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My mother-in-law was the first to lose it.She sprang from the couch,pointing at my nose.“You,Sarah Miller,have you no conscience?Ethan’s been married to you for years,running the house,and just because he took a little money,you want a divorce?”
“You’ll be struck by lightning for this!”
Ethan followed,his red eyes welling up again.“Sarah,how could you do this to me?I…”He choked,covering his face,looking utterly pathetic.
Emma exploded too,shoving me hard.“Becaude of $50,000,you’re divorcing my brother?Tell us the truth—do you have another man on the side?”
I stumbled but didn’t fall.Holding Tommy,I didn’t fight back,just sneered at their outburst.
Taking a deep breath,I said,“I’ve said all I need to.Now,please leave.”
“Hey!”Emma lunged to hit me again,but I dodged,holding Tommy in one arm and pulling out my phone with the other.“Leave,or I’m calling the cops for trespassing.”
My mother-in-law opened her mouth to argue,but Ethan, his lips trembling, stopped her..“Let’s go,Mom.”
The group left,muttering complaints under their breath, except for Ethan.
He closed the door,wiped his tears with his sleeve,and reached for Tommy.Tommy clung to my neck,refusing to go.
“Tommy,come here,”Ethan said sternly.
Tommy’s body shook,and under Ethan’s harsh glare,he reluctantly loosened his grip on me.
I stepped back.“If Tommy doesn’t want to go,why force him?”
“And I told you to leave too.”
Ethan ignored me,forcing a smile.“Honey,are you hungry?I’ll make breakfast.”
In seven years of marriage,he’d never called me“honey.”
The word made me feel sick to my stomach.
“Ethan,I told you to leave.Did you hear me?”
His face darkened.“I’m not divorcing you,and I’m not leaving.This is my house.”
“Since you’re set on mooching at home,we’ll all mooch together.”
Did he think that would make me back down?
What a joke.I’d been planning this divorce for a long time,and nothing would change my mind.
“Fine,you won’t leave?Then I will!”
With that,I grabbed Tommy and left,heading to my parents’place.
After an hour’s drive,I arrived at their rural home.
My mom was picking vegetables in the yard,and my dad was fixing the pigpen in the back.Seeing us,my mom beamed,hugging Tommy and ushering us inside.
“Oh,you didn’t even tell us you were coming!We haven’t prepared any food.”
I grinned.“No worries,I’ll hit the market later.”
Staying at my parents’indefinitely wasn’t a plan,but filing for divorce would take too long,and I worried something might derail it.
I was desperate to find a quick way to make Ethan and his family agree to the divorce.
Two days later,a friend from the bank called,asking if Ethan Harper was my husband.
Curious,I called him back to get the details.
He said someone named Ethan Harper tried to apply for a loan today.The name and appearance seemed like my husband,but he wasn’t sure,so he called to confirm.
“What,does our Manager Miller need a loan now?Financial trouble?”he teased.
“No,no,just some family stuff,”I said.“Did you approve the loan?”
“No,he had nothing to offer.No way he’d qualify.But he seemed desperate,asking if there were other options.”
“What’s going on at your place?”
A sinking feeling settled in my chest as I heard this. Emma had mentioned Ethan promising her$200,000 for her startup.Since he couldn’t get money from me,he was turning to shady methods.
If he took out a loan behind my back and racked up millions in debt,I’d be dragged down with him.
That was a ruthless move.
