Chapter 9 Nobody Can Force Me to Divorce!

• As Mike's words echoed through the air, a profound silence descended upon the room.
• Every gaze converged upon him, stunned by his assertion.
• He said he is the Nation's Protector?
• Following a brief moment of incredulous quietness, Tony erupted into laughter. "I've crossed paths with audacious souls before, but never have I encountered such audacity as yours. How dare you tarnish the esteemed reputation of our Nation's Protector? You, who have laboured on construction sites, tended to do chores in our family, even taken on delivery tasks, find yourself so impoverished that you cannot afford even a modest dowry. A mere average combatant, perpetually scorned by your in-laws, you're not even worthy of polishing our Nation's Protector's shoes. How dare you lay claim to such a title? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
• Gales of laughter filled the room.
• Initially, doubts lingered among the spectators regarding Mike's purported identity as the Nation's Protector. Yet, upon hearing Tony's cutting words, they promptly discarded any such notion without hesitation.
• Indeed, the Nation's Protector is hailed as the revered guardian of the Lorrenvia, commanding a formidable army of half a million soldiers. His exploits include triumphs over the Sormbay, the conquest of numerous cities, and instilling of dread in neighbouring realms, thus earning him the ominous title of the "Human Butcher."
• Could a figure of such formidable stature as the Nation's Protector possibly be a mere labourer, engaging in menial tasks on construction sites, delivering food, and facing such financial hardship that even a modest dowry is beyond reach?
• "Do you question my authenticity?"
• Unable to endure the ridicule from the Winters any longer, Mike swiftly reached for his phone and proclaimed, "With just one call, I can reclaim every last bit of the dowry I bestowed upon you. Tony, you indulged in a 1.5 million dollars Lamborghini purchase, planning to offset it with another 1.5 million. Should you fail to provide the funds, brace yourself for the legal ramifications!"
• With a determined gesture, he unlocked his phone.
• Tony, undeterred, chuckled, "Feel free to dial. Should you falter in reclaiming the dowry, I shall report you for impersonating the Nation's Protector. Let us witness who shall face the consequences."
• Joking aside, how could such tr*sh possibly be the Nation's Protector?
• I wouldn't believe it even if you beat me to death!
• "Enough of this nonsense!"
• As Mike poised to dial Cole's number, Luna swiftly seized the phone from his grasp and reprimanded him, "I recognise that the dowry I contributed has already placed a strain on us, but can't you have some restraint? Do you grasp the seriousness of your actions? By what authority do you presume to impersonate the Nation's Protector? Do you understand the repercussions you may encounter? You might end up in jail!"
• She was truly infuriated, daring anyone to impersonate without the slightest understanding of the law. If caught, he could face several years behind jail at the very least.
• "Honey, I never pretended to be someone else," Mike asserted sincerely.
• Luna was poised to hurl the phone at him, her voice trembling with intensity, "No matter how difficult things get, divorce is not an option for me. But if you dare to repeat that you didn't pretend to be someone else, I'll file for divorce on the spot. Do you hear me?"
• Luna knew Mike better than anyone. He was a typical hardworking, strong-willed child from a poor family. If she were an ordinary girl from an ordinary family, having such a husband would be a blessing. However, she hailed from a family immersed in materialism, and their marriage was destined for failure. At least before she grew old, her parents would pressure her into divorce. Yet, she didn't want to hurt him. Instead, she preferred to race against time, believing that there would be a day of tranquility. But if he crossed her bottom line, she would sever ties without hesitation, each going their separate ways.
• "Okay, I'll listen to you."
• A sense of relief washed over Mike as a smile graced his lips. His wife's words provided genuine solace, soothing his worries.
• As long as she regarded him as her husband, he paid no heed to the opinions of others. Let them chatter on. Actions have consequences. When misfortune befell them, he would witness their remorse firsthand.
• "Haha! Your charade's falling apart, isn't it?" Tony jeered, his laughter triumphant.
• Hannah seethed with anger, "Luna, the mere thought of your faux husband masquerading as mine sickens me. End this farce and divorce him at once. I refuse to lay eyes on him any longer!"
• Luna mustered a strained smile as she responded, "Hannah, Mike simply had a moment of confusion. Let's not quarrel over it. As Mrs. Protector, you should exhibit patience. It's hardly a display of tolerance to clash with someone less fortunate."
• "Are you attempting to lecture me?" Hannah inquired icily.
• Quickly, Luna shook her head. "No, not at all."
• "Then proceed and divorce this charade!" Hannah commanded.
• Luna clenched her teeth. "You have no authority to force me to divorce him."
• "Very well!" Hannah seethed with anger. She turned to several senior businessmen and declared, "Flighton Trading, under the ownership of Luna, has two loans pending at the bank. One, totaling 750 thousand dollars, is due in a matter of days, while the other matures in a month. Do any of you have connections at Arcadia Bank or Springwell Bank? Ensure they demand immediate repayment. If she fails to comply, let her face bankruptcy!"
• "I do!"
• "I have some connection as well!"
• Harold and several senior businessmen raised their hands, swiftly dialling numbers on their phones.
• Luna panicked. "Hannah, you can't do this. Flighton Trading isn't just my family, it's your family's as well. You can't let it go under."
• Hannah chuckled, "Are you suggesting my family lacks this paltry sum? Moreover, what good is a company drowning in debt? It's yours now. From here on, Flighton Trading has no ties to my family. Run it competently, and every penny you earn is yours. If it collapses, don't come running to my family for help. Yours can fend for themselves."
• Lana and Anton beseeched Hannah.
• With a sneer, Hannah asserted, "Luna refused to divorce her husband and disrespected me, so now she must face the consequences!"
• Anton's voice rose as he admonished Luna, "All for a worthless man. You've offended Hannah. If the company collapses, the entire family will suffer. Is that what you desire?"
• In a fit of rage, Lana lashed out at Mike.
• "I can't bear this any longer. Is your joy solely derived from pushing me towards my demise?"
• Overwhelmed with emotion, Luna fled from the scene as tears cascaded down her cheeks.
• "Wait, Honey!"
• Mike called out before addressing Hannah sternly, "You'll rue the day you took these actions. Just wait and witness!"
• With determination, he pursued Luna.
• As Luna dashed out of the Petersons' mansion, her phone began to ring. With trembling hands, she answered it.
• "Ms. Winters, if the 750 thousand dollars loan isn't repaid by tomorrow noon, we'll be forced to auction off Flighton Trading's assets to settle the debt."
• Beep ...
• The call abruptly ended.
• Then another call came in.
• "Ms. Winters, you have three days to settle the 750 thousand dollars loan, or we'll pursue legal recourse."
• Beep ...
• Luna collapsed to the ground, clutching her head as she wept in anguish.
• The pained sounds echoed softly, expressing her distress.
• Mike gently assisted her to stand and offered solace, saying, "Please, don't cry. Let me have the phone. I won't let the company go under, trust me."
• "What should I trust you with?"
• Luna questioned in despair, handing the phone back to him. Tearfully, she hurried towards her Audi and drove off swiftly.
• "Honey, wait … "
• Mike called out desperately as he pursued her, his gaze fixed on the gradually vanishing car. Coming to a halt, he swiftly dialled the number of the CEO of the Aetherfield branch of his InfiniteNine Group.
• "Ashley, please utilise the bank's connections to secure an interest-free loan of 3 million dollars for my wife's company. Additionally, assess the outstanding debt of Fallbrook Trading with the bank and ensure immediate repayment is demanded. If they falter in repayment, proceed with legal measures."
• "Understood, Mr. Hunter. I'll attend to it right away!"