Marrying My Father's Enemy-Chapter 114: Broken Chains

Chapter 114: Broken Chains

Henry’s lawyer was a sharp-eyed man named Adrian Cane.

He sat across the desk, his briefcase perched on his lap like a guard dog ready to bite.

"I want a divorce," Henry said in a voice so low, it rumbled with suppressed anger.

Adrian blinked, but his professional demeanor didn’t change. "A divorce from Beatrice? May I ask what brought this decision on, Mr. Blackwood?"

Henry’s hand tightened around the crystal glass of bourbon on the desk, his knuckles whitening.

"It’s been a long time coming, Cane. Too long. She’s nothing but poison—rotting everything she touches."

Adrian tilted his head, his pen poised over his notebook. "Are you looking for an amicable settlement, or—"

"Amicable?" Henry’s laugh was dark, humorless.

"There’s nothing amicable about this. I want her out. Gone. With nothing."

Adrian frowned slightly, glancing at his notes. "Legally speaking, Mrs. Blackwood is entitled to—"

"I don’t care what she’s entitled to," Henry snapped, slamming the glass onto the desk.

The force caused a crack to spiderweb through the crystal, but Henry didn’t even flinch.

"I’ve spent decades giving her everything—wealth, power, a life most people could only dream of. And what did I get in return? Lies. Deception. The death of my son and the love of my life."

He muttered, "She hid my real daughter from me, Cane... and now, my daughter hates me."

Adrian froze, the pen hovering just above the page.

"Mr. Blackwood, are you suggesting that Mrs. Blackwood had something to do with Liam’s death?"

Henry’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowed into slits.

He stared past Adrian, into the shadows cast by the fireplace.

"She killed him," he said, each word like a blade.

"She didn’t pull the trigger or wield the knife, but make no mistake—she killed him."

The room suddenly felt chillier, as if Henry’s words were hanging over it like a storm.

Adrian cleared his throat. "I would need specifics if you intend to use this in the divorce proceedings."

"She fed him to the wolves," Henry said, his voice growing louder.

"Liam was just a boy—annoying, cunning, yet trusting—and she used him as a pawn in her games. When he became a liability, she let them destroy him."

Henry couldn’t exactly bring himself to tell the real truth.

He had also abandoned Liam a long time ago and found him annoying and useless.

Adrian set his pen down carefully, looking into Henry’s eyes. "Do you have proof?"

"Hah!" Henry’s laugh was bitter.

"Proof? You think a woman like Beatrice leaves trails? No, Cane, I don’t have proof. But I have the truth. And that’s enough for me."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers.

"If you’re serious about cutting her off entirely, you’ll need to prepare for a fight. Mrs. Blackwood has resources—connections. She won’t go down quietly."

Henry’s smile was thin, predatory. "Let her fight. I’ve been waiting for this war for years."

Adrian studied him for a long moment before nodding.

"Very well. If that’s the case, we’ll need to address the prenup. Does it include clauses for—"

"She signed away her soul the day she married me," Henry interrupted.

"She gets nothing. No money. No property. No power."

Adrian hesitated. "She could claim emotional distress. She could spin this into a public relations nightmare. Are you prepared for that?"

"I don’t care about the public," Henry said coldly.

"Let them think what they want. Beatrice is a cancer, Cane. I’ve let her poison this family for too long. It ends now."

The fire crackled in the silence that followed, its light flickering across Henry’s hardened face.

Adrian sighed, flipping through his notes. "And your children? How do you plan to protect them from the fallout?"

Henry’s expression softened, but only slightly.

"Eira is stronger than Beatrice will ever be. She doesn’t need my protection—she’s already won against every scheme Beatrice threw at her. And Vanessa..."

He trailed off, his lip curled in disdain. "Vanessa made her bed long ago. Let her lie in it."

Adrian nodded slowly. "And Raiver?"

Henry’s eyes darkened.

"Raiver doesn’t trust me, and he has every reason not to. But this isn’t about rebuilding bridges. This is about burning down the ones that lead to her."

Adrian tapped his pen against his notebook.

"Understood. I’ll start drafting the paperwork. But be aware, Mr. Blackwood—this could get ugly."

"It’s already ugly," Henry said quietly. "All that’s left is to finish it."

Adrian rose from his chair, slipping his notebook back into his briefcase.

"I’ll keep you updated. In the meantime, I suggest being cautious. If Beatrice catches wind of this before we’re ready—"

"She won’t," Henry cut in. "I’ve kept her in the dark for years. One more week won’t change that."

Adrian nodded, extending a hand. Henry shook it firmly, his grip like iron.

As the lawyer left the room, Henry turned back to the fireplace. His reflection appeared in the glass.

"Liam," he whispered, his voice breaking for the first time. "I’m doing this for you. I’m sorry it took so long."

The shadows danced around him, and for a moment, it almost felt like his son was there, standing just out of reach.

Henry closed his eyes, letting the fire’s warmth wash over him.

"When this is over," he muttered, "she’ll finally pay for what she’s done. And maybe—just maybe—you’ll rest in peace, Helen."

The crackle of the flames was his only answer.

"Mike?" Henry yelled.

"Yes?"

"I need a DNA test. I need to check if Vanessa is my actual daughter."

"Sir, are you—?"

"Yes. Vanessa looks a bit too similar to my brother. So, I want you to do a quiet test. Don’t let a single soul know."

Henry poured more whiskey into his glass.

"Sir, did you really kick Miss Vanessa out?" Mike pushed Henry a little bit.

He needed every detail, so he could report this to Callian as soon as possible.

"Yes. I did. She kept causing me trouble," Henry drank the whiskey. "Aaah..."

He looked through the window, and Mike thought he saw water dripping down from his eyes.

"Sir?"

"Half of my life, I’ve been loving the wrong daughter and wife... this choice will haunt me forever."

"I will be on my leave now, Sir." Mike turned around and walked out of the office.

-Meet me in the garage-

He sent a message to Beatrice.

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