After He Slapped Me, I Cut His Funding

Chapter 2

Name: Amelia Collins

Occupation: Student, Z University Department of Performing Arts

I stared at the familiar photo clipped to the medical record, a chill crawling down my spine. So the so-called humanoid robot had been a real person all along. Ethan had been deceiving me from the very beginning.

I kept reading, and my heart sank further. Amelia's medical record stated she had given birth to two children. Both of their fathers were Ethan.

I had always wondered why Ethan was so cruel, so utterly indifferent to Lucas, his only child, or so I'd believed. Now I understood. He had a whole other family outside. And the woman waiting at home for him wasn't just young and doting, she had already borne him two children.

By then, my tears had long since dried. I sat in the morgue through the night, cradling my son's body in my arms. Then Ethan appeared.

He wrenched the plastic bag holding my son from my grip and tossed it aside, both the bag and the body. I scrambled frantically to hold my son again, but Ethan pulled me into his arms instead.

"Sophia, I'm sorry. I was angry yesterday. If you had just calmed down a little, none of this would have happened."

He then paused for a second, looking at my hand. "Your hand is burned too. Does it still hurt?"

For the first time in a full day since I'd been injured, he asked about my wound. But it was far too late for that now.

"Ethan, I want a divorce."

He didn't respond. He simply picked me up and, ignoring my struggles, carried me upstairs. "Sophia, I know you're angry. But give me a chance. I'll prove to you that I've changed."

He brought me to a lavish private ward on the top floor of the hospital. Amelia was already there, perched on a two-meter double bed, surrounded by gift boxes.

The first box contained my phone.

The second box was filled with high-end condoms.

I shot Ethan a cold, cutting look. I'd thought he'd booked this extravagant room for my recovery. In truth, he'd arranged it for his own convenience, to satisfy his needs.

I didn't bother with the rest of the gifts. I picked up my phone and turned to leave.

But Amelia suddenly grabbed my arm, her grip was so crushing it felt like she might snap my bone at any moment.

"Mrs. Robinson, this is a gift from the master. Please, take a look."

Amelia was still playing her robot act in front of Ethan, unaware that I had already uncovered the truth. She had no idea that I had already found out she was no machine.

To my surprise, Ethan actually intervened. Instead of letting Amelia threaten me further, he opened the third gift box himself. Inside was a shell. A beautiful, high-quality shell, polished to a gleam.

"Sophia, didn't you always say you loved the ocean? I found this while diving. I had Amelia engrave your name on it. Once you've recovered, I'll take you out on a boat, and you can throw this shell into the sea. Then you'll be with the ocean you love, forever."

I held the shell up to him, with no expression on my face at all. "Can you please stop dragging me into your twisted little games?"

Ethan looked closer. The shell wasn't engraved with my name at all.

It bore two names, clear as day. Ethan Robinson. Amelia Collins. The names were encircled by a small, neat heart.

"So this is the gift you prepared for me. Thank you, Ethan. Thank you for showing me exactly what kind of man you really are."

A flicker of irritation crossed his face. "Sophia, stop making a scene. You know Amelia is just a robot. She must not have recognized your name. Just have her make another one."

"Besides, it's only a shell. Do you really have to nitpick every little thing?"

He jabbed his finger at me, shouting as if I were the one who had wronged him. But then he saw my reddened eyes, and his voice suddenly softened.

"Let's take care of your injury first. We can't just leave it untreated."

"Ah!"

Amelia let out a sudden shriek and collapsed to the floor, convulsing. Ethan immediately released me and rushed to her side, my burned hand completely forgotten.

"Amelia! What's wrong?"

Trembling, Amelia held up a melted lump of cotton candy.

It was our son's favorite brand.

"Sophia, you shameless b*tch! You put our son up to this, you told him to poison Amelia! You're so petty you're even jealous of a goddamn robot!"

I didn't answer. I pulled out my phone and dialed the investor's number.

"Withdraw the funding. Do it now."