Chapter 68: I'll Raise the Child for You
"If he can take the company elevator, he must be an employee too."
The employee looked confused. Given his level, he obviously had no contact with the company's top management.
Chris felt relieved hearing this answer.
Joanna's taste was still so poor. Even if she wanted to divorce and find another man, shouldn't she find someone better than him?
How much could a company employee make?
Probably couldn't even afford to feed himself, let alone give Joanna a good life!
Chris looked away and followed the employee who was receiving him upstairs to discuss the partnership.
Unfortunately, halfway through, the other party made a phone call and then started pushing back hard on the terms Cooper Corporation offered.
The cooperation didn't go well. When Chris came out, he looked upset and angrily loosened his tie.
He didn't expect Smith Group to be so arrogant. Their group was one of the top companies in Austin City, yet they were being treated this way!
After the meeting, there wasn't even anyone to see him out.
"Mr. Smith..."
Just before leaving through the company doors, Chris suddenly heard someone call out from behind and quickly turned around.
But he only saw the secretary from the negotiation walking toward Angelo.
Chris shook his head and muttered, "Must have heard wrong. He's just a regular employee. How could he be Smith Group's president?"
Just then his phone rang. Matthew was here to pick him up.
Chris left without staying any longer.
Angelo in the distance saw the familiar figure and narrowed his eyes slightly. "He came to discuss the Cooper Corporation partnership himself?"
The secretary nodded. "Following your instructions, we've already declined. Mr. Smith, are we planning to take on this new drug launch business ourselves without looking for partners?"
Even though Smith Group was very capable, the secretary worried they might not be able to handle this new business - the risk was too high.
Angelo's lips curved slightly, his voice calm but full of confidence. "We have a better candidate."
Joanna had been investigating the project for two days without results. If Peter hadn't contacted her saying the new divorce agreement was ready, she would have almost forgotten she still needed to divorce Chris.
She personally went to the law firm to get the divorce agreement, then went to Cooper Corporation to wait for him.
When Chris returned to the company looking dejected after several unsuccessful partnership talks, she stopped him.
"Last time you tore up the divorce agreement. My copy still counts. This is a supplementary agreement Peter drafted. After you sign it, come with me to schedule the divorce!"
Chris stared at the thin agreement, pressing his lips together without speaking.
Matthew sensed the awkward atmosphere and went upstairs first, calling away the other employees on the first floor to give them space.
"Joanna, can your parents accept us getting divorced? If you're bothered by Cynthia's pregnancy, I can pay for her to have the baby, and after it's born, give it to you to raise. Then I'll have her go abroad. It won't affect our family of three."
This was the most suitable solution Chris had thought of over the past few days.
He found that he didn't want to divorce Joanna, though he couldn't figure out why.
Joanna lowered her eyes and smiled mockingly. "Have you asked Cynthia's opinion?"
Chris thought Joanna had agreed to this plan and immediately took out his phone to call Cynthia, telling her to wait in the lounge.
Five minutes later, Matthew prepared coffee and left, closing the door.
On the table were the supplementary agreement Joanna brought and a parental rights waiver that Matthew had just asked the legal department to draft.
Chris pushed the waiver directly in front of Cynthia. "I don't like changes in my stable life. Although this decision might hurt you, what happened between you and me was just an accident. Cynthia, sign it. I'll compensate you."
"I don't want compensation." Cynthia kept her head down, resentment surging inside her.
Why wouldn't Joanna just die?
She actually made Chris fall in love with her. Even though she was pregnant, he still refused to divorce!
Things shouldn't have turned out this way!
Cynthia looked up, showing a pitiful and fragile forced smile. "I'm sorry Chris. I thought things between us could still be like when we were kids, with you taking care of me, loving me, and letting me depend on you even when I made mistakes. I forgot you're not just my Chris anymore. If signing this waiver will make Miss Jones happy, then I'm willing to sign."
She picked up the pen, catching a glimpse of reluctance in Chris's eyes from the corner of her eye, then knocked over the coffee with a smile.
The waiver got soaked, the words dissolving. Cynthia stood up in panic. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm too upset. I... can I go out and calm down first?"
With that, Cynthia tried to escape.
Chris finally couldn't maintain his cold expression. He pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her head to comfort her. "Don't cry. You're his birth mother. You can still see him."
Cynthia seemed unable to control her emotions and started crying in Chris's arms.
The sobbing sounds softened Chris's heart again, and he glared at Joanna.
He blamed Joanna for pushing too hard, making him hurt Cynthia.
Joanna sneered inwardly. She knew it - Cynthia wouldn't agree. Only Chris thought giving her the baby to raise was a good solution.
"Cynthia, why don't you persuade Chris to sign quickly and go through the divorce procedures with me? That way the child will be yours in the future, and the man will be yours too. You can see them whenever you want. No need to be sad."
She pushed the supplementary agreement toward Chris.
Chris's body stiffened for a moment. He suddenly remembered why he had asked Cynthia to sign, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
"Cynthia is the child's mother after all. Do you have to push this hard? Can't you give her time to calm down? Joanna, don't you have any kindness left!"
Joanna stood up expressionlessly. "If it's for the divorce, I can do without that kindness. Being kind to her is being cruel to myself."
A dull knife cuts flesh. Though not sharp, it still hurts constantly.
Chris was a bit angry. "Joanna, I didn't realize you were such a cold person! No wonder you're not close to your family. After divorcing me, who could stand your temper?"
"I'm not unwanted!" Joanna couldn't help but argue back. "From the start, I never wanted to accept your so-called plan of adopting the child. Chris, you not only disrespect me, you don't even respect Cynthia as a pregnant woman. I thought I could let her see clearly what kind of person you are, but I didn't expect her to be so manipulative - a few words and she made you change your mind again!"
Chris was unhappy with her fierce resistance, his face darkening. "You're just in a hurry to divorce so you can be with Angelo, aren't you? Joanna, do you really think I don't want to divorce you!"
"Then sign it!" Joanna's voice grew louder.