The Single Mom's Revenge

"Lisbeth, you'd better agree to this divorce quickly! Otherwise, I'll make these photos public and show all your fans see how their beloved star with millions of followers was was once a victim of an old man!"

"What?" Lisbeth Whitaker looked up, stunned, unable to believe what she was hearing from him.

This was her husband of five years, who had had an affair with the female caregiver she'd hired as his caretaker. 

Now he was turned to blackmail to force her into a divorce so he could clear the way for his mistress!

"Don’t act innocent. How could a woman as tainted as you deserve to be my wife?" Leopold Hearst sneered, pulling a thick envelope out envelope.

It contained the case file from when she was past sexual assault. 

Inside were detailed records of how that man had ripped her dress, bitten her neck and chest, and reached lower lower... It even included the medical examination photos taken afterward as evidence.

Back then, Leopold had worked around the clock to gather all this evidence to help her secure a conviction. 

Now, however, it had become the weapon he used to force her to submit.

Lisbeth shook with fury, finally managing to force out the words. "You're really using this to blackmail me into a divorce? Fine, you say you don't love me anymore. Whatever! But what about Dennis? If this gets out, how can Dennis possibly face the world?"

To her surprise, Leopold responded with a mocking laugh. "How dare you mention Dennis? You know exactly how that child was conceived while I lay in a coma!"

The color drained from Lisbeth's face. She couldn't believe her ears. She grabbed Leopold by the collar and demanded, "What exactly are you saying?"

"Isn't it obvious, Lisbeth? That kid doesn't look anything like me! I didn't bring it up before because I thought I'd save your reputation out of sentiment. Did you really think I was that stupid?"

Leopold shoved her away, his eyes filled with scorn and condescension. 

"I know you're desperate—a mother with HIV, a son fighting leukemia—that's why you've been clinging to me. But why should I be your walking ATM?"

He thought he was being reasonable, just stating the cold, hard facts. Little did he know, every word was a knife aimed directly at Lisbeth’s most painful memories.

She regretted ever agreeing to to Leopold's honeymoon trip so much. 

If they hadn't gone abroad, they wouldn’t have run into the riot. She wouldn’t have been scarred, and Leopold wouldn't have lost his memory! 

Most importantly, Leopold wouldn't have fallen in love with the caregiver she'd hired at such a high cost, and he wouldn't be calling his own son a bastard!

"Shut up!" Lisbeth’s eyes burned with fire as she pulled out the documents and slammed them into his chest. "You want a divorce? , You've got it!"

At the courthouse, the clerk spoke mechanically. "For a divorce, please present your divorce application and a copy of your marriage certificate, along with related materials."

Lisbeth spoke with difficulty, "The copy of our marriage certificate was torn up..."

Leopold frowned impatiently. "Where can we get a replacement?"

Seeing Leopold's eagerness to divorce her, her heart felt like it was being pierced with needles. 

When they got married, Leopold had torn up their marriage certificate copy, laughing as he said, "This way, you can never ask for a divorce, and so we can grow old together."

Now, the man who had made that promise was breaking it.

Within thirty minutes, the divorce was finalized.

"The house is mine. Remember to move your things out when you get a chance." Leopold couldn't wait to leave, coldly dropping these words before turning to go.

Behind him, Lisbeth's hoarse whisper followed, "Fine. Just don't regret it when your memory returns someday."

Regret? Impossible! Leopold scoffed, walking out without looking back.

Outside the courthouse, he wrapped his arms around Elora Foster's waist and lifted her up. 

And Lisbeth stood on the other side of the glass doors, watching as the husband who once loved her deeply spinning another woman in circles. 

Then, hand in hand, they walked to the parking spot where he pulled a large bouquet of vibrant roses from the trunk.

"Lora, I'm finally free! I love you, and I'll protect you for the rest of my life! Will you marry me?"

In the dazzling sunlight, Leopold knelt on one knee, his smile bold and uninhibited. In his palm, a jewelry box held a sparkling diamond ring.

Several passersby stopped to applaud, shouting, "Say yes! Say yes!"

Watching the all-too-familiar scene unfold, Lisbeth could only find it darkly comical. 

Leopold's impatience seemed ridiculous, and her own years of effort and perseverance even more so.

She let out a long breath, her heart now still, and turned to leave when her phone rang with a call from the hospital.

"Dennis Hearst's condition has rapidly deteriorated. We've done our best, but we can only buy him three months. If we can't find a suitable match for him soon..."

Lisbeth immediately panicked. "Wasn't his condition under control? How did it suddenly get worse?"

"Leukemia is a highly unpredictable malignant disease. Please notify the child's father to come in for compatibility testing as soon as possible."

The father? Lisbeth turned her head sharply, only to see Leopold slipping the ring onto Elora's finger before standing up to share a passionate kiss with her.

Lisbeth laughed bitterly, and as she laughed, tears streamed down her face. 

He had called Dennis a bastard—how could he possibly care whether his son lived or died? Why would he ever agree to be tested as a donor?

"I understand. I'll hurry," she said, her voice hollow.

After hanging up, Lisbeth leaned against the wall and sank to the ground. 

She squeezed her eyes shut, then called a number she hadn't dialedd in years. "I'll agree to marry you. But only if you help me save Dennis!"