Chapter 2

"Ah!!" A voice inside the room screamed. "Damn it, which stupid asshole broke into our house?"

The two of them panicked and threw on their clothes when they saw who was at the door.

Stuart let out a cold laugh. "Your house? You two better explain to me whose house this actually is."

"Stuart, you're being so rude right now! Stop this barbaric behavior!"

"Ha! So this is your husband? Spent a few years in prison, and you can definitely smell that criminal roughness on him." Leon looked Stuart up and down with arrogance, his eyes full of contempt. "So you're the loser who went to prison in my place back then? Hey man, don't look at me like that."

Selena smiled and leaned against Leon, her eyes showing the same deep disdain for Stuart. "That's him. This poor sucker took the fall for you back then. But how did you get out? Don't tell me you escaped. Oh my God, what a disgrace. You should go straight back to prison and pay for what you did. Criminals belong where criminals belong. But since you're here, the first thing you need to do is sign this house over to me. Stuart, you killed someone, and now you've broken out of prison on top of that. We're not in the same world anymore. We're divorced, and I'm entitled to half your assets. I want this house. Sign it over to me before they drag you back."

Selena wore a smug look as she said all this, like she had Stuart right where she wanted him. The feeling of control gave her a rush of satisfaction.

Stuart laughed out of anger. "I really misjudged you. I can't believe I fell for a woman who keeps her brain in her chest."

"Hey man, watch your mouth! You're the one who didn't appreciate a good woman like Selena. Why don't you blame yourself for not being good enough? Stop giving Selena a hard time, or old buddy, I'll show you just how hard my fists are!" Leon clenched his fist and shoved it in Stuart's face, putting on a tough act.

And honestly, he had every reason to feel tough.

Leon was on the younger side, but he was a multiple-time city boxing champion in Maple State.

To most people, Leon was a serious threat, but Stuart just looked at him and shook his head with a smile. "If violence could solve everything, you'd already be dead."

Leon didn't take that seriously at all. When he saw that Stuart wasn't making a move, he just figured the guy was too weak and scared to do anything.

"Oh my God, since you put it that way, don't say I'm picking on someone weaker. I'll just stand here and let you take three swings. Buddy, consider this place a wedding gift from you to me and Selena." Leon was secretly laughing to himself as he said it.

This uneducated ex-con had no idea what he was walking into. He'd teach him a good lesson and make him hand over both Selena and the house without a word of complaint. As for getting hurt... Leon wasn't even thinking about that.

He'd been through plenty of impact training. His body wasn't quite the peak of human performance, but he was absolutely built compared to most people out there.

Stuart, on the other hand, looked like an average guy. After years of hard time in prison, who knew if he even had the same strength as before, let alone any muscle.

Going up against someone like that and taking three punches? Leon wasn't scared at all.

When he heard the offer, the corner of Stuart's mouth curled up — and then he threw a punch.

Fast as lightning.

Leon never saw it coming.

The blow hit him square in the gut like a freight train.

He flew backward like a ragdoll, crashed into the side of the bed, and crumpled to the floor, groaning and clutching his stomach.

Before Leon could recover, Stuart stepped forward and stomped down hard — right between his legs.

AHHH!!!!

Leon never expected that follow-up. The stomp landed full force on his groin. He stared down at himself in numb horror, then let out a sharp, agonized scream.

"That punch was for me. You went after my wife, destroyed my family, and framed me for your crimes. That kick was for my father. You had his legs broken, so I'm making sure you never have children."

Selena went pale watching all this. "You murderer — you're still the same violent animal you always were. Oh my God, you're a monster. Do you have any idea how stupid you just were? You hurt Leon Morgan. His family will—"

SMACK!!

She never finished the sentence.

A sharp slap landed hard across her face.

"Shameless woman. Shut your mouth and get your lover out of my house. Or I'll kick your ass out myself."

Stuart's tone left no room for argument. It was almost frightening. Selena had been about to cause more trouble, but something in his cold, dark presence made her snap her mouth shut. She had a strange feeling — the Stuart who had once loved her so deeply felt like a completely different person now.

"You're going to regret this. I swear to God!" Selena shot him a vicious glare, then struggled to haul Leon out of the room.

Stuart stood in the empty house. He thought about the life he'd once had — that almost dreamlike happiness, the marriage he'd imagined would last forever.

All of it shattered now, because of that foolish woman.

Stuart wasn't the type to dwell on things. He took one last look at the house, then walked out the door.

He wondered how his parents were doing.

Now that he was back, there was no reason not to go see them.

Stuart headed straight for the hospital.

Less than ten minutes later, following the address he had, a Maybach pulled up and went quiet outside the hospital entrance.

Stuart walked in.

Before he even reached the ward door, he heard crying from inside.