My heart hurt with pain and sorrow. I forced back my tears and looked at Raline, “Raline, we’ve been through so much together. Are you really going to trade our marriage for the future of the Leighton Group?”
Raline went quiet, then, after a long pause, looked at me with pleading eyes. “Henry, I didn’t trade our marriage for the Leighton Group’s future. No matter what happens, I’ll always be your most beloved wife.”
“Henry, think about it. Hudson is the richest man in the U.S., smart and capable and he’s connected to several powerful families in Phoenix. Your health…”
I stared at Raline in disbelief. She had finally revealed what she truly felt. So, she looked down on me because of my poor health, which was why she insisted on using birth control for six years.
But who made me drink so much that my liver was damaged? Who pushed me to have a third of my stomach removed just to win contracts?
A tear dropped onto the back of my hand. I looked up and asked in a rough voice, “Raline, what if I refuse to agree?”
“Henry, I understand you can’t accept this right now, it’s fine… I’ll give you time to think.”
Guilt showed on Raline’s face for a moment, then she raised her voice with confidence.