Chapter 1
656words
If I leave, what about Emma? She's never been separated from me."
I clutched Margaret Reynolds' hand desperately, my voice breaking with emotion.
"Hmph! Family? With you?"
Margaret violently yanked her hand away, causing mine to strike the cup of scalding bird's nest soup. My skin instantly reddened.
She stood with her hands on her hips, chin raised imperiously:
"Olivia Blackwood, read the divorce papers clearly!
You and Ethan divorced six years ago! You left with nothing!
Now get out of my house this instant!"
"Mom, the certificate is legally binding, but the divorce was just for show!
It was to protect Ethan's business interests..."
I attempted to explain.
"Shut up!"
She cut me off sharply, her face contorted with disgust,
"I don't care about your arrangements! The certificate is legal, so you're leaving!
You get nothing—it's written clearly in the agreement!"
Anger surged through me. I inhaled deeply, struggling to maintain composure:
"Mom, this is between Ethan and me.
Even as his parents, you have no right to make this decision for him."
To my surprise, this statement seemed to delight her, a grotesque smile spreading across her face.
"It's precisely for Ethan's sake that we must remove you—this obstacle—from his path!"
She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper,
"Ethan's company is finalizing negotiations with the Blackwood Group.
You've heard of Chairman Blackwood, haven't you?
He has an only daughter. If Ethan marries her, his success would be guaranteed! His future would be limitless!
How dare you—a plain, worthless nobody—stand in my son's way?"
Her eyes gleamed with avarice, already counting the fortune this connection would bring.
So that was their game. I felt a cold laugh building inside me.
I took a measured breath and replied casually:
"Mom, your son has already married the Blackwood heiress."
Margaret looked as if I'd told the most absurd joke, her eyes narrowing with contempt:
"Pah! You? You dare to make such claims!
What kind of impoverished family produced you? I've never even met them!
Ethan told us your parents were too ashamed to visit, afraid of embarrassing themselves!"
I didn't waste more breath on this narrow-minded woman, responding only:
"That was your son's decision."
I turned toward the bedroom without another glance.
Her furious shouts followed me:
"You bring nothing but bad luck! Pack your worthless belongings and get out!
Stop obstructing my son's brilliant future!"
In the bedroom, I called Ethan.
"Husband,"
The background noise suggested an upscale restaurant,
"your parents are throwing me out. Did you authorize this?"
Silence hung on the line for several seconds.
Ethan lowered his voice, a hint of guilt seeping through:
"Liv, listen to me. Marriage is just a formality.
When I secure this marriage with the Blackwood heiress, the Blackwood Group will eventually be mine!
Afterward, you can return as my mistress!
If we don't separate now, I'll miss this golden opportunity..."
I hung up before he could finish.
Any remaining affection evaporated with his shameless proposition.
Staring at my exhausted reflection, I realized these years of marriage had been nothing but a cruel joke.
They weren't expelling me—I should have removed them from my life long ago.
The Blackwood heiress? High society connections?
There would come a time when they'd be begging at my feet.
I grabbed my suitcase and strode from the room.
In the living room, my personal belongings lay scattered across the floor.
"Take your trash and get out!"
She picked her teeth, eyeing me with smug satisfaction.
"These worthless items suit you perfectly.
They match your worthless existence."
I walked directly toward the exit.
Her curses followed me:
"Who are you calling worthless? Look in the mirror, you aging nobody!
If not for you, my son would have achieved greatness years ago!"
At the community entrance, residents passed by indifferently.
I pulled out my phone and messaged a number I hadn't contacted in years.
"Dad, I'm coming home."
