Daxton looked at me with deep disappointment. "How expensive can heart supplements even be? We're all family. You and Catherine still have most of your lives ahead of you. When did you become so petty?"

Seeing their grief and shock, I let out a cold laugh. "Family? That's only you guys. What does any of this have to do with me? I'm just an outsider."

"Don't go, honey! Please don't go!" Catherine pleaded.

It was as if something suddenly dawned on her. She scrambled forward and grabbed my leg. "Is it because I didn't care enough for you, so now you want a divorce? I'll change. I swear from now on, you come first in everything. Please don't divorce me, okay? I really can't live without you!"

Aubrie clutched her chest, crying that she must have committed some great sin. And a heartless son-in-law like me was her retribution.

I kicked Catherine away without hesitation. "If you have time to beg me, you should hurry up and take your parents to the hospital. Don't let them get so worked up they can't get back up!"

Ignoring their pale faces, I walked out. On my way, I grabbed the health supplements and the trash bag by the door and tossed them all in the dumpster.

I had barely stepped out of the neighborhood when my friend called.

"The agreement's ready. Come by when you can."

He paused. "I'm not trying to pry, but I really don't get it. You two have been fine for years. How did this suddenly turn into a divorce?"

I rubbed my glabella, feeling drained. "It's nothing. I'm just exhausted living with her family. I want out."

He sighed but didn't push further.

I went straight to pick up the divorce papers and signed them on the spot.

That evening, I returned home, packed away traces of my life there, and waited for Catherine to come back so we could sign and be done.

However, I waited past 9:00 pm without any reply from her.

Since I had no other options, I decided to call her so we could talk and make things clear.

Just as I pulled out my phone, I got a call from one of Catherine's coworkers.

On the other end, the voice was urgent and drowned in background chaos. "Gabriel, can you come check on Catherine? She's been out of it all afternoon, completely pale. She fainted before she even got out of the building after work.

"The doctor said she was emotionally triggered. Her heart's acting up. She's at the hospital. Please hurry."

I drove straight there.

As soon as I walked into the hospital room, the place was packed.

Aside from Aubrie and Daxton, there was also a whole group of her coworkers I recognized but barely knew.

My parents were staring at me too, anger written all over their faces.

My mouth opened, but before I could say anything, Dad slapped me so hard I stumbled into the doorframe.

My ears rang.

On the bed, Catherine struggled to get up, her face twisted with worry.

"D-Dad, don't hit him. We can talk things out."

At her words, Dad's eyes reddened. "Look at her! She's hospitalized because of you, and she's still worried about you!

"You ungrateful brat! Catherine's such a good woman. How could you suddenly demand a divorce? Are you that desperate for money? Who's starving you? Why fixate on a bit of cash?

"You've been spoiled all these years, haven't you? Now you think being cared for is something you earned?"

Mom, who had always defended me growing up, looked at me with disappointment. She said, "I hate to say it, but you really crossed the line this time."

Dad snorted. "What are you waiting for? Apologize to Aubrie and Daxton. Do you know how badly you upset them yesterday?"

Swallowing my frustration, I met all their angry stares. "This is my decision. It has nothing to do with any of you. Stay out of it."

Then, I borrowed a pen from the doctor and handed it to Catherine along with the divorce agreement.

"I'm here only to get divorced."

The room fell silent. Her coworkers, who had assumed my parents' scolding would make me rethink everything, stared at me in shock.

When Catherine saw the signed divorce papers, her whole body began to shake. The monitor beside her started blaring alarms as her vitals spiked.

The doctor tried to examine her, but she pushed him away.

Her eyes were bloodshot as she clutched her chest. "Honey, I promise I won't use your money anymore. I'll hand over everything I earn, okay?"

I didn't show even the slightest reaction. "No. I just want a divorce!"

Aubrie, who had been holding herself back, finally exploded. She stepped forward and slapped me hard.

"How can you be so heartless? Catherine ended up in the hospital because of you, and since you walked in, you didn't even ask about her condition. All you want is a divorce. Is your heart made of stone?"

I touched the fresh handprint on my cheek. "I have no obligation to take care of her."

Daxton, seeing that I was unmoved, hurried to support the staggering Aubrie. "Gabriel, what is wrong with you? At least make it clear—why are you divorcing Catherine? I refuse to believe you're this cold."

He stared at me, searching for answers.

I let out a mocking breath and punched him square in the face. "Whether I'm cold or not has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business before talking to me."

Daxton stared at me in shock.

Furious, Aubrie tried to hit me again, but I pushed her back lightly, and she stumbled several steps.

At that moment, even the coworkers who had stayed silent couldn't take it anymore.

"Gabriel, how could you disrespect Aubrie and Daxton like that? Catherine has treated you so well and given you everything, yet you want to divorce her over some supplements? Are you even human?"

I glanced at them and asked, "What business is it of yours? Are you done with your work? If you're done, go home and pay attention to your husbands and kids. Don't stick your nose in my family."

A few of the women who were close to Catherine immediately bristled.

"Catherine is one of the kindest people we know. How did she end up marrying a cold, selfish jerk like you? Do you even know she's about to get a promotion? Her salary will be even higher!"

"Don't bother with him, Catherine. Divorce him. Let him regret it!"

I laughed coldly. "Don't worry. I will never regret it."

Hearing this, my father-in-law, Jordan Francis, couldn't stand it. He glared at me and said, "Fine! We're done tiptoeing around this man like he's some untouchable VIP!"

He lunged forward, trying to grab the papers from my hand.

Dad blocked him quickly and forced a polite smile. "Jordan, please don't be upset. Gabriel is being impulsive. Let's all calm down.

"You can rest assured. As long as I'm here today, I won't let them get a divorce. I'll take Gabriel home and straighten him out!"

At that, he pulled me by the arm, trying to drag me away.

However, I tore myself free with all my strength.

"I told you I'm not going anywhere. I'm divorcing today. None of you can stop me."

Dad, who had never faced defiance like this before, finally lost his temper. He slapped me, causing me to fall to the ground.

"Do you think I can't control you? Let me make it clear! If you dare go through with this divorce, I'll cut ties with you. From today on, you're no son of mine!"

The papers slipped out of my hands and scattered across the floor.

My eyes burned as I clenched my teeth. "Fine. If none of you are on my side, there's nothing more to say then."

I leaned down to gather the divorce documents.

In the next second, Dad shoved me aside and picked them up first.

He glared at me. "I'm ripping this up right now. You can forget about getting divorced, you ungrateful brat!"

Panicked, I lunged toward him. "No! Don't! Dad, let me explain later. Just don't—"

Before I could finish, his hand froze mid-tear.

His eyes landed on a few papers mixed into the divorce agreement. Those were papers that didn't belong there.

In that instant, his face went ashen. His broad shoulders trembled, and he stumbled back several steps.

His shocked eyes bounced back and forth between Catherine and me.