Chapter 9 Hurry Up and Divorce
Jonathan reluctantly changed into the cheap clothes—something he'd never worn in his life.
The moment the fabric touched his skin, he felt his hair stand on end.
Naomi neatly folded the clothes he'd taken off, stuffed them into the tattered plastic bag, and tossed it into the trunk. Only then did she return to the car and buckle up.
"Mr. Cavendish, we're ready to go."
Already irritated about the car, Jonathan now found the shoes on his feet even more offensive. He started the engine with gritted teeth, seething in silence the entire drive.
Noticing his mood, Naomi sighed. "Mr. Cavendish, I'm sorry. This must be uncomfortable for you."
"So this was deliberate?" Jonathan hissed.
She must be punishing him, he thought, because he hadn't shown up in a luxury car to impress her.
Naomi discreetly rolled her eyes. "Mr. Cavendish lives in the stratosphere, so of course you wouldn't understand how regular people live. I've worn $9.99 shirts with free shipping. Not everyone needs thousand-dollar clothes to get dressed."
Nine dollars and ninety-nine cents for a shirt?
This was beyond Jonathan's comprehension. How did businesses even profit from that? You couldn't even make a pair of socks for that price.
Seeing his expression hadn't softened, Naomi tried to ease the tension. "Mr. Cavendish, just bear with it. You'll only see them once—it'll be over before you know it."
His face relaxed marginally at her words. "What exactly do I need to do?"
"Play mute. Don't say anything," Naomi leaned back tiredly. "Whatever they ask for, say no. I'll handle the rest."
"What would they ask for?" Jonathan eyed her suspiciously.
Naomi shrugged, too exhausted to explain.
If they thought Jonathan was an average guy, they'd demand an expensive wedding and a house and car. If they realized he was wealthy, they'd want everything. Her parents would squeeze out every penny they could—not a cent less.
An hour later, Jonathan pulled up to a small supermarket on the outskirts of town.
Night had fallen. The Kennedy family—all three of them—stood waiting at the entrance, smiles plastered on their faces. When they saw Naomi step out of a beat-up Volkswagen, their expressions froze instantly.
Luna's face softened slightly when the handsome Jonathan emerged from the driver's side.
"So you're Jonathan? I'm Naomi's mother, Luna Bailey. This is her father, Jagger Kennedy and brother, Zack Kennedy."
"Zack, say hello!" Luna glared at her son.
Zack circled the car, eyeing Jonathan's outfit with growing disappointment. "Mom, Dad, didn't you say Naomi found someone rich? This car's been through God knows how many owners, and his entire outfit probably cost less than a hundred bucks."
'One hundred and forty-nine,' Naomi silently corrected.
Zack couldn't hide his disappointment. He'd spent hours online yesterday, researching the Cavendish Corporation's CEO. Though the photos were blurry, he'd been convinced Naomi's husband was the same man. He'd been buzzing with excitement, imagining the endless flow of cash coming their way through this new connection.
And now? Naomi had married some nobody?
Luna cleared her throat. "Rich people often test their in-laws. You wouldn't understand."
She then turned to Jonathan with a forced smile. "Come in, dear. Where are the gifts you brought us?"
"What gifts?" Jonathan asked reflexively.
Naomi jumped in. "Mom, Dad, we came straight from work. We didn't have time to shop."
She was deliberately cementing Jonathan's image as a stingy man without means—ensuring her family wouldn't extract a single penny from him.
Hearing they'd brought nothing, Zack stormed back into the house without another word.
Luna and Jagger looked displeased but still ushered Jonathan inside.
Jonathan caught Naomi's suppressed smile and his mood darkened further. She was deliberately humiliating him!
During dinner, Jonathan didn't touch his fork. The cheap, over-seasoned food killed any appetite he might have had.
Luna speared a shrimp and held it toward him. "Jonathan, try this. My shrimp is exceptional."
The sight of the shrimp touched by her saliva-coated fork made his stomach turn.
Naomi awkwardly poured him water in a disposable cup. "He gets carsick. Can't eat much."
Jonathan scoffed internally, 'What a pathetic excuse!'
Still, he raised the cup and took a sip. He was thirsty, after all.
"What do you do for work, Jonathan? How did you meet Naomi?" Luna began her interrogation.
Naomi answered before he could. "He's a security guard at my company. We met at work."
"He does have a good build for it," Luna said with a strained smile.
Security guard? That meant no money.
She set down her fork. "Jonathan, you're already legally married, so let me ask—how much are you planning to contribute for the wedding? You're not thinking of giving nothing, are you?"
Finally, they were talking money. Jonathan asked coldly, "How much do you want?"
Naomi tugged at his sleeve, but Jonathan pushed her hand away. "It's cheap fabric," he muttered.
That bargain-bin fabric would probably start coming apart at the seams after just an hour of wear.
"Naomi, don't interfere," Luna fixed her gaze on Jonathan. "My daughter is the most beautiful girl for miles, and now she manages celebrities in the big city. You've struck gold with her."
"We're not asking for much—just $180,000 for the wedding. Plus a car for her brother, so let's say $200,000 total." Luna paused thoughtfully. "Oh, and you'll need to put a down payment on a house in the city center for us. Zack will need it when he gets married. Nothing too small. We'll handle the mortgage payments—we're reasonable people."
Just then, Naomi slammed her fork on the table. "You're asking for over a million dollars like I'm some prize to be auctioned off! I could sell everything I own and still be miles short of that kind of money!"
"A security guard can't afford it? Then divorce him." Luna stood up and moved the fish and shrimp from Jonathan's plate to Zack's. "The man I've arranged for you to meet promised to transfer his house to you upon marriage, plus $500,000 when you have a child. That's two million dollars right there!"
Jagger nodded vigorously. "This Jonathan isn't reliable. You should divorce him immediately."
"What do you even see in him, Naomi? Just a pretty face!" Zack glared at Jonathan. "You're gorgeous, Naomi. Stay home, have babies—you could pop out four before you're thirty. Two million dollars..."
Naomi slammed the table again and shot to her feet. "Divorce? Not happening. Marrying someone else? Not happening. I'm carrying his child. Push me any further, and you'll have two deaths on your conscience."