Chapter 9

Brendan gave Naomi a cold look, but she simply smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Securing the legal representation deal had put her in a great mood.

Just then, Heather interjected, “Brendan, Naomi, you two don’t visit often. Why don’t you stay tonight?”

Fiona chimed in, “Our mansion is lovely. Stay tonight, and Naomi might just get pregnant.”

Fiona added, “Brendan, try a little harder tonight. Maybe aim for twins!”

Brendan was speechless.

Everyone seemed eager for them to have a child soon. Back in their upstairs bedroom, Naomi asked, “Are we going to try for a baby?”

Brendan looked at her indifferently. “Naomi, can’t you think of anything else?”

Naomi laughed. “When I see you, what else can I think about? Besides, would you be okay if I thought about this with someone else?”

Brendan walked closer and pinched her cheek. “You really have no shame.”

Naomi pushed his hands away and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re my husband. Why should I pretend?”

For her, having a child was more important than her pride. Besides, she felt she had no pride left to maintain with Brendan. Looking down at her, Brendan said, “Naomi, no woman acts like you do.”

“Nonsense,” Naomi replied. “I am that kind of woman.”

She stood on tiptoe, her lips nearly touching his. “Brendan,” she whispered.

“Hmm?” Brendan responded hoarsely.

Naomi leaned in and kissed him. Her soft lips made him tense. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

Although he wanted to push her away, he found himself caressing her instead. He was losing control.

Then, a rush of blood to his head made him remember Naomi’s manipulative tactics and his parents' and grandparents' eagerness for a grandchild.

He pushed Naomi away and went straight to the bathroom. The opportunity was gone.

Naomi lost her temper. She took off her slippers and threw them angrily at the bathroom door. “Brendan, are you even a man?” she yelled. He’d rather masturbate than touch her; she felt deeply insulted.

Half an hour later, when Brendan emerged from the bathroom, Naomi had already turned her back and fallen asleep. When Brendan accidentally touched her while sitting down, Naomi turned and kicked him several times, catching him off guard and knocking him to the floor.

“Naomi!” Brendan called out softly. But Naomi remained silent, her back to him.

She was ignoring him. He felt helpless, understanding that she was truly angry this time. When he sat beside her again, she tried to kick him. He quickly pinned her down, preventing her from moving.

Seeing she was no match for him, she propped herself up on her hands. “Alright, I’ll go back to sleep, okay?”

She couldn’t accept what Brendan had done. No wife should feel so frustrated.

Brendan’s face darkened. “Naomi, can’t you just stop making trouble for one night?”

Stop making trouble? Naomi felt deeply wronged. Tears welled up as she laughed at herself. But soon, she regained her composure. “Brendan, if you really want a divorce, just go tell your dad.”

They had been married for two years. She was tired of his indifference and loneliness. If it wasn't working, it was better to end it. Having children or not wasn't a major concern.

She went to the wardrobe for her clothes.

Seeing she was serious, Brendan grabbed her arm. Naomi tried to shake him off, but Brendan pulled her back, causing her to fall onto the bed. As Naomi tried to get up, Brendan pinned her down, pressing on her hands. “Naomi, don’t turn this into a situation we can’t fix.”

Right after they made it seem like they were getting along in front of his family, she wanted to go home alone. What would his grandparents think?

Naomi’s eyes were red. She turned her head away from Brendan. He felt a tug at his heart. He leaned in to kiss her, but she turned further, burying her face in the pillow. At that moment, she was unwilling and no longer interested in Brendan.

He said gently, “Didn’t we agree before coming back that I would come home once a week from now on?”

This was the first time in their two years of marriage that Brendan was so gentle and patient.

Naomi didn’t respond.

Eventually, Brendan hugged her as they slept. Naomi kept her back to him. Her eyes remained red, and she was in a foul mood.

Naomi knew Brendan's niceness was only due to his family's feelings. In his heart, she was nothing more than a shameless woman who threw herself at him. That’s why, even though they were married and she was always available, he still wouldn’t touch her.

That night, Naomi couldn’t sleep. Brendan, however, slept soundly. But when he woke up, the bed was cold. Naomi had left.

He looked at the empty space beside him, thinking about her unwillingness the previous night. She wouldn’t let him touch her and kept her back to him all night. He felt a pang of regret.

In the past, no matter what he said or did, she always responded with a smile and playful teasing. But this was different.

Meanwhile, Naomi arrived at the law firm early to prepare the Ludwig Corporation contract. Since Samuel had already notified them, she didn’t contact Brendan at Ludwig Corporation. She went straight to the legal department and signed the contract.

When Jason reported this to Brendan, his face soured. When she didn’t need anything, she wouldn’t even look for him. As a newcomer, securing the Ludwig Corporation legal representation caused quite a stir. Everyone at the firm hadn’t expected Naomi to land such a big client; they thought she was just trying her luck. But she secured the deal much faster than anticipated.

The director, Michael, was thrilled. He arranged a celebratory dinner that night.

At the dinner, Michael raised a toast to Naomi. “Naomi, you really surprised and impressed us all! We’ve been trying for years to secure this contract, and you did it as soon as you joined!”

“I knew you had great potential from the first time I met you. Here’s to you!”

Naomi stood, glass in hand. “Mr. Smyth, you’re too kind.”

Michael and Naomi both downed their drinks.

At Yellowwind Bay No. 1, Brendan was back in his study. It was late, and Naomi still wasn’t home. He walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Not seeing Naomi, Brendan became even more upset.