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 

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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.”