Chapter 7 He Wants A Divorce

Valerie's eyes flicked to the side as the door creaked open.

Jonathan stepped in, his frame slightly unsteady, but his presence radiated an icy authority that froze everyone in their places. His face was pale, but his sharp, piercing eyes burned with a quiet intensity.

"J-Jonathan..." Nikolas stammered, his voice a far cry from the confidence he'd displayed moments ago.

His arrogance drained away, replaced by a flicker of fear. "How... how are you awake?"

"Surprised to see me awake?" His tone was light, almost teasing, but the undercurrent of menace was unmistakable. "Or were you hoping I wouldn't wake up at all?"

Nikolas stumbled over his words, taking a faltering step back. "No... no, it's not like that," he sputtered, his palms damp as cold sweat trickled down his neck. "I was just-just trying to-"

The smile vanished from Jonathan's face in an instant, replaced by a cold, impenetrable expression. His voice dropped, low and cutting. "Spare me your excuses. Leave. Now."

Nikolas swallowed hard, his chest tight with panic. He dared not say another word. With a jerky nod, he turned and scrambled out of the room, his footsteps frantic as if he were running from death itself. The silence that followed was deafening.

Jonathan let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he turned toward Valerie.

She stood quietly, her modest nightgown wrapped tightly around her slender frame. Even without makeup, her natural beauty was striking, a soft glow that seemed effortless.

Her calm expression betrayed none of the tension in the room.

Jonathan's gaze flickered toward her briefly, his brows knitting ever so slightly.

Seeing him glance her way, Valerie opened her mouth, intending to thank him. But before she could speak, Jonathan's eyes slid past her as though she didn't exist.

He walked to the bedside table, picked up the phone, and made a quick call. His words were curt and efficient, and once done, he leaned back against the headboard, closing his eyes with a calm detachment.

Valerie's lips pressed into a thin line. His indifference stung more than she cared to admit, but she quickly brushed it aside.

Without a word, she walked to the sofa on the opposite side of the room and sat down, her gaze lingering on the man who had just woken from a seemingly endless sleep.

Twenty minutes later, hurried footsteps announced Stefan's arrival. He burst into the room with his assistant in tow.

"Jonathan!" Stefan exclaimed, stumbling forward as though to embrace his nephew. But Jonathan took a small, deliberate step back, his movements subtle yet clear.

The awkwardness of the moment lingered as Stefan's arms fell, and he settled for a hesitant pat on Jonathan's shoulder. "It's good that you're finally awake," he said with a strained smile. "The company..."

Jonathan cut him off with a calm, cold voice.

"Thank you for your efforts, Uncle Stefan." His eyes shifted briefly toward Valerie, sharp and unreadable. "But... who is she?"

The words were delivered without emotion. Jonathan's disinterest was palpable, and Valerie could feel the disdain in his tone.

She met his gaze with equal indifference. If he didn't like her, it was fine-she had no love for his arrogance either.

Stefan's brow furrowed, his usually polished demeanor cracking ever so slightly. Valerie caught the flicker of discomfort that passed across his face.

"We'll discuss it in the study," Stefan said after a pause, his voice low as he cast a glance at Valerie. His frown deepened. "You stay here."

Valerie nodded casually, offering no argument. Her eyes followed the two men as they left, and as the study door clicked shut, she leaned back on the sofa.

Now that Jonathan was awake, his unpredictable nature was a new variable in her plans.

If she wanted to remain in the Holt family, deal with Craig, and eventually leave unscathed, she'd need to adapt. Her mind turned to the Holt Group's latest project. Perhaps it was time to use their ambitions to her advantage.

......

Inside the study, tension coiled like a taut wire, ready to snap.

"A divorce? Are you serious?" Stefan's voice was sharp, slicing through the heavy silence, his fingers drumming against the edge of the table. His expression hardened as he paced toward Jonathan. "Marriage isn't something you can treat like a fleeting whim. A divorce now would tarnish the Holt family's name."

Jonathan let out a quiet, mocking chuckle, the sound dripping with disdain. Reclining lazily on the sofa, he appeared completely unbothered, his presence commanding despite his apparent indifference.

"Funny, coming from you," he said, his smirk sharp enough to draw blood.

The warm glow of the study's light softened the edges of his striking features, though the faint pallor of his complexion hinted at his recent recovery. Yet there was no denying the aura of authority that radiated from him, a force that even Stefan couldn't ignore.

As he leaned back further, Jonathan's smirk deepened, his tone turning dangerously sarcastic. "You can save the lectures. My marriage isn't your concern. And anyway..." His eyes gleamed with a teasing glint as he added, "I've already got someone else in mind."

Stefan paused mid-step, his usually composed face betraying a flicker of surprise. Only months ago, Jonathan had vehemently opposed the entire idea of marriage, dismissing every prospect with cold indifference.

That stubbornness had been the reason Stefan had hastily arranged his union with the Brown family's daughter.

Rubbing his temples, Stefan sighed, his frustration evident.

"And just who is this someone?"

Jonathan's fingers traced lazy patterns on the armrest of the sofa, his mind drifting to a memory that refused to fade. The chaos of that night replayed in his mind-the warmth of her trembling hands, the shimmer of tears in her soft, doe-like eyes, and the sound of her fragile sobs breaking the silence.

A flicker of darkness crossed Jonathan's gaze, subtle yet unmistakable, though his tone remained nonchalant, almost dismissive.

"A one-night stand," he said lightly, his words laced with an unsettling calm. "But I'm going to figure out who she is."