Chapter 3

Elena shot up, her red-soled heels screeching against the French parquet floor.

"My headaches have eased up, which means I'm getting better! Isn't that what we've always hoped for?" She countered, her voice fierce, then her gaze sharpened. "Why are you bringing up divorce today? Or are you—"

Her voice suddenly rose, taking the initiative. "Are you seeing someone else?! Just looking for an excuse to push me away?!"

Her absurd accusation left me so dumbfounded that I couldn't even get angry.

Before I could respond, Liam jumped up, panic in his eyes. "It's my fault... It must be because I'm here that Arthur is looking for an excuse to act up."

He hurried over to me. "Arthur, don't be mad at Elena; it's my fault. I apologize."

But just as he got within a foot of me, he suddenly stumbled back as if pushed by an unseen force, falling hard onto the marble floor.

"Oh my God! Don't hit me!" Liam cried out, landing heavily and bursting into tears.

I watched him, unimpressed by his poor acting.

I hadn't even touched his Armani suit.

"Dad! What are you doing?"

Chloe screamed, rushing over like a little cannonball, shoving me hard in the back. Caught off guard, I stumbled and slammed into the sharp edge of the dining table.

Pain shot through me like electricity, and I gritted my teeth as cold sweat soaked my shirt.

Elena and Chloe immediately crowded around Liam. Elena knelt, carefully checking his wrist, and even the restaurant manager rushed over to inquire.

"Have you lost your mind?! Hitting someone with a stomach ulcer? Did you hurt him?" Elena glared at me.

"It's him! He's a jerk! He's bullying Dad Liam!" Chloe shouted, pointing at me.

Liam weakly grabbed Elena's sleeve, shaking his head. "It's not Arthur's fault; I just lost my balance... If I hadn't come, he wouldn't have lost control like this."

Elena helped Liam up and turned to me with a cold, steely gaze. "If you have such a deep prejudice against Liam, scaring your own daughter in the process, then you should just leave! Don't ruin this moment!"

She paused, her tone condescending. "You can forget about signing those divorce papers. Go home and think about what you've done!"

"Mom, let's go to the observation wheel downtown!" Chloe tugged at Elena's hand. "I don't want to see him for even a second!"

The three of them walked out hand in hand. As they reached the door, Chloe suddenly looked up and asked, "Mom, why didn't you just marry Dad Liam back then?"

Elena stopped, glancing back at Liam with a wistful look. "Because back then, Mom wasn't brave enough to go after the right person."

Each word hit me like a hammer.

I stood alone by the dining table and pulled out my phone, dialing my lawyer in Manhattan.

"Harvey, I want to file for divorce."

That night, I returned to the master bedroom to pack my things. In the back of the walk-in closet, I found an old photo album. It had pictures of Chloe when she first learned to walk, calling me "Daddy."

There were also photos of her sick, curled up in my arms, saying I was her "favorite Daddy."

Somewhere along the way, that snake named "Liam" had slowly poisoned her mind.

My phone buzzed—Liam had posted a new story on Instagram.

In the photo, Elena, Liam, and Chloe were crammed into the observation wheel cabin, the dazzling city skyline behind them, all smiles like a perfect movie family.

The caption was a blatant jab: "I heard that people who ride to the top of the Ferris wheel together stay together forever."

The family group chat exploded, relatives tagging me, and Elena's mom commented, "Liam's vibe is such a perfect match for our Elena. Arthur, how can you not keep your wife's heart?"

I stared at the screen, typing out a response.

"No need to keep it; they were always a perfect match!"

I hit send.

Less than half an hour later, Elena stormed into the master bedroom like a whirlwind.

"Are you out of your mind?!" She angrily slammed her Hermes Birkin bag onto the velvet sofa. "What were you saying in the group? Do you have any idea how much that hurt Liam? His PR team is terrified of scandals. He's already unstable because of online bullying!"

"What did I say that was wrong?" I shot back, expressionless. "If you can do it, why can't people talk about it?"

"You two have been sneaking around for years, and I can't point it out?" I scoffed.

Smack!

A loud slap landed hard on my cheek.

I turned my head from the force, and then a heavy cup smashed against my forehead.

Warm blood trickled down my brow, blurring my right eye.

"You're a toxic loser! I'll hate you forever!" Chloe peeked in from the doorway, then spun around and ran back to her room.

Elena stared at my bloodied face, momentarily frozen, a flicker of guilt and panic flashing in her eyes—one she didn't even notice. But she quickly hardened her expression. After all, I had pursued her through college, and when she faced bankruptcy and stress, I had given up my future to support her.

To her, I was more like an accessory.

She took a deep breath, her tone softening. "You went too far today; it's no wonder our daughter hates you." She brushed her disheveled blonde hair. "Liam has always been weak; as a brother, can't you show some gentlemanly grace and let him have his way?"

I didn't argue, just grabbed a tissue and pressed it firmly against my head wound.

Elena reached out to check my injury, but I stepped back sharply.

"Don't touch me." My voice was laced with deep disdain.

Her hand froze in mid-air, her face darkening. "I've already said my health is improving. We can all live happily together, and I'll keep some distance from Liam."

I looked at her, letting out a cold laugh. In that Instagram selfie Liam had posted, I clearly saw the fresh lipstick mark left by Elena on his unbuttoned collar.

If I were still the naive fool I used to be, I might have fallen for her soft-and-hard approach. But I couldn't tolerate the deception of the past seven years, nor could I stand her trying to play me for a fool now.

Before lawyer Harvey finalized the property division agreement, I moved to the guest room, refusing to share a space with her again.

The next morning, Elena slipped into a Dior couture gown and doused herself in an overpowering perfume. She had always claimed her "sensitive sense of smell triggers headaches" as an excuse to banish all my colognes. Now, it seemed, that was just a cover for tonight's big event.

I knew why she was so excited.

Tonight was the opening night of Liam's global tour at Madison Square Garden.

She stood in front of the full-length mirror, putting on diamond earrings, glancing at me as I sat on the couch playing Xbox.

"Go make Chloe some bacon and pancake breakfast," Elena ordered.

I kept my eyes glued to the screen, not even looking up.

"Arthur! Are you deaf? I'm talking to you!"

"Not doing it," I replied flatly.

Elena was taken aback. Used to getting her way, she clearly wasn't prepared for my resistance.

Chloe came running out in her pajamas, hands on her hips. "Useless guy! Just let me starve! I'm not eating your poison oatmeal!"

I still didn't look away from the screen.

Elena, fuming, dragged Chloe out the door, turning back to threaten me. "You better have a turkey and mac and cheese ready when we get back, or you and I will never speak again!"

The door slammed shut.

She thought seven years of cold treatment could break my spirit, but as I looked out at the sunlight, I felt nothing but relief.

Half an hour later, a phone call shattered the silence.

"Hello, sir. This is the client manager at Swiss Bank's New York branch." The voice was respectful. "Your wife, Elena, just withdrew a men's watch from your safe. I'm required to inform you."

My grip on the phone tightened, turning my knuckles white.

That Patek Philippe vintage watch was the last item my father had given me before he passed away.

How could she swipe it?!