Kate frowned and stepped forward to block them, looking at me with a pleading expression, "He's just a young rookie fresh out of college who doesn't know any better. Do you really have to be so ruthless? Alec, whatever's between us, why take it out on an innocent person? It's not fair."
I fixed her with a piercing gaze, making my stance abundantly clear. Today, Kieran had provoked me repeatedly. Wasn't it her indulgence that emboldened him to act so recklessly?
For years, Kate worked tirelessly to craft a single, independent image for herself. Yet today, for this assistant, she shattered that façade.
I had repeatedly begged her to go public with our relationship, but she always had excuses.
Now, for Kieran, she cared nothing for the gossip, openly allowing his romantic gesture without a second thought. This double standard, wasn't it equally unfair to me?
I looked at her coldly. She approached, her eyes filled with pain and unwillingness, "Alec, when did we end up like this? You told me you wouldn't interfere, that you'd give me freedom. I'm not a caged canary. All I did was hire an assistant and you act like it's a huge threat. Living under your shadow is suffocating for me."
After hearing her words, the anger within me instantly dissolved into nothingness. All that remained was a profound sense of disappointment.
The care I had lavished upon her had turned into ammunition for her to strike back at me. The 'freedom' she desired was the freedom to spend time with her assistant, carefree and unrestrained.
When someone no longer loves you, even the fact that you breathe can become an excuse. My emotions were a chaotic mess and every word I wanted to say felt lodged in my throat, unspoken and swallowed back down.
Right in front of her, I called my lawyer and instructed him to draft a divorce agreement.
It was only then that Kate realized I was truly angry, "Divorce? Alec, you must be joking, right?"
She clung to my hand desperately, her gaze filled with boundless grievance, "How could you treat me like this? Kieran is really just an assistant, nothing more." She thought this explanation would make me change my mind.
Kieran chimed in with feigned concern, "Mr. Brolin, please think carefully! Miss Bogart is beautiful and capable, with countless admirers. You'll definitely regret this decision!"