Divorcing My Cheating Beta Husband

005: A Sharp Slap Struck Across My Face

~Vivian's POV~

“Attorney David said it would be almost impossible to make Ethan give up everything,” she said with a sigh. “Even if this goes to court, Vivian, I doubt you can stop him from getting at least a portion of the marital property.”

I took a slow breath.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

I ran my fingers slowly over the papers. Then I smiled. “I'm waiting.”

“For what?”

“For the perfect moment to give Ethan a special gift.”

Natalie stared at me. “What are you talking about? The man already has another woman and a child behind your back. What else are you waiting for?”

I remained silent for a moment. There was only one thing I was waiting for. The opportunity to destroy Ethan completely.

“Do you know what Ethan cares about most right now?” I finally asked.

Natalie tilted her head.

“His new company?” A small smile appeared on my lips. “He's determined to take it public.”

Natalie's eyes widened. “I get it! You're going to stop his company from going public!”

I shook my head. “No.”

She frowned. “No?”

“I'm going to do everything I can to help him succeed.”

Natalie stared at me in disbelief. “What?”

“I'm going to help him succeed,” I repeated.

She shook her head. “You definitely hit your head too hard in that accident.”

I laughed softly. “I'm serious.”

Natalie still looked confused. “I don't understand.”

“Sorry,” I said with a smile. “I'm just being a little dramatic.” Then my smile faded. “I'll help him reach the top.”

I gently patted the divorce papers in my hands. “And when he finally gets there—when he's standing at the highest point, basking in all his glory…” My eyes turned cold. “I'll give him these.”

Natalie's expression slowly changed.

“I'll expose everything.” I smiled. “And I'll destroy his reputation on the happiest day of his life.”

For a moment, Natalie simply stared at me. Then a knowing smile spread across her face. “Oh…”

She finally understood. “That’s much crueler.”

I nodded. “Ethan and Grace destroyed my life.” My fingers tightened around the divorce papers. “It's only fair that I destroy theirs.”

We spent the rest of the evening talking. Outside the hospital window, the sky gradually darkened. The weather forecast predicted heavy rain. “You should go home before it starts,” I told Natalie.

She stood up. “Okay.” Before leaving, she wrapped her arms around me. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I will.”

After Natalie left, the room became quiet again. Ethan hadn't come to see me that day either. Earlier, he had called and told me he was busy with the company. I almost laughed. I already knew what he was really busy with. Most likely, he was with Grace.

I picked up my phone and opened w******p. A new post from Ethan appeared on my screen. It was a photograph of one of the meeting rooms in his company. I stared at it.

“So you're pretending to work.”

Then I noticed something in the reflection of the glass wall. A blurry figure. A woman. Even though her face wasn't clear, I knew exactly who she was.

Grace.

In fact, I suspected she was the one who had taken the photograph. And perhaps it had been posted deliberately for me to see. I let out a cold laugh.

“While I'm lying unconscious in the hospital after a car accident…” My eyes hardened. “My husband is enjoying his happy little family with his so-called sister.” I stared at the photograph. “How lovely.”

I reached beneath my pillow and pulled out the divorce papers. “You prepared such a wonderful surprise for me.” I smiled coldly. “I'll do the same for you.”

Three weeks later, I was finally discharged from the hospital. My father sent Uncle Sameul and the family driver to pick me up. Ethan didn't come. Instead, he sent a huge bouquet of 999 red roses. There was a note attached.

“There was an emergency at the company and I…”

I didn't bother reading the rest. I handed the bouquet back to the delivery man. “Please take these away.”

The man looked surprised. “Are you sure, ma'am?”

“Very sure.”

When I arrived home, Aunt Oliver opened the door with a warm smile. “Welcome home, Madam.”

“Thank you.”

But the moment I stepped inside, my smile disappeared. I froze. The living room was completely different. The sofa had been replaced. The chandelier was new. So was the television. The refrigerator. The decorations. Everything.

Every piece of furniture I had personally chosen when Ethan and I got married was gone. My heart began pounding.

“Aunt Oliver…” I slowly turned toward her. “What happened?”

Aunt Oliver hesitated. “M-Miss Grace changed everything…”

I didn't want to hear another word. I stormed upstairs and pushed open the master bedroom door.

Clink!

The sound of jewelry hitting the floor made me stop. My eyes widened. Little Lily was standing beside my jewelry cabinet. Her shoulder bag was so stuffed that the zipper barely managed to close. A diamond necklace was sticking out from the opening. I stared at her in disbelief.

“Lily.” Her face instantly turned pale. “N-No… I wasn't… I just wanted to play.”

I pointed toward the bag. “Then why are my things in your bag?”

Before she could answer, I grabbed the bag from her shoulder and turned it upside down.

Necklaces. Bracelets. Rings. Earrings. They scattered across the floor.

“What are you doing?!” A furious voice suddenly rang out behind me.

I turned around. Ethan stood in the doorway. Before I could say a word, Lily burst into tears.

“Mama!” Grace hurried into the room.

“Lily!” She immediately pulled the girl into her arms, as though I had hurt her.

My gaze fell on Lily's head. She was wearing one of my expensive diamond tiaras. Without thinking, I reached out and removed it from her head. The moment I did— Grace shoved me hard.

I stumbled backward.

Before I could even react, a sharp slap struck across my face.