Chapter 632 Taylor, Let's Call It Quits
Samuel left without another word.
For the first time, he looked like a man who had truly lost — shoulders slumped, eyes dull, the fight drained out of him. And yet, even in this state, he couldn't bring himself to want a divorce.
Seven years of marriage had to mean something. How had they come to this? He couldn't let go. Not yet.
Behind him, Taylor stood frozen, her emotions knotted tight. No one walks away from a marriage like this without scars. Then she felt a small, warm presence press against her side.
"Aunt Taylor," Luna's soft voice broke through her thoughts.
Taylor slowly crouched down and wrapped her arms around the little girl. She buried her face against Luna's small, warm frame.
Something burned behind her eyes, but the tears refused to fall. She said nothing — just held on.
Luna didn't understand the mess between adults. She tilted her head up toward Julian.
Julian walked over, ruffling Luna's hair. He didn't speak, but the way he looked at Taylor carried a quiet tenderness — as if he were looking not just at the woman before him, but at the girl she had once been.
He let out a silent sigh. If it were up to him, Taylor would never have to feel this kind of pain.
Samuel, meanwhile, had made his way to the VIP ward. He hadn't settled things with Taylor, but he wasn't about to leave without seeing Thalassa. Zenobia was the one place where his restless mind could find some temporary calm.
The late autumn sun poured through the windows. Thalassa sat on the floor with the same toy her father, Leo, had brought her last time.
Zenobia was gently dabbing ointment on Samuel's bruised face — Julian had hit hard. Her eyes welled with tears.
"Too cruel," she murmured. "If Taylor wanted to be with him, she could have filed for divorce openly. Why destroy you — destroy SamZen Tech — like this? Samuel, you've given everything to that marriage, and she's thrown it all away."
Samuel's jaw tightened. He said nothing.
Zenobia blinked away her tears, forcing herself to hold them back. When she was done tending to him, she went to the kitchen to prepare lunch. She made mashed potatoes — the same comfort food they'd shared back in college. The taste carried too many memories.
They sat across from each other at the table. Zenobia's eyes were still red as she placed food on his plate.
"Eat more, Mr. Collins," Thalassa said sweetly. "Then it won't hurt anymore."
The warmth in that moment nearly undid him. This kind of tenderness, he never got from Taylor. Taylor was beautiful, elegant, untouchable — but Samuel craved a home, not a pedestal.
And in that instant, he made up his mind.
He set down his fork, stepped out onto the balcony, and closed the door behind him. From his pocket, he pulled a crushed pack of cigarettes, lit one, and drew in a deep lungful. The burn of nicotine in his chest was the first thing that made him feel steady all day.
Through the glass, Thalassa watched him, worry clouding her young face.
"What's wrong with Mr. Collins?" she asked.
Zenobia slid a piece of rib onto her plate. "Just eat. He's just thinking. Once he figures things out, we'll have a better home, more money than we can spend, and you'll never have to sleep on the streets with your useless father again."
Thalassa's eyes filled with tears. She didn't dare press further. When Zenobia got angry, the electric cord came out, and Thalassa had learned to obey.
A gust of wind stung Samuel's face. His phone buzzed — Quentin, with another update from the company. Everything was chaos. He should have been there, fixing it. Instead, he was standing here, drowning in memories of Taylor.
"Set up a press conference," he said flatly. "One hour. I'll announce that Taylor and I have reached a divorce agreement."
There was a pause. Quentin sounded surprised, but Samuel had already hung up.
He stayed there a while longer, smoking until a small pile of cigarette butts had gathered at his feet. Then he called Taylor.
The line rang several times before she picked up. Neither spoke at first.
Finally, Samuel drew a deep breath. "Taylor, you were right. Let's end this cleanly."
Saying it out loud felt like dropping a weight from his shoulders.
Divorce would save his reputation, save SamZen Tech. It would give him the freedom to care for Zenobia and Thalassa without guilt. It was the perfect solution.
So why did the corners of his eyes burn?
Maybe because once, he had been proud to win Taylor's heart. Once, on their wedding night, he had been her first — and it had mattered to him.
But it was over.
He was silent for a moment, then added, "This video mess — you caused it. You've cost SamZen Tech more than I can measure. So you'll walk away with nothing."
Taylor let out a short, sharp laugh. "No one wants your money, Samuel. Except Zenobia."
"Don't insult a struggling mother," he rasped. "She doesn't have the safety net you do. She only has—"
"Only you. Right?"
The shame hit him like a slap.
Taylor didn't push further. "Sign the divorce papers first. Once the lawyers file them, I'll help with your PR."
"Don't push me, Taylor."
"Your choice. But you're the one facing bankruptcy."
"Fine."
They agreed to meet at SamZen Tech to sign.
When Samuel returned to the ward, Zenobia was tucking Thalassa into bed. She looked up at him, her voice soft. "If it comes to it, I'll go public and say it was all my fault — that I seduced you. People will hate me, but they won't blame you."
She said it with a kind of tragic nobility.
"Samuel, I'll do anything for you. I just want you to be happy."
He felt a rush of emotion. This — this was the kind of woman a man needed. Gentle. Devoted. Not like Taylor.
He rested a hand on her shoulder. "I'll make this right."
Zenobia's hand flew to her mouth, tears spilling freely. "I never dreamed… I never dared to imagine being Mrs. Collins. I thought I'd spend my life loving you in secret. And now… Samuel, I'm so happy."
She threw her arms around him, kissing him with desperate passion. He kissed her back, but his mind was elsewhere. After a moment, he pulled away, mumbling about work.
Zenobia straightened his collar, smiling softly. "I'll wait for you at dinner."
"Depends how things go," he muttered.
She saw right through him but only grew more tender, walking him to the door. The moment he left, she twirled around the room, giddy. She had waited for this day for so long.
Then her phone rang — a buzzkill.
It was her husband, Leo.
"Don't worry," she said coldly. "Once I'm Mrs. Collins, I'll give Thalassa back to you."
Leo, ever the fool, believed her. He didn't see the truth — that Thalassa was her leverage. Samuel adored the child. Zenobia would never let her go.
An hour later, in Samuel's office at SamZen Tech, the former spouses sat across from each other. The same lawyer from before read through the agreement. There was little to divide.
"I have no objections," Samuel said. "Let's sign."
The lawyer turned to Taylor. "Ms. Montague?"
Without hesitation, Taylor signed her name. Her hand trembled, but she didn't falter. She slid the papers to Samuel. All it would take was his signature, and they'd be nothing to each other.
Samuel flipped through the pages slowly. Too slowly.
Quentin leaned in. "Mr. Collins, the press is waiting. The company needs this."
Reputation. Money. The company.
Samuel didn't hesitate again. He signed. By six o'clock, the divorce would be finalized. They would be free to live separate lives.
He looked up at her, the name slipping from his lips before he realized it. "Taylor."
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