Chapter 48 Giving Him The Patent
Chapter 48 Giving Him The Patent
“I really didn’t expect this from you,” Trent snapped, his voice laced with jealousy. “First Julius, now Harlan. Quinn, you really have a talent for attracting men, don’t you?”
Quinn’s expression hardened. “Trent, just because you lack integrity doesn’t mean everyone else does. Harlan is my comrade.”
“Comrade?” Trent scoffed. “A comrade will stand up for you, who has been out of the military for years? And he’s not known for standing up for just anyone. He’s the little tyrant of Jexburgh! Do you really expect me to believe he’d go that far for a mere ‘comrade‘? Or were the two of you already involved back at camp
Smack!
A sharp slap cracked through the silence, cutting him off. Trent staggered slightly, one side of his face stinging with heat. The tension in the room coiled like a drawn bowstring.
Ever since his startup took off, no one had dared to treat him like this.
“Quinn, are you out of your mind?” he shouted, face flushed with anger.
But Quinn’s eyes were like ice. “What you just said… if I wanted to, I could have you charged for insulting a soldier. Do you even understand what that word means? The bond between comrades isn’t some joke. It’s built on life–and–death trust, on pulling each other out of danger without hesitation!”
Her voice rang clear and steady, cutting through the stillness like a blade. Her eyes, unwavering and bright, held a dignity that left no room for doubt.
Trent said nothing.
Have I really misunderstood her?
Under her fierce gaze, for the first time, he felt small, like a fool playing a part he didn’t understand.
“People like you probably never will understand,” Quinn said coldly,
Trent sneered. “You’re right. I don’t. You want a divorce? Fine. I’ll give it to you. But I’ve looked into the patents under your name. We can set the rest aside, but there’s one. Your drone control program. After our divorce, Grafton Technologies will need full rights to it for development and application.”
Quinn’s expression darkened in an instant. “You want my patent?”
“That’s right,” Trent said, voice level “You filed it after we got married, which makes it a marital asset. Once it starts generating profit, I’m willing to share a portion with you.”
Her gaze turned ice–cold. He wasn’t negotiating. He was trying to rob her under the guise of leg
That patent wasn’t just a document; it was the culmination of years of effort. Though she filed it after their wedding, the research had been nearly complete before she ever walked down the aisle. It was only after her parents‘ sudden deaths that she faltered. And it was only after picking herself back up that she found the strength to finish the work and file the patent.
III
O
1/2
Chapter 48 Giving Him The Patent
What Trent didn’t know was that she had once intended to gift that patent to Grafton Technologies. If she had stayed, it would have become the key to the company’s success.
But now, she had changed her mind. “What if I refuse to hand it over?” she asked.
“Then I’ll sue,” Trent replied without hesitation. “I know you want to hand that patent to your friend’s Azure Technologies. But don’t forget. It was filed after our marriage. It’s a shared asset. If you want to drag your friend’s company into a legal mess, go right ahead.
Disappointment flickered in Quinn’s eyes. “I thought there was still a shred of integrity left in you. But it turns out you’re willing to stoop to anything.”
“I’m doing this for the company!” Trent snapped. “You want a divorce? Fine. But the drone patent goes to Grafton Technologies. Non–negotiable.”
The company was in trouble. And this patent was his lifeline.
“For the sake of the company?” Quinn echoed coldly. “Very well. I’ll give you the patent. But on one condition. Hold a press conference and publicly announce our divorce. Then finalize it with me at City Hall.”
Trent blinked, clearly caught off guard. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious.”
He studied her face for a long moment before nodding. “Three days. I’ll hold the press conference. I hope you’ll keep your word.”
Suddenly, Quinn let out a laugh–sharp, cold, and filled with disbelief. How could this be the man I had once cared for?
She had endured disappointment after disappointment, yet she had once given her heart to this marriage. And now, he was using the divorce as leverage, trying to extract benefits from her like it was some kind of
transaction.
“Trent,” she said. “I’ve lived my whole life without regrets. But marrying you… is my one exception.”
When Laura heard about the divorce terms, she was stunned. “Wait. You’re really giving him the patent?”
– Quinn’s lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile. “Whether or not he can actually make use of it… that’s
his problem. My work isn’t exactly plug–and–play.”
Laura quickly caught the deeper meaning and relaxed. Quinn had a contingency plan. She exhaled in relief and asked, “And what about compensation? Is he giving you anything in the settlement?”
“I asked for one million five, hundred and thirty thousand,” Quinn said simply.
O
