Rags to Riches: Becoming A Billionaire After Divorce

"Isabella, hurry up! Help me find the bank card! We've found a donor for my mom's liver transplant, and if we pay 100 thousand dollars right now, she can be saved!" Ethan Thomas ended the hospital's call, excitedly telling his wife, Isabella Brown, as he headed to the bedroom to search for his bank card. Isabella's expression suddenly shifted; she stood up quickly from the sofa and blocked Ethan's path. "You can't go in there!" Ethan frowned, puzzled. "Why can't I go in there?" Seeing Isabella's panicked look, Ethan realized she had once again taken his money and given it to her parents without asking him. This wasn't the first time in their three-year marriage that she had done such a thing. Weary, he said, "You know our financial situation. Why did you take the money without discussing it with me? Isabella, why are you being so selfish?" He had no idea when Isabella had become so self-centered and continued scolding her, "Transfer the 100 thousand dollars back now." Isabella burst into tears, shouting, "I've already given it to my parents. Your mom's surgery is your problem, not mine!" "You gave the money meant to save my mom to your parents?" Ethan felt like his head was about to explode as he fought back his anger. "Call your parents right now and get the money back." Isabella cried uncontrollably, a mix of tears and snot appeared on her face as she lashed out, " There's no cure; you're just wasting money at the hospital. Have you ever thought about our future?" Ethan was stunned; her response was unbelievable. He grabbed Isabella's phone forcefully and dialed her mother, Freya Johnson, saying, "If you won't make this call, I will!" Just as Isabella tried to intervene, the call connected. "Freya," Ethan tried to suppress his anger and kept his tone steady and calm. "The 100 thousand dollars Isabella just sent you is desperately needed for my mom's surgery. She's at the hospital waiting for this money. Please, I'm begging you to send it back." On the other end, Freya screamed, "Ethan, are you kidding me? Isabella already gave us the money, and you dare to ask for it back? We never approved of her marrying you. She practically lost her senses when she chose to marry someone lowly like you. Now she tries to help our family, and you have the nerve to ask for the money back?" She added, "Listen up. Daniel is getting married, and we need that 100 thousand dollars for his wedding. You want the money? You aren't getting a penny!" Thud! The call ended abruptly. Ethan stood there, shell-shocked, wondering, 'Did she really not understand what I was saying?' "Ethan, have you lost your mind?" Isabella saw that Ethan had actually called Freya, and in a fit of rage, she grabbed his collar. "How dare you lash out at my mom like that?" Ethan looked at Isabella with a defeated expression, his eyes red with frustration. "She is a person. Is her life worth less than your brother's wedding?" "Ridiculous!" Isabella released Ethan, grabbing anything she could find and hurling it around in anger. "Ethan, you heartless jerk, why did I ever marry you? How much money have you already sunk into your mom?" "I've been living miserably with you, even our house is just a rental. Have you ever cared about me? Daniel is my brother, so he's your brother too. He's getting married; shouldn't I help him as his sister?" "Help him?" Ethan exploded. "In our three years of marriage, how much have you handed to that good-for-nothing? All he does is play games all day; he does nothing productive and just keeps asking for money from you and your parents, all because you all spoil him!" "Don't you dare talk about him!" After hearing Ethan insult Daniel, Isabella became even more enraged, her face twisted as she pointed at him threateningly. Ethan scoffed, "Why shouldn't I? When he got his college girlfriend pregnant, I was the one who paid to smooth things over. When he wanted a car, I paid for it. Do you have any idea how much I've given to your family over these three years?" "In your heart, your family is always your priority! But you need to realize, we're married now. Our own little family should come first. You took all our savings and gave it to your parents without even discussing it with me—that's real neglect!" "Shut up!" Isabella screamed hysterically, "What right do you have to talk about my brother?" "You take the money meant to save my mom to buy that loser a house, completely ignoring my mom's life, and now you say I have no right to talk about your brother?" Ethan looked at Isabella's fierce expression, reflecting on their three years of marriage, his heart sinking further into an abyss every second. "Let's get a divorce!" Isabella was stunned. "What… What did you say?" In their three years of marriage, Ethan had never spoken to her with such severity. "Let's get a divorce," Ethan declared, his voice heavy with disappointment. "I'm just too disappointed with you and your family." Without another word, he turned and left. He wasn't one to dither or drag things out. Despite everything, he had put up with a lot over the years, partly because when Isabella married him, he truly had nothing, and she seemed genuinely affectionate towards him. But now, he was at his breaking point. It wasn't until Ethan had left the house that Isabella finally snapped out of her daze. Panicking, she grabbed her phone and called her mother as tears streamed down her face. "Mom... Ethan wants a divorce. Maybe we..." "That i***t dares to divorce you?" Freya interrupted before Isabella could finish, screaming, "Let him! That loser finally shows some backbone! We've got the last 100 thousand dollars anyway. If he wants a divorce, let's just give it to him. He can go cry with his dying mother." Meanwhile, Ethan aimlessly wandered out of the house. The night sky was misting a light drizzle, soaking him completely. Frustrated, he angrily scratched his head and kicked at a puddle on the roadside. 'Money, it's always about the damn money! Now that things have soured with Isabella, where am I supposed to find the 100 thousand dollars to save my mom?' Just when Ethan felt utterly hopeless, the hospital called again, "Mr. Thomas, we've received the 100 thousand dollars for your mother's liver transplant from your father. The surgery will begin shortly..." 'Paid?' Ethan was floored and caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Thrilled yet bewildered, he barely registered what came next. 'My father? How could my father have paid? He's dead for many years!'