Chapter 4

A knock came at the door.

The hotel's Manager Chavez stood in the doorway.

"Ms. Swanson, I'm truly sorry. That waiter has already been let go."

I frowned.

"It wasn't her fault. There's no need to fire her, and I don't need any compensation from you."

"You only need to take the bill to Damian Henson to settle it."

After I married Damian, out of his monthly salary of a little over ten thousand, he handed me eight thousand.

I wasn't only responsible for feeding and running the whole household, I also had to cover the five-thousand mortgage.

And every other odd expense on top of it.

They always thought I was the one getting the better end of the deal, when in truth I was pouring my own money in every single month.

I'd kept a thick filter over Damian all those years, still telling myself he was the shy, upright boy from our school days.

Looking at him now, he'd changed long ago.

I scrolled through the wedding photos on my phone, and not a single ripple stirred in me anymore.

Back then my parents had objected, and I'd never once told Damian the truth about where I came from.

At the time his parents had even forced me to sign a prenuptial property agreement before they'd agree to the marriage.

I sent the electronic copy of that agreement to my lawyer.

【I want a divorce. Draw up a divorce agreement for me as soon as possible.】

The day I was discharged, I went home with the divorce papers.

Damian and Ava were sitting on the couch, watching TV with Dotty.

The moment she saw me, Dotty shouted.

"Bad woman, get out! This is my and Mommy and Daddy's home!"

Damian came over, his face dark.

"Layla, what exactly are you playing at? The dealership called me two days ago and said you returned the car."

"And picking that expensive a restaurant to eat at the other day, do you have any idea that cost me a whole month's salary?"

"And Dotty's enrichment classes, why haven't you paid the tuition?"

"The tonic for Mom and Dad ran out, and you didn't restock it either."

I gave a cold laugh. "Weren't you the one who said I should run the household?"

Then I threw the divorce papers in his face.

"Sign them. Once we're divorced, you can run the household however you like."

He frowned, and a flicker of panic crossed his face.

"I told you from the start, Ava and I have a child, we can't avoid staying in contact."

"And now you mind? You're using divorce to back me into a corner?"

His parents came out of the room too, jabbing a finger at my face.

"Fine, divorce. But that car of yours has to stay, as compensation for the emotional damage you've done to my son!"

I looked at her coldly.

"Sorry, but that's my premarital property. Actually, I should thank you. You're the one who forced us to sign the prenuptial agreement."

Her face shifted through one color after another, and just as she was about to lunge at me again.

The elevator doors opened, and Duane arrived with several of our household staff to help me move my things.

"Miss, leave the luggage to us. Please go wait in the car."

Damian stepped up to stop me and was blocked by the lawyer behind me.

"A few days ago you assaulted my client, causing extensive burns, and then maliciously kicked my client in the abdomen, causing a miscarriage."

"This constitutes suspected intentional assault, and the evidence is solid."

"We have already reported it to the police. Until they arrive, none of you is to leave on your own."

But Damian just stood frozen where he was, his voice trembling.

"No, Layla, you... you were pregnant? Our baby is gone? And I had no idea at all!"