Chapter 5 Wife and Lover

Quentin's office had frosted glass, so while you couldn't see everything inside, you could get a rough idea of what was going on.

Lauren had just reached the office door when she saw two people entwined in a passionate embrace.

The kind of scene she had only seen on TV was now happening in her own life.

Separated by just a wall, Lauren watched in shock as her husband tangled with a stranger.

Her mind went blank.

She had always known Quentin had women around him, but seeing it with her own eyes was a different story. She wanted to run, to avoid facing it.

Lauren's hands trembled as she gripped the door handle.

No, she couldn't back down now. For the sake of her child, she had to confront this.

Lauren pushed the office door open forcefully, and the scene before her came into full view.

The woman was half-naked, clinging to Quentin, her chest pressed tightly against him, revealing more than Lauren cared to see.

Quentin, fully dressed, had one hand around the woman's waist, gently caressing her.

The woman wore a tight, short skirt that left little to the imagination.

Lauren couldn't believe Quentin would be so brazen as to be with such a woman in his office.

"This is why you don't come home?" Lauren ignored the woman and looked straight at Quentin.

At her words, the woman seemed to realize who Lauren was.

"Mrs. Robinson, are you mocking Mr. Robinson's taste?" The woman wasn't about to be dismissed by someone she considered weak.

"If you know who I am, why are you still clinging to my husband?" Lauren couldn't ignore her any longer.

She had never seen such a shameless woman.

"Mrs. Robinson, don't be angry. I just spent the night with Mr. Robinson, that's all." The woman spoke softly, blushing as she glanced at Quentin, then provocatively at Lauren.

"Yes, and the night before that, and the night before that, it was different women each time. Too bad for you, no matter how many different women he has, I'm still Mrs. Robinson. You should recognize your place. A wife and a mistress are not the same." Lauren smiled faintly, her words dripping with sarcasm.

She couldn't understand why Quentin would be interested in such a woman.

"Mr. Robinson" The woman, unable to outtalk Lauren, clung to Quentin again, rubbing against him.

"Mr. Robinson, help me out here." She tugged at Quentin's hand.

Rumor had it Quentin didn't love his wife, that he married her just for show. Last night had given her confidence.

Quentin raised an eyebrow.

From the moment Lauren walked in, he sensed something different about her.

Lauren had changed from a timid rabbit to a prickly hedgehog.

Though covered in spikes, she wasn't off-putting; she was intriguing, making him want to understand her better.

Quentin's attention was on Lauren, so he didn't hear the woman's whining.

Until she tugged at his arm again, he grew impatient.

"Get out," Quentin said.

The woman's face lit up with excitement. She knew Quentin would stand up for her.

Sure enough, Quentin's wife was no threat, just as the rumors said.

The woman looked at Lauren with a triumphant, mocking expression.

Lauren frowned. Quentin wouldn't even give her basic respect now?

"I said, get out." Quentin pulled his hand away, brushing off his sleeve in disgust.

The woman stared at Quentin in disbelief, her face a mix of embarrassment and hurt.

"Get out, now!" Quentin had lost all patience.

The woman grabbed her things and fled, her face full of resentment.

"Quentin, let's live our own lives. You don't have to be tied down by me. Isn't that better?" Lauren snapped out of her thoughts.

She looked tired, worn out.

She had been married to Quentin for two years. From joy to hopelessness, she had endured countless days and nights. She didn't want to go through it anymore.

"What's with the act? Or are you scheming something again?" Quentin said.

Seeing Lauren's change in expression, Quentin sensed she was serious about wanting a divorce.

The thought made him uneasy, even resistant.

Why was he resisting? He should be happy she wanted a divorce, so why...

"Think what you want. Just agree to the divorce." Lauren didn't want to argue.

She looked at Quentin with a blank expression, like she had lost her soul.

Cutting off her love for him was like tearing a piece of her heart out, the pain spreading through her entire body.

Quentin felt a growing unease, like he was about to lose something important.

"This marriage isn't something you can end on a whim. Do you think the Robinson family is a joke? Lauren, I'm telling you, this marriage ends when I say so. And right now, I think you're doing a fine job as Mrs. Robinson. I'm not ready to replace you." Quentin spoke nonchalantly.

Lauren was stunned. It was the first time Quentin had ever shown any approval of her.

She must be crazy. Quentin just had to be a little nice to her, and she would be happy for days.

"If you're worried about Grandma, I'll explain to her. I promise it won't affect you." Lauren steadied herself.

Her goal was to protect her child. If she didn't get a divorce, she couldn't keep the baby. She couldn't let that happen.

"Grandma's health is getting worse. If she finds out you want a divorce, have you thought about the consequences? And have you considered your family? What about Walker Corporation's future?" Quentin said.

Quentin hit her where it hurt.

Lauren fell silent.

She couldn't risk Jessica's health or abandon Walker Corporation.

This marriage, as Quentin said, was his to end, and only his.

Lauren lowered her head, lost in thought. Her frail figure looked especially vulnerable, evoking pity.