Chapter 3

Whether Ethan would regret it or not didn't matter to me anymore.

Once I gave up on his treatment, my tensed nerves finally relaxed.

After leaving the Vance estate, I planned to ask Ethan to return my passport and ID cards.

Over the past few years, he had kept all my personal documents.

But just as I reached the street corner, a sudden, sharp pain hit my forehead.

Warm, thick blood began to gush from the wound.

Dizziness washed over me. Before I could realize what was happening, a crowd surrounded me, grabbing and kicking me.

"It's her! She's the homewrecker!"

"Mr. Vance and Chloe belong together! She's just a desperate side chick!"

"Ugh, she's a disgrace to the legal community! She handles other people's divorces but can't even manage her own messy life!"

The commotion immediately drew onlookers.

Instead of helping, they pulled out their phones and started filming me.

Due to the heavy blood loss, I had no strength to fight back.

Seeing that I couldn't resist, the crowd slowly dispersed, looking bored.

One of them spat on the ground near me.

"We'll beat you up every time we see you!"

Through my blurry vision, I saw Ethan in the distance.

He was holding hands with Chloe, smiling happily.

They looked perfect together.

When our eyes met, Ethan stiffened.

He instinctively took a step toward me.

"What... what happened to you?"

The blood wouldn't stop flowing, staining my clothes bright red.

Ethan’s mind went blank.

He seemed panicked, his hands shaking as he pulled out his phone to call 911.

But Chloe grabbed his arm.

"Leave her alone, Ethan. What if she staged this just to get your sympathy?"

"It looks scary, but she'll be fine."

"Didn't you promise to take me shopping for my birthday gift?"

Chloe pulled him away. After a moment of hesitation, Ethan turned off his phone.

He didn't look back at me.

I leaned against the wall, gasping for air as the blood kept pouring.

In the end, I had to dial 911 myself.

Before the ambulance could arrive, I blacked out completely.

When I woke up, a week had passed.

The doctor said if I had arrived any later, I would have died from blood loss.

Eleanor rushed to the hospital when she heard the news.

She paid for all my medical expenses.

"Clara, those people went too far. I've already handled the legal side of it."

"But Ethan..."

"He just forgot that you have a blood clotting disorder."

Eleanor tried to defend him, but looking at my pale face, the words died in her throat.

I gave her a faint smile.

"Eleanor, we are divorced. And I won't stay in New York City anymore."

"I'm never coming back."

Hearing me call her "Eleanor" instead of "Mom," her eyes welled with tears.

Finally, she nodded.

"Whatever you want to do, Clara. I'll help you."