<b>376 </b>A Signature to Let Go
Lily had <b>been </b>about to let her tears fall freely when she heard footsteps behind her.
She quickly wiped her eyes and turned around, forcing aposed expression. “James? Why did you
“To sign.”
Without another word, he handed her the document he held.
That was when she saw the bold title at the top:
Share Transfer Agreement
James currently owned 28% of Luke Group. ording to the agreement, he was transferring 14% of it to her.
7
He also held a 36% stake in the most popr short video tform in the country and this document
listed that 18% would be transferred to her.
There were other holdings, too: 8% in a trending online shopping tform, 6% in a food delivery app, 7% in an AI techpany, and so on…
The further she read, the wider her eyes grew.
How did he have this many assets?
–
The tforms he’d invested in any one of them could generate more yearly dividends than most people could spend in multiple lifetimes.
And he was giving her half of it all….
There were also full ownership titles for an entire office building and several luxury vis in prime locations.
By the time she reached the end, Lily honestly suspected that signing this agreement would turn her into the richest woman in the country.
But this <b>was </b>all his. Hard–earned, fought for. She couldn’t take it.
She pushed the agreement back toward him in a rush. “James, that 100 million you already had transferred to me that’s more than enough to make mefortable. I can’t sign this.”
“Sign it.”
His voice <b>was </b>deep and unwavering. “After we’re divorced, you’ll marry Jackson. Consider this your dowry from the Luke family.”
James knew Jackson loved her!
But the He family’s power and influence weren’t as simple as they appeared. He <b>feared </b>that once Lily married in, she might be looked down on <b>– </b>even wronged, with no one to protect <b>her</b>.
<b>With </b><b>wealth </b>in <b>her </b>hands<b>, </b>she’d <b>never </b>be at anyone’s mercy. She’d always have the power to walk away.
<b>There’s </b>really no need.”
To Lily, <b>Jackson </b>was still the boy who once depended on her. She had never once thought of marrying
him.
She hadn’t even considered remarrying at all.
The town she nned to move to had low living <b>costs</b>. The 100 million James had given her, with interest, would be more than enough to live freely with her child.
After a long pause, she spoke sincerely. “I don’t need much. I can earn money on my own. You really don’t need to give me half your fortune.”
“This marriage wasn’t what you wanted. If anything, you’re the one who got hurt in it. You don’t owe me a thing.”
“Lily, this was Grandfather’s idea.”
When she still wouldn’t sign, James had to bring out the heavy artillery. “He said, if you don’t sign this, he won’t approve the divorce.”
“I want us to finalize the divorce quickly. So sign it.”
“I…”
To take half of his wealth
–
Lily couldn’t imagine anything more shameless.
She hesitated, then said softly, “Maybe I should go talk to your grandfather. If I tell him it was my idea to divorce, I’m sure he’ll agree to it even if I don’t sign.”
But that whole story – James had made it up.
He couldn’t let her go talk to Henry.
So <b>he </b>said tly, “I already told him you’re eager to marry Jackson. And he said it doesn’t matter who wants the divorce- unless you sign this agreement, he won’t allow it.“.
“Lily, let’s stop wasting each other’s time. I want our lives to move forward again.”
Stop wasting time…
That struck her heart like a de.
She knew James wasn’t greedy. And he was generous. But in high society, people ced huge value on shares and ownership.
For him to hand over this much… he must want the divorce badly.
<b>Her </b>fingers brushed her <b>lower </b>belly without thinking.
If she refused to sign and Henry truly blocked the divorce<b>, </b>she wouldn’t <b>be </b>able to hide the <b>pregnancy </b>much longer.
<b>2/3 </b>
–
And if James ever found out, with his power and influence, he could take the child from her or worse.
He had helped her too many times. She didn’t want to end things with hatred. And more than anything, she didn’t want to lose her baby.
So she would sign.
With this many shares, she didn’t even want to calcte how much the annual dividends would be.
This kind of wealth
—
she could raise not just one or two children, but ten or more, and still never run out.
She’d ask Ashton for James’s bank ount and return most of the money to him once the dividends came <ol><li>in. </li></ol>
The agreement came in duplicate.
She no longer hesitated. Taking the two copies, sheid one t on the table and carefully signed her name at the bottom.
James watched her in silence, eyes fixed on every stroke of her pen.
And when she finished thest character, the calm he had been forcing all along cracked at the seams.
His eyes reddened
—
and he couldn’t stop it.