Chapter 3

Chloe stood up, pointing a finger at my face and screaming.

In a normal marriage, yes, she might have a claim. But before we got married, she insisted on signing a prenuptial agreement because she was terrified she’d have to help me pay off my mortgage.

"Then go ahead and sue me."

I grabbed her and the baby and pushed them both out of the door.

But Chloe didn't leave. She stood in the middle of our gated community, wailing at the top of her lungs about how heartless I was for kicking a woman and her newborn out just a week after she gave birth.

Soon, a group of nosy older neighbors—classic Karens—couldn't stand it anymore. They rallied behind Chloe and marched right up to my door.

"You are a heartless monster! Abandoning your wife and newborn baby? karma will get you!"

"She hasn't even recovered from giving birth yet, and you throw her on the street?!"

The moment I opened the door, the older women started barking at me.

"Young man, marriage is about compromise. Don't be so petty!" one of them lectured.

"Oh really? What did she tell you guys?" I asked, genuinely curious about how Chloe had manipulated them.

"You young people have such weird appetites. She literally just gave birth, of course she can’t sleep with you yet!" another lady chimed in.

I almost burst out laughing.

"Ethan, can we please just wait until I’m fully recovered?" Chloe whimpered, dropping hints to keep up the lie.

"Ma'am," I looked at the lead Karen. "If your daughter-in-law cheated on your son and tried to make him raise another man's baby, would you still tell him to compromise?"

The crowd went dead silent.

"What?" The ladies blinked, completely stunned.

Chloe’s face went pale. She hadn't expected me to air our dirty laundry in public.

"The baby isn't mine. And we are already getting a divorce," I stated clearly.

"No! I didn't sign those papers! You can't just kick me out!" Chloe screamed.

I had tried to give her a dignified exit, but she threw it away.

"The house is my pre-marital asset. And before we got married, you were the one who insisted on a prenup. Did you forget?"

The neighbors looked at each other, realizing they had been played. In America, nothing turns a crowd faster than finding out they supported a cheating gold-digger.

"Oh my god, how shameless..."

"Let’s go. Why are we defending a liar? You reap what you sow."

The crowd dispersed in seconds. Chloe slumped to the ground, holding the baby and crying hysterically.

I closed the door and called security to have her removed for trespassing.

Since she couldn't show her face in our neighborhood anymore, she decided to bring the drama to my office.

With so many corporate employees around, gossip traveled faster than light.

*No way. Is Ethan really that kind of guy?*

*He probably got rich and wanted to dump his wife.*

By the time I arrived at work, the office was buzzing with rumors. I was used to it. After all, they used to whisper that I was a freeloader living off her.

"Ethan, you bastard! You want to ruin my life? I’ll drag you down with me!" Chloe screamed in the lobby, drawing a massive crowd.

I couldn't just ignore this anymore. It was damaging my reputation and the company's image. I signaled my assistant to get the files ready.

Chloe thought I had no proof. She thought that if she made enough noise, I’d get fired.

She miscalculated.

"Chloe, this is your last warning. Stop this, leave, and take this $15,000." I threw a check at her feet.

"You think $15,000 is going to make me go away?! No way! You’re scared now, aren't you, Ethan? Too late! I’m taking you down to hell with me!"

Chloe threw the check back at my face, screaming like a lunatic.

I had given her a chance. The surrounding crowd pressed closer, eager for more drama.

Seeing my silence, Chloe grew bolder. She sat on the floor, ignoring the baby’s loud crying, and glared at me with pure venom.

Suddenly, the giant presentation screen in the lobby flickered to life.

A video started playing.

*“Ooh, gentler, baby... you’re hurting me.”*

*“You little slut. Aren't you afraid your loser husband will find out?”*