Chapter 48 Even the meaning behind the name , Charles had given it away without hesitation as if it had never belonged to us .
Was he truly this determined to carve out my heart ? Charles … how could you take the name we chose together and give it to a child you had with someone else ? > The moment the words left my lips , Charless expression darkened .
Natalie ! Watch what youre saying ! he scolded in a low , sharp voice.N The suddenness of it jolted me back to reality .
I watched as he hurriedly turned to Eleanor , his voice dropping into a rushed explanation .
Only then did I notice how pale she had gone , her face drained of color .
A lump tightened in my throat , instinct urging me to step forward , to explain .
But then I saw it .
The wariness in Charless eyes , cold and sharp , like a silent warning , stopped me in my tracks .
Eleanor remained frozen for a long moment before tears welled in her eyes .
When she finally spoke , her voice trembled with pain .
If our child was only born to fill the void of the one you never had with Natalie , then I would rather have never given birth to him ! Eleanors voice broke , her shoulders trembling .
Charles , I love you .
You can belittle me , ignore me , but Orion is innocent .
I dont want him to exist as some consolation for your regrets with another woman .
} I know Natalie cant accept me or my son .
I understood that seven years ago .
Thats why I did everything you asked : I stayed far away , lived in another city , and kept my distance .
But when you suddenly said youd bring me here , I thought … I thought we could finally be together and that this was finally our chance .
But after seeing how she looks at us … She choked on a sob , voice trembling .
Charles , send me and Orion back , okay ? I dont want to stay here , watching my child live under someone elses shadow .
} Her sobs grew heavier , and Charles panicked , rushing to reassure her .
Eleanor , look at me .
His voice was firm , desperate .
Orion is our son , he is not some substitute for regret .

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I love you .
I love our child .
I have never neglected you , and I never will .
Everything I have , everything I can give , belongs to you and Orion .
} You dont need to care about her attitude ! This is my home .
A house I bought .
My family .
No one here will dare treat you or Orion unfairly .
His voice softened as he brushed a hand over her trembling frame .
Be good , dont overthink .
The baby in your belly doesnt want to see his mother sad either .
} Every word sliced through me like a blade , cutting so deep I could barely breathe .
Of course .
Every brick and tile in this house belonged to Charles ; what did any of it have to do with me ? I let out a bitter laugh , the taste of irony sharp on my tongue.§ After Eleanor and her son left , I pulled out the divorce papers I had prepared long ago and placed them before him .
Sign them .
Charles barely spared them a glance before grabbing his coat , brushing past me as if I were nothing more than an afterthought .
Natalie , youre not young anymore .
Next year , youll be forty .
Stop joking around .
} Weve been married for twenty years .
If we divorce now , what do you think the media and business world will say about me ? I scoffed .
So that was what our marriage had become , just another carefully managed public image .
Everything had changed the moment success found us .
Ten years ago , the deal I personally secured had turned our struggling company into the citys leading enterprise .
But when it came time to divide power , Charles and I had different visions .
} I wanted to be a general manager and keep building what I had helped create .
But Charles had already decided my fate for me .
He wanted me to step back , to abandon my ambitions and return to being a housewife , the perfect image of a wealthy woman with nothing to do but live in comfort .
In the end , he didnt even ask for my opinion .
He simply hired someone new to take over my role , sealing my future with a signature that wasnt mine .
I was furious .
But under my mother in laws persuasion , I swallowed my resentment and chose to let it go .
From that moment on , something between us quietly broke .
I tried , time and time again , to mend the distance that had formed , but there was always an invisible wall we couldnt break through .
I tried to talk to him , to reach him , but he either brushed me off with work or dismissed me entirely .
Theres nothing wrong .
Youre overthinking , he would say , his tone carrying no warmth , no patience .
And so , we drifted further apart .
Until we became what we were today , two people bound not by love but by mutual interests , standing in the ruins of what had once been .
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