Divorced Heiress
I am Not A Contract Chapter 4

Vincent kept the last picture frame that adorned his desk with a photo of his family, his parents, his two younger brothers, and himself; in the next second, he looked at his brother Bastian with somber eyes, who suddenly felt the temperature drop, causing a shiver down his spine that shook him in a matter of seconds, and he quickly downed the remaining whiskey in his glass.

"There's nothing to talk about, my time here is over, I have fulfilled my commitment to Sarah and my goal with Doinel, the company is back to what it was before, and L&J doesn't need me, my presence is not necessary for it to continue on its current path. I have nothing else to do in this place, I'm leaving Paris."

Vincent let out a slight sigh filled with irritation and anger, but it was nothing more than a curtain hiding the true feeling that troubled him from the depths of his chest, fear.

Deep down, he knew that he was being a real jerk and a coward, but the decision had been made, he couldn't give Abby what she expected, he had already destroyed her enough the day before by shrugging off a huge responsibility, leaving her alone with her pregnancy, and he was sure that staying would be worse and very uncomfortable for everyone.

Besides, he didn't want to stay and witness her giving birth to a baby he never planned for, never desired, and would never accept.

Bastian was still lost even with Vincent's answer, it didn't clarify his doubts, he wasn't giving him the answer he wanted, he needed to know the reason behind that crazy decision and, more than anything, he wanted to know why Vincent was becoming so cold, somber, and indifferent again when he had seemed very happy and cheerful in the last few days.

He had no doubt that Abby made him very happy, she changed him for the better.

"Are you leaving just like that? Are you leaving with Abby?" Bastian immediately thought of that woman he was trying to forget, but it was inevitable, he wanted to ask without sounding too interested on his part because he knew he had provoked Vincent's jealousy at that L&J event, and the last thing he wanted at that moment was to cause more problems than there already were.

However, Bastian felt the need to know, he wanted to know why she wasn't with him at that precise moment and why Vincent seemed angry with everyone, so he chose to approach the subject pretending to be uninterested in the matter.

"Ah! I understand it all now, you'll run away with Abby, get married in secret, and start a new life away from so many problems. Very well thought out, man, you'll finally settle down, I imagine she must be happy, why isn't she here? Where did you leave her?"

With just the mention of that name, Vincent felt his blood begin to boil and rush to his head in a matter of seconds, he wasn't going to keep dwelling on the matter, he just needed Bastian's signature and he would leave the country. With an unfriendly face, he took a pen and handed it to Bastian, he didn't have time to waste talking about Abby.

"Just sign, Bastian, the rest is none of your concern," Vincent responded with no intention of sharing his misfortunes, anyway, he would find out soon enough.

Bastian was not satisfied with Vincent's response and the little information he provided, he was not going to do what he said without being aware of the situation in the company, if he was going to sign that document accepting the shares, he needed to know the terms under which Vincent was leaving.

"If you don't tell me what's going on, forget about me taking care of your shares, you can't call me out of the blue and practically force me to sign the transfer without prior notice and without explanations, you don't go through life giving away your work that is the most sacred thing you have. So right now you're going to tell me everything or you'll have to find other trustworthy hands to leave the shares with," Bastian spoke with complete seriousness as he stood up from his seat, setting aside the mocking tone and the slightest hint of amusement on his face.

Vincent remained motionless for a few seconds, and his heart sank as he remembered Abby's words from the day before. Of course, it hurt to leave her, to leave without seeing her one last time, and maybe never see her again, but he remained firm in his decision, he wasn't going to waste his time, energy, and efforts taking care of a baby that was never part of his plans and will never be.

"Abby is pregnant," Vincent suddenly blurted out as if it were a bombshell, he finally spoke despite not wanting to be the one to inform his brother, or anyone for that matter, but he felt that saying it out loud was liberating, that topic had disturbed him so much that he hadn't realized he needed to let it out.

Bastian was astonished and immobile in his place upon hearing that news, he looked at Vincent with wider eyes than usual and suddenly felt discomfort in his chest because he knew more than anyone what that meant. "Abby what?"

Bastian wanted to believe it was a joke, but his older brother never joked, especially not about such a delicate matter.

It didn't take long for him to realize what Vincent was doing, he knew him perfectly, he didn't need him to say more to know it, and he felt sorry from his soul for how badly the brown-haired woman must be feeling, not knowing what to do or if it would even be right to speak to her.

His hazel eyes narrowed disapprovingly as he felt the blood start to boil in his system. It was hard for him to believe that his brother was doing this to that poor woman who was willing to do anything to be with him, but who obviously didn't receive the same in return.

"Do you realize what a despicable thing you're doing, Vincent? You're going to leave her in that condition because of your stupid notion of not having children, thinking that they will be an obstacle to your business. Are you still holding onto that foolish and absurd idea?" Bastian wouldn't stay silent, the news had hit him like a punch in the stomach, not so much because he knew that the woman he loved was expecting a child from another man, and that man was his own brother, but because that jerk was going to abandon her to her fate with a child. Bastian would have liked to be in Vincent's place, but to do, the complete opposite of what the eldest Lefebvre was doing, to make Abby the happiest woman on earth and show her every day how grateful and happy he was to give her something as beautiful as a child, to form a family.

It pissed him off to know that Vincent had in his hands the opportunity that he would have wanted, and he was wasting it in the worst way possible, what he had done with his hands, he was ruining with his feet.

"You're making the worst decision of your life and all you're going to achieve with that is to harm and ruin Abby's life.

Don't you even realize? You know very well what she has been going through, she recently found out that her mother and brother are criminals and watched as they were sentenced to years in prison, her own family! And now you're going to abandon her just when she needs you the most?"

"But of course! Vincent Lefebvre only thinks of himself and his own benefit, because you have never stopped being the most selfish being that could exist in the world, who doesn't care about making wrong decisions that have repercussions on others' lives." "I can't believe it, really, and I'm so sorry for Abby because no matter how intelligent and capable she is, it wasn't enough for her to realize in time what kind of man you are, because she deserves so much more, but the saddest part of it all is that you don't seem to care the least about what she's feeling right now. Damn it, Abby is pregnant! Brother, you destroyed her."

Bastian poured out everything he had inside, although he felt that there were still more things to say, but he was so angry with Vincent and worried about Abby that he could only think about what he had to do to make sure she was okay and could go through her pregnancy in peace, with or without Vincents presence.

Vincent didn't take it very well to have the truth thrown in his face. Hearing Bastian's words infuriated him so much that he hit the desk hard, making it resonate throughout the office and leaving a lingering pain in his knuckles, but he didn't care in the least. He was closed to listening to others opinions, he wasn't willing to put up with his younger brother's sermons, nothing he said was going to make him change his mind, he was already completely decided, he didn't want a child in his life, he didn't want more responsibilities than the ones he already had with his thriving businesses.

With his face reddened with anger and feeling the blood rush through his system, he looked at Bastian with the iciest gaze and responded to him with a cold and indifferent voice.

"It's not your damn business, Bastian, don't get involved in what doesn't concern you. These are my decisions, it's my life and it doesn't affect you at all what I do or don't do. Is that why you wanted me to tell you? To scold me as if I were a child? Don't f**k with me." "If you don't agree to sign the transfer of my shares, you could have saved yourself all this. I'll find someone else who will accept it without asking stupid questions and without giving their opinions about my personal life. You can leave if you want." Vincent took the documents he had left for Bastian to sign, with no intention whatsoever of listening to another word coming out of his brother's mouth. However, Bastian placed a hand on the documents, preventing Vincent from moving away.

Only one thing crossed his mind: his signature on that document was what he had in his hands at that moment to finally make Vincent go away.

With this transfer, his older brother would disappear and Abby would be at peace without having to see the face of the man who probably devastated her by denying his responsibility as a father. He was one signature away from doing good for everyone, including himself. "I will sign, I will take care of your mess," said Bastian, without taking his challenging gaze off Vincent's.

Vincent stopped for a moment, feeling relieved that at least he wouldn't have to find another trustworthy person to leave his shares to, and that he apparently wouldn't interfere in his affairs anymore.

Clenching his jaw and insulting Vincent in his mind, Bastian took the pen and left his signature on the document, feeling confident in what he was doing. He didn't care about the shares, he just wanted Vincent to disappear as he had planned, and if he wasn't giving him the shares, he would pay any price to get to the same point.

You can use this office or stay in yours, as you prefer. Now you are the minority shareholder with the most shares," Vincent informed, calmer than a moment ago, after the transfer was completed.

Now he could leave the company and the country; he could finally escape like the coward he was being.

Bastian left the pen on the desk and looked at him with pity, a small smile full of disbelief appearing on his face.

He still couldn't believe that this man who shared his blood could be so cruel, indifferent, and cold.

"I'm not doing this for you or for your shares, I'm not even doing it for Sarah's company. I'm doing it so that you disappear from here as quickly as possible because I know that's what's going through your mind right now. I'm doing it for Abby, so she doesn't have to see the face of the man who ruined her life. Happy journey, brother."

Bastian took the documents certifying that Vincent's shares were now his, and under Vincent's furious gaze, he left the office, leaving him speechless, with his muscles even tenser than before, and with a mess in his mind. But before closing the door and disappearing from his sight, he looked at Vincent one last time to say some final words that went beyond just shares he had just given him. "Thank you for giving me everything."