Chapter 583 Jacob, Let's Get a Divorce 1
Jacob's fingers froze mid-motion.
Under the brilliant crystal chandelier, his handsome face darkened remarkably as he stood clutching his bathrobe at the closet doorway, staring silently at Serafina.
She had already sat up in bed. Their eyes met in the dim light as she repeated, "Jacob, I want a divorce."
"Why?" Jacob's gaze fixed on her, a barely perceptible weariness crossing his chiseled features. "Is it because of what happened that day? I admit my attitude was harsh. I failed you and our child, but Serafina, I can make it up to you."
Serafina shook her head gently. "I don't want compensation," she said softly. "I've thought this through, Jacob. This marriage isn't what I want. You haven't wronged me—you simply don't love me. I was just asking for too much."
But was it really too much? She had endured a loveless marriage, but surely a wife deserved basic care from her husband—not to be told to "be understanding" when she called in a moment of crisis.
She couldn't bear the thought of spending a lifetime with Jacob.
Serafina's eyes glistened with moisture. They had shared a marriage, however brief. She had cared for him once. They had conceived a child together, even if that life had ended too soon.
She had assumed the divorce would be straightforward. She wasn't asking for compensation, and Jacob didn't love her. His only reason for marriage was to secure a legal heir—he could marry anyone for that purpose. Without her, he could find someone better.
But she was wrong.
Jacob had no intention of divorcing her. The Windsor family got along well with Serafina, and he had invested considerable effort in their arrangement. As a busy businessman, he lacked the time for marriages and divorces, let alone romantic entanglements. Besides, he had grown accustomed to Serafina as his wife.
In their marriage, Jacob had been cold at times, affectionate at others.
But always as a husband.
Now, faced with her request for divorce, he finally revealed his businessman's face. He sat on the sofa, studying her. They had been married less than six months, with brief moments of sweetness, but now he approached her like a business negotiation—perhaps this was how they were meant to interact all along.
"I won't agree to a divorce," Jacob said, his gaze penetrating. "And I will honor the compensation I promised. From what I know, your father Ronan has begun quietly transferring assets overseas. You can guess who the beneficiary is. Once he succeeds, Isadora's years of hard work will be wasted. You could warn her, of course. Her solution would be to sleep with Avery, but I can tell you plainly, Serafina—Avery isn't serious. To him, Isadora is merely an appetizing treat he'll discard once he's had his fill."
Serafina trembled from head to toe.
She couldn't believe Ronan could be so heartless, so cruel as to hollow out the company and leave Isadora holding the bag. As the legal representative, Isadora would be the one facing prison if things went south.
Jacob knew she doubted him.
He went to his study and returned with a thick stack of documents, which he handed to her.
After reviewing them, Serafina let the pristine papers scatter across the bed and carpet.
She lowered her eyes and laughed softly. "You've been preparing for this moment, haven't you, Jacob? How attentive of you. You're right—if I'm selling myself either way, I might as well do it legally with you. After all, sleeping with you is perfectly legal."
He had spoken of Isadora sleeping with Avery.
In truth, she was doing the same thing—just with a marriage certificate attached.
She had always suspected he never respected her, that he viewed the sisters as willing to sell themselves for profit. Yet she had foolishly imagined they were a real couple, that he harbored some affection for her. Now he had finally spoken his truth.
The truth wasn't pretty, but it was real.
Serafina clutched the one remaining paper, her entire body trembling, her lips quivering.
She looked at Jacob—her husband.
He remained seated on the sofa, his handsome face devoid of emotion as he extended his hand toward her, silently demanding her complete submission. They both understood what this meant.
Serafina got out of bed and approached him.
She knelt beside his legs, allowing him to guide her delicate face onto his trousered lap, submitting to his gentle caresses. "No more foolish thoughts, all right?" Jacob murmured, his voice tender.
Serafina's trembling intensified.
She never mentioned divorce again.
She had learned that without power, one doesn't even have the right to leave.