"You’re in charge of the company during the day, and I finally get a break when I’m home. I just let Brandon keep me company for a while. Why are you being so petty and stirring up trouble?"
She slammed the table, as if genuinely enraged.
Brandon rushed to get warm water and gently helped Natalie drink it.
"Lucas, be honest—can you even compare to Brandon? If I relied on you to care for me, I’d have died of frustration by now!"
Even now, Natalie couldn’t resist tearing me down while praising him.
Brandon added with false modesty, "Come on, brother-in-law, try to be more like me. There’s nothing between Sister Natalie and me—why embarrass yourself over this?"
He clicked his tongue and gave me a look full of condescending pity.
But neither of them noticed how tightly my fists were clenched.
I couldn’t even remember when Brandon had become so brazen in front of me.
Maybe it started the day he stopped being a security guard and became Natalie’s assistant.
Or maybe it was when she first brought him into our home?
"Why are you still just standing there? Go make some hangover soup!"
Natalie kept shouting orders.
"And how many times have I told you that Brandon is allergic to alcohol? Can’t you remember something so simple?"
"I’m begging you, big brother. This is all you’re good for—can you just do it properly for once?"
She held her forehead, looking at me like I really was the useless burden she always accused me of being.
But aside from my relentless effort at work all these years, I also had the full support of Whitmore Group behind me.
What right did Natalie have to belittle me?
While I was lost in thought, Brandon suddenly spoke again.
"Sister Natalie, maybe my presence is what upset my brother-in-law. I should go."
He stood up, feigning guilt, and lowered his head like he was preparing to leave.
But Natalie reached out and yanked him back.
"Sit down! This has nothing to do with you."
She shot me a sharp glare.
"Tonight, I’m going to fix that arrogant attitude of yours, Lucas!"
At an angle Natalie couldn’t see, Brandon smirked and flashed me a middle finger.
“Brother-in-law, I know I’ve got my little flaws, but it’s your fault for disobeying and upsetting Sister Natalie. Guess you’ll just have to put up with me for now.”
He sat back down and resumed massaging her shoulders.
After everything I had just witnessed, I suddenly felt an unexpected calm.
People change.
The Natalie I once gave up everything for—the one I risked my entire future to love—is no longer the person standing in front of me.
"I’ll have my lawyer contact you about the divorce."
I gave her one last look, then turned to leave.
Through the reflection in the glass door, I caught a glimpse of Natalie’s stunned expression.
"Lucas! If you dare walk out that door, don’t ever come back!"
Bang!
I responded to her threat by slamming the door shut behind me.
I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep that night.
But to my surprise, it turned out to be the most peaceful night I’d had in years.
No company deadlines. No need to cater to Natalie’s moods. No more pretending not to see through Brandon’s fake humility.
For the first time in a long while, I felt what it meant to live for myself.
The next morning, I was jolted awake by a string of phone calls.
“Mr. Whitmore, get to the company ASAP! Director Knox is coming for a surprise inspection today—he said he wants to personally review your group’s projects!”
It was a call from the manager of another project group.
