Chapter 4
543 Words
I looked around the familiar room.
Then I took off the silver ring he had given me when he proposed.
Arthur choked out, his voice trembling, "Violet, don't take it off..."
I smiled.
"We're getting divorced. What's the point of a ring?"
He nodded and handed me a thick stack of documents.
"These are the transfer agreements for part of my assets..."
"Enough."
I took the documents, flipped quickly to the last page, and signed my name without hesitation.
Just then—
A sharp, distorted scream erupted from upstairs, from the direction of the children's room.
My mind went blank. I dropped everything and ran upstairs like a madwoman.
Arthur's face also changed drastically. He pushed away the servants supporting him and staggered after me.
The door to the children's room was wide open.
Vivian had somehow gotten inside. She was now tightly covering Leo's mouth and nose.
Leo's face had already turned bluish, his small limbs kicking weakly.
"Get your hands off my son!!!"
I roared and lunged at her, desperately trying to pry her hands away.
Arthur also rushed forward and forcefully pulled Vivian's arms away.
Finally, Leo managed to draw a breath.
I pulled my trembling, crying son tightly into my arms.
Hearing his cries, fear and rage swallowed me whole.
I set Leo down, turned, and grabbed Vivian by the collar, slamming her hard against the wall.
"You want to die?! How dare you touch my son!!"
I rained down slap after slap and punch after punch, completely losing control.
Vivian curled up, crying incoherently.
"Who are you! I'm his wife! My child is his son! Get away! All of you get away!"
Arthur suddenly rushed from behind and wrapped his arms around my waist, forcing me back.
"Violet! Stop it!"
Then he quickly stepped in front of Vivian, shielding her in his arms.
He was protecting her?
I stared blankly at the scene—at the man I once called my husband, now carefully shielding the woman who had just nearly killed my son.
"Violet, calm down! Vivian didn't mean it. She's just under stress—she's confused!"
I looked at him and suddenly laughed.
"Arthur Vance, do you even remember who you are? You're Leo's father!"
The color drained from his face bit by bit.
"But what are you doing now?"
I pointed at Vivian, who was trembling in his arms, secretly glancing at me.
"You're protecting a woman who just tried to kill your own son."
I nodded, then stepped forward.
Whack!
A loud slap landed across his face.
"This is for the five years I wasted on you. This is for Leo."
He turned his head slightly, the mark of my hand spreading quickly across his cheek.
He didn't dodge. He didn't let go of Vivian either.
I gave him one last look, then turned away.
I picked up my son, who was still crying uncontrollably.
"Mommy's taking you away."
"Violet!" Arthur called after me, his voice breaking in pain.
I didn't stop.
Holding my son's warm little body, I walked down the stairs step by step and left the Vance family home without once looking back.
Outside, the snow had stopped.
Just like the love between Arthur and me—abruptly, and permanently, over.
- Writer
