“That’s right,” she assured him. “Nothing.”
“I’m afraid I can’t just let you walk away,” he said.
“Why not?” The desperation in her voice scraped the air like nails on soft flesh. “I don’t want anything—not the cars or the jewelry. Nothing. You can have it all back.”
“Those were gifts,” he said quietly. Her willingness to give up all he’d given her, to cut her losses and get out of their marriage, burned his stomach. While she earned a comfortable living, his degree of wealth had exposed her to a lifestyle most people only dreamed about. Her dismissal was nothing more than an insult.
“I’ll give it all back if you sign.”
“You know the situation is not that simple, Dani.”
“It can be. Would it help if I withdrew?” She sounded more and more desperate. Desperate to get away from him. “You could divorce me, instead. I don’t care. Just…let me go, Cyrus. I can’t fight you anymore.”
He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Then stop fighting and come home.”
“Come home to what?” She huffed in exasperation. “There’s nothing there for me.”
He was there, but obviously she didn’t see him as much of an incentive.
“Then this conversation is over.” He turned his attention to the financial reports displayed on the computer screen in front of him. He had way too much work to do to waste any more time on this ridiculous argument.
“I won’t beg you.”
“I never asked you to beg,” he said, talking to the screen on his desk. He checked the variance column and used the cursor to highlight a budget item with a twenty-three percent increase over the previous year. Then he waved his hand dismissively toward the door. “See yourself out.”
“Cyrus.” He shielded his conscience from the pleading tone of her voice. She took a deep breath. “Think about this for a minute. Your behavior is keeping us both from moving on and being happy. If we end our marriage, we’d be free to find other spouses, people we’re more compatible with.”
He paid closer attention to her now.
Was that it? Had she met someone? His brain recoiled at the thought, and anger raged anew inside him. She thought she could get a divorce so she could run into someone else’s arms? Not a chance.
“I’m done talking,” he said coldly.
“Cyrus.”
He shot to his feet and she jerked back at the sudden movement. Pressing his hands on the surface of the desk, he leaned toward her. “The answer is no.” He kept his voice even, but firm.
“You can’t keep me tied to you forever!” Her eyes flashed in anger.
“Marriage is a contract.”
“Any contract can be broken,” she retorted.
“You want to break the contract of our marriage? You want a divorce?” he seethed. “Give me what I want. And you know what I want.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. They were a striking brown color—copper, the same tint as a shiny new penny. “You can’t be serious.”
“You know I never say anything I don’t mean.”
“You black-hearted bastard.”
“Flatter me all you want. The answer is the same.”
“You were serious? You can’t possibly expect me to—”
“I do.”
The color drained from her face, and she stepped back from the desk, shunning his words.
“Give me a child, Dani, and I’ll give you a divorce.”
Chapter Three
Daniella knew her husband could be unreasonable, but this was too much even for him. He was mad. Completely and utterly off his rocker.