The Mysterious Midnight Magnate

02: Of Course, A Divorce

A stunning, olive-skinned petite woman with a pixie cut, wearing an elegant skimpy gold dress stormed into Mr. Snow's office. Her stiletto heels clicked professionally on the marble floor, as she held her shoulders high like she owned the world. Right behind her were two of her assistants and six burly bodyguards, clad in all black.

"Oh, you're here at last," the young woman barely acknowledged Eric or threw him a glance as she stopped in front of Mr. Snow's desk.

"Has he signed the divorce papers?" After directing this to the divorce attorney, the woman flicked her fingers as the boss, to make her employees maintain at least five feet distance from her.

And as the bodyguards obeyed, they brushed past Eric who was unusually silent as he observed the whole scene unfolding in front of him.

"Not yet, Ms Claudia. I was just trying to persuade him before you arrived," Mr. Snow rose to his feet as he answered.

"Why are you stressing this, Eric?" The woman turned to him with her chin jutting out defiantly. Her eyes clouded in desperation.

"So it's true?" The sting of betrayal was sharp on Eric but he was able to convey it all with a neutral expression. He would not make himself a loser anymore.

"How do you feel when you see my movies with top actors? It hits hard that I am out of your league, right?" Claudia popped this incredulous question.

And Eric snorted.

"Is this why you want a divorce?" He folded his arms across his chest as he neared her side.

"Yes. I don't want anyone hanging on me like a leech. Men around your age are making millions of dollars every day, and what did you choose to do? Sit back and wallow in poverty." His wife ended this, making sure her words sounded harsh and hurtful.

"Is this how you see me?" Eric raised a brow.

And Claudia blinked for some seconds, with a tingling of regret flashing through her eyes.

"I apologize if I went overboard, I just want you to accept the divorce so I can live my life how I see fit." She revealed at last.

"Money and fame is all that matters to you?" Eric cast her a disappointed look. He could barely believe that the woman in front of him was the one whom he married three years ago.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Claudia replied quickly. She seemed to be a bit more confident than before.

"After all my years of suffering?" Eric asked quietly. He wanted this to be a dream but it was already as good as real.

"I never asked you to make sacrifices for me, Eric. You were a saint all along," Claudia blurted.

"Do you remember that night of the accident? You wept like an animal going through the fate of death." Eric pointed out.

But his wife seemed to be prepared for this comeback.

"Don't even go there, Eric, and it's not like anyone will believe you. You already took the blame and served eight years in jail." She reminded him.

"Yeah, right. No one would believe the pauper husband over his celebrity wife," A bitter scoff rolled from Eric's chest.

"Now you're using reverse psychology on me." Claudia frowned at him, wondering why he wasn’t showing signs of pains as she predicted.

"I overheard some rumors about you mingling with the widowed mayor. He books fancy hotels for you two and you squander millions of dollars everyday. That's why you barely show your face in a month." Eric continued.

And there was a short pause, as Claudia contemplated whether to answer him or not. Even Mr. Snow and her bodyguards were waiting for her reply to this accusation.

"Yes," she agreed eventually, with the aim of giving Eric a double blow.

And this was the last straw.

Eric took some seconds to calculate his thoughts. He refrained from clenching his jaw so Claudia wouldn’t think less of him than she already did. Although, it hurt a great deal.

"You want this divorce?" Eric asked for the last time, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

And Claudia was skeptical about answering for a split second. However, she had thought about the divorce months before that day.

Slowly, she gave him a curt nod.

"Fine," Eric clenched his jaw, his expression steadfast and unwavering.

At this, Claudia's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets because she wasn't expecting him to comply so easily. She at least expected him to get down on his knees and grovel at her feet, but the man in front of her seemed as frigid as an iceberg. Like a complete stranger.