The divorce proceedings took three days to process.
On the final day, everything was set. Bruce sat quietly at the head of the long polished table, his hands folded loosely in front of him. Lawyers and clerks lined either side of the table, passing papers back and forth. Willis leaned back in his chair, relaxed, one ankle resting over his knee while Marcus and Caro sat opposite him. A thick folder was placed in front of him. Willis cleared his throat. "Before we begin, this is a contract termination agreement," he said, pushing the folder towards Bruce. "You'll receive a sum of $1 million upon signing." He paused, watching Bruce's expression with relish. He went on. "In exchange, you waive all future claims against Caro Griffin and the Griffin family. You get nothing beyond the buyout. No alimony. This works only with your full consent." One of the lawyers gently placed a pen in front of Bruce. But to everyone's surprise, he didn't reach for it. Instead, he stared at it as if it were the only object left in the world. Three years. Three years of swallowing his pride. Of cooking meals that went cold while she worked late. Of pretending not to notice her disgust, her distance, or her indifference towards him. Three years of believing foolishly that if he endured long enough, if he loved her hard enough, she would eventually love him back. He remembered every insult from her family. Every sneer. Every time he was spoken to like a hired help instead of a husband. He remembered lowering his head when Marcus called him useless. He remembered being laughed at for delivering pizzas, for daring to exist before his in-laws without money. One night was all it took to ruin him. His wife slept with a stranger powerful enough to buy her. And by the next day, she's ready to divorce him. Unforgivable. Bruce’s jaw tightened. He'll never forgive her. He lifted his eyes and turned to Willis. "I consent," Bruce said quietly. He reached out and picked up the pen. "Just tell me where to sign. Let's get this over with." "Not so fast, tiger," Willis held up his hand. "We haven't agreed on the amount I'm paying you. $1 million. Nothing more, nothing less." Bruce's eyes snapped to him. For the first time that day, anger broke through the calm face. He leaned forward slowly, palms pressing into the table, his gaze locked on Willis. “Keep your filthy money,” Bruce said dangerously. “I don’t want a single cent of it.” Willis burst into laughter. "You can act tough all you want, Bruce. It still doesn't change your reality." He leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming with contempt. "You're a loser. And you'll always be a loser. That's your pathetic reality." A slow bitter smile curved Bruce's lips. "I don't know how I'm going to do it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not even next year." He paused as he locked eyes with Willis's. "But mark my words, Willis. Someday, I'll make you pay dearly for this. That's a promise." For a brief moment, the room fell silent. Then Willis laughed even harder. "Ohhh, I’m terrified," he mocked, clapping his hands. "Really. Shaking in my boots." His face hardened. "Just shut up, sign the papers, and get the hell out of my sight." Caro finally turned towards Bruce. She wrinkled her nose at him. "You should have taken the money, Bruce. I know you've never been smart, but rejecting a million dollars? That’s just stupid." Marcus folded his arms. "It is a lot of money. It could've set you up for life. But you let your foolish pride rob you of it. Typical idiot." Bruce lifted the pen and pointed it at both of them. "Don't think I've forgotten about you two and the Griffin family." Caro stiffened. "I will have my revenge," Bruce went on, his voice as hard as nails. "When the Griffin family downfall comes, do not forget this day. Because I'll be the one who destroys you." For a couple of seconds, there was silence. Then Marcus threw his head back and laughed. Caro joined in and soon, even Willis was laughing his head off. "Destroy us?" Caro scoffed. "You must've lost your mind." "The only thing you can destroy is your own life," Marcus added, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "Delusional bastard! Get yourself a life, Bruce." The laughter roared again, filling the room. Bruce didn’t respond to the laughter. Slowly, he reached forward and lowered the pen to the papers. He scratched his signature across the Contract Termination Agreement. Then the divorce papers. In less than sixty seconds, Bruce completed his signature on all documents provided while everyone laughed at him. Finally, Bruce lifted the pen and set it down. It was over. Three years of humiliation and unreciprocated love was gone. Just like that. Bruce exhaled quietly. "It is done!" At that exact moment, Bruce's phone buzzed in his pocket. Bruce frowned slightly as he reached into his pocket and pulled it out. The screen lit up. He clicked on the text message that had popped up out of nowhere. A jolt of electricity zapped throughout his entire body as he read the text on the screen. The message read: Congratulations, Master Bruce. After identity verification and lineage confirmation, we are pleased to inform you that you are now the sole inheritor and controlling authority of the Shepherd Conglomerate. Total Valuation: $100,000,000,000,000 USD Assets: Global banking, defense, technology, energy, rare metals, and sovereign investments Status: FULL TRANSFER COMPLETE You will be picked up shortly. Welcome back to the throne.Latest Chapter
Dinner with Bruce
Later that evening, Harold Robinson entered the hotel where Bruce was staying for their dinner meeting. He had spent the whole day making calls and calling in favors, searching for a way to escape the trap that had closed around him. But still, nothing had worked. Every door he knocked on was slammed shut in his face. Even the president wouldn't pick his calls. It felt like some unknown force was working against him. As he stepped into the hotel lobby, a young woman in a crisp uniform came up to him. "Mr. Robinson? We've been expecting you. Please, follow me."She led him through the lobby, past curious glances and whispered murmurs, to a private dining room at the back of the hotel. The room was elegant and intimate, with a single table draped in white linen and lit by a single candle. The walls were covered in dark wood paneling, and a large window offered a view of the city lights.Harold sat down heavily in one of the chairs. He didn't order anything, not even water. He simply
Lawsuits part 2
The hospital corridor felt sterile and cold, the fluorescent lights humming above as Harold Robinson paced back and forth like a caged animal. He held the phone to his ear, his voice sharp as a two edge sword. "I don't care what it takes," he snarled. "File the lawsuit. Assault, breaking and entering, attempted murder—I want that bastard buried under so many charges he'll never see the light of day again!" He hung up and immediately dialed another number. "Hello? Yes, this is Harold Robinson speaking. I need a favor. I want the case against Bruce Smith to be fast-tracked. No excuses." Just then, the family doctor stepped out of the surgical ward. Harold straightened up, his anger quickly giving way to concern. "How is he?" he demanded. "Is my son going to be alright?" The doctor nodded grimly. "He'll recover. However, the damage was severe. His jaw was broken in three places. He lost several teeth. He has severe injury to his face and ribs. He'll need reconstructive surgery an
lawsuits
Bruce's car rolled up to the hotel entrance, tires softly hissing on the wet pavement. With his arm steady around her waist, Bruce helped Caro as she leaned into him. Her body shook, still trembling from what she'd been through, her face buried against his shoulder.He led her through the lobby, past the night clerk who wisely said nothing, and into the elevator. They rode in silence to the top floor, where Bruce had reserved an entire suite for his stay.The room was spacious and warm, with soft lighting and a large bed covered in crisp white linens. Bruce led Caro to the bed and helped her sit down."Stay here," he instructed. "I'm calling a doctor."Caro nodded weakly, her eyes fixed on the floor.Bruce pulled out his phone and made a call. Within fifteen minutes, a discreet doctor appeared at the door, carrying a bag. He was a middle-aged man with kind eyes and a calm demeanor, the kind of doctor who had seen too much and learned not to ask questions.He examined Caro gently, cl
The monster in the mansion
Jake jumped back, his belt falling from his hand as if it had suddenly turned into a snake. His eyes widened with shock as he gaped at Bruce. "How the hell did you get in here?!"Bruce didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on the welts crisscrossing Caro's arms, on the black and blue bruises already forming around her eyes, and the tears streaming down her face. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with terror.Looking at his ex-wife at this state, something inside Bruce snapped. Anger he never knew he had surged inside him like a violent storm. He turned to Jake, his voice shaking with rage. "You bastard. How dare you beat her?"Jake recovered quickly, his shock giving way to rage. He stepped forward, his chest puffed out and his fists clenched at his sides. "This is none of your business! She's my wife! I can do whatever I want with her! Now get the hell out of my house before I call the police!"Bruce neither moved nor flinched. He walked toward Jake, his footsteps slow and his e
Help
Bruce's private jet sat on the tarmac, its smooth white fuselage shining brightly beneath the runway lights as he drew near. The engines hummed softly, ready for takeoff. A stewardess stood at the bottom of the stairs, her smile polished and professional."Welcome aboard, Mr. Shepherd. We're ready for departure."Bruce nodded absentmindedly, his hand resting on the railing. He set one foot on the first step, then paused.Something felt off. A cold, creeping dread that settled in his chest and refused to let go. There was no logical explanation for it, but the ring on his finger pulsed warmly against his skin, as if trying to tell him something. He turned and looked back at the city lights in the distance. Caro was out there. And something was terribly wrong."Mr. Shepherd?" the stewardess asked, her smile fading. "Is everything alright?"Bruce didn't answer. He stood frozen on the steps, his mind racing. He remembered the hatred in Jake's eyes at the courthouse, how swiftly he for
Trapped
Bruce leaned against his car, feeling the cool metal against his back as he gazed up at the towering walls of the Robinson mansion. Half an hour earlier, he had driven Caro home to reconcile with her husband. Just as he waited for her to return, his phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced at the screen; it was Caro. He answered. "So, how did it go?" Bruce inquired. "Did he ask for a divorce?" "It's alright," Caro said, her voice relieved. "Everything is fine with my husband. He forgave me." Bruce's brow tightened. He had driven Caro here himself, expecting her to return with divorce papers in hand. Both expected Jake's refusal to forgive her court betrayal. Bruce had been ready to fund her new life and to protect her if Jake discarded her. But forgiveness? That was unexpected. "I don't know," Bruce said slowly. "This feels off. Don't you think it's odd he's forgiving you so easily?" "It doesn't matter," Caro replied. "As long as I have my husband back. It's better than being
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Reader Comments
Yes!! Amazing!! Bruce now can take his revenge