From Disgraced Son-In-Law to Billionaire King

Chapter 4: Sign It!

The Mortaine living room was full of people. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and a few family friends sat around the long table. Plates of food were half-finished, glasses of wine and juice sat in front of them. The surroundings were heavy with chatter until Don Ricardo stood up.

He cleared his throat, then raised his voice, so he could catch all their attention. “Everyone, listen to me.” The room went quiet. Eyes turned toward him.

He placed his glass firmly on the table. “I want to make something clear tonight. We have decided that Isabella will file for divorce. This man—” he pointed at Cayden, who sat at the farthest end of the table, “—is no longer welcome in this family.”

The silence broke into murmurs. Some relatives nodded, some smirked, and a few even laughed.

Cayden immediately stood, he was not prepared. This won't happen. “Father—”

“Don’t call me that!” Isabella's father barked. “You are not my son.”

Cayden’s hands shook at his sides. His voice was steady yet it's strained. “I love Isabella. I married her because I love her. I have done everything I could to make her happy. Please, don’t take her away from me!"

“Love?” Don Ricardo tone dripped with disdain. “Love does not pay bills. Love does not buy her the life she deserves. You’ve given her nothing. Nothing but shame!"

Cayden turned to Isabella. “Isabella… please. Say something. Tell them we can fix this. Tell them you don’t want this.”

Isabella held her glass with both hands, her head slightly lowered. She didn’t look at him, not even a second.

Her cousin leaned back in his chair, smirking. “Look at him. Begging like a fool in front of everyone. Isabella, you really wasted your youth on him?”

One of the aunts shook her head. “You’re young and beautiful, Isabella. And this is what you got? A man who can’t even buy you a dress without asking us for money? Such a waste!"

“Wasted years!” another relative added with a laugh. “Imagine if you had married Antonio instead. By now, you’d be living in luxury.”

Cayden clenched his fists but kept his voice even. “You can insult me all you want, but don’t say Isabella’s life with me was wasted. I never gave up on her. I’ve stood by her side every day.”

“Every day as what? A servant?” one of the cousins mocked. “You fetch groceries, you wash dishes, you follow orders like a houseboy. That’s what you are.”

Laughter filled the room. Some relatives nodded in agreement, whispering things loud enough for Cayden to hear.

Don Ricardo raised his hand, silencing them. He leaned down, opened a drawer on the side table, and pulled out a thick stack of papers. He slammed it onto the table in front of everyone.

“Divorce papers,” he announced coldly. “All prepared. All that’s left is a signature. Do it immediately."

Cayden’s eyes widened. He stepped closer. “No… please. Don’t do this. We can still make this work. Isabella and I can still—”

“You can’t,” Mrs. Mortaine cut him off. “This family has had enough of you. You have no job, no money, no background worth speaking of. You’ve only dragged Isabella down with you. Do you think we’ll let this continue?”

Cayden’s voice cracked. “I may not have wealth, but I have love. Isn’t that worth something?”

Isabella's mother scoffed. “Love? You really think love is enough to keep a marriage? You are delusional! Isabella deserves a man who can secure her future, not a man who lives off his in-laws. My daughter deserves better than an ordinary man like you!"

Cayden’s eyes turned to Isabella again. He reached a hand toward her. “Isabella, tell them. Tell them you don’t want this divorce. I know you still care. Please, speak. Speak for us this time."

She kept her eyes down. Her fingers trembled around her glass. She didn’t say a word, making Cayden's shoulder slumped.

Her cousin smirked wider. “See that? She doesn’t even want to defend you. That should tell you everything.”

Aunt Teresa leaned forward. “Isabella, don’t waste another year. You’ve given enough of your time. If you don’t end this now, you’ll regret it.”

Another uncle chimed in. “He’s nothing but dead weight. The longer you stay married to him, the more people will laugh at you. You’ll be known as the woman who tied herself to a beggar.” The voices rose again, some mocking, some urging Isabella to sign.

“Do it, Isabella.”

“Sign the papers now.”

“Don’t let him drag you any further.”

Cayden shouted over them. “Stop! Stop humiliating her like this! If you want to mock someone, mock me. But don’t push her to do something she doesn’t want.”

“Something she doesn’t want?” a cousin laughed. “Open your eyes, Cayden. She wants this more than anyone.”

Cayden looked at Isabella, desperate. “Isabella… is that true? Do you want this?” She stayed quiet, her lips pressed tightly together, just digging more holes into his shattered heart.

Don Ricardo grabbed the papers and pushed them in front of her. “Choose now. Right here, right now. Him, or your future?!"

The relatives clapped and cheered as if it were a performance. “Choose!” some of them shouted.

Cayden’s chest tightened. His voice was just a whisper, almost like a repeated plea. “Isabella, look at me. Please...Tell me you still believe in us.”

Isabella’s eyes flickered up for just a moment, then dropped back down to the papers. The laughter and voices around them grew louder.

“End this already!"

“Don’t waste your youth!”

“Sign it!”

Don Ricardo slammed his palm on the table. “Enough talk. Isabella, the papers are here. Sign them. End this farce tonight.” The room went quiet again, all eyes on her.

Cayden’s hand trembled as he reached toward her, his voice began to break. “Isabella… what do you choose?”