Chapter 3

"In your dreams!"

James's voice was cold. Deep in Sophia's eyes hid a trace of joy, and Eli was smiling happily too.

Bianca, usually so serious, looked surprised and said in disbelief: "Emily, you're really willing to divorce?"

Emily nodded: "I am. Please contact the Smith family's lawyer to come over right now."

Bianca was even more surprised. She wanted to say something but stopped herself, finally deciding to contact the lawyer.

James thought Emily was playing hard to get and using tricks. He took Eli, held Sophia's hand, and left.

Emily could only discuss the divorce with Bianca.

"I'll only take my own things. I won't ask for anything else."

Bianca's eyes widened: "That means you're leaving with nothing. Are you sure about this?"

Emily nodded coldly: "Yes. I hope to receive the signed divorce agreement as soon as possible and get the divorce certificate without delaying even a day."

"But don't you love James?" Bianca was confused. She had seen everything Emily did for James over these five years.

She knew Emily loved James, which was why she willingly put herself in a lower position in the marriage, enduring unbearable pain to have a child for the man she loved.

But now Emily could talk about divorce so calmly. This wasn't like her.

With just one look, Emily could read Bianca's thoughts from her face.

She probably thought Emily was using a retreat-to-advance strategy, thinking she still wanted to stay connected to James.

But after learning the truth about these five years, Emily just wanted to get away from these disgusting people.

"I know you're confused, but I have no choice. The Smith family won't keep a woman who can't have children."

Bianca sighed and said softly: "It's good you've come to terms with it. If you hadn't been so stubborn, we wouldn't have targeted you all these years."

Right, it was all her fault, which was why the Smith family targeted her.

Emily sniffled and smiled dryly: "I don't blame you. It's my own fault."

Bianca sighed heavily again. "I'll respect your decision on behalf of James. You sign the divorce agreement, and I'll figure out his side."

"Okay, thank you. But I'm only giving you three days. If I don't get the divorce agreement signed by James, then we won't divorce."

Bianca frowned, wanted to say something, but finally just snorted coldly and left.

Emily didn't go home. Like a wandering ghost, she drifted aimlessly through the crowded streets.

The warmth surrounded her, yet she shivered with cold.

That night, she didn't return to the Smith Villa. She checked into a nearby hotel.

After showering, she scrolled through her phone and saw a post from Sophia.

James and Sophia sat on either side of a piano bench, with a little boy sitting intimately between them. The family of three looked at the camera together, blindingly happy.

Emily's tears fell again, beyond her control.

The picture Sophia posted was exactly the warm, happy family scene Emily used to imagine while nestled in James's arms.

Back then, James had said: "Honey, this wish will come true. We're still young, we'll definitely have our own child."

"You're so dedicated with your medication and injections, and praying everywhere. We'll have a child soon. Then I'll teach the child to read and write, and you can teach them to paint and play piano, okay?"

She had smiled with joy then. Now her smile was bitter and forced.

Putting down her phone, she forced herself to sleep, but was woken by her alarm at 5:30.

This was the time she used to wake up for morning runs to help with pregnancy. James, feeling sorry for her, would even run with her.

Back then, she had thrown herself into his arms saying: "Honey, you're so good to me!"

Now she understood that James's consideration and tenderness were just to keep her stable, to make their revenge more complete.

She turned off the alarm and forced herself back to sleep. This time she slept until afternoon.

After a simple meal, Bianca asked to meet her.

"What you wanted." Bianca handed Emily the divorce agreement signed by James.

A thin sheet of paper.

So heavy!

So heavy she could barely breathe. It took her a long time to react.

"Thank you. I'll have my lawyer handle the divorce certificate. Let's not meet again after this."

"I hope you keep your word and don't contact James again." Bianca warned her coldly.

She smiled: "Okay."

However.

That very evening, she broke her word.

James stormed into her hotel, grabbed her by the collar, and demanded viciously: "Emily, how can you be so evil?"

"I said I wouldn't divorce you, that I'd let you continue being my wife. How dare you hurt Sophia?"

"Tell me, where did you take Sophia?"

Emily was instantly overwhelmed by helplessness and anger. She said through gritted teeth: "I didn't hurt her. Coming to me is useless."

"Still being stubborn? Looks like I need to use some methods." James's eyes were bloodshot. He grabbed her throat hard and said coldly: "Emily, still won't talk?"

"Just tell me where she is, and I'll let you have one of my children."

He said it like a favor, his eyes contemptuous and confident.

Emily's eyes burned with tears, but her tone was firm.

"James, I... I told you, this has nothing to do with me. Instead of wasting time here with me, you should send more people to find her."

"I won't have your child. I meant it when I said I'd let you two be together, so I will definitely divorce you."

James didn't believe her. If Emily wanted a divorce, she wouldn't have endured five years of torment for him, and wouldn't have used those tricks to marry him.

She just found out about him and Sophia being together and couldn't accept it temporarily. These were just angry words.

He wouldn't argue with Emily. He asked again: "Tell me where Sophia is. Or I'll call the police to arrest you."

Almost the instant he finished speaking, police sirens sounded outside the window.

A minute later.

James and Eli entered her room with the police.

"Bad woman! Give me back my mom, give me back my mom."

Eli's cries were shrill. Like a little bull, he charged at her.

This time she dodged, and the little boy fell hard to the ground. James picked him up tenderly and yelled at Emily angrily.

"Emily, you really are evil. Just because Eli isn't your child, you're this heartless. Someone like you doesn't deserve to be a mother. You're not half as good as Sophia."

"I must have been desperate to even suggest you have one of my children. I was crazy."

Eli cried heartbreakingly in his arms, asking pitifully: "Dad, are you abandoning me and Mom?"

James gently touched the child's face and said softly: "Never. I'll always love you and your mom."

Eli broke into a smile through his tears. His phone watch rang. He answered it crying, but accidentally hit the speaker button.

"Eli, save me, my stomach hurts so much."

Eli burst into shrill cries again. James asked anxiously: "Sophia, where are you?"

"Don't hit me, don't..." Before Sophia could finish, the line went dead. When they called back, it said the phone was off.

James and Eli looked at Emily with identical hatred.