Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Only after I was driven out of Ethan’s villa did I realize that, in such a vast city, I had nowhere to go.

The news of my divorce from Ethan hadn’t reached my parents—or Ethan’s mother—yet.

Running through the pouring rain, I rushed to the nearest hotel, planning to book a room for the night.

But when I swiped my card, the front desk coldly informed me that my credit card had been frozen.

I knew this was Ethan’s doing.

He was forcing me to give in, forcing me to kneel before him and beg for forgiveness. He had always been this domineering.

But I had already made up my mind to leave him.

I wouldn’t go back on it.

Fortunately, I still had some cash left in my bag. With no other choice, I took a taxi to my parents’ house.

Late at night, I stepped into their home and, with a heart full of anxiety, told them about my divorce from Ethan and how I had been thrown out.

What I received was not comfort—

But a stream of vicious insults.

My mother pointed at my nose and shouted angrily.

“Divorce Ethan? Are you insane? How are you going to support yourself without him? Who would ever marry you then?”

My father was so furious that he smashed the cup in his hand and roared at me.

“How can you be so selfish? Without Ethan, who’s going to invest in the Taylor family? Are you trying to bankrupt us?!”

“Now, immediately—go back, kneel in front of Ethan, and beg him not to divorce you!”

Tears streaming down my face, I told them about Ethan’s affair with Alice—

Only to be met with my mother’s mocking laugh.

“Rich men always have mistresses. Just pretend you didn’t see it. As long as you’re Ethan’s wife, he’ll keep investing in our family. So I forbid you from divorcing him. Hurry up and go back to beg for his forgiveness!”

And just like that, on this stormy night, I was thrown out of my own parents’ home.

The rain battered me mercilessly. I was soaked from head to toe.

In the end, I had no choice but to use my remaining cash to take a taxi to Ethan’s mother, Mary’s house.

After all, three years ago, Mary had been in a serious car accident and needed a blood transfusion. I had nearly drained my own blood to save her life.

I thought that, remembering that I had once saved her, she would take me in.

But I was wrong.

When I arrived at Mary’s house in the storm, she stopped me at the door.

She looked me over expressionlessly as I stood there drenched, then said words that plunged me into despair.

“I’ve heard about your decision to divorce Ethan. But I’m sorry—I can’t help you.”

“After all, Alice is younger and prettier than you. She’s also very considerate toward me, and Lucy likes her a lot. I think if you divorce Ethan, Alice would be more suitable as his new wife.”

My heart clenched painfully. I was shaking from the cold, on the verge of collapsing.

Just then, a luxury car pulled up behind me.

Ethan and Alice stepped out, bringing Lucy with them.

I was still wondering why they were here at this hour when Ethan suddenly rushed over and slapped me hard across the face.

“You vicious woman! Lucy’s asthma acted up—where did you put her medication? I called you so many times and you didn’t answer! Were you trying to kill your own daughter?”

“Thank goodness Alice braved the storm to buy new asthma medicine for her. If anything had happened to Lucy, I would have killed you!”

Lucy glared at me viciously and even kicked me.

“You evil woman! You don’t deserve to be my mom! Alice is my mom! Get out of my grandma’s house!”

And just like that, on this stormy night, I was betrayed by everyone closest to me and left wandering the streets.

I walked aimlessly, watching cars pass by one after another.

Clenching my teeth, I ran straight into the road.

I had lost everything I loved.

Maybe it would be better to just let a car kill me—end it all.

But just as I rushed toward the oncoming traffic, a strong arm suddenly grabbed me.

A tall figure appeared, holding a black umbrella, shielding me from the wind and rain.

“If you die like this, don’t you think it’s pathetic?”

“Come with me. I’ll help you take everything back.”

In the darkness, I couldn’t see the man’s face, but his voice felt strangely familiar.

Suddenly, a name—one that filled me with terror—exploded in my mind.

My pupils shrank instantly, fear stealing my breath away.