Chapter 3

I handed the divorce agreement to Jackson, only showing him the last page where I had already signed my name.

He didn’t even bother to look before directly signing his own name, undisguised mockery on his face.

“You only know how to ask for money, bags, jewelry, don’t you?” He flicked the pen down, his tone full of contempt.

“Ella, can’t you learn from Amy? Look at how considerate she is. She never brings up these vulgar demands.”

“Whatever.” I spit out the word, no longer looking at him, just wanting to leave as soon as possible.

However, Jackson suddenly grabbed my arm, his grip so strong there was no way to break free.

“Stop sulking. Hurry up and go home to cook. It’s almost mealtime, Amy must be hungry too.” His tone left no room for discussion.

“Let go! I walk by myself!” I tried to pull away, but his strength was terrifying.

“Mom, don’t make Dad angry anymore!” Lucas chimed in from the side, even reaching out to push me on the back.

At that moment, I understood clearly that resistance was pointless.

I took a deep breath and stopped struggling.

Fine. I did need to go back and take away a few things that absolutely couldn’t be left behind.

They practically escorted me and shoved me into the back seat of the car.

The moment the doors locked, I immediately took out my phone and sent the photo I’d just snapped of the agreement to Felix.

“Both signatures are on. Is it in effect?” I typed quickly.

Almost the second it showed as sent, Felix’s reply popped up:

“I’ve checked the handwriting. The agreement is fully valid in law. You’re free.”

Looking at “you’re free,” my heart suddenly clenched, followed by a blank kind of calm.

“Okay.” I replied with just that one word.

The car drove toward that “home.” The air in the car was so quiet it was suffocating.

I turned my head to look at the city lights flashing by the window, as if watching how my ten years of life were being quickly thrown away.

Just as the conversation ended, a notification popped up at the top of my screen—

Amy had updated her status and had deliberately @-ed me.

I tapped it open. It was a photo taken last night:

Exquisite dishes laid out on the dining table, Jackson smiling as he picked food for Amy, and Lucas grinning happily beside them.

The caption read:

“Feels so good to be home. Thank you, the two most important men in my life, for preparing this love-filled dinner for me~ @Ella Sis, it was such a pity you weren’t here last night. We all really missed you.”

A wave of emotions, a mix of nausea and anger, surged up in my chest, but was quickly pressed down by an even deeper resolve.

This home, from the core to outside, was already rotten.

I opened my chat with Felix again and typed without any hesitation:

“Please help me prepare a new identity and visa. Any country is fine. I want to disappear completely. The sooner the better.”

Felix’s reply was still as swift and reliable as ever:

“Got it. Soonest is one week. Keep in touch.”

“Thank you.” I sent those two words, then switched off the screen.

Outside the window, the familiar scenery sped past in reverse, taking me back toward that cage full of lies and betrayal.

But this time I knew it would be the last time.

Before long, I was once again back at that so-called “home.”

As I walked past the master bedroom, I found the door half open, with a soft humming coming from inside.

I stopped involuntarily and looked through the crack of the door—

Amy was wearing my silk robe, lying on her side on the bed that used to belong to me.

My son Lucas was nestled in her arms, while Jackson sat on the sofa at the side of the bed, watching them with soft eyes.

Amy was gently patting Lucas’s back, humming a lullaby.

Lucas’s eyes were half-closed with sleep, and he mumbled softly,

“Aunt Amy, you’re so gentle… Can you be my mom from now on?”

Hearing that, I felt my heart being ripped into pieces.

I turned away decisively and walked into the dusty guest room.

To press down the grief churning in my chest, I gulped several cups of cold water in a row.

But that chill was nothing compared to one-ten-thousandth of how cold my heart felt.

It’s fine, I told myself. Just endure another week. As soon as I get that visa, I can escape from this hell forever.

Suddenly, two large hands slid around my waist from behind.

I shuddered all over from fright and spun around, only to meet Jackson’s eyes, full of desire.

I instinctively tried to dodge, but he pushed me down onto the bed and pinned me there, his hot breath spilling across the side of my neck.

“Ella, how long are you going to keep being angry? Amy is kind, she has sent your father to a nursing home. Don’t be so ungrateful.”

The pride in his words made my stomach churn.

I had just opened my mouth to argue when there was a soft knock on the door.

Outside, Lucas’s childish voice drifted in:

“Dad, Aunt Amy says she’s afraid of the dark and has nightmares. Can you go stay with her?”

Jackson didn’t even spare me a glance. He immediately released my wrists and walked out without hesitation.

The disgust from his touch still clung to my body as I heard Amy’s coy voice coming from the master bedroom next door:

“Jackson, you know I’m always scared sleeping alone… Without you, I just can’t fall asleep…”

Then Lucas’s earnest promise followed:

“Aunt Amy, don’t worry! As long as Dad and I are here, we will never let Mom slander you again!”

I leaned my back against the cold wall and slowly slid down to the floor, feeling cold from head to toe.

The next morning, I went downstairs. Before I even stepped into the dining room, I heard waves of cheerful laughter coming from inside.

Amy was feeding Lucas his breakfast, and that “young master” Jackson, who supposedly needed to be taken care of, was actually wearing kitchen gloves and personally washing fruit at the counter.

Lucas was enjoying Amy’s feeding with a blissful look on his face. That “loving mother and obedient son” scene was harmonious yet hurting.

“Jackson, you don’t have to be so careful. Things like that should be left to the servants.” Amy said softly.

Without looking up, Jackson replied in a tone of concern I had never heard before,

“No way. Your stomach isn’t fully recovered yet. What if they don’t wash it clean? I only feel at ease doing it myself.”

Hearing that, a sweet blush rose on Amy’s cheeks and her voice turned even softer.

“I didn’t expect that after all these years apart, you still remember that grapes are my favorite…”

Jackson looked up and gazed at her with a tenderness I had never received.

“I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”

As he spoke, he picked up a grape he had peeled and personally held it to Amy’s lips.

“Does it taste good?” he asked gently.

Amy bit it lightly and closed her eyes in happiness.

“You peel it, it must be the sweetest.”

“Aunt Amy is the best!” Lucas clapped his hands on the side, cheering happily.

The three of them looked like a real family, warm and complete.

That overly warm scene was like a sharp blade stabbed into my heart and turned again and again.

I suddenly remembered that when I had just married into this family, I’d been warned countless times that Jackson only needed to work hard outside; everything at home was not his concern.

For ten years, I’d dutifully played the good wife and loving mother, never letting him lift a finger for housework. Even his underwear and socks were washed and ironed with my own hands.

Yet it had never occurred to me that it wasn’t that he couldn’t do these things—he just didn’t want to do them for me.

The son I had spoiled grew up not naturally rebellious; he simply didn’t want to be good to me.

It turned out that the one who isn’t loved, even her breathing is wrong.

She is the cheapest, and the most unnecessary.