Divorcing the useless son in law ; The return of the Tycoon

Divorce papers

The sight inside the room made his heart freeze.

Seraphine was standing by her large mahogany desk, wearing an elegant white business suit. Lucian was standing right behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist. His cheek was rested against her shoulder, and Seraphine was leaning back into his chest, smiling softly as they looked down at a business document together.

On the desk sat two half-empty glasses of expensive red wine and a bouquet of red roses.

Caelum’s hands tightened on the rim of his wheels until his knuckles turned pale. The small bakery box on his lap suddenly felt very heavy.

"Seraphine," Caelum said softly.

The couple froze. Seraphine quickly pulled away from Lucian, her cheeks turning bright red. She smoothed her skirt with trembling hands, but she did not look ashamed for long. Within seconds, her face turned cold and annoyed.

"Caelum?" she asked, her voice sharp. "What are you doing here? Why didn't you tell the desk you were coming up? You know I am very busy today."

Lucian did not move away. He adjusted his silk tie, rested one hand casually in his pocket, and smirked down at Caelum. His eyes held pure disdain and amusement.

"Ah, the husband has arrived," Lucian sneered, stepping forward. "Tell me, Caelum, do you always roll into private business meetings unannounced? Or are you just here to collect your monthly allowance?"

Caelum ignored Lucian completely. His clear, dark eyes remained fixed entirely on his wife.

"It's my birthday today, Seraphine," Caelum said, his voice quiet and completely steady. "I brought a cupcake. I thought... maybe we could spend twenty minutes together."

Seraphine looked down at the cheap cardboard box on Caelum's lap. Irritation flashed across her eyes.

"A cupcake?" she scoffed softly, shaking her head. "Caelum, look around you. I am managing a fifty-million-dollar company. Lucian and I are preparing for the biggest merger of the year, and you bring a five-dollar cupcake to my office?"

"I thought you loved strawberries," Caelum whispered.

"I used to like many things when we were poor and hopeless!" Seraphine snapped, taking a step toward him. "But I have grown up, Caelum! I have built an empire! I am moving forward in life, while you... you are still sitting in that same chair, living off my hard work, doing nothing day after day!"

Lucian walked over and rested a heavy hand on Seraphine's shoulder. She did not push him away.

"Listen to her, poor guy," Lucian laughed softly. "A real man stands up and supports his woman. A real man brings her investments, contracts, and power. You can't even stand up to pour her a glass of water. How long do you expect her to carry a useless burden like you?"

Caelum looked at Lucian's hand on his wife's shoulder. Then he looked back into Seraphine's eyes.

"Is this what you think too, Seraphine?" Caelum asked gently. "Do you think I am just a burden?"

Seraphine let out a long, tired sigh. She walked over to her desk, opened the top drawer, and pulled out a thick white folder. She slid it across the glass desk until it stopped right in front of Caelum.

Printed on the front cover in dark black ink were three words: DIVORCE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

The room went completely silent.

"I signed my part this morning," Seraphine said, her voice dropping all emotion. "I wanted to give this to you at home tonight, but since you are here, we might as well finish it now."

Caelum stared at the white folder. His face was completely calm, like a calm lake before a storm.

"You want a divorce?" Caelum asked.

"I need a partner who matches my status,"

Seraphine said plainly. "Lucian has the connections, the wealth, and the strength to help me take Ollivier Group to the next level. You gave me comfort when I was weak, Caelum, and I thank you for that. But we are from two different worlds now. I cannot let pity hold my company back."

Lucian chuckled softly from behind her. "Don't worry, Caelum. Seraphine is generous. She left you the small house on the edge of town and fifty thousand dollars in cash. That should keep you comfortable in your chair for a few years."

Seraphine watched Caelum's face closely. She expected him to break down. She expected him to cry, to scream, to grab her dress, and to beg her for a second chance. Every man in his position would beg.

Instead, Caelum simply nodded.

He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a simple silver pen, and flipped the folder open to the final page.

Without asking a single question, without demanding more money, and without pleading for a single second, Caelum pressed his pen to the paper and signed his name in smooth, elegant script.

He pulled the pen back, closed the folder, and pushed it back toward her.

Seraphine froze. Her mouth opened slightly in pure shock. "You... you signed it already? Just like that?"

"You made your choice, Seraphine," Caelum said softly. "I respect your choice."

He took the small cupcake box off his lap and set it gently on the edge of her desk, right beside her red roses.

"Happy birthday to me," Caelum whispered. "And goodbye, Seraphine."

He gripped the dark wheels of his chair, spun himself around in one smooth motion, and rolled out of the office without looking back even once.

Seraphine stood rooted to the spot, staring at his retreating back. For some strange reason, her heart suddenly felt hollow and terrified, as if she had just stepped off a high cliff into the dark night.