In that instant, Julian clenched his fists uncontrollably. He glared at me with seething rage.

After a moment, he regained his composure and turned to Ivy with concern.

“Are you okay?”

Ivy’s eyes were red from crying. “I’m fine. I accidentally misspoke. Ms. Hill was right to hit me. Mr. Shane, please don’t be angry with me.”

After seven years together, Julian clenched his teeth at me for the first time. “Get down and apologize to Ivy now!”

I sneered coldly.

“Why should I?

“She brought it on herself. She deserved the strike.”

Julian suddenly raised his hand and struck himself across the face with all his strength. His cheek instantly swelled and turned red.

“I’m taking this retaliatory slap on your behalf.

“Clara, I’m begging you. Please stop this madness.

“Did staying cooped up at home after your injury drive you mad? I promise never to abandon you, no matter what happens to you.

“I’ll give you anything you want. Just drop the divorce talk, okay?”

Without hesitation, I replied, “Impossible.

“Julian, every second I spend with you makes me feel sick and suffocated.”

He was backing off, while I remained stubborn.

Both our parents were utterly disappointed with me.

Julian’s parents rose angrily, leaving behind a cold warning before departing. “If you insist on divorce, we’ll see it through! But don’t even think about taking a single penny from our family. No matter the cost, I’ll make sure you leave with nothing!”

My parents shook their heads at me and sighed. “Clara, you’re the one causing all this trouble. When you end up with nothing, you’ll regret it.”

Was I the one at fault?

No.

The person I bribed at Julian’s company promptly sent me a surveillance video clip.

I was watching it in the spare bedroom when Julian knocked and walked in.

To prevent him from discovering my actions and destroying the evidence, I quickly slipped on my Bluetooth earbuds. I listened to the audio while stashing my phone away.

“Clara, what purpose does divorcing me serve?

“You can’t have children. Another family like mine would never agree to marry someone like you.”

I looked at him with a cold smile. “Julian, why can’t I have children?”

During our marriage’s second year, I was injured.

Julian loved thrills. He would constantly pursue extreme sports and demand that I accompany him.

During a rock-climbing incident, he slipped and fell. I had risked my life and grabbed onto him to save him. He managed to steady himself on a protruding rock while I plummeted to the ground from exhaustion.

Everyone said Julian loved me. They said that he had traded his life for mine.

Before me, Julian hung his head in guilty silence.

Through my headphones came the clear, suggestive laughter of him and Ivy.

“Julian, skydiving was so thrilling! I had a great time. But honestly, just taking me out occasionally would already make me perfectly happy. Isn’t that a bit too risky to move me in next door to you?”

After a series of muffled kissing sounds, Julian replied, “That’s what makes it thrilling.

“These past years, Clara has become increasingly dull. Only you make me feel alive again...”

After secretly gathering sufficient evidence, I visited Julian’s company to investigate his business operations. I was not going to leave him any escape routes. I was there to ensure he could not conceal or transfer assets.

Several senior executives knew who I was and cooperated without complaint.

Only Ivy, emboldened by Julian’s favor, sabotaged me at every turn. She sent people to lure me to the outdoor smoking area.

With no one around, Ivy dropped her act. “Clara, isn’t it better to be a pampered cat?

“You’re a worthless waste of barren space. Julian is already doing you a favor by keeping you around. Why must you ruin everything and make a fool of yourself?”

I sneered coldly. “Fine. I won’t divorce him.”

Ivy was momentarily stunned. “Huh?”

My laughter grew sharper. “You’re both pathetic and stupid. You came here to provoke me just to force me into divorcing Julian quickly so you can take my place?

“Too bad, once you’re in my position, all you’ll inherit is a mountain of debt. You’ll get nothing else.

“Remember that Ragdoll cat? Your fate will be far worse.”

Ivy must have seen that Ragdoll cat.

Starving, it had begged for food at my doorstep, only to be shut out.

Forced to fight other strays for scraps, it had returned covered in wounds. No words could describe the tragedy.

Perhaps witnessing the Ragdoll cat’s fate triggered Ivy. She lunged at me, teeth bared, lashing out. “You’re the unwanted one. You’re the worthless waste of space who is about to be kicked out! How dare you curse me?”

Disgust filled my eyes as I sidestepped her.

Ivy lost her balance and fell onto the floor. She clutched her belly and whimpered in agony.

The commotion drew others. Julian, who had learned of the incident, rushed back at top speed. Without a word, he grabbed my arm and forced me to apologize to Ivy.

I refused coldly. “She fell on her own. The surveillance footage proves it.”

Julian glared at me, clenching his teeth. “Nonsense! Why would there be any surveillance in the smoking area?”

Just as I was about to say there actually was, Ivy rubbed her eyes and cried out, “Mr. Shane, it’s not Ms. Hill’s fault. It’s all my fault for living next door to you. It led to Ms. Hill misunderstanding us.

“Could you plead with Ms. Hill for me? She resents me and can bully me however she wants, but she can’t deliberately harm the child in my womb!”

Julian’s eyes widened. “Clara, you’d harm an unborn baby? The child is innocent!”

“Innocent?”

I sneered coldly. “Who knows who the father is—”

Before I could finish, Julian’s palm slammed hard across my face.

“You’re beyond redemption!

“Clara, you brought this on yourself. Don’t blame me for being ruthless! You wanted to sue, right? Fine. I’ll schedule the hearing for tomorrow.

“The Shane family has no use for a heartless, twisted, jealous harpy like you!”

At that moment, we ceased to be husband and wife. We became mortal enemies locked in a bitter feud.

Everyone, including my own parents, sided with Julian.

Before the hearing, they continued to try to persuade me.

“Clara, did you really cheat?

“The internet is already calling you a harlot and a toxic wench who seduced other men while seizing your husband’s fortune. Your reputation has been utterly ruined.

“Snap out of it. Don’t throw away your chance to redeem yourself, okay?”

Julian’s parents would not even glance at me. “An ingrate is an ingrate. No amount of nurturing will change that.

“Julian, she’s leaving with nothing. When she regrets it and comes back on her knees begging for forgiveness, don’t show any mercy!”

Julian wore an expression of patience worn thin. He spoke as if he was granting me a favor. “Apologize now, and I’ll pretend this never happened.

“Otherwise, you’ll sleep on the streets and grow old alone.”

I remained silent. My gaze remained on the judge as the formal hearing commenced.

The judge spoke. A single sentence instantly drained the confidence from Julian’s face, leaving him pale. Everyone else stared in disbelief.

“How... how could this be?”

“Julian, what have you been hiding from us?”