aside and picked them up first.

He glared at me. "I'm ripping this up right now. You can forget about getting divorced, you ungrateful brat!"

Panicked, I lunged toward him. "No! Don't! Dad, let me explain later. Just don't—"

Before I could finish, his hand froze mid-tear.

His eyes landed on a few papers mixed into the divorce agreement. Those were papers that didn't belong there.

In that instant, his face went ashen. His broad shoulders trembled, and he stumbled back several steps.

His shocked eyes bounced back and forth between Catherine and me.