The Victorious Emerging Son In-Law

CHAPTER 1

Bruce Taylor sat staring into his cooling coffee, still in disbelief at the words coming from the woman across from him.

"Mrs. Lydia Taylor believes this is the best decision for all parties involved," Lydia's secretary, Amanda, stated matter-of-factly as she slid the divorce papers across the table towards Bruce.

He glanced down at the documents, a bitter taste in his mouth. "A loser like me doesn't deserve a sophisticated woman like Lydia, is that what she said?"

Amanda adjusted her glasses. "I cannot disclose the private conversations between myself and my employer."

" Madam Lydia is veritably busy. She doesn't need to trouble herself with similar trifling matters.

" Trifling matters? " Bruce was stupefied. also, he laughed plaintively.

" Is that so? Is divorce a trifling matter to her? She can't indeed find the time to speak to me. Truly, she's that unattainable now! "

" Bruce, don't delay this any longer "Don't go too far, Bruce! "

Lyra hit her hand on the table. " Don't say I didn't advise you. With all her power and coffers, Madam Lydia can disjoin you fluently. It's only because she appreciates her once relationship with you that she's allowing you to keep your quality complete.

Don't provoke her! " "Bruce was a little amused by that. She didn't indeed want to speak to him directly to divorce him. What kind of quality was that? Also, if she did appreciate their relationship, why was she hanging him now? " I don't suppose we've anything different to talk about, also. "

Bruce let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head in resentment. If it wasn't for him supporting Lydia through business school, introducing her to all his valuable contacts, and helping get her family's struggling chinaware business back on its feet, she wouldn't be the successful entrepreneur she is today - jet-setting around the world while he held down the home front alone.

And now, she wanted to kick him to the curb like last season's shoes.

He leaned forward, holding Amanda's gaze firmly. "You can tell Mrs. Taylor that I refuse to sign these papers. Not until she tells me to my face that our ten years together meant nothing to her."

Bruce's fingers dug into the divorce documents in frustration. "Now, do you need me to sign anything else while I'm here? Or are we finished?"

Bruce stared down at the divorce papers lying on the table, a swirling storm of emotions raging inside him. He had supported Lydia since the early days of their marriage when her family was drowning in debt. He had been the one to coach her through business school, connect her with all of his most influential contacts, and provide the runway for her entrepreneurial dreams to take flight.

And now that those dreams had come to fruition, now that she was jet-setting around the world as a powerful millionaire, she was ready to toss him aside like last year's stock portfolio.

"Mrs. Taylor wanted me to express that this decision is in the best interest of both parties," Lydia's secretary Amanda clipped briskly, adjusting her glasses.

Bruce barked out a harsh laugh. "Let me guess - I'm too much of a regular loser to be seen on the arm of the sophisticated Lydia Taylor anymore? I smear her shiny veneer?"

Amanda's expression remained impassive. "I cannot disclose the private conversations between myself and my employer."

Leaning forward, Bruce locked eyes with the secretary. "You tell Mrs Taylor that I'm not signing anything until she looks me in the eye and tells me our decade together meant nothing to her."

He jabbed a finger at the documents. "Now is there anything else you need me to sign here today? Or are we finished?"

Amanda pursed her lips, standing abruptly to gather up the untouched paperwork. Bruce watched her quick retreat with a shake of his head, bitterness settling into his bones. If Lydia wanted a fight over ending this marriage, she had one hell of a storm coming.

Amanda turned back around, papers clutched tightly to her chest. "Mr. Taylor, please try to look at this objectively. Signing the papers is the logical course of action."

Bruce scoffed loudly. "You mean it's the logical course of action for Lydia. What exactly do I get out of this little arrangement except dumped on my ass?"

"You would receive a substantial alimony payment," Amanda replied crisply. "In addition to one of the condos from Mrs. Taylor's real estate portfolio. It's a more than generous offer."

"Oh so I can get tossed out of my home but with the consolation prize of another one of Lydia's cast-offs," Bruce growled.

Amanda sighed, adjusting the glasses slipping down her nose. "Mrs Taylor is being exceptionally fair given the circumstances. This divorce will be quick and painless if you simply sign."

Bruce leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms defiantly. "Life stopped being quick and painless when my wife shoved divorce papers in my face instead of talking to me directly. You go back and tell her signing anything is off the table until she looks me in the eye and gives me some damn closure herself."

Amanda pressed her lips together tightly, irritation flashing across her features at Bruce's stubbornness. "I will relay your message," she replied tersely before turning on her heel and striding towards the exit, paperwork flapping gently in her wake.

Bruce watched her disappear out the door, bitterness and anger churning within him like storm clouds gathering on the horizon. One way or another, Lydia would owe him an explanation.

Bruce looked up from his spot on the couch as Lydia stormed into the living room, Amanda trailing stiffly behind with the divorce papers in hand.

"Would you like to explain to me why the hell you didn't sign these when Amanda brought them to you?" Lydia demanded, eyes flashing.

With a sigh, Bruce muted the TV and tossed the remote aside. "Because the end of our decade-long marriage deserves more than being tossed out like yesterday's garbage by your secretary."

Lydia crossed her arms. "Don't be so overdramatic, Bruce. This divorce is simply the next logical step in light of recent changes."

Bruce barked out a harsh laugh, rising to his feet. "Changes? You mean in light of your decision money and status now matter more to you than the man who was by your side before you had either."

Lydia scowled, irritation stamping her features. "You know just as well as I do that things are vastly different now. I'm a brand - one that comes with certain expectations. Having you around doesn't fit the image anymore."

Bruce clenched his fists, anger pounding through him. "I'm not signing a thing until you look me in the eyes and tell me you feel nothing for the years we had together. That our whole marriage meant nothing."

Lydia stepped closer, glaring up at him. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be. You want me to spit out some sugar-coated emotional nonsense just to placate your ego?"

She snatched the divorce papers from Amanda's hand and thrust them at Bruce's chest. "Sign the damn papers already so we can both move on with our lives."

Bruce met her glare steadily, jaw locked. He refused to let her see how deeply her words sliced into him. Their marriage may have meant the world to him, but the feeling wasn't mutual.