No Divorce? The Billionaire's Love Chase! novel Chapter 25

Claudia felt her heart was shattered, a crushing weight on her chest.

In that moment, she knew with stark clarity that she had no right to say 'no' to York.

He was using money to force her into submission. He forbade her from seeing them, from making trouble, from fighting with him. If a scandal broke, she, as Mrs. Ferguson, would be expected to clean up the mess and protect his public image.

Lying quietly on the bed, Claudia stared blankly at the ceiling. She had heard bits and pieces about York and Ann before. The general story was that their families weren't a match; the Ferguson elders looked down on Ann's ordinary background and had forcibly broken them up. Since York couldn't marry Ann, he had to keep her and their son on the side. He wasn't divorcing Claudia because he needed her as a cover.

Her voice was weak. "York, I don't have the money to pay you back, and I can't meet your conditions. Is there a third option for me?"

York lay down beside her and pulled the covers over her.

"No." His actions were gentle, but his refusal was absolute.

He turned off the bedside lamp and wrapped an arm around her over the blanket. "Get some sleep. I'll take you to see your parents this weekend."

Claudia couldn't sleep. She had been fooled by this facade for so long. He appeared to respect her parents, but behind every act of kindness was a calculation, an exchange of benefits. After days of torment, she thought she could finally get a divorce, only to be trapped by him instead. In his eyes, she was utterly dispensable, insignificant. And Ann and her son were so incredibly important.

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