Born For This

Chapter 005: No Longer Her Husband

Kyle heaved a sigh as Dora's car came to a halt before Vivian Group. The towering glass building reflected the pale afternoon sunlight. 

Dora handed the documents to him.

"Don't lose a tooth," she said with a small smile.

Kyle chuckled. "I won't. But I pray someone else doesn't."

He opened the door and stepped out. Then he walked toward the building's entrance with one hand tucked into his coat pocket.

The guards at the entrance immediately stepped forward to stop him. "Yes, who do you–"

"Wait a minute," one of the guards cut in. He squinted his eyes as he scrutinized Kyle. "I know him. He is the husband of our CEO."

Kyle recognized the guard as the one that almost prevented him from getting in the other night.

"What?" one of the other guards said.

"That cannot be," another retorted.

The guard who recognized Kyle stepped forward and bowed slightly. "You're free to go in, sir."

Kyle nodded and walked past them.

Inside the elevator, his reflection stared back at him once again from the mirrored wall. His face looked calm, but his eyes were cold.

It was strange, wasn't it?

Just days ago, he would have rushed here because Vivian called. One text from her would have been enough for him to ignore everything and come to her.

But now, all he felt was exhaustion, and he couldn't wait to get it all over with.

The elevator chimed softly, and Kyle stepped out and walked down the now familiar way leading to Vivian's office.

The secretary outside noticed him instantly and looked startled.

"Please, Madam Vivian is curren–"

Kyle pushed the office doors open before she could finish, and the sight inside made him stop for exactly one second.

Vivian sat on the edge of her desk, laughing softly. James stood close between her legs, one hand resting casually against her thigh. 

Their faces were only inches apart, and the look in Vivian's eyes made Kyle feel completely cold.

He had spent three unbroken years loving this woman with his body and soul, yet he had never once seen her look at him like that.

Her face right there was a complete display of warmth, affection, and a kind of unguarded softness she had never offered him no matter how he tried.

The moment Vivian noticed him standing at the door, her smile instantly vanished and she moved an inch away from James.

A flash of guilt crossed her face so quickly most people would have missed it. "Kyle, you're here already."

She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and forced out a smile. 

"You made the right choice," she said with a softened voice. "I'm glad you did."

James casually adjusted his suit, even as amusement still lingered in his eyes.

Vivian stepped down from the edge of her desk and walked toward him. "Look...everything was just a misunderstanding."

Kyle stared at her calmly, and that expression unsettled her more than anger would've.

But she forced a smile. "Anyway, what's important is that you're here now."

She reached for his arm lightly. "Come on, Kyle. Just apologize so we can put the trash behind us."

Kyle gave off a laugh right then. It was cold enough to make Vivian's hands stiffen slightly around his sleeve.

"Why," he asked quietly, "do you assume that's why I came here?"

Vivian blinked. "What?"

Kyle slowly removed her hand from his arm.

"You called me here because you needed an apology," he continued evenly. "But at what point did I really agree to that?"

The office fell silent, and James narrowed his eyes slightly.

Vivian's expression darkened. "Kyle, don't start this again please."

"Start what?"

"An unnecessary drama," she snapped. "I've said this time and again. You hit James because you completely misunderstood the situation."

Kyle chuckled. "Misunderstood?"

He slowly shook his head. "I saw him kiss you in public. On our third anniversary night."

Vivian immediately stiffened. For the first time since he entered the room, genuine guilt surfaced in her eyes.

But it lasted only briefly before indignation replaced it.

"Oh my God, Kyle!"

She threw her hands up. "James and I dated some freaking years ago."

"Exactly," Kyle replied in a calm voice. "Years ago."

"And we hadn't seen each other properly in a long time!" Vivian shot back in a loud voice. "We were just emotional and...excited. Things pretty got carried away for a second. That's all it was!"

James scoffed quietly from behind her. But Vivian ignored him as she continued, frustration creeping into her voice.

"You punched him over a kiss? That's what an irrational thug would do!"

Kyle looked at her for several seconds. Then he laughed again. It was bitter this time.

James folded his arms and leaned lazily against the desk.

"We're all wasting goddamn time here," he said coolly. "He's obviously not going to apologize, Vivian. There's really no point dragging this conversation any further."

Vivian inhaled sharply, clearly frustrated herself.

"Kyle," she said through clenched teeth, "why are you being a nut head?"

He looked at her without a reply, and that made her frustration finally burst through.

"You're a stay-at-home husband for God's sake!" she snapped. "Can you stop acting like this for once?!"

The words echoed through the office. Even James glanced at her briefly.

But Vivian continued before she could stop herself. "Do you even understand how important James is to this company? I worked freaking hard to bring him aboard."

She pointed toward James impatiently. "He's about to connect Vivian Group to Transcorp Enterprise. Do you even have the slightest idea what that means?"

Kyle's eyes grew colder with every word.

"Dammit Kyle. So you can't just admit fault for once?" she demanded.

Kyle nodded slowly. "I see."

He smiled faintly, though there wasn't a trace of warmth in it. "You've finally said what you truly think."

"What?"

"You call me a stay-at-home husband," he continued quietly. "But you're the one who made me this way."

Her lips parted slightly.

"You asked me to become a live-in husband. You asked me to leave my family, my career, and my life. You asked that I stay at home and support you while you build your career."

His gaze locked into hers intently. "And I did all of it because I loved you."

Vivian's expression wavered, genuine discomfort crossing her face.

"Kyle..."

"But now I'm suddenly beneath you because you got what you wanted," he continued calmly.

James looked away awkwardly.

Vivian swallowed.

"No. It's not like that," she said more quietly. "I do care about you."

Kyle said nothing, and she took a step toward him.

"I care about you deeply," she insisted. "But right now, as my loving husband, shouldn't you support my cause? Shouldn't you understand what I'm trying to achieve?"

Kyle looked at her for a long moment.

"And when have you ever tried to understand me?" he asked softly.

Vivian froze. "What?"

"You heard me."

His voice sharpened slightly. "When have you ever supported me the way I'm asked to support you?"

Her expression hardened again. "Oh God. Now you're just being unreasonable."

"No," Kyle replied immediately. "That's what you're doing right now."

Vivian frowned. Her lips parted to speak again, but Kyle cut in.

"You never asked what my request was."

That made her fall silent. She shot a glance at James, then took in a slow breath.

"Fine," she said at last. "What do you want?"

Kyle held her gaze for a few seconds, then he reached calmly into his coat pocket.

"I only need you to sign something."

The tension in Vivian's shoulders visibly eased right then. Behind her, James gave a little smile.

Obviously, both of them assumed Kyle wanted money or some little property as a settlement.

"That's all?" Vivian asked. "Just a document?"

Kyle didn't answer.

Vivian brushed her hair and walked back toward her desk.

"That's fine," she said casually. "I'll sign whatever there is to sign."

Then her tone sharpened slightly. "But after this, you're never to target James again. Are we clear?"

She glanced toward James with a reassuring smile. "You should try to be more patient with my husband. He's a bit...emotional at the moment."

James chuckled softly. "It ain't easy, but I'll try my best."

Vivian extended her hand toward Kyle impatiently.

"Well?" she said. "Give it to me. I'll sign immediately."

Kyle stared at her quietly for one final moment. Then he chuckled dryly and pulled out the documents Dora had prepared.

He walked forward and placed them gently on the desk.

Vivian reached for them carelessly at first. But the moment her eyes landed on the title across the top page, her entire body froze.

A divorce agreement.

The color drained from her face instantly, and James' smile disappeared too.

For several seconds, no one spoke. Then Vivian slowly lifted her head.

"Kyle–"

"Sign it," he cut in. "And meet me at the City Hall in a week so we can make it official."

Vivian stared at him as though she no longer understood the language he spoke.

Her eyes reddened.

"You..." she whispered shakily. "You're asking me for a divorce?”