The divorced military queen awakens novel

Chapter 255 Fractured Ties Penelope blinked . " Ruined ? Your company looks perfectly healthy to me . How could it possibly collapse ? " Exactly , " Jacinda added . " It is listed on the exchange . If liquidity is tight , grease the right palins at the bank and they will approve a loan . " Hearing his sister's naïve suggestion , Trent felt too drained even to muster a bitter smile . What had possessed me to let Jacinda step into Quinn's old position ?

She can't handle the simplest task and has turned several half - finished projects into hopeless messes . " Jacinda , spare me that kind of foolish talk again ," Trent said , his voice clipped . " If you had one ounce of sense , I would not be this exhausted . " " Mom , did you hear him ? " Jacinda whined , pouting as though she were still ten . Penelope folded her arms . " Trent , that is no way to speak to your sister . And even if you fancy Sidonie , be realistic . Her reputation is filthy .

Everyone back home knows she let someone die and that the airlines fired her . If I bring a daughter - in - law like that to the village , the neighbors will drown us in gossip . " Once , Penelope could not praise Sidonie enough ; now disgust twisted her mouth . Watching that scornful face , Trent remembered the identical look she had worn when she spoke about Quinn . Nothing had changed . Penelope thrust the file toward him again . " Come on , have a look .

Every woman I picked is decent , and bringing any of them home would make me proud ." " Mom , throw them away . I am in no mood ," Trent said , irritation bleeding through every syllable . " Just take a peek , " Penelope insisted , pressing the papers against his chest . " Meeting someone new might lift your spirits . " Trent snapped . He shoved the bundle aside ; pages scattered across the floor . " Enough about pride and appearances , " he roared .

" You made me divorce Quinn because of your precious reputation - was that worth it ? " " You are bringing up Quinn again ," Penelope shot back . " What was wrong with the divorce ? She was an orphan with nothing . She could never hold her own in public . " " Could never hold her own ? " Trent's voice turned raw . " Her parents died in service to the nation . When I had nothing , she stood beside me and built the company. If she was so unsuitable , why didn't you say anything at the wedding ?

" " That … that was because … " Penelope faltered , words drying up . " Because she asked for no dowry , " Trent finished for her : " We were penniless , and you were delighted t gain a daughter - in - law for free A flush of embarrassment crept across Penelope's face . " Trent , how can you talk like that ? " Jacinda protested . " Mom only wants to find you a wife who is more 1/2 Chapter 255 Fractured Ties accomplished - how is that wrong ? Trent shot back , " Accomplished ?

Do you honestly believe Quinn lacks ability ? She graduated from die National Defense Academy , was the top science student in Jexburgh that year , and built her reputation as a leading drone specialist . If she were incompetent , my company would not have fallen apart the moment she resignedi " He had once convinced himself that his success was self - made .

Yet the moment the truth stared him in the face , the entire journey home replayed in his mind , detail after humiliating detail , and he finally realized how much Quinn had sacrificed for him . What , in comparison, had he ever don for her ? He had even broken his promise to accer when she collected her parents ' ashes , choosing instead to run after Sidonie .. The memory sent chills skittering down his spine .

" Had I never divorced Quinn , none of this would be happening to me ," Trent muttered , his voice thick with regret . " Are you blaming Mom and me ? " Jacinda challenged . " You left Quinn because you chose Sidonie . And if you truly had no intention of betraying Quinn , why hide the marriage in the first place ? You could have told the world you were already wed ."