A Divorce He Regrets

Chapter 11:

“When can we set up a meeting?” I asked, my gaze fixed on her, hoping—damn it, almost hoping she’d soften. She’d let something slip, something that would make this arrangement less of a calculated transaction and more of an actual alliance. I knew it was foolish, that wanting anything from her would only lead to disappointment, but here I was, hoping anyway.

Before she could answer, Dominic stepped in, his voice slicing through the fragile silence. His gaze hardened, challenging, as if daring me to disagree.

“Actually,” he seemed to deliberately make his tone heavy, sounding solemn, “I’ve decided on one condition.” He gave a small, almost smug smile, savoring every word as he turned to look at Raina. “For us to move forward, Raina will have to oversee the project.”

I felt the anger rise, slow and sharp, filling every inch of me. My jaw clenched, a muscle ticking as I forced myself to remain still. This was absurd. Ridiculous. Did they honestly think I’d agree to something so unreasonable? Raina wasn’t capable of handling something of this scale. She had no experience, no training. Hell, she didn’t even know how to balance a checkbook, much less a multimillion-dollar deal. The only thing she’d ever mastered was her charm, the art of seduction. And it had worked once.

“That won’t work.” I let the disdain seep into my words. “When I was married to her,” I continued, my eyes locked on Raina, “she was nothing more than a housewife. For a project like this, you’re going to need someone with real experience, someone who understands the complexities—”

Dominic cut me off with a scoff.noveldrama

“Didn’t you get divorced years ago?” he said, his tone mocking, condescending. “And who’s to say she hasn’t learned something since then?” He leaned forward, voice dropping to a murmur, “You assume she can’t handle it. But that’s your problem, isn’t it?”

Raina’s face was impassive, giving away nothing as she watched me, her silence as damning as her words had been. She didn’t care what this meant for me, didn’t care that I was practically being forced into a corner, with no option but to accept her as my equal—no, as my superior in this partnership. She was relishing every second of it, and I hated her for it. Hated the way she could stand there so calmly, knowing full well that she’d backed me into a position I couldn’t refuse.

Dominic’s voice cut through the silence again, his tone almost taunting. “Well, Alexander?” he asked, feigning innocence, a cruel glint in his eyes. “Do you agree?”

I didn’t answer right away.

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Every instinct screamed at me to walk away, to take back control and refuse to let her have this kind of hold over me again. But I couldn’t. I’d worked too hard to let this opportunity slip.

Slowly, begrudgingly, I nodded. “Fine,” I said, the word burning on my tongue. It felt like defeat, like I was handing over some part of myself I’d fought so long to protect. But I had no other choice.

The next day came far too soon. I could hardly sleep, replaying the events in my mind. And now, as I sat across from her, the documents laid out in front of us, I could feel the tension thickening—a silent reminder that this was only the beginning of what I suspected would be a long, bitter battle.

Just as I reached for the pen, she lifted her hand, stopping me. I glanced up, a flash of irritation sparking in my chest. Her silent audacity was almost laughable. What was it now? Just when I was about to take the step she had practically forced me into, she had another demand. Of course. Because nothing with Raina could ever be simple—she would always have to have the final word.

She held my gaze, her eyes cold and unwavering. “I have one more condition,” she said, her voice smooth, each word deliberate.

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