I gave him a scoffing laugh.
“Threatening?
Oh no, Daniel. I’m just giving you a friendly reminder.” I looked at my watch. “You have one hour to think it over.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“And if I refuse?”
Just then the doorbell rang.
I smiled. “Perfect timing.” I opened the door and took the package from the delivery driver.
“Oh, good. Just what I was waiting for.”
I ripped open the box and pulled out two banners.
The first read, “University Professor Melanie is in love with my husband.
As his wife, I’m happy to step aside.” The second, “Daniel, Sunset Corporation’s VP candidate, a heartless man who abandoned his wife.”
I watched as Daniel’s and Melanie’s faces turned an ugly shade of gray. In the end, Daniel had no choice but to agree to my divorce terms. For the sake of his career and Melanie’s promotion, he signed reluctantly.
His face was as dark as coal.
Melanie’s was no better. She had married Daniel for his money, and now half of it was gone before she had a chance to enjoy it.
As for Susan, she probably wanted to tear me apart. But for the sake of her precious son’s future, she had no choice but to bear it.
After finalizing the divorce, Olivia and I walked out of the courthouse, separating from Daniel’s family forever.
Before we could leave, Susan sneered. “Mary, don’t celebrate so soon. With my son’s ability, he’ll earn back every penny he gave you in just two years.
You’ll regret divorcing him so easily.”
I arched an eyebrow, finding her words laughable.
Ignorance is truly a blessing. If Daniel and his family knew I’d won $300 million, they would probably cry themselves to death.
Daniel’s smug smile returned as he turned to his mother. “Mom, didn’t you say our house was too small?
Now that Mary and I are splitting the profit from the sale, I’ll add a little more and buy you a villa.”
Susan beamed.
“That’s my good boy.”
Robert, my traitorous son, jumped up in excitement. “Melanie has incredible taste in art. She should decorate the new house.
It will look amazing.”
Melanie smiled sweetly.
“Of course. And how about I design a game room for you, too?” Then she looked at me, her voice dripping with condescension.
“Oh, and by the way, Robert, shouldn’t you stop calling me Melanie? From now on, you should call me Mom.”
Robert didn’t even hesitate.
“Mom,” he said cheerfully.
I felt nothing. No anger, no pain. Robert had already ceased to exist in my world.
But Olivia, my sweet, sensitive daughter, squeezed my hand gently, worried that I might be hurt.
She whispered, “Mom, let’s go.”
I smiled at them. “It’s fine.”
I hailed a taxi, but before we could get in, Olivia gently tugged at my sleeve.
“Mom, maybe we should take the bus. It’s cheaper and still practical.”
My heart clenched.
She had heard Susan’s words and was already worried about saving money for me.
This child was so considerate, it broke my heart. I winked and gave her a smile. “Don’t worry, sweetie.
I have money.”
Susan let out a mocking laugh.
“Money? Mary?
You don’t even have a house, a car, or a job. You have no skills, no career.
You’ll be lucky to get work cleaning.
You’re just spending the little money you have left. Enjoy it while you can. Soon, you and Olivia will be living on the streets, homeless.”
Olivia’s fists clenched.
She glared at Susan angrily.
“We don’t need you to worry. When I grow up, I’ll take care of my mom.”
Susan snorted.
“A daughter taking care of her mother? Please.
Daughters are nothing but a waste of money.
You’ll abandon her the moment you get married.”
Melanie chimed in, smiling. “Mary, if you ever struggle, you can count on me. Our university is always hiring cleaning staff.
I’d be happy to recommend you.”
I didn’t say a word.
I simply flipped Melanie off. Then I took Olivia’s hand, got into the taxi, and never looked back.
At the real estate center, the sales agent, Dave, was all smiles as he presented the properties to us. “This villa is in the East District, a prime location.
It’s surrounded by parks, offers stunning views, and is very close to your daughter’s private school.
Plus, it’s fully furnished and ready to move in.”
My parents were tempted. “How much?”
“Twenty million.”
Twenty million was nothing to someone who had just won a hundred times that amount. I didn’t hesitate for a second.
“We’ll take it.
Full payment.”
Dave’s eyes lit up. It was rare to find a client as straightforward and decisive as me.
His tone became even more respectful. “Please take a seat in our VIP lounge while I prepare the contract.”
Before I could reply, a scoff came from behind.
It really was a small world.
Daniel and his family were there, too. Susan spoke first. “Mary, what are you doing here?
Daniel only gave you $500,000 in the divorce.
That money wouldn’t even buy you a bathroom in a villa.”
Melanie nodded. “Mary, I get it.
You still hold a grudge against Daniel, so you found out we were house hunting and decided to put on a show, but let’s be real. This is wildly embarrassing.”
Dave, who had been enthusiastic moments ago, suddenly looked hesitant.
Robert frowned.
“Mom, I’m so disappointed in you. I thought you were useless, but now I see you’re a liar, too.”
My father was already fed up. “Watch what you say, boy.
Your father cheated on your mother and forced her out with nothing, and you’re standing here defending him.” He turned to Daniel and Melanie, his voice loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
“Look at them. One is about to become a vice president, the other a university professor—with their morals.
Do they even deserve those jobs?”
The people around us began to whisper, their eyes turning toward Daniel and Melanie, their smiles hardened. Clearly, they didn’t expect to be reprimanded in public.
But my father wasn’t done yet.
He turned to Robert and slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed through the showroom. Robert staggered back, a tooth dropping out along with a mouthful of blood.
He looked at my father in shock.
“Grandpa, you hit me. Why?”
But my father didn’t let him play the victim.
“Why? Because you’re an ungrateful child.
Your mother sacrificed everything for you, and this is how you repay her.
She never punished you, but I will.”
Robert clutched his bleeding lip, still in disbelief. “But Grandpa, Dad didn’t do anything wrong. Mom is just a housewife.
She did nothing but spend Dad’s money.
She should be grateful he didn’t leave her sooner. It was Dad’s money that raised me, not Mom.”
I should have been furious, but instead, I thought, at least my dad hit both sides equally.
Seeing Robert’s swollen face was strangely satisfying. Susan rushed forward in distress.
“How dare you hit my grandson?
Mary was useless, so don’t blame the child for facing reality.”
But it was too late. By now the people around us had caught on. “What an ungrateful child.
His mother gave him everything, and he treats her like this.”
“Is he crying?
His mom didn’t even cry. Why is he crying?
He’ll regret this someday.”
Robert had never been humiliated like this before. His face burned with shame as he looked around at the judging eyes.
Then without another word, he turned and ran.
Susan immediately ran after Robert, leaving only Daniel and Melanie at the scene. Feeling the critical stares directed at her, Melanie forced a smile. “Marriage is complicated.
Mary’s and Daniel’s relationship had problems long before I came along.
Their divorce has nothing to do with me.”
Daniel quickly took her hand. “Exactly.
I’ve wanted to divorce Mary for a long time. Melanie had nothing to do with it.”
My mother scoffed.
“Nothing to do with it?
And how is it that as soon as my daughter finalized the divorce, Melanie moved in and immediately applied for a marriage license? I’d say the biggest problem in their marriage was Daniel’s affair with Melanie.”
Onlookers were outraged. “They really are a perfect pair—shameless to the core.
How disgusting.
Just looking at them makes me sick. And they had the nerve to mock this lady for not being able to afford a house.”
Daniel’s face turned a horrible shade of red.
Melanie, feeling humiliated, tried to lower her head and sneak away, but Daniel grabbed her hand. “Sweetheart, don’t worry.
I won’t let you suffer for anything,” he whispered.
Melanie’s expression softened slightly. “Really?”
“When have I ever lied to you?”
Then Daniel looked at me. “Do you know why I divorced her?
Because she’s a liar.
She not only lies to her family, but she lies to
