Once Discarded Now Desired

Inside the CEO's office of the Todd Group, Jonny Todd slid a set of papers across the desk toward Eleanor Todd. "Here's the divorce agreement. Go through it, and if everything looks fine, sign your name."

Eleanor's eyes lingered on the papers, shadowed with emotions she kept hidden. "Do we truly have to end our marriage?"

At her words, Jonny arched his brows, amusement flickering in his tone. "What else were you hoping for? Our marriage only existed to make my grandmother happy."

While speaking, he reached for the hand of the woman at his side, his voice softening. "And now that Lainey has returned, I need to restore her place and give her the respect she deserves."

Eleanor slowly raised her head, her gaze falling on the woman who had always lived in her husband's heart—Lainey Gilbert. Lainey was Jonny's childhood friend and ex-girlfriend.

Three years earlier, the Todd family and the Gilbert family had planned an engagement for Jonny and Lainey.

But before the engagement ceremony could happen, Jonny was in a car crash that left his legs broken, with doctors warning he might never walk again.

Once the news reached the Gilberts, they abruptly canceled the arrangement and sent Lainey overseas.

Yet even with their callous rejection, Jonny never erased Lainey from his heart.

With her sudden return, he was impatient to dissolve his marriage with Eleanor and welcome Lainey as his wife.

Lainey stood in a light white dress, dimples flashing as she smiled, looking every bit like a fragile bloom in full beauty.

She carried a beauty that was hard to deny.

It made perfect sense that Jonny had clung to her image all these years.

When Eleanor said nothing, Lainey faced her with apparent sincerity. "Mrs. Todd, Jonny and I share real love. I hope you'll give us your blessing."

Yet how could love be genuine when she had abandoned him the moment he was crippled, only to return once he recovered?

A dry laugh slipped from Eleanor as her eyes shifted toward Jonny. "A divorce is fine. But after what I've done for your family all those three years, I won't leave empty-handed. I expect fair compensation."

Because Sallie Todd had once helped her in the orphanage, Eleanor had agreed without hesitation when the old woman asked her to marry her grandson, Jonny.