He Refused My Daughter’s Fee, I Divorced Him

Chapter 4

I checked the security camera footage. Amy was the only one who had gone into the study. Who else could it be?

On the footage, Amy did enter the study, but I clearly remembered she hadn't gone near it all day.

To Ethan, though, that unverified video was ironclad proof.

He cast a cold glance at the trembling Amy.

"Enough, Jane. Look how spoiled she is! Learning to lie at this age—what's she going to be like when she grows up?"

Nina gently stroked Ethan's back, her voice soft and soothing.

"Forget it. Kids don't know any better. Go on, Lucy, apologize to your Aunt Jane."

Lucy lowered her head reluctantly and muttered a half-hearted apology.

That was the final straw for Ethan. He raised his hand and pointed straight at me.

"Look at Lucy and Nina. Then look at you and Amy. It's like night and day in both character and judgment. According to our rules, whoever makes a mistake takes responsibility. You'll pay for this laptop in full. Maybe that'll teach you both a lesson."

My heart turned to ice, and blood rushed to my head, making my ears ring.

"It's not up to you two whether I pay! I'm calling the cops!"

I lunged forward, trying to grab the phone from Lucy's hands.

Before I could even touch her, she collapsed into Ethan's arms, clutching her face and whimpering pitifully.

"Jane, you're awful to me in private, and now you're hitting me in front of my mom?"

Ethan's face darkened. Without a second thought, he raised his hand and slapped me.

A sharp, loud c***k echoed through the room.

The blow sent my head reeling, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

I stood frozen, the blood in my veins turning to ice.

Startled by the sharp noise, Amy trembled uncontrollably, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.

"Mom..."

Ignoring the burning sting on my cheek, I knelt in front of Amy and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Mommy's okay, Amy. Don't be scared. I'm taking you to the hospital."

Ethan's fingers stiffened, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes.

He took a step forward, but Nina reached out and held him back.

"Ethan, don't get so worked up. Let me talk to Jane."

Nina leaned close to me, dropping her voice to a whisper.

"Ethan and I only got divorced out of anger back then. Now that I'm back, I think you should step aside. That lipstick was just a free gift with my handbag. You and your daughter are only fit to pick up our leftovers. Do you really think he loves you? His mother just wanted a grandson, so she trapped you and set you up to get pregnant."

In an instant, my mind went blank.

So my pregnancy back then wasn't an accident after all.

I shoved her away with all my strength. My wedding ring slipped off my finger, rolled across the floor, and came to a stop under the coffee table.

An overwhelming sense of relief washed over me. Leaving everything behind, I scooped up Amy and rushed out the door.

I would get justice for both of us!

After delivering the slap, Ethan stared blankly at his stinging palm.

Instinctively, he stepped forward, wanting to chase after me.

"Jane!"

The shout had barely left his lips when a figure lunged toward him.

Lucy grabbed his arm tightly, her eyes red and her voice choked with sobs.

"Dad! I didn't mean it! Please don't blame me, please don't leave me!"

Her crying stopped him in his tracks.

Nina stepped forward gently and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ethan, Jane's just furious right now. Chasing her will only make it worse. Once she calms down and thinks it through, she'll come back on her own."

Ethan's gaze fixed on the doorway, but his heart was anything but settled.

He instinctively pulled out his phone. "She doesn't have any money on her. I should transfer some to her."

He opened their chat history. His fingers trembled uncontrollably.

The last message was a transfer I had sent him—to cover the legal drafting fee for our divorce agreement.